Samsung N310

We were very impressed with Samsung’s recent NC10, and the N310 is an updated version of that computer, with improvements made to the battery life and a redesigned case.

The N310 uses the same Intel Atom N270 processor as the NC10 and most other mini-notebook computers, and the same 1GB of memory. That’s certainly enough to cope with the Windows XP Home operating system that’s installed. It’s not going to allow users to do anything processor-intensive such as video editing but that’s not what this kind of computer is designed to do.

What it is designed for is working on the move, essentially, and in that regard the N310 excels. Like all 10in computers it’s easily portable – it can be slipped into most bags with little hassle – and at 1.2kg it won’t tire your arms if you’re lugging it around all day.

Again, as with other such computers the N310 doesn’t have a graphics card – instead graphics are handled by a processor on the computer’s motherboard. That means it can’t really play any big-name games – it came up with woefully poor gaming results in our labs testing – but in general use of Windows, and for office and internet tasks it was fine. Playing back music or internet videos wasn’t a problem.

There’s a 160GB hard disk for storage, which is more than enough for most people, but in common with other similarly small computers it doesn’t come with a CD or DVD drive.

The 10in widescreen display was clear but we found it a bit dull until we located the brightness-up button on the keyboard. Even then, at full brightness it felt a little washed out, especially compared with the screen on the Dell Inspiron Mini 10. As with the NC10 the keyboard fills the entire width of the case and is consequently well spaced-out and easy to type on.

Battery life was very impressive at over six hours in our moderately intensive tests. That, like the computer’s design, makes it very good for travellers, although it lacks the 3G modem we’ve started to see on competitors. That would allow it to connect directly to the mobile network (once the user has inserted the appropriate mobile phone Sim card) for fast internet access. In the absence of that, the N310 is limited to accessing the internet through wired or wireless networks, which in truth is no great hardship.

In addition to the network socket (which has a cover so it doesn’t attract dust when it’s not in use) there are three USB ports, a VGA socket for connecting an external monitor, headphone and microphone sockets and an SD memory card reader.

Externally, the N310’s design is slightly odd. Rather than a glossy case, Samsung has this time opted for a brushed plastic finish in a material that appears to offer good resistance against knocks. It also comes in a choice of colours, including the black we looked at, blue and orange.

The main problem with this computer is the same one that affects the MSI Wind U115, which is the price. At £400 it’s a lot more expensive than most similar computers, and the processing power doesn’t offer anything to justify this.

The long battery life is one point in the Samsung N310’s favour, but if you need working hours that long it may be worth seeking out a cheaper mini-notebook and buying a second, larger battery.