35% off Dell's Most Popular LaptopsSamsung N120 (black)
Manufacturer: Samsung Part number: NP-N120-KA01US
- More product information:
- Editors' review
- User reviews
- Specifications
- Product series
- Accessories
- Manufacturer info
- Bottom Line:
- Part of Samsung's second generation of Netbooks, the N120 offers a generous keyboard and some unexpected audio power.
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CNET editors' review
Samsung N120 (black) price range: $376.00 - $437.99
- Reviewed by: Dan Ackerman
- Reviewed on: 05/13/2009
- Released on: 05/01/2009
The good: Giant keyboard (for a Netbook) and 2.1 speaker system.
The bad: More expensive than most Netbooks.
The bottom line: Part of Samsung's second generation of Netbooks, the N120 offers a generous keyboard and some unexpected audio power.
In additional to the fairly generic N110 Netbook, Samsung also offers a slightly tweaked version for those who find Netbook keyboards too small and Netbook speakers too wimpy. The Samsung N120 takes the N110's basic component sent and jams in a keyboard of the sort we'd normally find on a larger 12-inch laptop, along with a 2.1-speaker sound system, that offers at least a modest amount of thump (if you keep your expectations realistic).
Both the N110 and N120 models are $469, which puts them $100-$120 above comparably equipped systems from Acer, Asus, Lenovo, and others. While we thought that was too hefty a premium for the N110, the N120's keyboard and speakers at least provide a few points of differentiation from the rest of the Intel Atom/160GB HDD/1GB RAM crowd. If it was $399, we'd heartily recommend it; as-is, it's worth a serious look if you crave a more traditional keyboard experience from your Netbook.
| Price as reviewed | $469 |
| Processor | 1.6GHz Intel Atom N270 |
| Memory | 1GB, 533MHz DDR2 |
| Hard drive | 160GB 5,400rpm |
| Chipset | Mobile Intel 945GM Express |
| Graphics | Mobile Intel GMA 950 (integrated) |
| Operating System | Windows XP |
| Dimensions (WD) | 10.7x7.4 inches |
| Height | 1.2 inches |
| Screen size (diagonal) | 10.1 inches |
| System weight / Weight with AC adapter | 2.8 / 3.6 pounds |
| Category | Netbook |
The Samsung N120 is about half an inch wider than the N110 model, but almost identical in depth and height. This gives the system a slightly bigger footprint than most Netbooks, closer in size to a slim 12-inch ultraportable. We much prefer the matte black finish on the N120 to the glossy design of the N110, which was especially prone to fingerprints and smudges.
The keyboard has a traditional tapered key design, with individual keys that are wider at the base, and narrower at the top, instead of the flat-key design used by many Netbook makers, including Dell, HP, and Asus. However, the larger footprint allows Samsung to fit in a larger keyboard, equivalent to what we'd typically find on a 12-inch laptop. Using the keyboard on the N120 was a great experience, on par with our favorite, the HP Mini 1000, and arguably better, depending on your typing style. The touch pad was also excellent (for a small Netbook touch pad), and the specially demarcated scroll zone made it easy to vertically move up and down on long pages.
The system's 2.1 speakers, a main selling point, certainly provide better audio than your average Netbook (or even some mainstream laptops we've heard), but we'd still only use them for Web video viewing or presentations--you're not going to be DJing through the N120 at your next house party. The two main speakers are on either side of the display, while the subwoofer is on the left side edge of the body, and seems to add more volume than low frequencies.
The 10.1-inch LCD screen has a 1,024x600-pixel native resolution, which is standard for Netbooks. That's generally fine for most Web surfing, but long vertical pages and Word documents can require a lot of scrolling to read.
| Samsung N120 | Average for category [Netbook] | |
| Video | VGA | VGA |
| Audio | headphone/microphone jacks | headphone/microphone jacks |
| Data | 3 USB 2.0, SD card reader | 2 USB 2.0, SD card reader |
| Expansion | None | None |
| Networking | Ethernet, 802.11 b/g Wi-Fi, Bluetooth | Ethernet, 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth |
| Optical drive | None | None |
Like the Samsung N110, this model lacks the ExpressCard readers found on several other Netbooks in this price range, but we were pleased to see three USB ports--many Netbooks have only two--as well as Bluetooth.
