Samsung will use Windows 7 Starter Edition on two new netbooks, it announced on Thursday.

Both the N130 and N140 will come with the Starter Edition of Microsoft's upcoming operating system, but Samsung isn't putting all its eggs in the Windows 7 basket. Windows XP Home Edition is also an option on both devices, according to a statement.

The two devices have the same hardware specification, including an Intel Atom N270 or an N280 processor, a 10.1-inch screen and up to a 250 GB hard drive. The latter is only available with the Windows 7 version.

The biggest difference between the two computers is battery life. Using a 6-cell battery, the N140 should last for up to 11 hours, compared to 7.5 hours for the N130, according to Samsung.

The N130 also includes optional support for mobile broadband technologies HSPA (High-Speed Packet Access), WiMax and WiBro, which is a South Korean version of mobile WiMax.

Both models are expected to start shipping in September. The N130 will cost between €349 and €399 ($US500 and $US570). Pricing for the N140 adds €50 to both sides of that price span.