Lenovo Laptop Reviews

The name ThinkPad has been synonymous with business for years and remains one of the single most popular notebook brands for corporate road warriors. But what about average consumers? This is where Lenovo’s all new IdeaPad line of notebooks comes to the rescue. The 15-inch IdeaPad Y510 offers innovative design, solid technical specs and impressive built-in speakers that make other laptops look like cheap toys.

The Lenovo IdeaPad Y510 (starting at $814.99 MSRP) is available with a range of Core 2 Duo processors (from the Intel T2330 1.6GHz Core 2 Duo up to the T8100 2.1GHz Core 2 Duo). There is only one 15.4″ screen offering, a 1280×800 WXGA glossy display.

Our review unit of the IdeaPad Y510 has the following specifications:

• Windows Vista Home Premium (32-bit)
• Intel Core 2 Duo processor T5450 (1.66GHz, 2MB L2 Cache, 667MHz FSB)
• 15.4″ WXGA VibrantView Widescreen Display (1280 x 800)
• 2GB DDR2 System Memory (supports up to 4GB)
• Intel Integrated Graphics Media Accelerator X3100
• 250GB 5400RPM SATA Hard Drive
• Optical drive: Dual Layer CD/DVD Recordable
• 1.3 megapixel integrated camera
• Sound: 4 speakers and 1 sub-woofer (Dolby Home Theater)
• Modem, 10/100 Ethernet, Intel PRO/Wireless 3945ABG or 4965AGN
• 6-cell battery
• Weight: 6.4 lb. including battery (2.90 kg)
• Dimensions: 14.3″ x 10.2″ x 1.1″-1.4″ (362mm x260mm x 29.2 -36.2mm)
• Warranty: 1 year system and 1 year battery
• Price as configured: $949

The IdeaPad Y510 is visually unique from the previous notebooks released by Lenovo. Sure, the basic laptop structure remains the same, but the angled hinge design, seamless glossy display, LED-backlit media buttons, and complete lack of a red pointing stick/touchpoint tell you this isn’t a ThinkPad we’re looking at here.

The Lenovo ThinkPad X300 is a 13.3″ widescreen ultra thin-and-light notebook. Though it’s less than 1-inch thick, the ThinkPad X300 is still choc full of features and a demonstration in usability. The X300 was meticulously thought out and designed by veteran ThinkPad engineers to raise the bar on what a notebook can be and put Lenovo at the vanguard of business notebook design and utility.

The only problem with a notebook that’s designed for those with fine tastes and demanding needs is that the price tag will of course be high. At a starting cost of around $2,500 and a high-end configuration of about $3,000, the X300 is out of reach in terms of price for most consumers. However, for those that need a business tool that their success and livelihood depends on, $3,000 isn’t much at all — the data stored on a computer is worth multiple times that for many business users.

The ThinkPad X300 under review here has the following specifications:

• Processor: 1.20GHz Intel Core 2 Duo L7100 (800Mhz FSB, 4MB Cache)
• Graphics: Intel X3100
• Screen: 13.3-inch WXGA+ (1440 x 900, 300 nit) LED backlit display
• Memory: 2GB (up to 4GB configurable)
• Storage: 64GB SSD
• Optical Drive: Ultra-thin DVD Burner
• Wireless and Communications: Intel 4965AGN (802.11 a/b/g/n wi-fi), BlueTooth 2.0 EDR, Intel UWB, GPS, Verizon WWAN (EV-DO)
• Battery: 6-cell Li-Polymer extended life battery (3-cell Li-Polymer battery available and multi-bay extended life 3-cell battery)
• Ports: 3 USB 2.0 ports, Monitor out port, AC adapter, headphone/line-out, microphone/line-in, Gigabit Ethernet
• Dimensions: 12.4″ x 9.1″ x 0.73″ - 0.92″
• Weight: from 2.93lbs with 3-cell battery and no optical drive to 3.32lbs with 6-cell battery and DVD Burner in
• Port Replicator: Via USB
• Input: Full sized keyboard, trackpoint navigation, touchpad, fingerprint reader
• Operating System: Windows XP Professional (Windows Vista available in various flavors)
• Other Features: Integrated web camera
• Warranty: 1-year

Notice the dimensions of the X300, it is well under 1-inch thick, meaning it’s easy to slip into a bag for carrying purposes. The light weight of just over 3 lbs makes it a highly portable notebook as well, perfect for travel purposes.

The ThinkPad X300 is as solid as you get in terms of build quality. The internal chassis and roll cage uses an advanced carbon-fiber / glass-fiber material that provides both strength and light weight. The case material is made of magnesium, you can press as hard as you want anywhere on the body of the notebook and it simply will not flex. Like any ThinkPad, the X300 is designed for accidental abuse and drops, and we’re guessing the X300 might be even more able than previous ThinkPads to take a beating and keep going. As with any ThinkPad, you of course get a double latch mechanism with button release to make sure the screen is held down when it is closed and being carried.

