Samsung N510 review

That 11.6in display is also impressive. Its matte finish keeps distracting reflections at bay, and the 1,366 x 768 resolution is generous by netbook standards. Quality isn't stunning, with slightly weak contrast leaving colours and skintones looking washed out, and narrow viewing angles occasionally give cause for aggravation, but it's bright by netbook standards and good enough for all but the most colour-critical applications.

There's precious little wrong with the keyboard. The keys have a firm, positive feel, and we quickly found ourselves touch-typing away without a care in the world. We still don't understand why Samsung insists on moving the Windows key over to the right-hand side of the space bar on some of its laptops, but it's something most people should quickly become used to.

The final hurdle is that of battery life, and even here the N510 triumphs, achieving 6hrs 30mins in our light-use test. It might not be up the N110's lofty standards, but even though it dwindles to 3hrs 44mins under intense use, it's more than enough for all but the longest of jaunts away from home.

Intel's Atom processor is never going to power a gaming speed-demon, then, but Nvidia's Ion LE is enough to hoist Samsung's N510 well above the average netbook. It inevitably comes at extra cost, but with a 1,366 x 768 display and decent media abilities, the N510 is a netbook that will entertain you as no other will.

Author: Sasha Muller