Lenovo IdeaPad S12 review

Lenovo IdeaPad S12 review

Lenovo S12


The Lenovo IdeaPad S12 is bigger than a netbook, but more compact than most notebooks. It consists of a 12.1 inch, 1280 x 800 pixel show collectively with a complete sized keyboard. however the equipment I reviewed consists of a 1.6GHz Intel Atom N270 CPU and integrated graphics, which signifies the basic performance is on par with you standard netbook in most circumstances. And many thanks in the direction of considerable resolution display, some work like HD movement image playback, truly hold out a good offer better on the basic netbook than inside the IdeaPad S12.

Still, if you are searching for a cheap, light, and lightweight laptop but do not desire to compromise inside the display resolution and keyboard you can perform worse. Lenovo also provides a edition using the through Nano processor instead using the Intel Atom, and an NVIDIA ION-based edition is anticipated soon, possessing a additional potent pictures processor.

The equipment reviewed has 1GB of RAM, a 160GB difficult drive, 802.11.b/g WiFi, a 6 cellular battery and runs house windows XP residence Edition.


Design

The trait that defines the Lenovo IdeaPad S12 could be the simple fact that it is bigger than a standard netbook. That signifies it has space for just about any bigger display, complete sized keyboard, and numerous extra features which consists of an ExpressCard/34 slot inside the part and numerous additional quick-launch buttons above the keyboard.



Yet, the S12 requires the sleep of its pattern cues from netbooks. so that you simply can retain expenses down, Lenovo hasn’t just utilized a much less high-priced processor collectively with other inside components. The individual computer may be also produced from plastic material with numerous chromed factors to provide it a classier look. But as affordable plastic material personal computers go, the S12 is some thing of the looker.



The company sells the netbook in dark or white, and equally variations attribute a pattern of sectors inside the lid. Personally, I’d choose a good color, but that is not an option.



There’s an enormous amount of space near to the sides using the netbook for three USB ports, an SD card slot, the ExpressCard slot, mic and headphone jacks, a VGA port, Ethernet jack, collectively with a change for toggling the WiFi on and off. There’s also a vent inside the left side. The admirer tone is audible when you are operating CPU-intensive tasks, but not obnoxious.

Above the keyboard is routinely a energy button, fast start button, and hardware buttons for adjusting the audio tracks amount or launching backup and restore software. There’s also a built-in mic above the keyboard.



The speakers are inside the top borders using the laptop, under the keyboard, but not stuck inside the bottom using the individual computer in which the seem will very easily be muffled with a table or your lap. There’s also a 1.3MP webcam situated above the display.



Underneath the unit, you will arrive throughout numerous entry panels. i experienced been pleasantly astonished to be aware that there’s a cost-free RAM slot, which really should allow it to be uncomplicated to upgrade the RAM to 2GB merely by sticking throwing within of a 1GB stick. There’s no need to eradicate the present storage to upgrade. If I’m not mistaken, another panel consists of a place for just about any SIM card slot, and possibly a 3G module, which is not involved from the equipment reviewed here.

Display and Graphics

The IdeaPad S12 features a bright, glossy, 12.1 inch, 1280 x 800 pixel widescreen display. while bigger than most netbook screens, the S12 show may be also considerably sharper. I do not really feel the need to squint as a good offer as I do using the HP 2133 Mini-Note, which experienced a 1280 x 720 pixel 8.9 inch display. But if your eyesight is not perfect, you may desire to adjust the method fonts and web site zoom settings within your internet browser so that you simply could make the show additional comfortable.

Of course, one of the most effective dilemma about a higher resolution show could be the simple fact that it lets you cram additional product onto your screen. Here’s a shot using the Lenovo IdeaPad S12 and an IdeaPad S10-2 viewing the identical internet page:


Left: IdeaPad S12 / Right: IdeaPad S10-2
As you can see, you can fixture a whole whole lot additional internet web site inside the S12, many thanks to its higher resolution screen. But all those people additional pixels do consider their toll. The 1.6GHz Intel Atom N270 processor is additional than capable of managing 720p movement image within of a range of formats, as well as Flash movement image content articles — when paired possessing a standard 1024 x 600 pixel netbook screen. however it must hold out a good offer more challenging to pump out movement image on the higher resolution screen. like a result, 720p movement image playback is choppy, as is some Flash movement image content articles from internet sites like Hulu when carried out in complete display mode. basic definition video, within another hand, appears fantastic.



