Best netbook 2010 - reviews and comparisons » Samsung

Samsung Galaxy Tab priced at 800 euros, unsubsidized

Mike — Mon, 06 Sep 2010 10:14:59 +0000

Like you guys probably know, the Samsung Galaxy Tab was the star of IFA Berlin last week and probably the first touch screen tablet that managed to impress me.

It gets Android 2.2 as OS (so there are tons of apps for it, most fo the Free), good hardware capable of running HD content and games and it is more compact and portable than the 9.7 inch Apple iPad. Still, in my post about the Samsung Galaxy Tab touch tablet, I concluded that it is a great device, but we should keep an eye on pricing.

There were rumors that this one will go for 800 euros and they are now confirmed, as Amazon.de listed this product for 799 in Germany. Ouch. Is that expensive? Well it definitely is, but if you consider that this machine is also a giant phone and top smartphones right now are priced at around 500 euros , unsubsidized, it looks like a fair price to me. Plus, that 5 inch Dell Streak goes for around 500 bucks as well. Still expensive, but fair.

Having the phone feature, that means we should see this Samsung tablet offered subsidized, with all kind or data plans. There are rumors that O2 is preping it for 99 euros, alongside a 2 year 27.50 EUR monthly plan. Added up, that will go for nearly 800 euros too, but you do get to pay those in monthly rates and you do get to use the device, with that data plan. Not entirely sure how to take that rumor, it is a rumor after all. Still, if it were true, I’d reckon prices will drop for the free-of-contract Samsung Galaxy Tab in the next months, probably to around 600 euro, maybe less?

Priced at 800 EUR, this Sausmg Galaxy Tab doesn't sound that good to me

That would be still expensive, but… I for one am waiting for a decent 7 inch tablet for around 300 EUR to come. Might not happen so soon, but I’m a patient guy. As I do like this Samsung Galaxy Tab, but that pricing is just prohibiting right now. I was in fact geting ready to call it an iPad killer, but I’m not so sure anymore.

Oh, and if you guys in the States wonder how will these prices translate in your country, experience tells us they will be similar, only in USD. So $800 for a brand new free-of-contract Samsung Galaxy Tab. How does that sound?

Via Netbooknews.de

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Samsung N350 and N250 Plus premium netbooks announced

Mike — Sun, 05 Sep 2010 21:03:30 +0000

I’ve said it before: I’m more and more impressed with Samsung devices everyday. They’ve showcased at IFA Berlin a couple of new interesting premium netbooks, the Samsung N350 and N250 Plus machines. That’s next to the NF310, NF210 and NF110 presented earlier this week, plus the already famous now Samsung Galaxy Tab tablet.

These new machines come with improved specs and top notch build quality.

The Samsung N250 Plus is in fact an upgraded version for Samsung’s entry level N150, already available in the US. It comes with the same body, with a glossy finish for the lid cover and matte plastic for interior (palm rest and areas around keyboard and display). There’s also a new chrome0like trackpad, with a metallic feel. And an improved chiclet keyboard, a 92% full-size one with pretty small keys, but with one of the best layouts seen on 10 inchers so far (see the big left TAB, SHIFT and CTRL keys, plus the big Enter.

More is changed inside. You’ll probably get the Atom N455 processor (this is not confirmed yet) with 1 GB of DDR3 memory, Intel 3150 graphics and Windows 7 Starter. But there’s now more storage space (320 GB hard-drive offered by default), Bluetooth 3.0, optional 3G and a bigger 6 Cell 66Wh battery that should be enough for up to 13 hours of life.

Prices and availability are yet unknown, but I’d reckon it should go for the same base price as the N150, which is around 300-330 bucks. Getting extra features will add to that price though. And will probably hit the stores next month, in October. See the clip below for more details.

The Samsung N350 is even better. It brings the same design as the Samsung N230, with the matte aluminum-like casing and matte 10 inch display. However, specs are better, as we should see Atom N550 dual-core processor inside this one (although the showcased version came with N455), with 1 GB of memory, 250 GB hard-drive and Windows 7 Starter, plus top notch connectivity, which includes 3G and 4G with support for HSPA+ and LTE.