It won't come as a surprise, but with identical internal components, the Samsung N110 and N120 Netbooks has virtual identical performance scores in our benchmark tests, and were substantially similar to other Netbooks with Intel's 1.6GHz Atom CPU and 1GB of RAM. For basic tasks such as world processing, Web surfing, and e-mail, an Atom-powered Netbook is more than adequate, as long as you keep your expectations modest. Opening too many browser windows at once, or running several applications simultaneously, for example, can lead to slowdown and stuttering.
The N120 ran for 5 hours and 14 minutes on our video playback battery drain test using the included six-cell battery. That's excellent, but about an hour less than the N110 version, which lacks the more powerful speakers.
Samsung includes an industry-standard one-year parts-and-labor warranty with the system. Support is accessible through a 24-7 toll-free phone line, and the Samsung Web site offers an online knowledge base, driver downloads, troubleshooting, and live chat with a support representative.
(Shorter bars indicate better performance)
(Shorter bars indicate better performance)
(Shorter bars indicate better performance)
(Longer bars indicate better performance)
Find out more about how we test laptops.
Samsung N120
Windows XP Home Edition SP3; 1.6GHz Intel Atom N270; 1,024MB DDR2 SDRAM 533MHz; 128MB Mobile Intel GMA 950; 160GB Samsung 5400rpm.
Asus Eee PC 1000HE
Windows XP Home SP3; 1.66GHz Intel Atom N280; 1,024MB DDR2 SDRAM 533MHz; 128MB Mobile Intel GMA 950; 160GB Seagate 5400rpm.
Samsung NC20
Windows XP Professional SP3; 1.3GHz VIA Nano U2250; 1,024MB DDR2 SDRAM 533MHz; 128MB VIA/SG3 Chrome9 HC3 IGP; 160GB TK 5400rpm.
Samsung N110
Windows XP Home Edition SP3; 1.6GHz Intel Atom N270; 1,024MB DDR2 SDRAM 533MHz; 128MB Mobile Intel GMA 950; 160GB Samsung 5400rpm.
Lenovo IdeaPad S10 (six-cell battery)
Windows XP Home Edition SP3; 1.6GHz Intel Atom N270; 1,024MB DDR2 SDRAM 533MHz; 64MB Mobile Intel GMA 950; 160GB Western Digital 5400rpm.
User reviews
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Exactly What I Needed!
by spudskier on May 29, 2009
Pros: Light Weight, Size, Keyboard size, speed, lack of pre-installed junk, battery life!!!, touchpad, HDD size, USB outlets, SD card slot, bells and whistles galore! Sound!
Cons: Wish it had an optical drive which I know is uncommon among Netbooks... same with keyboard, wish it was bigger but I'm getting used to it.
Summary: It's exactly as advertised. All the options I wanted in a netbook, easy to use, very light. Setup was a snap, was playing on the internet within 20 minutes ...
Summary: It's exactly as advertised. All the options I wanted in a netbook, easy to use, very light. Setup was a snap, was playing on the internet within 20 minutes of opening the box. Start-up and shut down are quick, huge HDD, speakers are good for a netbook. My favorite part is that they didn't preinstall a lot of junk and trial offers. In fact no trials except McAfee (which I dumped for AVGFree). Haven't been able to drain the battery yet! I haven't had the problems others have mentioned with the screen, it's between Matte and shiney? but easy to read in the daytime. Not the crispest screen in the world, but just as good as your typical LCD. Getting used to the keyboard but it's bigger than other netbooks I checked out. I love it and am very glad I got it.
3 out of 3 users found this user opinion helpful.
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The Best Netbook
by allamerican1985 on August 11, 2009
Pros: CNET complained that the price is too high for a netbook but I feel that it is well worth it. The near full sized keyboard and 2.1 audio are great. It also feels very solid and is well designed.
