Samsung's NC215 solar-powered netbook is the electronics manufacturer's latest move into the energy-efficient netbook foray, and it impresses in terms of battery life and mobility.
The NC215 is perfect for someone lying on the beach or sitting outside who doesn't have immediate access to a plug-point, and who wants to browse the Web, send e-mails and make Skype calls.
This is because the netbook has a solar panel on the back of the screen, which enables the device to be charged anywhere there is sufficient sunlight, whether switched on or off. The netbook also comes with a cable, so it can be plugged into a wall socket and charged during cloudy weather, or when indoors.
Eco mode
The netbook has an 'eco mode', which enables the user to set the power consumption levels. It has four energy levels, namely: nature conservation, which consumes the minimum amount of energy; energy saving; work-nature balanced; and user customisation.
What I really liked was the way the device monitors how much solar power it was generating at a given time, including current power consumption and carbon emissions. This gives users an overview of their impact on the environment.
Samsung's netbook was originally rolled out to emerging markets that do not have continuous access to an electricity supply, yet require mobile computers.
Under the hood
Intel's modest 1.66GHZ Atom processor is suited to less-intensive workloads, but fails to effectively manage multi-tasking activities or demanding games. However, it was originally designed for document editing, storing photos and browsing the Web, and this it does well.
The graphics are some of the highest I've seen in low-entry netbooks, with its LED SuperBright display and Intel GMA3150 graphics card. It was comfortable to work on outside in full daylight, with minimal reflection.
Two hours of leaving the 10-inch netbook in the sun will provide one hour's battery life. One of the biggest benefits of the netbook, I found, was that it can charge smartphones and other devices while it's switched off.
The netbook comes with three USB 2.0 ports, but no CD/DVD drive, which I found to be quite limiting. However, considering that most netbooks of similar specs don't have DVD drives, this is easily forgiven. The Webcam is small and can make video calls at a reasonable quality, but not in the high-definition one would expect from a high-end Microsoft or Logitech Webcam.
Conclusion
Overall, I would say the NC215 netbook impresses in the energy efficient category of netbooks, and is perfect for users who want a lightweight device on which to view their photographs and documents, browse the Web on the go, and conduct simple day-to-day tasks.
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