Samsung N350 - premium business netbooks with great looks and top connectivity

No word on battery for now, but hopefully there’s the same big 6 Cell one prepared for the N250 Plus.

Also no details on pricing and availability, but I’m looking forward to more info, as this is right now one of the most interesting netbooks scheduled to enter the market in these next months, probably next to the Asus 1015N EEE PC.

Hopefully Samsung will have these available in the US as soon as possible, as they mostly targeted their previous netbooks towards Europe, where they are neck in neck with the Asus EEE PCs on bestselling tops.

I for one am pretty sure quite a couple of these new Samsung mini laptops would make it to the list of Best 10 inch netbooks. So let’s wait and see, as I’ll update once i know more on these N350/N250 versions, but also on other Samsung machines.

Via Netbooknews.com 1 and 2

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Galaxy Tab gets docking station, headset and some other accessories

Mike — Sun, 05 Sep 2010 20:12:41 +0000

I’ve told you before that Samsung officially launched their Galaxy Tab touch screen tablet at IFA in Berlin. We’ve seen in in action in various posts available over the Internet from the guys present there and we’ve seen what an interesting device this tablet announces itself to be. You can read more about specs and expectations in this other post about the Samsung Galaxy Tab.

What’s cool is that Samsung also prepared some nice accessories for their device, ready to become available as soon as the tablet starts selling, and those were showcased at IFA as well.

First, there’s a docking station with integrated keyboard. I like how they integrated it with the looks of the Tab, but from the available pictures and clips, seems quite bulky when compared to the actual tablet or the keyboard docking Apple offers for their iPad. Still bear in mind the Galaxy Tab is a lot smaller than the iPad.

However, if i can get pass this aspect, I also noticed the way the device actually attaches to the station. If I were to buy such a device, I would also get a proper cover for it, to keep it safe. However, when using this docking station, I would have to get that case off every time and that would be quite frustrating.

Docking Station with chiclet keyboard for Samsung Galaxy Tab

Still, have a look at that docking station in the clip bellow. Notice that Sacha says it will probably cost 80 euro, which ain’t cheap.

Since the Galaxy Tab is also a giant phone, Samsung prepared some matching wireless headset for it and you can see it in those pics bellow. There are also some white wired headset that should come by default with the device (that’s not confirmed though), unlike the headset, as you’ll probably have to pay extra for it.

Headsets from Samsung Galaxy Tav

These are some of the accessories for the Tab showcased at IFA. Of course, we’ve yet to see any covers, docking stations without keyboard or car mounts, but they will be available as well.

Via Netbooknews.de

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Samsung Galaxy Tab touch tablet is official

Mike — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 12:16:03 +0000

For those of you waiting for a bunch of new touch tablets to enter the market this year, it time to rejoice, as in the next months there are tons of new devices ongoing. One of them is the Samsung Galaxy Tab, however, i’m rude calling it one of the tablets, as it is in fact one of the most interesting devices to hit the stores this Fall.

Samsung Galaxy Tab P1000

There were rumors of this Galaxy Tab for a while, but now everything is official, as Samsung unveiled it at IFA in Berlin. We have pictures and specs, while details on pricing and availability are still mistery.

First of all, here are the basic specs for the Samsung Galaxy Tab:

hardware: 1 GHz Cortex A8 Samsung processor, 512 MB of RAM and 16/32 GB SSD storage + SD card (up to 64 GB)
7 inch capacitive multi-touch display, 1024 x 600 px resolution
OS: Android 2.2 Froyo + Samsung TouchWiz interface
connectivity: Wi-Fi N, Bluetooth 3.0, 3G, A-GPS
front facing camera + 3 MPx rear camera capable of recording 720p content
accelerometer, gyroscope, light sensor
4000 mAh
weighs 0.85 pounds and mesures 7.5 x 4.7 x 0.5 inches

So, there’s decent hardware inside this device. Plus, you get Android Froyo 2.2, so you will be able to run all kind of content, from HD clips (support H.264 content) to HD Flash (there’s support for Adobe Flash 10.1 on Froyo) and some games. The OS already comes customized with Samsung TouchWiz interface; I am not familiar with it, but you can see it in action in the clips in this post.

