Lenovo Ideapad S10 Netbook Review
Netbooks are in, and in this mobile age where lighter seems to be better, most computer bigwigs are trying to make their presence felt in this segment. Lenovo is no different, and has recently launched its netbook, the Ideapad S10. Obvious questions: What does this netbook have, to lure the buyers in a saturated market? How is it different from other netbooks?
The S10 houses nothing new when one considers the 1.6 GHz Atom processor, 1 GB of RAM and its 2.7 pounds weight; but there are some features that are different. Let’s hit them right at the beginning. Obviously Lenovo has not been a silent spectator, and seems to have studied the pros and cons of other machines. Whether Lenovo was rivaling the HP MiniNote 2133 or the EeePC 100H, is not known. The screen is slightly bigger at 10.2”, and the 160 GB hard drive beats most netbooks. Also, it has an ExpressCard slot which no other netbook has, except for the HP MiniNote. Even the EeePC 1000H lacks one. The HP MiniNote 2133 also has the option of a 160GB hard disk, but its screen is just 8.9”.
Another reason where the Lenovo can kill other netbooks, is its price. It is priced at a mere $480. One can also opt in for 512MB of RAM and 80GB of hard disk for a cost of $399. The S10 comes close to the EeePC 1000H in price, but the 1000H has only 80 GB of hard disk. Moreover it is thicker and heavier than the S10. Most netbooks in the market, which are priced around $700 to 800, would find it difficult to match the price of the S10. In order to get good performance at the right price, the 160MB configuration is recommended.
One can perform all the standard netbook tasks such as browsing the internet, word processing, listening to music, writing emails and video chatting. The S10 has Wi Fi connectivity and enables the user to connect to a 11b/g network for quick browsing. The Express card slot enables enhanced 3G mobile broadband connectivity, and a 4-in-1 multicard reader connects to various devices for transfer of data and media files. There are only two USB ports as compared to the standard three ports on most netbooks.
The physical feel is great and the chassis is quite sturdy. The design is good but the white color, which is the only color available at the moment, may not appeal to many. The S10 will come in three other colors that include bold black, glossy ruby red and pastel pink. The spill-proof keyboard is large and just 15 percent smaller than full size, but it is still slightly smaller than the 1000H’s keyboard. The keys are well spaced and easy to type on. The Fn and Ctrl buttons are interchanged, but that should not cause any inconvenience. In case of a virus attack or system error, Lenovo’s OneKey Rescue System helps restore data by creating a custom restore disc at one click of a button. This can be done by hitting the key with a curved arrow, just above the F9 key.
The touchpad blends well with the keyboard, and the large left and right buttons are at convenient locations below the mouse pad. The touchpad is reasonably sensitive and allows multi-touch scrolling and pinch-zooming. Although the display is bigger, one cannot tell the difference. The LED backlit display is a little dim, but it does well at conserving energy, which becomes a precious requirement when one is on the move. Besides this, the S10 offers various power schemes that switch off hardware components or Wi Fi in order to make the battery last longer. The 3 cell battery lasts a little longer than two hours, which is much lower than the EeePC 1000H.
The S10, which works excellently as a secondary machine, is definitely going to be the pick of the average user and student, who constitute a large percentage of general population. By giving value for money as well as performance that parallels any netbook in the market, the S10 is well on its way to popularity in the netbook segment.