Lenovo strategies to provide a edition using the IdeaPad S12 with NVIDIA ION, which essentially bundles the identical Atom N270 CPU with an NVIDIA GeForce 9400M pictures processor. This edition ought getting in a placement to manage 720p and 1080p movement image playback with ease. But until Adobe and NVIDIA create hardware acceleration into Adobe Flash, higher remarkable internet movement image will nonetheless look choppy when carried out in complete screen.

In other words, while you would think how the higher resolution display would make the IdeaPad S12 a a good offer better multimedia equipment than netbooks with reduce resolution displays, the opposite is true… for now. I’m looking forward to screening the ION powered edition when it gets available. it is worth noting that Lenovo also provides a edition using the S12 possessing a through Nano CPU instead using the Intel Atom processor. I cannot say for specific how this impacts movement image playback.

On another hand, with regards to common tasks, like editing business office documents, viewing or editing photos, or surfing the web, the higher resolution show is positively a welcome addition.

Keyboard and Touchpad

The computer does not just attribute a bigger display than a standard netbook. It also consists of a bigger chassis. And that signifies there’s space for just about any 100% complete sized keyboard. Typing inside the IdeaPad S12 keyboard is practically the identical knowledge as typing on the computer possessing a 14 inch or bigger display. Of course, the keyboard is nonetheless more compact than a standard desktop keyboard, which signifies that some keys need to serve double-duty.



For instance, you can strike the Fn important as well as a sequence of alphabet keys to simulate the knowledge of typing on the numeric keypad. The residence and complete keys are mixed using the PgUp and PgDn keys. The Fn keys on the best row using the keyboard allow you hold out actions for example placing the individual computer to sleep, toggling the WiFi, disabling the touchpad, and controlling mass media playback in some applications. The arrow keys from the bottom appropriate corner using the keyboard could be also utilized to adjust the display brightness and volume.

Some of those keys could be overkill, thinking about that there are also dedicated buttons above the keyboard that allow you adjust the volume, and there’s a hardware key inside the left part using the individual computer for toggling the WiFi. But I suppose it is a good offer better to possess as well countless selections than not adequate at all.

I do have one canine peeve using the keyboard. I arrive throughout the place using the Ctrl and Fn keys frustrating. I’m utilized to operating with keyboards in which the important inside the much left part using the bottom row is Ctrl. inside the IdeaPad S12, the Fn important is situated in that spot, as well as the Ctrl important can be to its right. I frequently arrive throughout myself hitting Fn when I suggest to strike Ctrl. But i realize Lenovo is not the only individual computer maker to create utilization of the layout, which means you may nicely previously be utilized to these important positions. I’m not.



The touchpad is reasonably wide, although I observed how the Asus Eee PC 1000H, which could be routinely a 10 inch mini-laptop truly consists of a slightly wider touchpad. below the IdeaPad S12′s touchpad are two unique buttons, that are very uncomplicated to press. The touchpad consists of a scrolling area near to the appropriate side, permitting you to definitely scroll up and affordable in most applications, a good offer the identical way you would possessing a computer mouse scrollbar.

Software

Lenovo packs the IdeaPad S12 possessing very a few fascinating applications. 1st is routinely a quick-start surroundings centered on Splashtop. in situation you strike the QS key above the keyboard instead using the energy button, the fast start menu will start in about 10 seconds. It consists of a internet browser, audio tracks player, photo viewer, instant messenger, and Skype.



Honstly, I’m not that impressed using the fast start software. The 1st problems could be the simple fact that there’s no method to include or eradicate these applications, and even set up add-ons for that Firefox-based internet browser. Second, while it requires 10 seconds to fill the interface, it could consider one more 10 to twenty seconds to fill an application. thinking about it only requires about 45 seconds to boot right into a completely useful house windows XP desktop, I do not see the advantage to utilizing the fast start menu.

