Full review of Lenovo IdeaPad S10

Seeing that a majority of netbooks are based on the Intel Atom N270 CPU, GMA950 graphics, and Windows XP Home as the operating system (the s10 being no exception), you have to look at what other features it brings to the table. Besides the eye-pleasing and MacBook-like design, the base model of Lenovo’s S10 is actually not that well equipped compared to similar netbooks. It has an 80GB hard drive and only 512MB of RAM, although most buyers will probably throw in an extra $50 and get the 160GB hard drive and 1GB RAM.

Keyboard and Trackpad

After testing the keyboard/trackpad combination on the S10 for a while, we found that the trackpad provided a nice and consistent experience, although the buttons where a bit loud when depressed. Also, the keyboard felt somewhat cramped like it does on most netbooks, but some odd-sized keys like a minimal tab key made it feel even more so on the S10 than most other 10″ netbooks that we’ve tested.

Connectivity

Looking at the connectivity, the S10 has a nice set of features: Two USB ports, VGA out, headphone, microphone, LAN, multi-card reader, Bluetooth and Express Card. A big plus and a gold star to Lenovo for the last two items on the list – having Bluetooth is a must for some users, and an express card slot is also nice to see on a netbook. Again, like most other netbooks it lacks support for wireless N (the fast variety).

Performance and Battery Life

In our WorldBench test, the S10 delivered a score of 29, which is a slightly lower score than the competition, but this can probably be attributed to the 512MB of RAM. Upgrade to a gig of RAM and you will probably see an improvement to a score in line with other netbooks. According to Lenovo, you should be able to get almost 4 hours of battery life, but in the real world – with Wi-Fi on and screen brightness turn up – you’ll be lucky to get 3:30 out of the 3-cell battery. This is to be expected from a 3-cell, but it would have been nice to at least have the option to get it with a 6-cell.

All in all, the Lenovo S10 is a nice-looking netbook that performs predictably. It can definitely be recommended, but I would opt for an upgrade to at least 1GB of RAM. Unlike some other netbooks, the S10 is also thankfully very easy to upgrade.

• Dell Mini 9 (03-07-2009)
• Top 10 Netbooks 2008 (04-07-2009)
• Top 10 Netbooks 2009 (04-07-2009)
• Top 10 Notebooks for over $2.500 (04-07-2009)
• Lenovo IdeaPad Y530 (04-07-2009)

Full review of Sony Vaio FW

The multimedia powerhouse that is the Sony VAIO FW-270j meets all your entertainment features and more in one attractive package. The 16.4″ glossy 16:9 HD display in concert with the HDMI port and Blu-ray player give you all the tools you need for high quality video playback. With an Intel Core 2 Duo P8400 2.26GHz CPU, 4GB RAM and a 320GB HDD, it can handle most other computing tasks too. It’s a little heavy and just fair on battery life, but it makes up for it with style points and multimedia prowess.

Design, Keyboard and Mouse

The FW-270J isn’t lacking for grace. With a minimalist design featuring a Macbook-like silver chassis and black chiclet keyboard, you’ll love looking at more than just the glossy display. The display rests on what looks like two large hinges, the rightmost of which has a glowing green band which is lit when the computer is on. Everything about the laptop looks very smooth except for the lid, which is strangely black matte. The keyboard itself lacks a number pad despite room for it but the keys are well spaced and are decent for typing. The trackpad is smooth and comfortable.

Multimedia Power

This VAIO comes with a Blu-ray player, HDMI, and a beautiful 16.4″ glossy HD display. Although the display claims to be “Full HD 1080p” the resolution is a 720p 1600×900 (Sony explains that it’s only 1080p “when connected to a compatible HDTV”, which essentially means you can use it as a Blu-ray player for your TV). The backlighting was excellent and helped eliminate the glare, and the viewing angles were good enough that multiple people could easily watch a movie on it sitting side by side. There is also a set of multimedia buttons placed above the keyboard, one of which gives you access to Sony’s helpful built in multimedia software.

