Samsung N110 Shipping in the US

A few weeks ago, there were pre-orders available for the 10.1-inch Intel Atom-powered Samsung N110 in the United States.

At the time, the pre-orders were available through Buy.com, but Buy.com is now listing them as unavailable (they might have sold through their allotment or there was a delay).

However, as of some time last week, NewEgg.com is listing the Samsung N110-12PBK for $469.99 and it looks like it’s currently shipping, which matches the expected ship dates of the first half of April.

Specifications of the N110-12PBK:
- Intel N270 Atom (1.6GHz)
- 1GB RAM
- 160GB HDD
- 1.3MP Webcam
- Bluetooth 2.0+ EDR
- 6-cell Battery
- Windows XP Home

The Buy.com model was listed as the Samsung NP-N110-KA01US, but it looks to be the same as the N110-12PBK.

Differences over the Samsung NC10 include a glossy display, a larger touch/trackpad, and a higher-capacity 6-cell battery.

Samsung NC20 - Available at NewEgg.com

The first VIA Nano-powered netbook/ultraportable available for customers in the US (and possibly Canada) has popped up at NewEgg.com. Back in March, it was officially delayed until April.

April is here, and the 12.1-inch Samsung NC20 is being listed for $549.99 and it looks to be shipping.

Specifications:
- Model: Samsung NC20-21GBK
- 1.3GHz VIA Nano U2250
- 12.1″ Display (1280×800)
- 1GB of DDR2 RAM
- 160GB 2.5″ SATA HDD
- VIA Chrome9 HC3 Graphics
- 6-Cell Battery
- Windows XP Home
- Bluetooth 2.0 + EDR
- 1.3MP Webcam

View: Samsung NC20 at NewEgg.com

Samsung N110 Reviewed, Available for Pre-Order

Update: Available at NewEgg.com
- Samsung N110-12PBK - $469.99 - Intel N270 Atom, 1GB RAM, 160GB HDD, 1.3MP Webcam, Bluetooth 2.0+ EDR, 6-cell Battery

The next netbook/ultraportable from Samsung that’s available in the US may not be the 12-inch VIA-powered Samsung NC20. Last week, the 10.1-inch Intel Atom-powered Samsung N110 was announced and it’s available for pre-order.

LAPTOP Magazine mentions a release date in the first week of April, but Buy.com seems to be the only retailer currently listing it. Buy.com has a pre-order up for $441.99 (Normally $469 USD):
- Samsung NP-N110-KA01US (Pre-Order)

It’s still based on the Intel Atom N270 (1.6GHz) instead of the N280, and has a few other features found in the original Samsung netbook, the Samsung NC10, however there are a few other key differences over the NC10:
- Glossy display
- Different chassis (black glossy with a red border)
- Larger touchpad
- Larger/high capacity battery (5900 mAh)

Specifications:
- 1.6GHz Intel Atom N270
- 93% Full-size keyboard
- 1GB RAM
- 160GB 5400rpm (2.5″ SATA)
- Windows XP Home
- 802.11b/g and Bluetooth 2.0

Samsung claims a maximum of 1GB of RAM, but it remains to be seen if this is the case, since the NC10 was easily upgradeable as far as memory.

LAPTOP Magazine has published what maybe the first review of the N110, at least in North America. With their LAPTOP Magazine battery test, they were able to get nearly seven and a half hours out of the battery. It was highly rated by LAPTOP Magazine - they gave it their Editor’s Choice award.
via Portable Monkey

Note: If you are curious, you can download the user manual through the Samsung N110 downloads page

Samsung Netbooks/Mini-Notebooks and Windows 7

Over the past few days, Samsung has been hosting their European Forum in Vienna. TechRadar UK got a chance to speak with Kyu Uhm, head of Samsung’s Worldwide Sales and Marketing (Computing Division).

Uhm had quite a bit to say about Microsoft’s upcoming Windows 7, as well as netbooks in general. As far as what version of Windows 7 would be shipped with future Samsung ultraportable products, it comes down to “…how much we need to pay to Microsoft. It is an open issue. So we can ship other Windows 7 versions, but it is a matter of royalties.”

Uhm considers the Samsung NC10 to be “key drivers for Samsung’s growth in the short term period,“, which echoes what analysts have been saying.

