NetbookShow

Samsung is giving its NB30 netbook a minor update and slapping the “Pro” name on it. At first glance, the new Samsung NB30 Pro Specialized Netbook looks exactly like the original Samsung NB30. But the new model runs Windows 7 Professional and comes with up to 2GB of memory.

The rest of the specs remain the same. The mini-laptop has a 1.66GHz Intel Atom N450 processor, 10.1 inch, 1024 x 600 pixel display, intel GMA 3150 graphics, 160GB hard drive, VGA webcam, 802.11b/g/n WiFi, and 6 cell battery.

Both the original and Pro versions of the Samsung NB30 feature a semi-rugged case design, a spill-resistant keyboard, and a hard drive sensor that parks the HDD spindle when the computer is in free-fall, helping to prevent data loss and hard drive damage. The Samsung NB30 was always designed to appeal to business customers looking for something a little more durable than a typical netbook, so it makes sense that Samsung would release an updated version with Windows 7 Professional instead of Windows 7 Starter Edition.

The Samsung NB30 Pro should be available by the end of the month for about $519.

A touchscreen on a netbook may not be everyone’s idea of a good time, but it looks like Samsung thinks there’s a sizable enough market for them, as it’s now introduced a touchscreen-equipped counterpart to its NB30 netbook. Dubbed the NB30 Touch, this version packs a 10.1-inch 1,024 x 600 touchscreen (matte, no less) and remains otherwise identical to the standard NB30, including an Atom N450 processor, 1GB of RAM, a 160GB or 250GB hard drive, and Windows 7 Starter Edition for an OS. Of course, the one other big change is the price, which comes in at €399 (or about $545) for the NB30 Touch, compared to just €279 (or $380) for the non-touchscreen version.