Connectivity

The FW-270j has a standard slew of ports with a few nice additions. You’ll find a card reader, audio in/out, VGA, HDMI and i.Link S400 (ie: mini FireWire) as well as an ExpressCard/34 slot and 3 USB ports. Bluetooth and 802.11a/b/g/n was also included in the unit. The HDMI port is essential to any HTPC, and the list of other ports is enough to get most of your general computing jobs done.

Performance and Conclusion

This computer is a multimedia powerhouse with good internals but it lacked a GPU, which explains the score of 3235 on PCMark Vantage, although we were a little disappointed with the 74 on Worldbench. Battery performance was adequate for this type of laptop, with 101 minutes while watching a Blu-ray (enough time to actually finish it on one charge) and 181 minutes in general use. The downside of this laptop was that it is “just” decent in overall testing and it is a little heavy, but in return you are getting a beautiful laptop which looks as good as the HD video it is capable of easily playing.

• Dell Mini 9 (03-07-2009)
• Top 10 Netbooks 2008 (04-07-2009)
• Top 10 Netbooks 2009 (04-07-2009)
• Top 10 Notebooks for over $2.500 (04-07-2009)
• Lenovo IdeaPad Y530 (04-07-2009)

Full review of Dell Vostro A860

An affordable option that will fit into any budget, the Dell Vostro A860 Laptop offers great mobility and connectivity for the individual who needs a little more versatility from a work computer. Recently offered at $399 through Dell as part of a late 2008 push, there’s arguably no better computer for your buck.

The Vostro A860 offers three upgrade packages for more user customization. However, no unnecessary trial software is in the mix to clutter the hard drive or the desktop. The amply spaced 15.6-inch widescreen LCD display offers enough room to view multiple tasks and projects, with the ability to stream media or DVDs on the standard drive.

Dell Vostro A860 Tech Specs

The Vostro A860 comes with a lower-end Intel Celeron M processor at 2.16GHz and Vista Home Basic Service Pack 1. The optical drive offers a 24x CD Burner/DVD combo, with the option to upgrade to an 8x DVD+/-RW drive. The basic package offers users 1GB of memory, a 160GB SATA hard drive and the Intel Graphics Media Accelerator X3100. Out of the box, the laptop is wireless capable, and includes the standard one-year basic limited warranty.

Features

Ultimately, the Vostro A860 is perfect for transitioning from a desktop to a capable laptop, catering to those in need of the technological mobility. Aesthetically, the computer offers a low-profile look, without the overly glossy finish found on many black laptops. The full keyboard allows for maximized user efficiency and comfort, and with the four-cell battery, the weight is just over 5 lbs.

The only real drawback, when considering the unbeatable price, is the size and the power-pull of a four-cell Li-Ion battery. Yet, when reviewing the pros and cons, an under $400 price tag far outweighs the drawbacks to this entry-level laptop.

Cons

• Weak Battery Life

• Dell Mini 9 (03-07-2009)
• Top 10 Netbooks 2008 (04-07-2009)
• Top 10 Netbooks 2009 (04-07-2009)
• Top 10 Notebooks for over $2.500 (04-07-2009)
• Lenovo IdeaPad Y530 (04-07-2009)

Full review of Dell Studio 15

The Dell Studio 1537 is a beautifully designed laptop that manages to look good without sacrificing computing power or running up the starting price. Sporting a red lid and an overall smooth appearance, our 1537 came packed with an Intel Core 2 Duo P8400 2.26GHz to go along with a 320GB HDD, 4GB RAM, and a dedicated 256MB ATI Radeon HD 3450 GPU. For a price that won’t surpass 3 digits, the 1537 does an admirable job or satisfying you, your onlookers, and your wallet.