Read: TechRadar UK

Samsung NC20 in US - Delayed Until April

Earlier this month, we mentioned that the 12-inch Samsung NC20 would be available this week from NewEgg (March 16 to be precise).

This is an exclusive distribution deal for the USA.

Unfortunately that’s been delayed until the first week of April, according to LAPTOP Magazine, but there is some good news. The US-bound NC20 has 5900 mAH high-capacity battery - models available outside of North America have a 5200 mAH battery. That should be matched by a 13% or so increase in battery life.

The only model available will be black, and will retail for $549 (it’s around $480 overseas). If you’re interested in another color/model, keep in mind that with the NC10, Samsung originally wasn’t going to carry some models/colors, but later on, a black option for the NC10 was offered.

This will be the first VIA Nano-based netbook/ultraportable laptop available in the US.

Read: LAPTOP Magazine

Samsung NC10 Special Edition - Glossy or Matte?

A few days ago, I mentioned that the “Special Edition” Samsung NC10 (NC10-11PBK) that’s available exclusively through Amazon.com had a price drop (down to $469) and had started shipping to those who pre-ordered it.

The NC10-11PBK has a 6-cell high capacity battery that boosts the battery life up to around 9 hours or so, along with a larger touchpad than the typical NC10.

Something else that it has is a slightly different display, and it’s caused some confusion.

Early reports were that the glossy anti-reflection coating is a matte display instead.

So is the display glossy or is it matte?

I contacted Samsung directly, and this is what I was told:

According to our marketing team, the screen on the NC10-11PBK is a glossy screen. Due to the anti-reflective nature of it, it appears to many users as a matte screen. It comes down to user opinion on whether or not the screen is glossy or matte, as it could easily be referred to as either.

- View Samsung NC10 NC10-11PBK (Amazon)

Special Edition Samsung NC10 (Amazon) - Ship Dates, Price Drop, Display

If you are in the US, and are looking at the 10-inch Samsung NC10, specifically the “Special Edition” Samsung NC10-11PBK, shipments have started. Currently if you order one, you maybe waiting 2-5 weeks, but they have already started shipping to those who pre-ordered back in February.

The NC10-11PBK is available exclusively from Amazon.com. Do you see a trend here? The 12.1-inch Samsung NC20 is going to be available through only one retailer in the US as well, although it’s not a special edition (the NC10 is available from other US retailers). It’s an interesting move by Samsung.

Not only that, but the price has dropped to $469 (link at Amazon). That puts it on average of around $30 or so more than the typical NC10.

The NC10-11PBK is a really interesting move, since it differs quite a bit from normal NC10s:
- 6-cell High Capacity Battery - 5900mAh (Samsung claims 9.4 hours)
- Larger touch pad than other NC10s

The first is not such a big deal - swapping batteries is not a big issue. The larger touchpad required a change in the manufacturing of that part of the chassis/case.

What was reported to be Anti-reflection gloss coating for the display, seems to resemble a matte display instead - up on Amazon.com, somebody who received their NC10SE said that it was more of a matte display. Others contacted Samsung and reported that “anti-reflection gloss coating” is just a marketing term and that it was more in line with the matte displays of the conventional NC10. We have sent a note off asking for confirmation as well.

As far as the other specifications, it comes with a standard 1.6GHz Intel Atom, 1GB Memory, 160GB hard drive, Windows XP, and it’s black.

Read/View: Samsung NC10 NC10-11PBK (Amazon)

via Engadget

Samsung NC20 in the US This Month, Hands-On (LAPTOP Mag)

For those in the US who have been wondering about the 12.1-inch Samsung NC20, it’s coming to the US later this month (March 16) and will be available exclusively through NewEgg, according to LAPTOP Magazine.

It will have a high-capacity battery (5900 mAh) and only be available in black. No pricing information has been released.

LAPTOP Magazine has also published a hands-on look at the NC20, and came away impressed with the performance of the VIA Nano-based device. They were able to play 720p High Definition (HD) video with the Windows Media Player 11, while browsing the web using Internet Explorer. The NC20 has a 1280×800 display which allows for 720p content.

It’s obvious that it pushes the envelope when it comes to what is popularly defined as a netbook with its larger display, and LAPTOP Magazine has published a few photos showing the size compared to the 10-inch Samsung NC10. The keyboard and touchpad are both larger than the NC10.

Read: LAPTOP Magazine

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