Samsung N510 Complete Review

Even though the N510 has much more powerful graphics than most netbooks, it still provides very good battery life, providing 6 hours 30 mins of light every day use, and dropping to 3 hours 45 mins during more intensive use, such as gaming and HD playback. Know More of Review and specification Further inside



Samsung N510 Technical Specifications:

• Processor: Intel Atom Processor N280 1.66GHz; 667MHz FSB; 512KB Cache
• Chipset: MCP79MZ
• Graphics: Nvidia GeForce 9400M; 128MB memory
• Memory: 1GB DDR2 800MHz; 1 x Slot SODIMM
• Hard Drive: 160GB SATA
• Operating System: Windows XP Home (SP3)
• Display: 11.6″ WXGA (1366 x 768) SuperBright Matte HD LED Display
• Audio: 3 Watts Stereo Speakers (1.5W x 2)
  SRS TruSurround XT, SRS WOW XT, SRS CS Headphone
  Mic Noise Suppression
• Keyboard: 83 Key with Silver Nano technology (Anti-Bacterial Keyboard)
• Networking:
  Wired Ethernet LAN (RJ45) 10/100
  Wireless LAN 802.11b/g/N
  Bluetooth 2.1
• Ports:
  1 x VGA
  1 x HDMI
  1 x Headphone-out
  1 x Mic-in
  1 x Internal Mic
  3 x USB 2.0 (1x Chargeable USB)
  1 x DC-in (Power Port)
• Other:
  3 in 1 Card Reader (SD, SDHC, MMC)
  1.3 mega pixel webcam
  Kensington Lock Port
• Power Supply: AC Adapter 40 Watt
• Battery: 6-Cell Lithium ion 5900mAh
• Dimensions: 289mm x 199.5mm x 26.5~30.3mm (W x D x H)
• Weight: 1.46kg

Design

The N510 sports a black, glossy lid that picks up fingerprints quickly. Like the NC20, you’ll also find chrome trim around the edges and a power button that’s located on the hinge. Under the lid the bezel and deck are both matte plastic, as with some other N series netbooks. The overall design is handsome but not as modern looking as the HP Mini 311.

The 10.7 x 7.4 x 1.2-inch N510 shares the same dimensions and design as the N120, though the N510’s display is a larger 11.6 inches. That leaves no room for the speakers that graced the N120’s bezel, but otherwise the cases are nearly identical.

At 3.2 pounds, the N510 is a bit heavier than the 2.8-pound N120, but just at the average weight for 11.6-inch notebooks. 

Keyboard and Touchpad

The N510’s keyboard is similar to that found on the most of the 10-inch N Series netbooks from Samsung. It is a little bigger overall, with well-sized keys in the center and along the edges, plus good placement for the Shift, Enter, and arrow keys.


The 2.8 x 1.6-inch touchpad is nice and wide, allowing us to move across the screen without having to pick our finger up too often. It has a bare amount of friction that matches the matte surface of the wrist rest. There’s a slight bump between the touch surface and the deck, so users have a tactile clue when they’ve strayed. Some multitouch gestures, like pinch and zoom, were a bit difficult to execute, but one and two-finger scrolling and rotate worked well.

Ion power

Nvidia's Ion technology is used and enables the machine to use a powerful Nvidia GeForce 9400M GPU to produce significantly more 3D power than the average netbook. This means you can run multimedia applications such as video editing suites and even basic games.

802.11n Wi-Fi and 10/100 Ethernet provide the capability for wireless and wired networking. HDMI and VGA ports let you connect digital and analogue external monitors, and three USB ports provide plenty of space for peripherals.

Ports and Webcam

The N510 has a standard spread of ports for an Ion netbook: Ethernet, VGA, HDMI and a chargeable USB on the left; power, headphone, mic, and the remaining two USBs on the right. The chargeable USB port can provide power to USB devices when the N510 is sleeping or off. This can drain the battery unintentionally if you accidentally leave a device plugged in. You can turn the feature on or off via a utility found in the Samsung folder in the Start menu.

A 3-in-1 card reader sits at the front of the N510. SD cards stick out about a quarter of an inch, but not as much as on the N140 and N130. Just as with other N series netbooks, the card reader doesn't have a spring lock. 

The 1.3-megapixel webcam above the display captured decent, but dark images. 

Positives

- Typical solid Samsung build quality
- Nvidia ION graphics enables HD video playback & better 3D performance
- High-resolution (1366 x 768) matte display
- Reasonably lightweight for 11.6-inch netbook
- Subtle, functional design
- Comfortable keyboard with no flex
- Touchpad & mouse buttons are responsive
- HDMI-out port enabling you to connect to your TV
- Easy access to HDD & RAM via bottom panel
- Feature-rich [Wi-Fi (b/g/n), Bluetooth 2.1, Card Reader, 1.3MP webcam]
- Chargeable USB port

Negatives

- Small right shift key
- The glossy lid is a fingerprint magnet
- Display not as bright as peers
- Use of ION impacts battery life
- Touchpad could have been bigger given chassis size
- Price point towards the top-end for a netbook
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