Design, Keyboard and Mouse

The look and feel of the Studio 1537 is stylishly smooth. The red lid features a shiny silver Dell logo in the center and is smooth to the touch. The screen is wide and glossy and there is a silver frame around the display as well as the black speakers and backlit keyboard, which creates a nice effect. Beyond being backlit, the keyboard also features a number of multimedia touch buttons and is full sized. The trackpad is comfortable to use and appears as only a slight depression in the palmrest. The Studio has a tapered front which helps avoid the boxy look, and reaches thinness of 1″ in the front. However, it is about 1/3″ deeper in the back, and our model shipped with a 9-cell battery which made it even bulkier. It’s not so thick that it looks bad at all, it’s simply not competing with the thinnest of thin laptops.

Connectivity

The 1537 comes with a solid array of connectivity options. For your high quality video needs you get HDMI as well as the older VGA, and for your data transfer needs there is mini FireWire in addition to 3USB ports and 1USB/eSATA. The Studio 1537 also comes with a nice looking slot loading DVD player, eliminating the need for unsightly trays, as well as 2 audio out jacks so that you and a friend can both listen at the same time. You can even connect through your fingers with the biometric fingerprint reader. Audio in, Ethernet, and wireless on/off switch (as well as a button for Dell’s “WiFi Catcher”) round out the remaining options.

Display

The display on the Studio is great, and the colors look sharp on the glossy screen. The display is LED backlit and extremely bright, making outdoor use possible even in direct sunlight. The viewing angles are excellent, especially from the sides or below. The only thing holding our Studio back was the rather average WXGA 1280×800 resolution, which is fine for most purposes but a little short of impressive.

Performance and Conclusion

With a score of 79 on Worldbench, the Studio 1537 fit in fairly well next to other multimedia laptops we tested. A score of 2845 PCMarks was a little less encouraging, and we had expected the notebook to do better. Still, overall we found the performance to be quite acceptable and when we remember we’re getting a notebook with a few style points too it made it easier to cut the Studio some slack. With the 9 cell battery the battery life hit almost 6 hours, which is plenty. On the whole, the Studio is a beautifully designed and perfectly capable laptop for a price that won’t break the bank.

Summary and Details

The Studio 15 from Dell is an affordable mid-range 15-inch laptop. Just like all other Dell laptops, you can customize it down to the smallest detail and the Studio 15 more so than others. It’s even available in custom lid colors and patterns.

It can be configured with either lower-end Pentium Dual Core processors with a slower FSB, or the more efficient Core 2 Duo. The 256MB ATI Radeon 3450 is also an optional upgrade from the integrated Intel GMA; the 3450 is not the fastest graphics card on the market, but should be sufficient for games in low detail settings. Intel graphics are however not at all suited for gaming.

Another detail worth noting is that either a dedicated GPU or a fast processor is mandatory if you select the optional Blu-Ray player upgrade.

• Dell Mini 9 (03-07-2009)
• Top 10 Netbooks 2008 (04-07-2009)
• Top 10 Netbooks 2009 (04-07-2009)
• Top 10 Notebooks for over $2.500 (04-07-2009)
• Lenovo IdeaPad Y530 (04-07-2009)

Full review of Asus Eee PC 1000HE

Asus started the netbook craze with its tiny, 7-inch Eee PC. Shortly thereafter, every notebook manufacturer except Apple produced at least one tiny and inexpensive laptop just like it. Nowadays, netbooks are not that tiny anymore – little by little they have increased in size from 7″ via 9″ and now the standard screen size of a netbook is 10 inches. Even a couple of 12-inch models have been released.

Hardware

What they all have in common is the hardware – with a few deviations it consists of an Intel Atom CPU at 1.6GHz, 1GB or RAM, a 160GB hard drive and integrated GMA950 graphics. The Eee PC, however, has been upgraded with an ever so slightly faster 1.66GHz Atom processor and a higher 667MHz FSB speed instead of earlier models which had 533MHz.

