February 4, 2012

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Samsung NB30 10.1-Inch Netbook Review

Samsung NB30 is the latest addition to Samsung’s netbook range. It boasts ruggedised features adorned in a fashionably protective material with a texturized matte black finish. This reduces the risk of scratches and fingerprints as well as adding another layer of durability. The Samsung NB30’s 10.1-inch screen has a 1024 x 600 pixel resolution which is sharp and bright, and there’s no shiny Super-TFT screen coating causing irritating reflections in bright light.

Intel’s new Atom N450 provides the netbook’s processing power, and you’ll find enough performance for running office applications such as word processors with ease. A benefit of Intel’s latest processor is the extended battery life it provides, and Samsung claim to have achieved and impressive 11 hours of battery from one charge.That means you can keep sending emails and uploading photos without worrying about being shut down.

The netbooks features a hard drive with a free fall sensor. This detects when the netbook has been dropped, and docks the drive heads in a bid to minimise the damage to your data. This could prove very useful in the hurly burly of the classroom environment.

The keyboard is a beauty and it is nicely flattened with a slightly rounded keys. An interesting feature on the Samsung NB30 netbook is the water-tight seal that protects the surface of the netbook from liquids (up to 50cc of liquid if removed in 10 seconds).

This netbook has been awarded the leading environmental and usability standard–TCO 3.0 certification–and is ECO RoHS compliant. As well as being ergonomically designed for optimum ease of use and performance, Samsung netbooks are also completely mercury free and consume significantly less power thanks to their LED backlit displays. Their ultra-lightweight, robust and compact design also offers other “green” advantages, as less power is used in the manufacture and usage phases of their product life.

Samsung NB30 Key Features

  • Scratch-Resistant Finish
  • Shock Resistant Hard Drive Design with free-fall sensor
  • Safe from Spills with water-tight seal that protects the surface of your netbook from liquids
  • A convenient gesture user-interface lets you scroll, pinch-zoom in / out, and rotate via touchpad
  • Wireless-N (802.11b/g/n) connectivity to provide high-speed access to the Internet and your data anytime, anywhere

Samsung NB30 Specification

  • Operating System : Windows 7 Starter Edition (32-bit)
  • Display : 10.1-inch LED-backlit display (1024 x 600) with anti-reflective coating
  • Processor : Intel Atom N450 Processor 1.66GHz (667MHz FSB, 512KB Cache)
  • Chipset : Mobile Intel NM10 Express chipset
  • Graphics : Intel GMA 3150 integrated graphics
  • Memory: 1GB DDR2 RAM (easily self upgrade RAM to 2GB)
  • Storage : 160GB 5400RPM SATA HDD
  • Wireless Data Network: Wi-Fi 802.11b/g/n
  • Input/Output: Ethernet LAN (RJ-45), VGA, 3 x USB 2.0 Ports(1 is chargeable)
  • Flash Media Slot : 3-in-1 Card Slot (SD, SDHC, MMC)
  • 1.3-megapixel webcam integrated into the bezel
  • Kensington lock compatibility
  • Built-in stereo speakers (1.5 W x 2) with HD Audio and SRS 3D Sound Effect capabilities
  • Optical Drive : No Optical Drive (optional external optical drive can be connected via one of the USB ports)
  • 6-Cell Lithium Ion battery pack (6.5 Hours of Battery Life)
  • Dimensions: 10.4 x 7.4 x 1.05 inches (WxDxH)
  • Weight: 2.73 pounds

Upgrading Samsung NB30 Memory from 1GB to 2GB

Take note of the following;

  • The netbook comes with only 1 slot and it is populated by a 1GB memory module
  • That means you have to remove the 1GB RAM module to insert the new 2GB RAM module
  • Make sure you purchase the right memory module – a 200 pin DDR2 SODIMM notebook memory module (667MHz or 800MHz)
  • Installing the memory is a snap. You just need a tiny Philips screwdriver to remove one screw from back cover. Once unscrewed slide the door towards the screw and lift up gently. Pop out the old, pop in the new, replace the cover and boot it back up (Follow the steps outlined in easily self upgrade RAM)

Color Options

The Samsung NB30 netbook is available in single color only.

  • Black

Software Included with Samsung NB30

The Samsung NB30 comes with a nice suite of applications, most of which are actually quite useful, unlike the bloatware that comes with many PCs.

  • McAfee Security Center
  • Samsung Recovery Solution utility to backup and restore operating system files
  • Samsung Magic Doctor which detects and corrects application issues
  • Samsung Battery Life Extender
  • Phoenix FailSafe – Robust security app which can help disable access to your netbook in case someone steals it
  • Easy Resolution Manager – let’s you increase screen resolution to 1024 x 768, or go back down to 1024 x 600

User Reviews

If you want something for lectures, meetings, surfing the web and a bit of media on the side and one of your main requirements is durability, then go for this. The NB30 is one of the most feature-packed, rugged and cost-conscious netbooks on the market. Samsung NB30 is a perfect companion for on the go.

Pros

  • Rugged and feels very solid
  • Shock Resistant Hard Drive
  • Excellent battery life
  • Spill resistant

Cons

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