Samsung launches Ion-based HD capable netbook

Posted on 4 Sep 2009 at 12:37

Samsung has announced the N510, a new netbook that can play HD video since it's based on Nvidia??s Ion graphics chip.

The preproduction model we saw was equipped with an Ion LE graphics chip, although a Samsung spokesperson at the IFA conference in Berlin stated that UK models would be equipped with the GeForce 9400 M instead which is DirectX 10 compatible unlike the Ion LE. Nevertheless it had no trouble playing a 720p H264 video file and Samsung claims it's powerful enough to play 1080p video files on a high definition TV connected to its HDMI port.

The N510 may be the first Ion-based netbook we've seen, but you'd be hard pressed to tell since it looks almost identical to Samsung's existing N120 netbook except its lid has a swirly red pattern instead of a plain black design. It has the same large, comfortable and responsive keyboard as the N120 although Samsung hasn't changed the odd combined contextual menu/Fn key to the left of the space bar or the single pivoting touchpad button. The case flexed under pressure more than we'd like but it's sturdy enough.

The rest of the N510's specification is in line with what we'd expect from a netbook. There's 1GB of RAM, a 160GB hard disk and an Intel Atom N280 processor. Windows XP will be pre-installed on shipping models, but the test sample we saw at IFA was running Windows 7 which felt very responsive so one could easily install and run the latest version of Windows.

Samsung's N510 can be ordered now from Carphone Warehouse or Lambda Tek for around £400. We'll bring you a full review as soon as we get one in our Labs.

Author: Alan Lu

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