Samsung finally releases solar-powered NC215 netbook in Korea
Now that solar-powered netbooks are available in Seoul, can Samsung come up with more outdoor venues so that we can actually use them? (Photo credit: Samsung Electronics)If you have ever wanted to surf the Internet while lounging outside on a grassy lawn, only for your laptop battery to die as soon as you get comfortable, you'll be happy to hear that Samsung has finally released its solar-paneled netbook NC215 in Korea.
Of course, we're speaking hypothetically here -- we have yet to see a grassy lawn in Seoul without "Don't Walk On The Grass" signs emblazoned all over it.
Originally intended for customers in emerging markets without steady access to electricity, this little green netbook is leading Samsung's agenda of innovating more environmentally-friendly products; it was launched in U.S. and European markets earlier this year.
One wonders why the Korean tech giant waited until the end of summer to unveil it in its home country, but perhaps it somehow predicted the heavy rain?
According to TFTS, specs for domestically-released NC215 include Intel Atom N570 dual-core processor running at 1.66 GHz, 10.1-inch 1024×600 screen, 1GB DDR3 RAM, and 250GB 5400 RPM hard drive. The netbook also comes with Wi-Fi b/g/n, Bluetooth 3.0 and an SDHC card reader.
According to Samsung, one of the perks of the solar panel is that the NC215 can charge smartphones and mp3 players while it is off. The solar panel can power the netbook for an hour after charging in the sun for two hours. A fully-charged battery will last for 14 hours.
The winner of the 2011 Energy Technology Award from the Consumer Citizens Group, the NC215 weighs 1.32 kilos, restarts in three seconds, and has a 17.5 millimeter display and a "pebble" keyboard, which apparently means that the keys are spaced further apart and thus easier to type on.
The NC215 has been on sale since Tuesday, with a list price of ₩599,000.
More on CNNGo: Meet the brains behind the bunny ears