Looks good and is thiner than the iPad

Also, this tablet comes with great connectivity. It’s cool that it has 3G, so you will be able to use it for making/receiving calls. Also, that means you get Internet connectivity via 3G and access to the Android Market place where there are tons of apps.

Now, it’s obvious this Samsung Galaxy Tab is quite a device. In fact a huge mobile phone marketed as a tablet and more versatile than the iPad (supports multitasking and Flash 10.1 for example). Plus, it is more portable.

The first time I’ve seen it, I said to myself this is the tablet I will buy. But then I saw the price.

This one is also a phone, and you can easily hold it with only one hand

In fact, right now there are no official statements on prices and availability. There are rumors though, and they are not good: Samsung will sell the Galaxy Tab for around 800 euros and it should be available in Europe by the end of September. US, Asia and other markets should receive it by October too.

However, as impressive as this Samsung touch tablet is, and don’t get me wrong, i really like it, I don’t see myself paying 800 euros for it. The good part is that carriers will probably offer it subsidized, with data plans. Even so, I’m waiting for a good 7 inch tablet for around 300 euros. That would be the toy for me, and for now, it seems this Samsung Galaxy Tab ain’t the one.

But stay tuned, more info on this device and other touschscreen tablets will follow.

Via Engadget, Liliputing, Android Central

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Samsung announces NF310, NF210, and NF110 netbooks

Mike — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 13:39:04 +0000

Samsung just unveiled details on their new notebook lines for the end of this year. Amongst them, there are a couple of new netbooks, part of the NF line. After seeing details and pics on these new versions (see below), plus the latest products from Samsung, like the NB30 Pro or the N230 , I think I’m turning more and more into a Samsung fan.

There are in fact three new netbooks from Samsung. They boost the new Atom N550 processor from Intel, so will offer better performances than the existing generations. With this processor also comes support for DDR3 memory, decent storage, good connectivity and Windows 7 OS. Also, there’s a new design which I kind of dig. See the pics below.

The Samsung NF310 will be the multimedia version, with an HD display (1366 x 768 px), perfect for watching all kind of video content. Seems that only this one will have the dual-core N550 processor and will got for around 400 bucks. It will only be equipped with 1 GB of memory and Windows 7 Starter though.

The NF210 will focus on battery life, capable of up to 14 hours of life on a single charge, thanks to the 6 Cell 8850 mAh battery available inside. The cool part is that this battery does not actually stick on the back and is integrated pretty neat with the new line.

Will come with Atom N455 1.66 GHz processor and everything else is pretty standard. However, I don’t really like that trackpad design, integrated into palm rest.

Oh, and this Samsung NF210 will go for around $380.

Samsung NF210 - news design and huge battery

Last but not least, the NF110 will be the affordable netbook in this series, hopefully with a starting price around 300 bucks and even lower, capable of offering a great balance between price, power and reliability.

However, latest rumors say this one will only be available in Europe and it won’t sell in US.

Samsung NF netbooks - due to October

Oh, and all of these will be 10 inchers, so if you were expecting got 11.6 or 12 inchers from Samsung, well, tough luck.

Samsung plans to have the new NF mini laptops available on the market in October. Luckily for me, they’ll bring them first to Europe and only afterward to the rest of the world, so i might get my hands on one of them pretty fast. Stay tuned, more details will follow.

via Newswire and Liliputing

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Samsung N230 review and comparison with N210 and N220

Mike — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 09:42:45 +0000

I haven’t had the chance to play with many Samsung netbooks lately, mainly because most of them aren’t available in stores in my country. They are not that popular in the States from pretty much the same reason and it seems Samsung decided to focus on the Western European market, where they bring their latest products.

As a result, in Germany, France or UK, Samsung mini laptops dominate best-sellers lists. And for good reasons, they are very solid machines with good looks, ergonomic keyboards and decent performances. Some of their devices were included in my list of Best netbooks available in the UK, like the N220 and the rugged Samsung NB30 .

