The Samsung N130 is one of two new 10-inch netbooks from a company whose machines have consistently impressed us with solid keyboards, performance, and endurance. While the N140 sports a premium design, the N130 is all about value. At $349 (with street prices often below $300), this netbook looks similar to the N140 but offers less performance and battery life. We don’t think the $50 consumers will save is worth these trade-offs, but if you care more about price than all-day computing, the N130 may meet your needs.
Design
The 10.7 x 7.4 x 1.2-inch, 2.6-pound N130 is almost the same size as the N140, but has a shape reminiscent of the pebble design on the Samsung Go (N310) minus the grainy, rubberized surface. Instead, a matte plastic graces the lid and chassis—this is no fingerprint magnet like the N140. We still like the rounded edges on this design and appreciate the more subdued logo. Unfortunately, the N130 only comes in white with two different colors for the lid—Slate Blue and Pink—and no chrome accents.
Like the N140, the N130’s power switch now sits on the front of the unit and is a slider, not a button. And just as with the N140, the six-cell battery only raises the unit about a quarter of an inch in the back.
Heat
While writing this review and watching video with the N130, we noticed that the netbook became slightly hot during use. After leaving the system idle for five minutes, we measured heat on the touchpad and underside at 89.0 and 96.0 degrees Fahrenheit, respectively. After playing a Hulu video at full screen for 15 minutes, the touchpad reached 94.0 degrees, but the space between the G and H keys got to 99.5, and the underside notched 101.5 degrees, which is really uncomfortable.
Keyboard and Touchpad
Instead of the chiclet-style keyboard last seen on the Samsung Go, the N130 has the same great keyboard as the N140 (and both the N110 and NC10). As with earlier models, we’re fans of the layout (93 percent of full size) and placement of the slightly textured keys. The keyboard is comfortable to type on with good travel and a nice spring, which allowed us to reach our full typing speed right away.
The 2.5 x 1.4-inch touchpad is also the same size as the N140’s, and is wide enough to move across the screen without having to pick up your finger too much. The single mouse button bar beneath is a little stiff. We’d prefer to see distinct left and right buttons, as well as a demarcation between the touchpad area and the palm rest, which shares the same slight roughness as there is on the N140.
