Samsung NC10

Any updates about this? I am in the market for a netbook, and upon further investigation, this seems like it will have the best keyboard. My primary concern about purchasing a netbook is the keyboard. I tested out a Asus 900 and it was way to small. Also another thing that bugs me about the majority of netbooks is the placement of the right shift key. Any news about the NC10 being released in the US?

 

I don't know about the NC10 and North America. It is possible that since the Q1 was sold there then the NC10 may follow. It is expected in UK at the start of November.

John

 

Here's hoping Samsung does release this model in North America. It looks like a very worthy challenger to Acer's Aspire One:

Advantages:
* 1.3" larger, non-glossy LCD display
* 1.3mpix webcam instead of 0.3mpix
* Built-in bluetooth
* External display up to 2048 x 1536 pixels
* HD audio
* Touchpad buttons in traditional location, not at sides
* User-upgradeable RAM
* This is subjective, but in my opinion the Samsung has a more stylish design than the Acer

Disadvantages:
* 0.5" x 0.6" x 0.1" (25%) greater external dimensions
* 10 ounces (27%) greater weight
* No secondary multi-card reader (hence no built-in support for Memory Stick, Memory Stick Duo or xD-Picture Card)

Other:
* Processor, memory, graphics, storage, battery, connectivity (except as noted above) are equal
* Keyboard layout identical, size *may* be a little larger (not sure yet)
* May be Windows-only (not a disadvantage for me)
* May be non-SSD only (not a disadvantage for me, and Korean user manual mentions SSD drives so they may turn out to be an option)

Overall, the advantages are worth the slight increase to size and weight for me, and the sole disadvantage of no secondary reader is one I could easily live with - decent external USB multi readers are cheap, small, and extremely readily available.

The Aspire One is apparently selling very well in North America from what I've read, which suggests the Samsung Sens NC10 could sell just as well if they have the distribution channels in place.

 

I used to think the Ideapad s10 was the best looking until the NC10 came out.
I actually got one of the initial patch of S10 sent out but I sold it on Ebay.
I think this netbook has the best spec of all netbook.
Its heavier because of the 6-cell battery.

 

I've found a possible indicator that the Samsung NC10 will be available in the USA, with a little luck. A retailer called Bottom Line Telecommunications are listing the NC10 on their website:

http://www.shopblt.com/cgi-bin/shop...1000100U0118_BV06155P.shtml&order_id=!ORDERID!

I have never done business with this store, nor am I likely to while the item isn't in stock. However, I find it interesting that they list both a manufacturer part number (including "US" in the number), as well as a UPC code. They also list expected availability of over a hundred units each at five different shipping centers, all listing the date as October 23rd:

Mfg. Part #: NP-NC10-KA02US
UPC Code: 036725721371

It is *possible* that these could be made-up or placeholders, but given that they have a positive rating on ResellerRatings I'd like to hope this indicates that the NC10 will be available in the USA.

http://www.resellerratings.com/store/Bottom_Line_Telecommunications_15

Anybody with access to Ingram, Tech Data, or whomever is a distributor for Samsung care to check if the part number or UPC above returns anything?

 

OK, I'm pretty sure the NC10 is coming to the USA now. I've found another retailer listing it - and this one is a reputable one with which I've had good experiences purchasing ~$2,000 products before now.

PC Nation are listing TWO model numbers - either NP-NC10-KA01US (Metallic White), or NP-NC10-KA02US (Metallic Blue).

Their pricing is nearly identical at $480, with expected delivery in "1-2 weeks".

http://www.pcnation.com/web/details.asp?item=V06154&GEN0=Y

http://www.pcnation.com/web/details.asp?item=V06155&GEN0=Y

 

btw, a Ukrainian website has posted a review of the NC10 today. Here it is with Google Translation Goodness(tm):

http://66.102.9.104/translate_c?hl=...n&sa=G&usg=ALkJrhiZ4cMCFaq590AFB2wBIZhsNBcSug

And in its native Russian:

http://techiteasy.org.ua/node/104

 

Thank you for these various bits of information.

It remains to be seen whether the NC10's availability in USA is just as replacement for the Q1 or heralds the arrival of other Samsung notebooks. I'm sure the X360 and X460 would attract considerable attention.

John

 

It suddenly occurs to me, golfreak - if you were saying the NC10 was heavier than the Aspire One because of the six cell battery, that's not the case.

