The Lenovo IdeaPad S10 is a 10-inch netbook with a $439 starting price and some impressive features that help place it a step above the competition. Does the S10 have what it takes to stand out in a market that is becoming increasingly more crowded? Let's take an in-depth look.
Our Lenovo S10 features the following specifications:
* 1.6GHz N270 Intel Atom Processor
* 1GB PC2-5300 DDR2 SDRAM 667MHz
* Windows XP Home Edition (SP3)
* 10.2" WSVGA AntiGlare TFT with integrated camera 1024x600
* 160GB 5400rpm hard drive
* Intel GMA 950 Integrated Graphics
* Broadcom 11b/g Wi-Fi wireless and Bluetooth
* 4-in-1 Media card reader and ExpressCard slot
* 3-Cell Li-ion battery
* Size: 9.8" x 7.2" x 1.2" (including feet)
* Weight: 2.64 lbs (with 3-cell battery)
* Starting price: $439 (with 512MB RAM and 80GB hard drive)
Build and Design
The design of the IdeaPad S10 is unsurprisingly similar to other netbooks we've seen in recent months, but Lenovo has managed to include a few pleasant surprises. The exterior is covered in white "pearl-like" plastics with a slight glossy finish. The interior keyboard and palmrest surfaces are covered with matte white plastics with reasonable durability and only a minor bit of flex around the palmrests when you press firmly on those surfaces.
Display
The matte 10.2" WSVGA (1024x600) AntiGlare TFT display on the S10 is nice and vibrant with rich colors and good contrast. The white levels are very clear and the matte surface prevents glare and reflections which help make the screen easier to read outdoors under bright sunlight.
Horizontal viewing angles are good, so you and a friend won't have trouble watching a movie on the 8.9-inch screen at the same time. Vertical viewing angles are acceptable, but colors do tend to become darker and slightly inverted when viewed from below.
Ports and Features
Port selection was pretty impressive on the S10 compared to other netbooks, with the standout features being an ExpressCard slot for additional expansion and built-in Bluetooth for using an external mouse and keyboard without needing to sacrifice one or more of the two USB ports.
In fact, if there isn't much to complain about here other than the fact that the S10 has only two USB ports. However, if we had to choose between a third USB port or an ExpressCard slot and Bluetooth we will gladly sacrifice the third USB port. Here is a quick tour of what you get:
Front: No ports, just indicator lights and the speakers.
Performance
This Intel Atom based netbook won't be breaking any speed records, but it performed more than adequately for normal activities. Windows startup took less than 30 seconds and internet browsing, word processing, and even photo editing tasks were downright "snappy." While the 3D graphics benchmark numbers aren't particularly impressive, it's important to keep in mind that netbooks are not designed for playing computer games. The S10 and similar netbooks are mobile internet portals and productivity tools for getting some quick work done without needing to carry a giant laptop.
Conclusion
Is the Lenovo IdeaPad S10 the best netbook currently on the market and the best value for your dollar? Well, the answer isn't simple, particularly considering the way that new netbooks seem to arrive every week. The S10 does several things right that we wish more manufacturers did with their netbooks.
First, Lenovo was smart enough to realize and ExpressCard slot is important if you want to make a netbook useful. The ExpressCard slot gives you the option of adding more USB ports, Firewire, eSATA, or any number of other ports to the S10. More importantly, the ExpressCard slot makes it easy to add a broadband modem to the S10 so that you can stay connected to the internet anywhere with cell phone reception.
Second, the S10 has built-in Bluetooth. Frankly, we're amazed that every netbook doesn't come with built-in Bluetooth since it allows you to connect devices to the netbook without using one of the USB ports.
Last, but certainly not least the S10 combines the surprisingly capable Intel Atom processor with a standard hard drive. While budget SSDs are nice, most consumers can't get over the limited storage capacity of SSDs and that is why hard drives still have a place in netbooks.
On the other hand, the S10 still suffers from some of the same limitations as other netbooks: relatively high temperatures, small battery, and a cramped screen and keyboard.
Ultimately, the Lenovo IdeaPad S10 is a great ultra-portable laptop priced below $500. However, if you're willing to put up with a bulkier notebook then it's still possible to find a computer with more features and performance for almost the same price on sale.
Pros
* Small and light
* Easy to use
* Very well built and durable
* Easy to upgrade RAM, and hard drive
* Comes with Bluetooth
* ExpressCard slot offers extra expansion options
Cons
* Gets a little hot
* White plastics give this serious computer a "toy-like" appearance
* Only two USB ports
* 3-cell battery is nice, 6-cell battery would be better
Source : http://www.notebookreview.com