Cons: I would have liked 2 Gb of RAM.
Summary: This netbook can run Windows 7 without any problems and is quick and responsive. Never thought I would buy a netbook but this one is perfect for what I need ...
Summary: This netbook can run Windows 7 without any problems and is quick and responsive. Never thought I would buy a netbook but this one is perfect for what I need it for.
2 out of 2 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Solid- Definitely worth the few extra bucks
by jk55337 on October 8, 2009
Pros: Solid battery, solid keyboard, small, lightweight. It is a very usable netbook.
Cons: It only has 1GB memory. It's probably worth it to upgrade it, but I have not yet and to be honest, it works fine. Don't load it down with a ton of software. It is also a bit more money than other netbooks.
Summary: I've hard this netbook for about a week and I can tell you I probably won't take my laptop with me much anymore. It's just not worth ...
Summary: I've hard this netbook for about a week and I can tell you I probably won't take my laptop with me much anymore. It's just not worth it. The thing that really shines on this netbook is the keyboard. It's very comfortable for how small it is. You can definitely use it to get meaningful work done on the go. I have it loaded with Office 2007, Endnote, Acrobat, and Firefox (and an antivirus program) and it boots up faster than my Dell e1505 (which is a few years old now). I also loaded Skype on it- seems to work great with no problems, though you probably can't have 6 applications open while running Skype.
If you do a lot of traveling and need something lightweight tiny, I would definitely consider this netbook.1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
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one of the best in the market amazing battery and sound
by jahanzebagha on August 15, 2009
Pros: good battery, good sound, keyboard is amazing and key size is equal to that of a laptop, touch pad easiest to use, fast startup time, good softwares included by samsung for upgrade and setup, amazing build quality, sleeve included in the pack,
Cons: none till now.
Summary: one of the best in the market netbook, esp. the size makes it easy to use instead of a regular laptop.
Summary: one of the best in the market netbook, esp. the size makes it easy to use instead of a regular laptop.
1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Love it, best netbook ever, excellent battery life
by azi85c on October 23, 2009
Pros: The bluetooth works wonders, battery goes on forever, keyboard is easy to use, wireless is excellent, overall design is super chic I LOVE EVERYTHING ABOUT THIS NETBOOK
Cons: there is absolutely nothing wrong with this netbook
Summary: Best netbook to purchase!
Summary: Best netbook to purchase!
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Needs 3g enabled but is a solid netbook
by whiskerf on September 2, 2009
Pros: Portablity, WIFI, bluetooth, Color White, Good keyboard and function keys
Cons: "Not Cellular 3g Enabled", if your on the move this is a must! I purchased a USB 3g modem>$100; now the attached modem stick is being bent up and disconnected because the net book is most of the time in my lap. No MS ofice product I.E. Word, Excel.
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Perfect Netbook!
by kaileymd on August 22, 2009
Pros: Speed faster than a 14" laptop with 2gb, but vista and a 1.3 intel processor
Design
Portable but doesn't feel too small
battery life 6-7+ hrs!
keyboard
touchpad and bar
1.6intel processor
good old windows XP!
bluetooth
screen
camera
speakersCons: some might insist a larger screen (but if the keyboard kept you from a netbook before, this problem is gone)
no cd/dvd drive (optical drive). well that's the case for any netbook,and it's not a big deal.Summary: It is cute and sleek (I have white). And very portable. The keyboard is fabulous for any computer, especially a netbook! The screen, camera, and improved speakers from the original ...
