Samsung Launches New Notebooks

Samsung has strengthened its mini notebook and notebook range in the Indian market with the announcement of four new, stylish and lightweight models under its N series and three new, advanced R series of notebooks.

The N series models launched are the N110, NC 20, N120 and N 310.

The N110, N120 and N 310 run on the Intel Atom processor while the NC20 runs on the VIA Nano ULV Processor U2250. The notebooks are equipped with 1 GB RAM, 160 GB HDD, 1.3 megapixel webcam, Bluetooth and come with a 1 year International warranty.

The N110 is priced at Rs. 25, 252, the N120 is priced at Rs. 26,327 and the NC20 is priced at Rs. 30,089. Pricing for the N310 hasn't been indicated.

The R series of notebooks includes the R522, R470 and the R518 that feature 2 GB RAM, a 1.3 megapixel webcam and a 1 year international warranty.

The 15.6-inch R522 has an integrated aluminum-style palmrest and touchpad lighting. The system is covered with a water-tight seal to prevent it being damaged if up to 100 cc of liquid is spilled on the R522’s keyboard or any other part of its case. The R522 also includes 4 USB2.0 ports and a separate combo port that supports both USB and eSATA connections. The R522 is available in two versions, priced at Rs. 37,399 and Rs. 41,914.

The R470 features a 14.0" LED display and incorporates a new-generation Nvidia GeForce G105M graphics card. It has three USB 2.0 ports, including a combo port that supports both USB and eSATA connections. It also incorporates a USB port that emits power so users can charge portable devices, such as mobile phones or MP3 players, even when the notebook is turned off.

The R470 is priced at Rs. 48,364.

The R 518 runs on the Intel Pentinum processor, has a 15.6-inch HD gloss LED, powered USB, and spill-resistant keyboard. It costs Rs. 33,637.

Dell XPS M2010

Dell sort of broke the mold with this one. They're not usually known for innovative design, but this mobile' unit is like none of the others. It's a true desktop replacement solution, and runs a 2.33GHz Intel Core 2 Duo, 2GB DDR2 RAM, ATI Mobility Radeon X1800 graphics card, and boasts a 20' LCD running a native resolution of 1680x1050. It's a beast in every sense of the word- an 18 pound, almost 19' wide monster.

There's a lot to like in the M2010. If you so choose, you can boost the RAM to 4GB (and add a couple grand to the price tag in the process), run 120GB SATA hard drives mirrored in RAID-1 (as the above configuration shows), and have a great screen with a resolution that is perfectly matched for it.

There are a couple of things I question about this model, however. First and foremost, I question the usefulness of the M2010 as a mobile' unit, as it has been marketed by Dell. I suppose you could fold the screen down, pick the thing up and lug it somewhere, but its sheer size makes that seem very unlikely in real world practice. It appears like it would be more at home on some yuppie's minimalist glass desk than in a student's book bag or on a commuter train. I would hesitate to brand it as a mobile' unit as it more closely resembles an all-in-one or small form factor (SFF) computer.
Also, since the unit is so large, I don't know why Dell didn't choose a better (or newer generation) video card. They could have fit a bigger, faster card that produces more heat inside because size (and heat dissipation) is not as much of an issue when you have 19' to work with.

The system is a design marvel, but the limited mobility makes it somewhat of an overpriced desktop system, as you can get a better SFF desktop for a lot less.

Rating: 4/10 moneybags (more moneybags signify a better bargain)

CPU	2.33GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T7600
RAM	2GB DDR2 667
Hard Drive	120GB SATA RAID-1
Graphics Card(s)	ATI Mobility X1800 (256MB)
Optical Drive	DVD-RW
Screen Size and Resolution	20" / 1680x1050
Dimensions	18.85" W x 15.9" D x 2.9" H
Weight	18.3 lbs
Approximate Price	$4,649.00