The speed increase is not big enough to be noticeable, but you might feel better purchasing an upgraded model. Asus’ main selling point with the 1000HE is the battery life. According to the manufacturer, you should be able to keep it alive for 9.5 hours without resorting to an outlet. To achieve this formidable battery life, you need to use aggressive power-saving schemes, no Wi-Fi and turn the brightness all the way down. In our general usage test it still delivered more than 7 hours, which is still more than acceptable.

Design

As far as the design goes, the Eee PC 1000 HE stays with the concept we’ve seen in previous Eee netbooks. The keyboard is almost full size (92%) and the trackpad buttons are slightly tilted in the front. The entire casing of the netbook is glossy, which enhances the overall look but also attracts fingerprints easily.

On the whole, the design of the 1000HE focuses on usability; it’s not spectacularly thin like some of its siblings, such as Asus S101 netbook, but it certainly gets the job done with flying colors. Besides, keeping the design simple also helps keep the price to a minimum, which is often the deciding factor for a netbook buyer.

Connectivity and Features

The ports have been placed on the left- and right-hand sides of the laptop – none at the back. On the right is a memory card reader, 2 USB and VGA and on the left is another USB port, Ethernet, and audio line in/out.

Summary

While there are better looking netbooks on the market, the Eee PC 1000HE comes at a very attractive price point and offers excellent battery life. It’s also very easy to use thanks to the large keyboard, and has all the features that the competition offer plus a little extra. Combine these aspects and you have one of the best netbooks currently available.

• Dell Mini 9 (03-07-2009)
• Top 10 Netbooks 2008 (04-07-2009)
• Top 10 Netbooks 2009 (04-07-2009)
• Top 10 Notebooks for over $2.500 (04-07-2009)
• Lenovo IdeaPad Y530 (04-07-2009)

• Dell Mini 9 (03-07-2009)
• Top 10 Netbooks 2008 (04-07-2009)
• Top 10 Netbooks 2009 (04-07-2009)
• Top 10 Notebooks for over $2.500 (04-07-2009)
• Lenovo IdeaPad Y530 (04-07-2009)

A couple of years ago a middle weight business laptop would have cost you over a grand. Today less than 500 dollars will snag you an Athlon dual core powered Vostro 1000, sporting a 15.4 inch wide-screen display and some quality touches like a mylar sealed keyboard and magnesium alloy chassis. Laptopical’s Todd Gold offers his opinion on this discount offering from Dell.

• Dell Mini 9 (03-07-2009)
• Top 10 Netbooks 2008 (04-07-2009)
• Top 10 Netbooks 2009 (04-07-2009)
• Top 10 Notebooks for over $2.500 (04-07-2009)
• Lenovo IdeaPad Y530 (04-07-2009)

Full review of Acer Aspire One

The Aspire One is an 8.9″ netbook with an Intel Atom N270 processor and GMA950 integrated graphics just like every other netbook out there. With identical hardware, you would assume to get roughly the same performance out of it, and you would assume correctly.

Features

There is still a measure of variation between different netbooks and brands, most notably the appearance, but quality aspects are naturally also important, as well as connectivity, hard drive, RAM and battery size.

Regarding the last item in the list, we managed to find the desirable and elusive model with the 6-cell battery, which offered 5 hours and 40 minutes of battery life with wireless on and backlight set to 75%. It wouldn’t be unreasonable to assume that the 3-cell, which is more common, would yield about half of that.

Big for a Netbook

Of course, getting the larger battery also means sacrificing some portability. The Aspire One is actually a bit large already (as far as netbooks go), and the 6-cell battery increases the weight to roughly 2.5 pounds. Another minor annoyance with the Acer is the relatively wide and thick bezel that makes it even slightly larger than some 10-inch netbooks.

That annoyingly large LCD bezel is unfortunately not the only letdown as far as the screen is concerned. Its viewing angles are also very poor – colors start shifting as soon as you’re not exactly in front of the screen.

