Samsung NC10-14GB 10.2-Inch Blue Netbook - 6 Cell Battery Decide Now

I had been looking for a netbook for some time now and I have tried out a few different brands/models. I finally ending up choosing the Samsung NC10 (Blue). I can sum up my decision very easily: this netbook is awesome. I have had the Dell mini, Asus Eee PC 900 series, and an Acer Aspire One in my hands. I also looked into the HP and MSI models.

If you are looking at several different netbooks, consider googling "netbook comparison" and take a look at Optimitza's comparison table.

Some details, however, are not easily compared. Sure the specs on this and many other netbooks are the same, but the Samsung NC10 wins in several areas in my opinion:

**Screen size - the 10.2" screen really gives you the perfect amount of screen real estate and is a real advantage over 9" models. It's not too big and not too small.

**Battery life - Samsung claims up to seven hours of battery life with their 6 cell battery. I haven't tested it completely, but it is definitely holding up very well!!

**Hard drive - it's not solid state, but you are getting 160GB. Very nice (although if you use there backup/restore feature it will be a little less).

**Matte screen - some people prefer the glossy screen found on the Dell mini, but the NC10 has a great screen. Perfect viewing angles, brightness, and excellent resolution.

**Memory - 1GB, but easily upgradeable to 2GB. See below.

**Speed - I was impressed by the speed. Windows XP runs very well on the NC10 and you should be able to use a variety of applications on it.

**Feature packed - wireless, bluetooth, 3 USB, microphone, headphone, webcam, card reader

**Keyboard - after trying out some other models, I knew that the keyboards on the netbooks might be an issue for me. The NC10's keyboard is obviously still smaller than a normal laptop, but I feel that it is bigger than other netbooks and very tactile. It's sturdy and feels great. Plus you have a full row of function keys, which is not the case on some other netbooks.

**Touch Pad - netbooks have small touch pads and you will have to get used to it. The NC10's touch pad is no different, but it does have a scroll function and has just the right sensitivity.

**Durability - the NC10 seems to be very well built. The pieces and parts are well joined and it feels good in the hands.

**Design - Samsung opted for a different design approach. Instead of the "square" corners and sides, the netbook is more rounded. The ports come out from the machine. I was unsure at first, but I have to say that I have really come to love the design of the NC10. It's sturdy, well-built, and just feels good in your hands.

The Samsung NC10 has a bit more weight to it (total of 2.8lbs), but it's not noticeable. It's still ultra portable and light. As for price, I caught mine on sale which made it almost the same price as its competition. Plus, the NC10 has all features included unlike Dell or some others. You don't have to worry about raising the price as you add on features. The NC10 already has what you need.

A lightweight case is included (unlike some other netbooks). I opted to buy a different case (the Mobile Edge 10" sleeve, which has a little slack but fits the NC10 and power adapter very well).

I was not thrilled with the software included. Samsung had a backup/restore utility that also partitioned the drive. I'm sure it's great for general users, but I prefer to have my computers clean of any manufacturer software when I buy them. It looks like the software works very well, it's just my preference.

QUICK MEMORY UPGRADE:
You can easily upgrade the memory in this machine at a cheap price. Anyone can complete this upgrade and it will NOT void your warranty. All you have to do is take one screw off and a plastic cover. Memory is cheap right now, but be careful which one you get. It appears that some are recommending memory with a lower speed...this netbook can handle more. A 1GB stick is standard, but you can easily install a 2GB DDR2 800MHz stick. I chose to get Kingston 2GB 800MHZ DDR2 Sodimm available at Amazon, Newegg, or other stores. If you need help with installation there are instructions and a video available at laptop magazine's web site.

If I were to sum the Samsung NC10 up in one word, it would be "quality". It feels sturdy, looks good, and is well-built. Samsung did a great job and you should definitely put this on your list of considerations if buying a netbook. Get more detail about Samsung NC10-14GB 10.2-Inch Blue Netbook - 6 Cell Battery.