Samsugn N230 - new top netbook in the 10 inch class

Now, they’ve got a new spear-head in the mainstream 10 inch segment, the Samsung N230. This one entered the market a couple of months ago and it already became popular. Matt at netbookreviews.net managed to get one (the UK version) and put together a proper review, that you can read here.

But here’s what I think. First, take a look at the specs.

Atom N450 processor, 1.66 GHz
1 GB DDR2 memory
250 GB storage space
Wi-Fi N, Bluetooth 3.0, 3xUSB 2.0, card-reader, webcam, etc
Windows 7 Starter
6 Cell 66Wh 5900 mAh battery

You notice there’s almost nothing changed from the previous N220 generation, except for Bluetooh 3.0 on this one. Plus, the same older DDR2 compatible Atom platform is used, and not the upgraded one compatible with DDR3 memory (however, in terms of performance, there’s almost no difference between the two) Still, there’s more on a mini laptop than just specs.

First, this device looks amazing. I’ve said that before, I do it now, and Matt agrees too. Comes with a very thin sleek body and finishing is top notch: matte smooth plastic for the case and brushed aluminum for palm rest. And the areas around display and keyboard are matte too, as well as the screen itself. So finally, an entire matte product.

What a sleek body

And it’s a lot lighter, weighing just under 2.2 pounds, while the N220 at 2.6 is like a brick in comparison. So, the N230 seems a lot like the Asus 1018P i reviewed and I’m glad more and more producers turn towards matte devices with special care for design and , more importantly, details and build quality.

Then, there’s the keyboard, a chiclet style one with little flex. I like that you do get the big Enter and Left Ctrl and Shift, which translates in very cramped arrow keys. Still, I prefer this approach over others I’ve seen. Also like the touchpad, which seems wide enough, is clearly separated from the palm rest; there’s a single mouse button, but with a distinctive separation in the middle for right/left click.

Keyboard layout and trackpad are appreciated

You do get all the ports needed and easy access to memory for upgrades. I also like the fact that there are some cooling vents on the bottom, which means that this netbook won’t get too hot or to noisy.

In terms of performance, don’t expect much. This is just the average 10 incher, OK for your basic every day tasks, like browsing, reading mails, writing texts, can even run some videos (probably 720p self-stored movies included), but not more.

However, battery is impressive. There’s a 6 cell 66Wh 5900 mAh battery on this one, just slightly smaller than the one on the Asus EEE PC 1005PE, but not by much. And it manages to bring up to 14 hours of life, according to producers. Matt ran some tests, and it managed to get 12+ hours in light browsing with Bluetooth Off and Screen Dimmed towards 50%, while on Battery Eater the Samsung N230 ran for 8.5 hours. And that’s translated in easily 10+ hours on a single charge, during everyday basis use, which gets the N230 up there, with the likes on the 1005PE and NB305 in terms of autonomy.

And then there’s the price matter. In the US, this one comes with a list price of $399 , but you can get it for $349 from Amazon, with a nice discount. In the UK, list price is 349 pounds, and once again Amazon offers it with a slight discount: around £330 . You should know that the US version only comes with a 3 Cell battery though, so you loose most of this stellar battery life. Other from this, price is very good what the capabilities of this machine.

However, in the UK, the N220 runs for around £300, while the N210 is 30-35 pounds cheaper. They do offer pretty much the same specs and features, but, the N230 is by far the best in terms of design, materials used, keyboard and battery life. Plus, it’s thinner, lighter (see the picture below, also from Matt, comparing the N210 and N230) and completely matte, so I can easily call it a true business mini notebook.

Samsung N210 (left) vs Samsung N230 (right)

In fact, this Samsung N230 is so good I will add it to my list of best 10 inch netbooks. Can’t say if it surpassed the NB305 in my list of preferences just yet, I’ll wait to test it live first, but It’s definitely up there, and because of the better battery life, it surpasses the EEE PC 1018P.

Still, I could not find it with the 6 Cell battery in the US, but I’ll keep scouting and update once i do.

