Samsung has announced three new netbooks offering 10.2-inch displays and Intel Atom processors. The N110, N120 (left), and NC310 offer slightly different form factors, but all have improved keyboards, six-cell batteries, and 160GB hard drives, according to third-party reports.

(Click here for a larger view of Samsung's N120)

Samsung leaked photos and brief details of its new netbook triplets internationally this week, but as far as we've been able to determine, hasn't published specifications anywhere. Only one of the three devices, the N110, has been confirmed for U.S. release, and it has already received a review by Laptop magazine (see below for further details).

Samsung recently turned to Via's 64-bit Nano processor for its NC20 netbook and Q1EX-71G UMPC (ultra-mobile PC), but for its latest netbooks, has reverted to the Intel Atom — apparently the same 1.6GHz N270 already found on dozens of other mini-notebooks. The N110, N120, and NC310 all reportedly feature 10.2-inch displays, six-cell batteries, and hard drives loaded with the usual Windows XP ULCPC (ultra-low-cost PC) operating system.

Samsung's N110 (left) and NC310 (right)
(Click either to enlarge)
Samsung does not mention Linux support, but it should run fine on the netbooks. In fact, according to Laptop, the N110 (above left) is a replacement for Samsung's first netbook, the NC10, which was lauded by reviewers for having an excellent keyboard, and was apparently also a popular way to run Moblin, the Intel-sponsored Linux distribution. Reviewer Joanna Stern writes that the N110 is the same size and weight as its predecessor, measuring 10.3 x 7.3 x 1.2 inches and weighing 2.8 pounds.

A 5900mAh, six-cell battery on the N110 reportedly lasted seven hours and 24 minutes in Laptop's testing. Meantime, the device's 5400rpm, 160GB hard disk drive was said to boot Windows in 34 seconds.

According to Stern, the N110 has the same ports and slots as the NC10, including three USB ports, a “3-in-1” memory card reader, mic and headphone jacks, a VGA port, and an Ethernet jack. There's also a 1.3-megapixel webcam, she writes.

Features and specifications listed by Laptop magazine for Samsung's N110 include:

• Processor — 1.6GHz Atom N270
  
• Memory — 1GB of DDR2 RAM, upgradeable to 2GB
  
• Storage — 160GB, 5400rpm hard disk drive
  
• Display — 10.2-inch display with 1024 x 600 resolution
  
• Camera — 1.3 megapixel
  
• Keyboard — “93 percent of full size”
  
• Networking — 10/100 Ethernet
  
• Wireless — 802.11b/g
  
• Other I/O:
  • 1 x VGA
    
  • Mic in and headphone out
    
  • 3 x USB 2.0

• Expansion — “3 in 1” card reader
  
• Battery type — 5900mAh; Laptop reports life as long as seven hours and 24 minutes
  
• Dimensions — 10.3 x 7.3 x 1.2 inches
  
• Weight — 2.8 pounds

The N120 and NC310

Samsung announced brief details of its N120 (the press release was reproduced on sites including Gizmodo, here) this week, but did not provide hardware specifics. Apparently, however, the device uses the same internals as the N110, but puts them in a slightly larger case — as the netbook's larger screen bezel betrays.

According to Samsung, the N120 has a larger touchpad and a “full-size” keyboard with “optimized” key spacing. The manufacturer also touts a “Duracase” that “sets new standards for survivability,” plus up to ten hours of battery life.

Regarding the NC310, Samsung has done little more so far than name the device in a Korean-language press release. According to a variety of reports, however, this netbook again gets the same innards as the N110, but it sports a pastel-colored case and a “pebble” keyboard that is claimed to resist bacteria.

Further information

To read Laptop magazine's complimentary review of the Samsung N110, which will reportedly sell for $470, see the publication's website, here.

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This article was originally published on LinuxDevices.com and has been donated to the open source community by QuinStreet Inc. Please visit LinuxToday.com for up-to-date news and articles about Linux and open source.