14 DAY TRIAL // Samsung and Google have just kicked off a special program that allows those interested in buying a Chrome OS notebook to place a pre-order for Samsung's Series 5 portable a week before the laptop will become available from retailers across the US.
In order to qualify for this program, consumers will have to find a link by following a series of hints placed by Google on a special webpage (available here).
For now, only the 3G version of the notebook can be pre-ordered and this retails for $499.99 US.
The Samsung Series 5 Chrome OS notebooks have been made official in mid-May and, besides the 3G equipped mode, the Korean company also builds a WiFi-only version of the laptop.
The rest of the hardware specifications of the two machines are identical as both netbooks are powered by an Intel Atom N570 processor, which packs two computing cores running at 1.66GHz, and 2GB of system memory.
Graphics is handled by the integrated Atom GPU and storage is provided by a 16GB solid state drive which is based on a Samsung design.
As far as the screen is concerned, this measures 12.1-inch in diagonal, it features LED back lighting, and it also packs an anti-reflective coating which should make it behave better when exposed to direct sunlight. Its resolution is set at 1280x800 pixels.
Alongside its 0.79-inch thin chassis, Samsung has placed two USB 2.0 ports, a 4-in-1 memory card reader, a headphone out jack as well as a special port for an optional VGA dongle.
Samsung Series 5 netbooks also include a 1MP webcam as well as a 6-cell battery pack, which can provide up to 8.5 hours of use, according to the manufacturer.
The notebook will be available in the US, UK, Germany, Netherlands, Spain, and Italy starting with June 15, and more countries should be added to the list later in 2011.
In the US, the Samsung Series 5 netbook will be sold by Amazon and Best Buy. The Wi-Fi only model will retail for $429. (via Liliputing)