Samsung NC-10: just not tough enough for school

So far, we have 40 Samsung NC-10 netbooks deployed in the school; some running Vista, and some running the Windows 7 RC. They’ve all been upgraded to 2GB of RAM and are joined to the domain. They are running pretty well, but in the last week we’ve been finding some problems.

Basically, these machines are just not bloody tough enough. We’ve previously used nothing but Dell laptops, and despite our relatively well-behaved students, they do take a bit of a bashing. After only a month, the Samsungs are not faring well, and 3 are already out of action.

Way to screw up my 5-year plan, Dell

At my recent job interview I was asked to give a presentation on a ridiculously vague subject that essentially amounted to crystal-ball gazing.

In part of it I laid out my tentative predictions for the next 5-10 years of client evolution in education. I posited that the recent explosive growth in the use of netbooks would lead them to be the cornerstone of education workstations in 5 years time.

I also predicted that the mass-marketability of the iPhone would popularise touch interfaces to the point where they became very cheap to mass-produce, and that within the next few years we would a convergence leading to touchscreen netbooks.

Today, Dell put their newest netbook on sale in the US and Europe, the Latitude L2100. It’s specifically designed for the education market.

It has a touch screen.

The touch screen option is just £33 extra.

Apparently we have already reached the point where touchscreens are cheap to mass-produce. I will gleefully say I saw it coming. I did not see it coming this soon. So thanks, Dell, for totally ruining my predictions for the next 5 years. I especially hate you for doing it with a product that is quite clearly very cool.

Dear Samsung: I’m Right

Further to my previous letter, I notice that the problem I suggested to you might be fixed by an update to the BIOS has indeed been fixed in the latest BIOS release for your NC10 netbook.

This may have in fact been fixed for some time, though I only happened upon the discovery by chance this week, as you neglected to post any information on the issues fixed in this, or the other two intervening updates you have issued since you previously denied this problem was your fault and attempted to blame Microsoft.

Since you are clearly reluctant to admit your stupidity in public, I will instead be happy to receive a private apology on the back of a £50 note to the usual address, accompanied at your discretion by an embroidered t-shirt emblazoned with the words “The Angry Technician is Right”.

Love and kisses,
AngryTechnician

Dear Samsung

I called you about a hardware problem with your NC10 netbook that I’ve been trialling. You almost immediately washed your hands of the problem with the mistaken explanation that it’s a problem with Microsoft’s software. You did so without even looking properly at the issue that I’ve taken the time to carefully document.

Be advised that I am also trialling other manufacturers’ products.

What’s more, those manufacturers had the same problem with their kit, but unlike you they actually care and had already issued fixes for their products in the form of a BIOS update (thus demonstrating it is not Microsoft’s problem), which is why I suggested to your support monkey that the problem needed a BIOS update to resolve it.

You may well have made the decision that you’re not going to support what I’m trying to do because you’re not aiming for my market. However, when we make a £45,000 order for netbooks later this year, the experience I have with you now will greatly determine whether I do business with you in the future. The tragedy is that your netbook is actually quite good, but you are seriously letting yourself down by having morons in your support department.

Love and kisses,
AngryTechnician