Photos and info from Matt at netbookreviews.net

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Early details on Samsung Galaxy Tab P1000

Mike — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 14:51:02 +0000

The guys at Samsung seem to focus a lot on touchscreen devices these days. After we saw some rumors of a Samsung tablet, they not get confirmed: the Samsung Galaxy P1000 Tab should be available in stores in the near future, both in the States and in Europe.

There is still no official info about this device, but, there are some details. First, the guys at Samsung Firmware spotted an Android 2.2 version meant for this device. Based on it, some early specs can be offered:

7 inch display, 480 x 800 px resolution
1 GHz ARM11 processor (part of Hummingbird platform)
GPS, Wireless and Bluetooth
support for Flash and Javascript
two cameras, a front-facing QVGA and a 3.1 MPx on the back

7 inch Samsung Galaxy Tab

Also, Engadget reports Vodafone UK will have this Samsung Tab in their offer in a couple of moths, so that might mean it will support 3G as well.

Of course, we’ve yet to see this tablet official unveiled, and that might happen at IFA in early September.

All in all, the Samsung Galaxy Tab looks like a buffed versions of the Galaxy S smartphone. However, producers chose that slow ARM11 processor, while competitors will bring the latest generation Cortex A9 , so this tab might be somewhat sluggish. Of course, all the info in here are just rumors, so let’s just wait for now and draw conclusions later.

As usual, I’ll update on the subject, so better subscribe to stay up to date.

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New Samsung netbooks: N230 Slim and N220 Plus Premium

Mike — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 12:06:48 +0000

Some of the most popular netbooks in the world come from Samsung. Two new models joined their fleet these days, when the Korean producer launched the N230 Slim ultra compact and N220 Plus premium netbooks .

Both the N220 and N230 exist on the market these days. However, these are new and improved versions of those ones.

The Samsung N230 Slim is indeed compact. With just 0.9 inches in thickness and weighing 2.2 pounds (around 1 kilo), this 10 incher is truly portable and can easily join the list of lightest netbooks on the market. Plus, it brings a new exterior, with a futuristic design (especially the hinge ), better materials (glossy plastic used for the exterior, while the area around the keyboard mimics brushed metal), a chiclet keyboard and a new and bigger trackpad with independent click buttons.

On the inside, specs are pretty much standard for a 10 inch mini laptop these days: Atom N455 1.66 GHz processor, 1 GB DDR3 memory, 250 GB storage, Wi-Fi N, Bluetooth 3.0, card-reader, Windows 7 Starter and a 3 Cell battery. That last one is a shame, because this Samsung will only be able to offer around 5 hours of life, while other 10 inchers can do a lot better.

Samsung N230 Slim - ultracompact and light, but kind of expensive

Still, this device targets mobility more than everything, hence a small battery was introduced to keep weight as low as possible. Too bad price won’t be that low also, as rumors say this Samsung N230 Slim will come to Europe for around 400 euros (that would mean around 400-420 bucks in the States). Pricey!

The Samsung N220 Plus Premium is an improved version of the N220, an overall excellent netbook . Samsung upgraded some other versions lately, like the NB30 Pro. Like that one, this N220 brings some changes to the exterior, but mostly improved and new features.

There’s a new exterior with a dimpled finish, but still made out of a glossy plastic, which looks and feels great, but will have problems in time with scratches and smudges. There’s also a new chiclet keyboard, theoretically with better spaced keys and some optimizations (right CTRL and ALT keys are wider, because they are often used for KEY Shortcuts). Plus display seems to be matte, at least from the pictures (that remains to be confirmed though).

Inside, Samsung N220 Plus Premium boosts great specs for a 10 incher: new Atom N475 1.83 GHz processor, 2 GB of DDR3 memory, 320 GB storage space, Wi-Fi N and Bluetooth 3.0, Windows 7 Home Premium OS, SDXC card-reader and webcam. There’s also a 6 Cell battery (4400 mAh) which should offer around 6-7 hours of life on a daily basics.