The weight difference I cited earlier is comparing the Aspire One six-cell to the NC10 six-cell. The difference is simply down to the NC10 being a larger overall netbook with a bigger screen; the battery doesn't come into it.

 

Bottom Line Telecommunications is now also listing the Metallic White version of the NC10:

http://www.shopblt.com/cgi-bin/shop...1000100U0118_BV06154P.shtml&order_id=!ORDERID!

 

Incidentally, Buy.com also has it up:

White:
http://www.buy.com/prod/netbook-nc10-14gw-10-2in-systmetallic-white-1yr/q/loc/101/209849827.html
Blue:
http://www.buy.com/prod/netbook-nc10-14gb-10-2in-systmetallic-blue-1yr/q/loc/101/209849649.html


Provided you don't get hit with Sales Tax, Buy.com looks to be slightly cheaper than the other two options, at $474.99

 

Thanks, Neoterix. FadFusion.com have also been listing it for a day or so, but their price - $493.99 - is the highest yet.

PC Nation have now removed it from their site, for some reason. At this time, none of the above have published specifications for the US model, still. (That's basically the one thing stopping me from buying - I want to know the hard disk and battery sizes, whether bluetooth is included, and to confirm the US model is running on XP).

 

Agreed, it's unfortunate that no specs appear to be listed anywhere. The information supplied to me by PC Nation (on the phone) indicates that the product will be shipping on the 23rd. I've been a little more reckless and have since jumped on board and put in my order at Buy.com. We shall see how it goes--I'm hoping the specs will begin to clarify before the 23rd so I can cancel my order if the specs are lacking (3 cell instead of 6 cell, etc.)

 

I would be impressed if the NC-10 is available on 23rd (October). UK suppliers indicate 1st November and I think that may be challenging. Usually, an indicator of production is that the full driver and software set appears on the Samsung download site. At the moment the only file for the NC-10 is the BIOS.

Keep watching that site so that you can download and study the User Guide once it is posted.

John

 

http://www.samsung.com/download/Mod...code=1102&model=NP-NC10&filetype=DR&language=

And it's up!!!!

User Manual here:
http://org.downloadcenter.samsung.c...810/20081013133820593/User_Manual_1.2.0.0.zip

 

I went through the manual briefly and picked up a few notes:

- There is only one memory slot, so to move up to 2GB, you must replace the preinstalled OEM 1GB (nuts!)
- The touchpad supports gestures, including chrial scroll and pinching
- "Surround Sound" enhancement
- There is an "Easy Speed-Up Manager" that allows switching between a low/normal/high performance mode

 

So maybe the 1st November arrival is looking possible.

I attach some extracts from the manual.

The specs say the maximum RAM is 1GB, but this is inconsistent with the specs for the Intel 945GSE chipset which shows 2GB maximum.

The overall operation and the system software appears to be standard Samsung, so anyone who is familiar with a Samsung notebook will quickly feel at home with the NC10.

John

 

I believe it is 2GB maximum, but maybe the confusion arises because there is only one slot? Perhaps the specs have a misprint?

On page 5, it says, "Performance Restrictions: . . . There is one memory slot provided on this computer. It supports 2GB memory max. To upgrade to 2GB memory, replace current memory with a 2GB memory module."

 

I have been following the notices & communications for the Samsung NC10 for several days. Here's a quote from an early mail, citing the following as a disadvantage:

" * No secondary multi-card reader (hence no built-in support for Memory Stick, Memory Stick Duo or xD-Picture Card) "

Umm, is "memory stick" another way of saying the "flash stick" or "thumb memory" that one slots into a usb port ?
If so, this means that there's no way to put files or programs in or take out of the samsung?
If this is a stupid question, sorry. I'm not a complete dufus when it comes to computers, but the disadvantage quoted here throws me.
thanks for your patience in answering
peregrina

 

No. Memory Stick(tm) is a proprietary flash memory format developed by Sony:

wikipedia.org/wiki/Memory_stick

Some of the memory reader slots on some netbooks are physically able to accept both Secure Digital memory formats and Memory Stick, this release appears to be indicating that it is not compatible with the Sony format.


USB thumb drives should work fine.

 

Yep, that sums it up nicely. Sorry for confusing you, Peregrina.