Bottom Line

You also get varying amounts of RAM and hard drive (or SSD) space depending on which version you get. The Aspire One is available with both flash memory-based Solid State Drives in smaller sizes and regular notebook hard drives. Our review model had 1GB of RAM and a 160GB hard drive – both quite generous for a netbook. In most aspects, you actually get a lot of “bang for the buck” with the Aspire One.

On the whole it’s a reasonably well-rounded netbook that – like most netbooks – offer few surprises. Considering what you have to pay for it, it’s hard not to recommend this netbook in spite of a few flaws.

• Dell Mini 9 (03-07-2009)
• Top 10 Netbooks 2008 (04-07-2009)
• Top 10 Netbooks 2009 (04-07-2009)
• Top 10 Notebooks for over $2.500 (04-07-2009)
• Lenovo IdeaPad Y530 (04-07-2009)

Full review of Lenovo IdeaPad Y530

The Y530 uses Intel processors from the Centrino 2 lineup; our model came with a P7350, 2GHz Core 2 Duo, 250GB hard drive, 2GB RAM, and last but not least a dedicated GeForce 9300M GPU.

Design and Features

For a 15.4-inch laptop, the IdeaPad Y530 is quite heavy at 6.6 lbs / 2.96 kg, but in return it feels very sturdy and solid. Being a Lenovo laptop, it has a characteristically low-key, elegant design. Although the IdeaPad consumer laptops are somewhat more exciting than Lenovo’s ThinkPad business laptops.

The screen has a ‘frameless’ glossy-all-over finish that provides really vibrant colors, but also some inevitable reflections.

Like most Lenovo keyboards, the one on the Y530 is a pleasure to type on, and above it is a row of touch sensitive, orange-glowing buttons for media control; both are quite nice-looking and useful. The touchpad is slightly larger than average, and is very accurate and comfortable to the touch.

There is no shortage of connectivity on the Y530 – it comes with HDMI, 3 USB ports, Ethernet, modem, s-video and VGA out. Bluetooth is built in, and you can also get it with an optional remote.

Performance and Battery

The Intel P7350 is a fairly powerful processor with a 2.0GHz clock and the latest 1066MHz front side bus. Our review model came with a standard 5,400rpm hard drive, but it can also be configured with desktop-speed 7,200rpm drives, which should boost everyday performance somewhat.

The 9300M GS graphics card from Nvidia is a lower-end solution that is able to play some games, but newer games will only run smoothly at lower settings and resolutions.

PCMark Vantage Pro and WorldBench 6 delivered scores of 2872 and 70 respectively. We had also planned to run 3DMark Vantage, but alas, the IdeaPad Y530 only has a 1280×800 display, whereas Vantage requires a minimum 1280×1024 resolution for some reason.

You don’t expect a whole lot of battery life from a 15-inch laptop with a 6-cell battery, but the IdeaPad was still able to deliver 2 hours and 45 minutes during average to heavy use that involved browsing and using Word while playing music and video files in the background. Watch a DVD and you can shave roughly half an hour off that total.

Bottom Line

At $1,000 or less, depending on configuration, the IdeaPad Y530 is nothing less than a bargain. So far, Lenovo has only delivered durable, quality laptops and continues to do so in its IdeaPad consumer series. If you’re on the market for a 15.4-inch entertainment laptop, the Y530 is definitely worth considering.

• Acer Aspire One (04-07-2009)
• Dell Vostro 1000 (04-07-2009)
• Dell inspiron 15 (04-07-2009)
• Asus Eee PC 1000HE (04-07-2009)
• Dell Studio 15 (04-07-2009)

• Top 10 Netbooks 2008 (04-07-2009)
• Top 10 Netbooks 2009 (04-07-2009)
• Top 10 Notebooks for over $2.500 (04-07-2009)
• Acer Aspire One (04-07-2009)
• Dell Vostro 1000 (04-07-2009)