The Lenovo IdeaPad U110 is the latest addition to the IdeaPad family and has recently been garnering a lot of attention. Lenovo might be famous for the ThinkPad line of notebooks, but most average consumers don’t find the traditional styling of the ThinkPad line to be very attractive. Our First Look Review IdeaPad U110 showed you how gorgeous this compact notebook is. How did the U110 ultimately perform in our final review? Take a look and see whether this diva is a super model or destined for the D-list.

IdeaPad U110 has the following specifications:

• Processor: 1.60GHz Intel Core 2 Duo L7500 (800Mhz FSB, 4MB Cache)
• Graphics: Intel X3100
• Screen: 11.1-inch WXGA (1366 x 768, 370 nit) display
• Memory: 2GB (up to 3GB configurable)
• Storage: 120GB Parallel ATA HDD (4200rpm)
• Optical Drive: None internal (external Dual layer CD/DVD recordable drive)
• Wireless and Communications: Intel 4965AGN (802.11 a/b/g/n wi-fi), BlueTooth 2.0 EDR
• Battery: 4-cell Li-Ion and 7-cell extended life Li-Ion batteries included
• Ports: 3 USB 2.0 ports, IEEE 1394 Firewire, 5-in-1 card reader, ExpressCard/34, VGA monitor out port, AC adapter, headphone/line-out, microphone/line-in, Gigabit Ethernet
• Dimensions: 10.8″ x 7.7″ x 0.72″ - 0.88″
• Weight: from 2.42lbs with 4-cell battery and 2.92lbs with 7-cell battery
• Operating System: Windows Vista Home Premium
• Other Features: Integrated web camera with VeriFace application

The pricing on the U110 starts at around $1,899, and that is the configuration we are reviewing. Needless to say, this isn’t something the average consumer will be dropping their money on in place of an $800 Dell. Still, if having a stylish, compact notebook is important for you then the U110 makes an attractive choice.

The IdeaPad U110 is surprisingly solid in terms of build quality. The aluminum etch display cover and magnesium aluminum chassis provide both strength and light weight. You can press as hard as you want anywhere on the body of the notebook and it simply will not flex. Like the ThinkPad line, the IdeaPad U110 is designed for (accidental) abuse and drops, and we’re guessing the U110 might be the most rugged laptop in the IdeaPad lineup. Unlike with the ThinkPads, you don’t get a double latch mechanism with button release to make sure the screen is held down when it is closed and being carried. Instead, the U110 uses hinge tension to hold the screen in place.

Agreement advances Yahoo!`s open strategy; enhances ability to compete in converging search and display marketplace

Yahoo! Inc., a leading global Internet company, announced it has reached an agreement with Google Inc. that will enhance its ability to compete in the converging search and display marketplace, advancing the company`s open strategy. The agreement enables Yahoo! to run ads supplied by Google alongside Yahoo!`s search results and on some of its web properties in the United States and Canada. The agreement is non-exclusive, giving Yahoo! the ability to display paid search results from Google, other third parties, and Yahoo!`s own Panama marketplace.

Under the terms of the agreement, Yahoo! will select the search term queries for which - and the pages on which - Yahoo! may offer Google paid search results. Yahoo! will define its users` experience and will determine the number and placement of the results provided by Google and the mix of paid results provided by Panama, Google or other providers. The agreement applies to paid search and content match and does not apply to algorithmic search. The agreement also applies to current partners in Yahoo`s publisher network.

Yahoo! CEO and co-founder Jerry Yang said, “We believe that the convergence of search and display is the next major development in the evolution of the rapidly changing online advertising industry. Our strategies are specifically designed to capitalize on this convergence — and this agreement helps us move them forward in a significant way. It also represents an important next step in our open strategy, building on the progress we have already made in advancing a more open marketplace.“

“This agreement provides a source of funds to both deliver financial value to stockholders from search monetization and to invest in our broader strategy to transform display advertising and advance our starting point objectives with users,“ said Yahoo! president Sue Decker. “It enhances competition by promoting our ability to compete in the marketplace where we are especially well positioned: in the convergence of search and display.“

Agreement provides attractive economics and enhances search monetization

Yahoo! believes that this agreement will enable the company to better monetize Yahoo!`s search inventory in the United States and Canada. At current monetization rates, this is an approximately USD 800 million annual revenue opportunity. In the first 12 months following implementation, Yahoo! expects the agreement to generate an estimated USD 250 million to USD 450 million in incremental operating cash flow.

The agreement will enhance Yahoo!`s ability to achieve its goal to grow operating cash flow significantly, while at the same time providing flexibility to continue to invest in ongoing initiatives such as algorithmic search innovation and search and display advertising platforms. It gives Yahoo! complete flexibility to continue to use its Panama paid search results.