 

New question about the Samsung nc10:
I notice that Amazon.com is allowing pre-arrival orders. They call the model "winchester".
Bounti.com seems to have the initials "GW" in their naming of the NC10.
Anybody know what these terms "winchester" and "GW" might mean -- are there diff models or versions coming?
BTW, I see that the Samsung home site has the entire Nc10 information up & it looks like one might be able to order it, if one lived in the UK.
peregrina

 

Sigh -- PCNation and Bottom Line Telecommunications ( shopblt.com ) all had originally listed October 23 as a delivery date at their warehouses... but by the 24th, it had changed to November 20th. So much for a pre-Thanksgiving delivery of my NC10.

 

Laptop Magazine just put up it's review of the Samsung NC10, using the Korean OEM version--it sounds very positive

laptopmag.com/review/laptops/samsung-nc10.aspx

For some reason, I can't post links... sigh.

 

Is it easy to upgrade the RAM on this thing?

 

I still haven't found out if it has an led screen or not.

So far though this netbook looks like the new king (7 hours of battery life?!).

 

By the terms of the manual, it appears easy, but the major downside is that there is only 1 memory bank, so to upgrade to 2 Gb you'll have to toss the preinstalled 1 GB dimm

 

Oh okay, at least it's doable, unlike the Dell mini 12.

 

The official press release says it has an LED screen.

 

I can't wait to get mine, got it pre-ordered from play.com.

 

Hmm, it seems that the release date (at least in the UK) has been put back?

Amazon is stating 17th Nov and Dabs are stating 2-3 weeks. Micro Anvika say they "don't know but in the next few weeks".

However, a thread on OCUK says that they are getting the white this Friday:
http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?p=12775955

 

Yeah I'm also in the UK waiting. On Play.com they have the white one out on the 1st, the black one out on the 7th and the blue one out on the 15th, so one is released each week. This is so frustrating, as I rang Play yesterday to confirm that the blue one was being released on the 1st and they said it was. I assume this is down to Samsung though, and not the retailers, but it's very annoying indeed, as I've been waiting three or four weeks for this bloody thing already.

 

Yup - waiting for the blue here too. Was hoping to get it before I go to the US on the 8th, but that's looking unlikely now

 

Dam, yeah the black one got delayed to 07/11/2008 (on play.com), very disappointing.

 

Laptopmag redid the battery tests and it still came out ahead of the competition
http://blog.laptopmag.com/samsung-nc10s-battery-life-over-7-hours-but-at-low-brightness

 

You can order the blue one on Amazon and receive it in the US. It will likely cost you less and won't have VAT either. Amazon date is Nov. 15.

 

Good idea - but I just checked the exchange rates, and buying from the US Amazon store would cost £303!!!

**** exchange rates!

 

Amazon.com won't ship laptops to the UK.

 

Well it looks like they did get some stock in, my Play.com order status is now -

STATUS


Packing: 31/10/2008

Excellent.

 

On behalf of the entire United States... we're jealous!

 

What colour did you order? White?

 

lozza69er, was it the black one that you are getting now? My Play pre-order status on the blue on hasn't changed

Maybe I'll buy the black one....

 

I ordered black, it has now been posted.

 

Cool well I've just ordered the black one too. Hope all the preorder units weren't already booked up!

 

I am typing this from my brand new white NC10.

Just went over to Micro Anvika on TCR to take a look at the white and decided to go for it.

Very impressed so far. Keyboard is excellent, build quality seems typical Samsung. Touch pad is nice but a little small. Screen is very nice and bright. Obviously not had a chance to test the battery yet. Very pleased.

Speakers are predictably awful

 

I ordered black on the 30th from play... status is still on preorder. Guessing they are out of black until next Friday :'( At least it's something to look forward to through next week.

Going to upgrade to 2GB and install slackware on it, sexeh!

 

I ordered mine as well but it appears that I wont receive it till January

 

Can you possibly confirm if the UK keyboard is like the picture in the manual with the bigger enter key and smaller shift key, compared to the US and Korean versions?

 

Hi I was wondering if you could offer me some advice. I really want the Samsung NC10 but I will be going to America over xmas. Is better to get it from Uk as there seems no real price difference plus I can get the black one.

Thanks

 

There isn't a massive price diff, plus if you went US you would get the US keyboard / power cord which is just an added pain once you get back to the UK.