Summary: It is cute and sleek (I have white). And very portable. The keyboard is fabulous for any computer, especially a netbook! The screen, camera, and improved speakers from the original model are all greeaat. They did a great job with the touchpad and bar. You'd think this wouldn't be an issue, but it is. The bar is not hard to press and the pad a a nice size. It's all placed wonderfully, feeling natural. You can also scroll up and down the page with the touchpad, as well as zoom in and out. it's hard to explain how, but you will see. Even though it is only 1gb, the speed is still fast. It has a 1.6 intel processor and xp, so I think that's why it is fast. Battery life is amaaaaazing!! Just be sure to fully charge the battery before turning it on for the first time! That can lead to a shorter battery life. I have 47% of my battery left right now and still have three hours! That's how long other laptops get at 100% charge!
no cd/dvd drive (optical drive). well that's the case for any netbook,and it's not a big deal. just buy one and use it when you need it. weight isn't an issue because with the drive it's still light. and just use it when you need to download something or play a movie. i will be home for the majority of this anyway.
i ordered a yellow oliepops case-- really cute if you are looking for a cute case :)
and you guys not wanting a cute laptop-- i think it's cute, but you probably won't look at it and think "cute." My mom and I are just girls :) -
it is gud n sleek price is high
by nawalkapur on July 17, 2009
Pros: gud for large keypad
Cons: price is too high
0 out of 3 users found this user opinion helpful.
Specifications
- Manufacturer: Samsung
- Part number: NP-N120-KA01US
- Description: Developed with the needs of the "kinetic elite" in mind, the Samsung N120 is expertly crafted to complement people's fast-paced and digitally interconnected lives. The result is truly ground-breaking - giving people a powerful, stylish and convenient way to share information, photos, music, personal content and stay connected to the Internet at home and on the move. And for that extra touch of style, the superb look and feel of its ultra-compact and elegant chassis is accentuated with a choice of colors and haptic styling. The N120's innovative design is packed with the latest technology for maximum mobility and productivity. It also incorporates a range of practical features, like a normal-size, ergonomic notebook PC style keyboard, to simplify life on the move. So when you need to stay in touch, but want to make a good impression the N120 makes complete sense.
General
- Built-in Devices Stereo speakers, Bluetooth antenna, Wireless LAN antenna
- Width 10.7 in
- Depth 7.4 in
- Height 1.2 in
- Weight 2.8 lbs
- Color Black
- Localization United States
- Notebook type Netbook, Budget
- Screen type Widescreen
- Wireless capabilities IEEE 802.11g, Bluetooth, IEEE 802.11b
Processor
- Processor Intel Atom N270 / 1.6 GHz
- Data Bus Speed 533 MHz
- Chipset Type Mobile Intel 945GSE Express
Cache Memory
- Type L2 cache
- Cache size 512 KB
RAM
- Installed Size 1 GB
- Technology DDR2 SDRAM
- RAM configuration features 1 x 1 GB
Environmental Parameters
- Environmental standards EPEAT gold, EPEAT Gold
Storage Controller
- Storage controller type Serial ATA
- Storage Controller / Serial ATA Interface Serial ATA-150
Storage
- Floppy Drive None
- Hard Drive 160 GB - Serial ATA-150 - 5400 rpm
- Hard drive type Portable
Optical Storage
- Type None
Optical Storage (2nd)
- 2nd optical storage type None
Card Reader
- Card reader type 3 in 1 card reader
- Supported flash memory cards MultiMediaCard, SD Memory Card, SDHC Memory Card
Display
- Display Type 10.1 in TFT active matrix
- Max Resolution 1024 x 600 ( WSVGA )
- Widescreen Display Yes
Video
- Graphics Processor / Vendor Intel GMA 950 Dynamic Video Memory Technology 3.0
Audio
- Audio output type Sound card
- Audio Input Microphone
Notebook Camera
- Camera Type Integrated
- Sensor Resolution 1.3 Megapixel
Input Device(s)
- Input device type Keyboard, Touchpad
Telecom
- Modem None
Networking
- Networking Network adapter
- Networking / Wireless LAN Supported Yes
- Data link protocol Ethernet, IEEE 802.11b, IEEE 802.11g, Fast Ethernet, Bluetooth 2.0 EDR
- Networking standards IEEE 802.11b, IEEE 802.11g, Bluetooth 2.0
Expansion / Connectivity
- Expansion Slots Total (Free) 1 ( 0 ) x Memory
- Interfaces 1 x Microphone - Input - Mini-phone 3.5 mm, 1 x Headphones - Output - Mini-phone stereo 3.5 mm, 1 x Display / video - VGA - 15 pin HD D-Sub (HD-15), 1 x Network - Ethernet 10Base-T/100Base-TX - RJ-45, 3 x Hi-Speed USB - 4 pin USB Type A
Miscellaneous
- Features System password, Hard drive password, Security lock slot (cable lock sold separately)
Power
- Power device form factor External
Battery
- Technology 6-cell Lithium ion
- Installed Qty 1
Operating System / Software
- OS Provided Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition SP3
- Microsoft Office Ready Includes a preinstalled image of select 2007 Microsoft Office suites. Purchase a Medialess License Kit (MLK) to activate the software.
