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I’ve had the NF 310 for over a month now and I’ve decided to follow up on my initial review.
Initial Impressions: The computer is holding up quite well and my initial impressions of quality build, fit, and finish remain unchanged. I have taken the computer on 3 trips and have used it watching movies, web surfing, and as a telephone (skype). So far no issues and the computer is performing like a champ.
Upgrades: The computer has the following upgrades: 2 GB RAM, Windows 7 Home Premium, and upgraded Wireless Adaptor Driver (Samsung Website). I added the RAM and Windows 7 upgrade about one week after the computer arrived. The upgraded Wireless Adapter Driver was added after I was having issues connecting to my home WiFi network. Overall I have noticed a difference in speed after upgrading to 2GB of RAM, but have not really noticed anything (performance wise) since upgrading to Windows 7 Home Premium. Home Premium is a better than Windows 7 Starter, but I just have not really seen any tangible performance increases. The wireless adapter driver however was a big improvement over the old one (provided 802.11 N support and better interface). The computer connects to my home WiFi and other WiFi networks with no problems now. I should also say that I went into the power settings (control panel) and adjusted the wireless adapter power settings while in battery mode. The default setting while using battery is for the wireless adapter to use minimal power (i.e. less performance), I switched the setting to max performance and in conjunction with the new driver, this cured the majority of my connectivity issues. Overall the upgrades in my opinion were worth it and the computer performs faster now. I checked the windows experience index and the numbers have improved. Its funny though, overall feel of the computer feels faster than what the experience index numbers are saying. Oh well, I’m satisfied with the performance and I guess thats the real (only) metric that counts.
Portability: Excellent. Netbooks were built for this and this one doesn’t disappoint.
Appearance/Cachet: Very Good. Overall people have been very positive with the compliments to the netbook. Family, friends, and complete strangers have inquired what brand the netbook is and are generally impressed with the looks and quaility of the computer.
Computing Power: Ok, this is a tough subject. When I first bought the computer, I knew that as long as I didn’t over tax it and use it specifically as a mobile solution to light computing issues, the machine would work out just fine. The problem is I like the computer so much, I’ve been slowly adding to its work load and am realizing that for all its pluses, at the end of the day, it is still a netbook with an intel atom processor. Don’t get me wrong, the performance is great as long as you understand its limitations and don’t try to make it a laptop replacement. Again, I liked the portability and looks of the computer so much that I violated my own advice and tried to make it into something that it’s not and was never designed to be. It’s a NETBOOK, not a LAPTOP. If you have that expectation management under control the computer will not disappoint.
Final Thoughts: Overall I think Samsung did a great job with the NF 310 and I am very pleased with the purchase. I would have liked some more horsepower under the hood, but like I said for light computing issues this netbook fits the bill quite nicely. Am I glad that I purchased the Samsung NF 310 vs the iPad?: Yes I am. Take care all.
Tony
Thanks rgr692 for your review, having the NF310 for 1 month too, I can confirm all your good impressions.
My only minor complaints are:
– screen frame a little too big and prone to collecting dust
– SD dummy card difficult to pull out without lifting all the netbook
– SD cards can be inserted only halfway
– battery a little loose in its compartmentI have bought a nf310 a week ago and i have been very glad to the netbook
Its my first netbook and i´m very happy with it. I have not improve nothing butt i think to putt more RAM on it, very people said that is a big improvement and i think i will try it.
so far its very good to take with me to college and work with word, excel, and do searches on the net is very good.
The netbook have a very good screen with good resolution to watch movies and the performance is good too.
i like it very much and recommend to every one.Thanks loads for this, I’ve added a link to the wiki page (although I just noticed the wiki page was actually not started!)
[wiki]Samsung NF310[/wiki].I’ll pop up a link on the blog when I get a min.
I happened to stop by J&R in New York last week for a few hours to demo their various ultralights and netbooks. Ultimately, I found a Lenovo to be the best (though least affordable) ultralight and the Nf310 to provide the most satisfying netbook experience of any on the floor. None of the other models seemed nearly as good — this despite the fact ASUS has begun using matte screens as well.
Tony:
When you “invested money” in “trying to make a netbook into a laptop,” what exactly did you want the Nf310 to do that it couldn’t?
I use Music Prose on my NC10 to write sheet music, but it can’t play the samples which allow me to hear the score — for that, I have to use Finale on my desktop. If the N310 could handle Music Prose playback, I’d be thrilled.
Perhaps then I could find an excuse to upgrade from a two-year-old netbook that hasn’t exhibited any problems whatsoever despite my taking it everywhere and on several trains every weekend. I haven’t even seen the flicker of which other members have complained.
Thank you for your thoughts.
I also upgraded to two gig of ram within the first month of owning the little beast. I found that it would freeze up just on basic functions when I first got it, so I downloaded a free cpu/ram meter and noticed immediately that the ram was always at 100%, when the system seemed to “freeze” Though this was only ever a momentary problem, the second hand 2 gig chip I scored off eBay for all of $30 means that I never max out the ram anymore. I would recommend this as the first step for anyone unhappy with the performance of the NF310
As for the wireless, I have had a problem since buying the machine, that it takes anywhere up to three minutes to let me into a webpage, regardless of the browser I am using or wireless I am accessing… I have tried everything on this one, EXCEPT going to Samsung for updated drivers. I hope that this will fix my troubles, thanks for the advice 😀
I am going on the end of my 1st week with the NF 310. Out of the box I upgraded memory to 2MB and put in a Intel X-25 120g SSD. All easy to do if one takes their time. The SSD has made a big impact on the speed; such as boot time. I am still getting used to it and noted one of the posters comments on the wireless performance. I will look for and upgrade to the latest. I also did a firmware upgrade which to was easy.
At this time my only real ‘negative’ point is the battery has a loose feeling. Not a tight, non movable, fit. Not the point of it falling out.
This machine will get the real ‘travel’ workout for I travel to Thailand every three months. Prior to this I used an ASUS 1000HE and it has performed outstanding. The wife gets the ASUS now.
As owner of this little jewel for about 6 weeks and have come to love everything about it,But sad to say came upon an issue with the keys = n v r and space bar that are Hardware related Not software, when you press them I got no response on them till about 10 times of pressing the faulty key it resumes as normal typing,Sad to say I have got a RMA from Samsung with a very nice tech support Im very please with the rapid response,they will replace the unit and it wold take 5 to 6 days I think more like 2 weeks, so if you encounter similar problems don’t keep trying to fix the issue return the unit. hope this helps somebody.
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