As with all the netbooks currently being refreshed, the Samsung N210 adopts Intel's latest Pine Trail platform. The Samsung N210’s internals could be those of any current-gen non-Ion netbook, a 1.66GHz Atom N450 Pine Trail processor, 1GB RAM, a 250GB 5,400rpm hard drive, but it’s what’s on the outside that counts. The device has an embossed cream-color lid covered with a clear plastic coating.
It’s exclusively available in the US at Best Buy, where you can pick it up for 17,883.2 INR
Samsung N210 Specifications
- 10.1-Inch 1024 x 600 Display (Non Glossy / matte)
- Intel Atom N450 / 1.66 GHz CPU
- 250 GB SATA Hard Drive
- Intel GMA 3150 Graphics
- 1 GB DDR2 SDRAM – 800 MHz (Upgradeable to 2GB)
- 3 in 1 Card Reader
- 0.3 Megapixel Webcam
- Bluetooth 2.1 EDR
- 802.11b/g/n/ WiFi, Ethernet
- Multitouch Touchpad
- 3x USB 2.0
- 11.2 Hour Battery Life
- 26.5 cm x 18.9 cm x 2.9 cm, 1.34 kg
- Windows 7 Starter Edition (32-Bit)
- Price as Reviewed: 17,883.2 INR
Build Quality Design
Priced at 17,883.2 INR (and available exclusively at Best Buy), this netbook has an attractive design and comes loaded with extra features that other budget-level netbooks lack. Measuring 10.5″ x 7.4″ x 1.15″ the Samsung N210 is a bit on the chunky side for a 10 inch netbook. Dressed in black plastic, it features a 10.1" WSVGA display with the prototypical 1024 x 600 pixel resolution.
A textured pattern of small rectangles with rounded edges embedded in the pearl white lid (also available in black) is covered by a clear shell. This multi-layered treatment adds a sense of depth while warding off scratches.
One of the netbook’s most distinguishing characteristics is the lid. It features a textured pattern on a white background, which is covered by a clear plastic shell. The transparent shell also creates a border around the bezel, and viewed from the side, echoes the shape of the chrome strip that borders the keyboard deck. A small chrome trim runs around the outside of the netbook and can be seen when the netbooks is closed and open.
Screen and Display
The N210’s 10.1-inch, 1024 x 600 wide-screen LCD uses eye-pleasing LED backlighting matte display offered bright colors and deep blacks despite the lack of a glossy finish. In Windows you can set it to 1152 x 864 for extra screen space, but you will loose detail and clarity as it’s not the LCD’s native resolution.
Matte finishes are usually preferred on a netbook, as it’s a mobile device and taken around, you don’t have to worry about annoying reflections. The netbook’s webcam is located just above the display, and features a red circle around the camera and a helpful label that says “DIGITAL LIVECAM.”
The clarity also remains very high. Screen brightness is easily selectable on eight different levels. To extend battery life, the brightness can be set at about 50% and easily used in normal lighting conditions. Stick the netbook outdoors or too close to a lamp and a glossy screen starts to look like a mirror. That’s not the case with theSamsung N210.
Keyboard and Touchpad
The N210’s touch pad is the same width as the undersize spacebar. It’s of a chiclet type which makes for easier typing. It runs the full width of the netbook maximizing the over all size of the keyboard. Though the style is different, the N210 delivered a good typing experience, offering springy tactile feedback.
The laptop does offer a decent array of Fn keys which allow you to perform common tasks such as dimming the display, adjusting the volume, toggling the wireless, or putting the computer to sleep using keyboard shortcuts.
The 2.5 x 1.6-inch touchpad is fairly large and allowed for smooth navigation of the desktop. Almost too smooth; the cursor moved a little bit too fast. This allows you to pinch zoom with two fingers, swipe with three to go forward and back while browsing, and scroll vertically and horizontally with two fingers.
Ports and Webcam
Viewing video from the integrated VGA Webcam (0.3 megapixels) is a similar experience. The camera records accurate skin tones, and still photographs are not grainy, the way VGA pictures from laptop Webcams sometimes turn out. The 0.3MP webcam delivered images with decent color and backlight balance. Samsung bundled CyberLink YouCam with the N210 for adding effects to stills and video capture, plus one-touch uploads to YouTube.On the left side of the Samsung N210, you’ll find the power jack, mic and headphone jacks, an Ethernet port and a USB port. Samsung placed the N210’s microphone next to the touch pad, instead of up next to the Webcam. This makes for crisp, clear, loud voice recordings.
Performance
The 1.66-GHz Intel Atom N450 CPU and 1GB of RAM delivered a score of 1,362 on PCMark05, about 100 marks below the category average. Surfing the Web and performing basic photo edits are also reasonably smooth functions on this netbook and its 32-bit Windows 7 Starter operating system. Like most IntelAtom N450 netbooks, the Samsung N210 offers enough power for watching some videos, editing documents, surfing the web, chatting, or even doing some image editing and other tasks.
Though the N210’s performance is slightly below average, its multitasking abilities are fairly strong. While performing a full system scan with Windows Defender, we reran our WME test and recorded a time of 32 minutes and 37 seconds for the N210.
The N210 also features Phoenix HyperSpace quick boot software. HyperSpace is a light weight Linux distribution that boots in about 10 seconds, allowing you to get online and surf the web, send instant messages, or perform a handful of other tasks without waiting for Windows to boot. HyperSpace is an alternative to the Splashtop software Asus, Lenovo, and several other companies offer on their netbooks.
