Samsung has launched more netbooks this year than just about anyone and the Samsung N510 continues that trend by bringing pretty much the same spec out to play but with a neat 11.6-inch display. However, it also brings a couple of tricks, such as Nvidia ION graphics with it. So, is the Samsung N510 worth getting excited about, check out our review and find out…
The Samsung N510 pretty much takes the standard tack for a netbook. Our review unit came with Windows XP but we’re expecting it to get an upgrade to Window 7 Starter Edition in due course. Then there is the by now standard Samsung netbook look and feel, making this a solid and robust machine that certainly feels like great value for money.
Check out our Samsung N130 review
The 11.6-inch screen is bright and and sharp and with a resolution of 1366 x 768 pixels it’ll run HD content with relative ease. The beauty of having a widescreen display of this size is hat the keyboard feels a little less compact than on other netbooks. So much so that we feel this is the best keyboard on any Samsung netbook to-date.
When it comes to specification, you’ll find the Samsung N510 pretty much comes packed with the standard offering, so we get an Intel Atom N280 CPU, along with 1024MB of memory and 160GB hard drive. However, it is the addition of Nvidia ION graphics that make this an interesting choice.
Suddenly, the Samsung N510 looks quite a different proposition as it means you’ll be able to run high-end video and ever play the odd game on this machine. At least you would be able to if the system wasn’t hampered by the main system resources creating a bottle-neck. We found video ran fine and basic games are also acceptable. However, the age of netbook gaming is still some way away.
Samsung has pretty much staid true to features, so you’ll find three USB ports on the Samsung N510, webcam, VGA-out and Ethernet fitted as standard. You’ll also find HDMI for hooking up to your HD TV, then there is 802.11n Wi-Fi for a solid and fast wireless connection.
Verdict
With an overall weight of 1.4kg and a battery life of a little under five hours in our tests, the Samsung N510 is a decent netbook. The addition of decent graphics raises the bar on the netbook arena but the drop in battery life and the, inevitable, hike in price may have you thinking twice if all you’re after is a cost-effective solution for web browsing.
Best features
Good screen
Great keyboard
Not so good
Average battery life
Not a gaming machine
Check out the Samsung N510 review image gallery:
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