Netbook Crazy

While some netbooks are notable more difficult to increase the RAM size from 1GB, the Samsung NC10, is perhaps one of the easiest netbooks to perform the mod on. It quite literally, only requires a back panel to be removed and the RAM replaced. In order to upgrade you RAM on the NC10, you will need a Pozidriv screwdriver to remove the screw on the back, a flathead screwdriver, to assist with lifting the panel and of course your RAM. The maximum RAM size the NC10 supports is 2GB, with 1 port, so you will be replacing the 1GB stick of RAM, with a 2GB. You’ll need to have SODIMM DDR2 RAM. The most recommended RAM choice, is Crucial but, many others have had success with Kingston and PNY but, any 2GB SODIMM DDR2 RAM will work. 800MHZ RAM sticks will also work but, the NC10 will only use up to 667MHZ.

For my RAM upgrade, I’m using the PNY SODIMM DDR2 RAM, purchased from PC World. Firstly, make sure the netbook is off completely, then turn it over.

You’ll see the panel on the right side, which reads memory.

Use the pozidrive screwdriver to remove the screw and then lift the panel off. You may need to use a flathead screwdriver to assist in lifting it off.

Once off, you’ll see the 1GB RAM with a clip at the top and at the bottom. Unclip the RAM and ease it out.

Once out, you can then pop your 2GB RAM stick in.

With the RAM fully in place, you can now screw the panel back on.

I’ve found everything loads a lot quicker now. Start up and shut down times are also quicker.

With 1GB of RAM, the netbook took 1 minute and 25.1 seconds to fully boot up, with an internet connection where as with 2GB of RAM, it took 1 minute and 11.6 seconds. When it comes to shut down time, with 1GB of RAM, it took 20.3 seconds, reduced to 17.6 seconds with 2GB RAM.

Samsung will be revamping several of their netbooks, to include their own modem chipset, the Kalmia LTE. The netbooks included in the line up, include the N150, NB30 and the N220. Other specs will remain the same but, with the LTE chipset, Samsung can offer up 4G connectivity, faster than it’s 3G counterparts. There’s no official word on when these will be released but, it’s very likely that they’ll show up some time this year. However Samsung have said that they will release them “according to service schedule and market demand.” You can view the full press release from Samsung after the jump.

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Phil Newton of Samsung has confirmed that the company will be launch a netbook powered by the Google Chrome OS later this year. The netbook will feature a 10.1 inch display, 2GB of RAM, a 64GB SSD, along with 3G and WiFi built in. It’ll be very similar to the N210, pictured in the above picture. There’s also rumors going around, that it’ll feature a 1.5GHz Snapdragon processor. Hopefully we’ll hear more about this netbook soon and can confirm or deny this.

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Over at the Insanely Wind forums, one forum member has turned his netbook into a tablet and plans to add a sliding keyboard. The netbook he’s used is the Advent 4211c, which is the MSI Wind U100 rebadged. So far, c0ff33 has manged to flip the display, allowing it to rest on the keyboard and be used like a tablet, with a touch screen display added. The netbook is also dual bootable with Windows 7 and OS X 10.6.2.

While this is an impressive mod in it’s self, c0ff33 hasn’t finished the project yet. He hopes to add a mechanism which will allow the screen to slid up and the keyboard down. The mechanism will work like the keyboard on a slide out phone, such as the Sony Ericsson C905.

Over at IBTimes, they’ve posted up the specs of the upcoming Google netbook. Until we hear from Google officially, these are classed as rumored specs but, if they are true, this could set the Google netbook apart from other netbooks currently on the market.

Of course, the netbook will come with Google’s OS Chrome. Apart from that, it’s also said to have a 10.1 inch display which is multi touch and supports HD. Other specs include 2GB of RAM and a 64GB SSD and an Nvidia Tegra ARM CPU. It’ll also have the other features you’d find on netbooks including Wi-Fi, bluetooth, a web cam and 3G support.

Along with the features, there’s also speculation that the netbook will be out by the next holiday season, 2010. A price of under $300 has also been suggested for a subsidized netbook, meaning Google may partner with a network carrier to offer a 3G bundle plan.

Other stores have followed suite regarding the price of the Samsung NC10. The netbook could be found from many retailers, such as PC World and Currys for £329.99. Argos previously had the best price of £249.99 but now even Argos have reduced the price. All three of these retailers are now selling the netbook for £239.99.

Again, this is just the black model the prices apply to. From Argos you can just pick the netbook up for £239.99 but from PC World and Currys, there’s a £70 saving from them and a £20 redemption from Samsung.

Update: Argos have now started selling the NC10 for £249.99. The lower price was part of a weekly offer.

UK retailer PC World is no longer stocking the Sony Vaio W netbook but it could be due to the fact that a new model will be released on the 10th November. The Vaio W11S1E is no longer on PC World’s website but is still available to purchase online from Amazon. Also on Amazon is the VAIO W12S1E. The Vaio W12S1E comes with the same size screen and other specs. The only differences between the two, is the newer model features a 250GB hard drive instead of a 160GB hard drive. The newer model also comes with Windows 7 starter pre-installed, where as the current VAIO W uses Windows XP. Likewise, the W12S1E also isn’t available from the PC World website yet but, bets are on that once it’s released it’ll show up. The VAIO W12S1E is on the pricer side however, retailing for £399 in white, tan or pink, instead of white, brown or pink for £332.

If you’re in the UK and looking for a netbook, whether as a first time machine, or to replace your exisiting model, it’s worth remembering, that other stores apart from the obvious PC World and Currys, also sell netbooks. Argos sell a few netbook models, which can be bought online or bought in store. They’re cheapest netbook is the Freedom, which has everything you’d expect from a base netbook. While the price of that is good at £199.99 what’s even better, is the price of the Samsung NC10. Argos are selling the netbook for £279.99, or £249.99 if they don’t have any 3G USB sticks in stock, which in my local store, they didn’t. This is an £80 saving over PC World and Currys who are both selling the netbook for £329.99. I also haven’t been able to find the netbook cheaper anywhere online.

Also, for a limited time only, Argos are giving away £10 gift vouchers for purchases over £100, effectively making the netbook £239.99. Only the black model is available for this price.

Two companies have released one of the netbook models in a pink variant to raise money for Breast Cancer Awareness. Both Sony and HP have created a netbook bundle pack for the cause and will donate money to the cause.

Sony have released their Vaio W netbook in pink along with a matching carry case and wireless mouse. The company will donate $110,000 to the cause. HP likewise are also offering a netbook up in pink with a USB mouse and matching carry case. HP will donate $1 per sale to the cause. The HP Mini Pink Chic is the Mini 10, so naturally features a 10.1 inch display and 1GB of RAM. The HP bundle is available for $379.99 from Best Buy.

We’ve heard the rumours that Microsoft may be releasing a version of Windows 7 specifically for netbooks that removes some of the basic features found in the Starter version. However Microsoft have confirmed that this is not the case and the OS won’t be “dumbed down” for netbooks. That said, OEM vendors may remove certain features, in which case they are to blame not Microsoft.

A spokesperson for Microsoft UK had this to say:

OEMs and ODMs have the choice to install any version of Windows on a netbook but, Starter is an entry version and doesn’t have many of the consumer or business features. The three application limit isn’t there any more.

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