Samsung N220 - new looks, better features, powerful hardware

All in all, the N220 Plus Premium is definitely versatile. More powerful than the standard 10 incher, it brings some very nice goodies like the more ergonomic keyboard, non-glare screen and fast connectivity. All these come with a price though, as this mini laptop will sell in Europe for 400 euros. Still, It’s a very fair price considering the features, so I’m looking forward to see this one in stores soon.

Both these Samsungs have been for now announced in Europe and should become available pretty soon. Hopefully, they will also reach the US market later this year, I know many of you guys would love to give them a spin.

Source: Blogeee 1 and 2

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Samsung NB30 Pro rugged netbook available with a nice discount

Mike — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 14:38:38 +0000

I’ve always been a fan of rugged netbooks, because these small computers are meant for life on the go and should be reliable when faced with tougher conditions. That’s why those glossy devices like the Asus EEE PCs are kind of no-nos for me, while matte ones like the Samsung NB30 Pro are on top of the list.

However, this Samsung is more than a standard matte netbook, it comes with some extra particularities:

a spill proof chiclet keyboard and body, so don’t worry if you accidentally spill something on it. That doesn’t mean you can dip it in water, it’s not waterproof
an anti-scratch rubberized cover that is reliable and will provide extra grip
shock resistant hard-drive with free-fall sensor (detects when the netbook falls and instantly stops hard-drive’s activity)

Rugges Samsung Nb30 netbook, excellent for outdoor usage

Besides these, features and specs are pretty much standard for a 10 incher these days and the NB30 offers you all the things you would need in such a mini laptop. There’s a big trackpad with independent click buttons, an ergonomic chiclet keyboard and a non-glare screen. Inside you get an Intel Atom N450 processor, 1 GB of memory, 160 GB hard-drive, Wi-Fi N and Windows 7 Starter OS. Plus a 6 Cell battery capable of 6-8 hours of life.

Soldi built and reliable

In fact, the only thing missing on this Samsung is Bluetooth, but i can live without.

All in all, the Samsung NB30 is a great pick for those looking for a sturdy mini laptop. It’s not as beautiful as others, but it is solid and reliable, and this should be more important if you plan to use this netbook outside and on the go.

The good part is that you can have this Samsung for only $369 $299 now, with Free Shipping and a small discount, from Amazon. Quite a deal for sure, so expect this device to become popular. Also price might change in the near future and discount might run off, so if you want one, you’d better act fast. See the link above for more details, pictures, reviews from buyers and the option to buy one. And wait for a review of the Samsung NB30 on this site pretty soon.

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Samsung NB30 gets a touch screen option

Mike — Wed, 14 Apr 2010 09:40:26 +0000

I’m pretty sure you guys know about the Samsung NB30, Sammys tough netbook meant for rougher conditions and offering some interesting extra options to support this claim. Well, there’s another version for this device now, one that adds a touch-display into the pot. Code name for this one is NB30-JT01IT and was already released in Italy.

Outside and inside, not much has changed over the standard NB30. You will still get the same rubberized textured black exterior able to protect the device from scratches and minor shocks, the same water-proof battery and keyboard and the same anti-shock protected storage drive. Inside, you’ll find the standard PineTrail hardware fo nowadays netbook: N450 processor, 1 GB of RAM, 160 GB storage, Windows 7 Starter and a 6 Cell battery.

However, while the base version of the Samsung NB30 only offered a regular 10.1 inch 1024 x 600 px display, the new one comes with a touch-enabled one. Not sure whether it’s going to be a capacitive or resistive one yet, but chances are greater for the first option. The bad part is that Samsung kept the Same Win 7 Starter edition for the touch-screen enabled version too, so you won’t be able to benefit from multi-touch unless you upgrade to at least Windows 7 Home later on.

Samsung NB30 not gets a touch-display, but a non-swivable one

Also, the screen on this device cannot swivel and is not convertable like on the Asus EEE PC T101MT for instance, so you cannot turn this Samsung into a tablet-like computer.

And considering that this new Samsung NB30 costs 399 euros, while the standard versions runs for 279 euros (prices available in Italy), I for one can’t see the purpose of paying 50% more for a device just to get a touch-screen you can’t even swivel. Can you?

Via Netbookitalia

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