Looking at the specifications of the Samsung NC10 netbook you will find that they are similar to many of its competitors. You shouldn’t overlook that it offers other features that distinguishes it in a crowded field.

Featuring the same processor as most minibooks today, the Intel Atom 1.6GHz, it is part of the high performance group of ultra mobile PCs. It is definitely on the higher end of the line with its 1GB of RAM that is pre-installed, because other netbooks come standard with 512GB. You have to upgrade them later. Additionally it features a 160BG/5400 rpm drive like many of its bigger brothers from the laptop line do.

Samsung outperforming the netbook competition

Samsung NC 10

The slick-looking Samsung NC10 includes a good complement of communication features, too. An 802.11 b/g Wi-Fi chipset comes standard and also an Ethernet port and Bluetooth 2.0 with EDR comes standard, which it not usual for netbooks. Normally it is merely an option on some models and not available at all on others.

Offering three USB 2.0 ports it surpasses many of its competitors that usually only feature two. It also includes a VGA out port that is not standard for most minibooks. Thereby plugging in a larger monitor when you are at home is a breeze. The SD Card Reader is also quite handy.

The screen is common size at 10.2” and provides the same 1024 x 600 that other netbooks provide. The unit just weights under 3lbs and the measures are 10.3″w x 7.3″d x 1.2″h. What this means is that the frame is the same as those of most other models in its class.

A netbook with a great keyboard

However, there are some features of the NC10 that are not outstanding. Another feature that is outstanding is the keyboard which, at full 93 percent of laptop standard is one of the largest. This has the benefit that no keys are removed, which leads to the fact that you don’t really have to spend a lot of time adapting to the new keyboard.

Another benefit of the keyboard apart from its size is that it features a proprietary coating that keep germs from transferring on the keys. There is no other manufacturer I know of that offers this. There is also a complementary touchpad featuring a distinctive dedicated scroll bar. This attribute also stands out in the crowd of netbooks.

Netbook lifetime

When it comes to lifetime the Samsung NC10 model also outperforms the competition. Most of the netbooks will enable you to use them at full-screen brightness for about 2 to 2 hours. Samsung’s model features a 6-cell battery that will last a full 7.5 hours without the need to recharge in between.

Also under heavy usage it will last 4 hours without any strain. Usually Wi-Fi tends to chew up battery life in netbooks, but this netbook performs very well even if you are accessing the internet frequently. In a heavy-duty video drain test the unit lasted about 4 ¾ hours. Quite impressive!

Turn up the volume

Samsung’s NC10 offers outstanding sound, despite of the placement of the speakers under the case. Other netbooks that have them underneath and not on the front usually sound dull and muted. Samsung has managed to produce a netbook with great sound even tough the speakers are placed in a way that normally doesn’t support sound.

The Samsung NC10 has a lot of great features and is offered at an attractive price in the colours white or blue. It can definitely hold its head up proudly with any other netbook that you can find on the market!

Samsung has already released an upgraded version of the NC10 - so check out the Samsung NC20 review on our site!