Just in: Samsung NC10 netbook

Friday, October 31st, 2008

UPDATE: Read the full Samsung NC10 review here.

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It’s the one we’ve been waiting for, and now it’s arrived – rather unhelpfully, late on a Friday afternoon. The Samsung NC10 is the one we all think will challenge the Eee PC for the netbook crown, and from first impressions we remain convinced.

It’s the first netbook we’ve seen that actually looks like a laptop. It has much in common with Samsung’s larger portable models, and the manufacturer has been sure to spend a little time on the styling. Where the brilliant Eee PC 1000H looks like, well, a my-first-laptop, and the MSI Wind is curvy but feels like a toy, the NC10 has the silver trim and little style touches that make it feel like a polished, fully-fledged laptop.

The keyboard is every bit as comfortable as the Eee, and the screen looks like every other small TFT we’ve seen in the netbook range. If we have a complaint it’s that the touchpad is on the small side, and all too easy to slide off without realising. The joint mouse buttons aren’t ideal either. But we like what we see so far, and with battery life rumoured to be as impressive as the Eee, we look forward to benchmarking it thoroughly.

UPDATE: Read the full Samsung NC10 review here.

First look: Hands on with Dell’s Inspiron Mini 9

Wednesday, September 24th, 2008

The Inspiron Mini 9 is Dell’s long-awaited contender to the Netbook throne. With Asus’ ever-expanding range of Eees; MSI’s Wind and its several clones – take a bow Advent and Medion – and seemingly every manufacturer under the sun trying to get a piece of the Netbook action, Dell is the one name that has been conspicuous by its absence.

Now, finally, in the luxurious splendour of Monte-Carlo’s Fairmont Hotel, we’ve managed to get our grubby mitts on the Mini 9 itself.

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Netbook price hikes and the Eee PC effect

Monday, August 4th, 2008

Like several other members of the PC Pro team, when the original 7in Eee PC arrived on the scene I was a huge fan. I wanted one, I debated ordering one, but I saw the huge waiting times others were experiencing and decided instead to hold fire. And I’m glad I did.

Since then the number of “netbooks” has multiplied, the original has got bigger and better, and there are still more on the horizon. Rumours of Lenovo (now confirmed – Ed) and Sony joining the fray may turn out to be unfounded, but it’s clear even the most sceptical of manufacturers has been forced to admit the little things have taken off in a way no one predicted.

But with each new model, each new name, the prices have been slowly creeping in the wrong direction, to the extent that what was once a pocket-money investment is now a slightly more laptop-sized dent in your wallet. (more…)