Acer Review, Asus Review – Netbook 10

Sometimes awesome netbooks have not-so-impressive netbook families. Like the Samsung line of netbooks. Samsung has amazing  netbooks like the 12″ N510, the gorgeous rubber-cased N310 GO, the top-performer-of-the-summer  NC10, and the recent Windows 7 running N140. So when you check out the N130′s gorgeous chassis, you think it’ll have awesome insides.

Not true. The Samsung N130 has your usual run-of-the-mill specs and is available for a mediocre $370. If you like the build, the Samsung brand name and don’t mind shelling out a little more than you have to for a Windows 7-N270-1GB RAM-160GB HDD-5 hour battery netbook, read on.

[Rating:5/7]

Samsung N130 Features & Drawbacks

• almost-full-size 93% keyboard which makes typing quite easy on the netbook
• large touchpad at 2.5″ by 1.4″
• touchpad has a single button only (kind of looks like an Apple iBook touchpad)
• gorgeous chassis
• matter outer chassis that doesn’t attract fingerprints
• Windows 7 (Starter)
• 6 cell battery doesn’t raise the netbook too high (only quarter of an inch)
• battery lasts only 5 hours
• gets really hot with repeated use
• SD card slot doesn’t have a spring, leaving you constantly concerned about your SD card falling out

Rating – 5/7

• Value for Money – 0.5
• Speed and Performance –0.5
• Screen – 0.5
• Keyboard – 1
• Portability & Battery Life – 0.5
• Looks and Design – 1
• Extensibility & connectivity –1

Samsung N130 Specs

Processor – 1.6GHz Intel N270

Chipset – GMA 950

OS – Windows 7 Starter

Memory – 1GB RAM

Storage – 160GB HDD

Display – 10.1″

Connectivity – 802.11 b/g/n

Ports – 3 x USB, 3 in 1 card reader

Battery –6 cell battery (4000 mAh), about , 5 hours

Dimensions –10.7″  x  7.4″  x  1.08-1.17″

Weight – 2.82lbs

Bottom line

The Samsung N130 looks amazing. It’s cheaper than a lot of netbooks (such as the Samsung N140 and the Sony Vaio W), but is by no means a pure budget netbook (the Asus 1005HA and the Acer D250 offer far more for less). At $370, it’s a little more than you have to pay for a good looking netbook. I recommend you pay more and get more, or pay the same and get more – check out the other netbooks I’ve mentioned in this paragraph.

Related posts:

1. Samsung N130/N140 Netbooks Launched in Russia
2. Review: Samsung N140 (Windows 7)
3. Review: Samsung N510
4. Samsung N110 Review: Cramped Keyboard, Awesome Battery Life
5. Samsung N140 (with Windows 7 Starter) Review : Hard-working but Batt Life is Short

Filed under: Uncategorized