Thinking about picking up a Samsung NC10 netbook, but want to know what kind of upgrading opportunities it offers? A member of the Eee PC News.de forums has posted a few pictures of the netbook with its top off. It looks like there’s a free Mini PCI slot and a spare USB port.
In other words, it looks like you might be able to slap an HSDPA modem in there, or maybe a USB GPS unit without too much trouble. You know, if you’re the sort of person who’s comfortable taking apart a tiny computer and installing unsupported hardware modifications.
These unused slots would also seem to indicate that Samsung may soon release upgraded models with internal 3G modems or other features.
via Eee PC News
Thanks for the link. I was wondering if the Samsung NC10 had a free mini-PCIe slot. Nice to know that it has, but I’m still uncertain as to what we can do with it in the US, with regards to 3G service. The providers seem to be offering just external USB modems, ExpressCards, etc, unless you buy a laptop already equipped with an internal card from, for example, Dell. And then there’s the question of installing an internal antenna.
According to Dell, reception is much better with an internal card, and I don’t doubt it, if for no other reason, because there’s very little space for an antenna in a USB modem or PC card.
I wouldn’t count on that USB port being free in US models. It’s labeled as “bluetooth”, and the US model has bluetooth by default – so odds are that port will already be occupied.