- Software Magic Doctor, Magic Keyboard, Adobe Reader 8.0, CyberLink Youcam, Drivers & Utilities, Samsung Update Plus, Samsung Easy Battery Manager, Samsung Easy Display Manager, Samsung Easy Network Manager, Samsung Easy Speed Up Manager, Samsung Recovery Solution III, McAfee Internet Security Suite (60 days trial)
Manufacturer Warranty
- Service & Support 1 year warranty
- Service & Support Details Limited warranty - Parts and labor - 1 year
Sustainability
- EPEAT Compliant EPEAT Gold
- Greenpeace policy rating (Dec 2009) 5.1
Product series
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Manufacturer: Samsung
Specs: Intel Atom N270 / 1.6 GHz, 1 GB, 160 GB - Serial ATA-150 - 5400 rpm, Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition SP3, Intel GMA 950, 10.1 in TFT active matrix, EPEAT Gold, EPEAT gold, 2.8 lbs
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Manufacturer: Samsung
Specs: Intel Atom N270 / 1.6 GHz, 1 GB, 160 GB - Serial ATA-150 - 5400 rpm, Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition SP3, Intel GMA 950, 10.1 in TFT active matrix, EPEAT gold, EPEAT Gold, 2.8 lbs
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Manufacturer: Samsung
Specs: Intel Atom N270 / 1.6 GHz, 1 GB / 2 GB (max), 160 GB - Serial ATA-150 - 5400 rpm, Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition, Intel GMA 950, 10.1 in TFT active matrix, EPEAT Gold, EPEAT gold, 2.8 lbs
Accessories
- Samsung AA-PC0N90W - power adapter - car - 90 Watt - 19 VA (33680251)118.99 - 134.99
- HP Professional Series 10.1 Notebook Sleeve - notebook sleeve (33783095)19.00 - 19.99
- Toshiba Dual Function Hardshell Case - notebook carrying case (33749584)19.11 - 24.99
- Toshiba Neoprene Sleeve notebook sleeve (33782731)
- 1 GB Cruzer Mini USB Flash Drive (30815313)23.79 - 25.00
- 128MB MICRO VAULT USB W/ DOCK USB 2.0 (30477696)49.95
- 2 GB USB 2.0 Swivel Flash Drive (31202347)9.13 - 107.05
- Samsung Pleomax Crystal SPM-7000X - mouse (32922247)17.95
- Samsung Pleomax Optical Rainbow SPM-3800 - mouse (32920637)19.99
- 3BTN MOUSE PS2 ONLY 95/98/W2K/WME/NT/XP (20584851)
- Samsung AA-SK0TKBD - keyboard (31987558)84.00 - 95.99
- Samsung Pleomax Crystal PKB-7000X - keyboard (32920736)16.99
- 104-KEY KEYBOARD USB W/ 95 KEY & 2PORT USB HUB (3255521)36.94 - 44.72
- Belkin wireless cable/DSL gateway router (7676655)83.00
- Panasonic KX HGW600 - gateway (30092493)295.68 - 316.29
Manufacturer info
- Samsung
- Manufacturer profile
- Browse Samsung products on Shopper.com
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- Website: http://www.samsungusa.com/
- Address:
105 Challenger Road, Ridgefield Park, NJ 07660 - Phone: 1-800-726-7864
- Fax: 1-973-601-6001
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