Samsung Go N310 Series N310-13GB Netbook Computer (Midnight Blue)

Comments about Samsung Go N310 Series N310-13GB Netbook Computer (Midnight Blue):

My daughter has used the computer for over a month now. We have had no issues to this point. Battery life is good. Very easy to use. I would recommend to friends and family. Plus it was a good value at the time.

Comments about Samsung Go N310 Series N310-13GB Netbook Computer (Midnight Blue):

Got my Samsung GO N310 netbook for Christmas and I'm having a ball with it. This is my first experience with a laptop-type computer (my other computer is a custom-built desktop) and I've been spending most of my time with the netbook. So far, I like everything about it – very compact, fast boot-up and shut-down times, fairly fast processing speed, high quality appearance and finish, and long battery life.

The battery run time, however, is somewhat less than the stated 9-10 hours. When I used the Battery Life Extender Mode (which only charges the battery up to 80% of its capacity to extend its service life,) it ran for 6 hours and 35 minutes before going into auto-hibernation mode. 80% of 9-10 hours should have given me 7.2 - 8 hours run time; however, I was playing Internet radio over the unit's speakers and driving headphones as well as using maximum screen brightness most of the time, so the battery charge probably would have lasted longer if not for the extra operating demands. Still, I consider 6 ½ hours of battery life very adequate.

The matte finish is very cool looking and doesn't show any smudges or fingerprints. The finish has a somewhat rubbery feel and provides a secure grip. Another nice styling touch is the rounded corners, giving the unit a really professional look. The adjustable brightness control illuminates the LED screen well enough to view nicely even in daylight. The image quality is very good, especially when viewing my photos on Picasa Web Albums. Running multiple apps don't seem to slow down the performance. YouTube, Hulu, and other streaming video sites play with little or no stutter. Websites (including Google Earth) open and run almost as fast as on my desktop computer. The 1.3M built-in webcam sends a surprisingly high-quality color image to the recipient's computer, although the refresh rate is slow and there is a lag of about a second between the image and voice. I downloaded Windows Live Messenger from Microsoft.com for Web Cam conferencing; the supplied CyberLink You Cam seems to be meant to be used only for adding avatars and emotion effects.

WiFi reception is good, I get a full five bars of signal strength anywhere in our large apartment. Even when the LED screen is opened all the way out, the unit doesn't lose balance and teeter back. I like the scratch-resistant edge-to-edge glass screen. Even though glass is shiny and shows reflections, I don't notice them because the LED screen's high brightness drowns-out most reflections. I like the way Samsung achieves the 97% full size keyboard by efficiently putting the keys right out to the edges of the chassis, unlike some brands which settle for 92% by leaving up to 3/8-inch dead space around the edges. Great thinking, Samsung!

Stereo audio quality sounds great on Internet radio through my Sennheiser headphones. The built-in speakers though aren't meant to be taken very seriously. Once you get used to it, the touchpad works pretty well and has the ability to copy/paste, drag, and zoom. So far I haven't had any problems with operating stability and no cons worth mentioning. I suggest downloading the very well written User Guide from Samsung.com and keep it right on your netbook for discovering all the many features this little netbook has a lot to offer. You'll like it!