Finally, and also this may nicely not be considered a problems for everyone, I couldn’t for that lifestyle of me connect to my residence wireless online community utilizing the fast start WiFi configuration utility. I experienced no problems acquiring on the net utilizing house windows XP, so I realize that is routinely a app issue, not only a hardware one. i experienced been also in a placement to login to some neighbor’s unsecured network, but not my password-protected network. Shh… do not inform him.

The individual computer also consists of the VeriFace identification III power which lets you log into house windows by pointing the webcam at your mug. If you undoubtedly are a slow typist, this could be more quickly than entering a password inside the keyboard, however it does consider numerous seconds for that facial identification app to load, which means you may arrive throughout it is additional problems than it is worth.



I arranged the app in the direction of check by registering my individual confront after which wanting to trick the app by pointing it at my partner and numerous photos of other people’s faces. i experienced been in a placement to login every time, while my attempts to fake the app out went unrewarded. I also found which i couldn’t login utilizing my individual confront within of a poorly lit room.

Smiling also fools the program, thinking about which i listed my confront without possessing smiling. In other words, in situation you critically desire to stay obvious of somebody from logging to the individual computer by holding your unconscious mind up in the direction of display pursuing you have passed out pursuing possessing one as well many, attempting setting up the app only to allow you login while producing a especially amusing face. Then make an effort to consider that confront up coming time you need to login. Fortunately, the facial identification app only performs if you have previously build a composed password for the computer, so even in situation you arrive throughout your do it yourself unable to login utilizing the webcam for one intent or another, you can continually sort the password the more mature fashioned way.

Here’s a short movement image using the facial identification app in action:

The individual computer also arrives with OneKey recovery app which lets you backup your information and settings and restore them by clicking the restore key situated over the keyboard.



There’s also a energy therapy power that lets you swiftly adjust your energy settings. These appear getting limited to problems like display brightness and how extended your individual computer desires getting inactive past to shutting affordable the display, difficult drive, or other components. The energy schemes do not appear to provide you with any control over your CPU level or other advanced hardware settings.

In other words, the energy therapy app is not only a good offer additional potent compared to built in house windows energy therapy tools, however the Lenovo app does possess the benefit of letting you instantly adjust your energy schemes when your individual computer is unplugged.

The individual computer also ships with Norton internet protection app collectively with a trial edition of ms business office 2007.

Performance

Aside through the basic performance problems pointed out from the pictures and show section, the Lenovo IdeaPad S12 skills especially when you would presume an Intel Atom powered netbook to. I experienced no problems opening 6 or additional tabs in Firefox while actively playing audio tracks from the track record without possessing the individual computer slowing down.

If you method to create utilization of the individual computer largely for surfing the web, making and editing documents, or executing other work that do not need a brilliant offer of pictures performance, the Atom-powered edition using the IdeaPad S12 can obtain the work done. in situation you need a good offer better graphics, you may desire to wait around until the NVIDIA ION edition is available.

The speakers are reasonably loud, if a little tinny.

Battery

The computer arrives possessing a 6 cell, 52Whr battery. It sticks out through the back again using the individual computer a bit, but i have witnessed worse.



The battery lasted for 4 several hours and 27 mins when I ran the Battery Eater professional test. The check is produced to arranged constant strain inside the battery. In correct planet settings, you are in all likelihood to acquire in between 5 and 6 several hours of work time.

While very a few other netbooks, which consists of the Asus Eee PC 1005HA, obtain a good offer better battery life, 5+ several hours is quite brilliant for just about any 12.1 inch notebook.

Verdict

If you judge the Lenovo IdeaPad S12 by netbook standards, the individual computer has an brilliant display and keyboard. while the computer is nonetheless tiny by conventional laptop standards, it ought getting huge adequate to placate some people who arrive throughout the standard netbook getting as well tiny to create for just about any safe typing or examining experience. And weighing in at just 3.4 pounds, the laptop is barely heavier compared to Asus Eee PC 1000HE.

As a good offer as I adore a 10 inch netbook, I arrive throughout myself routinely grabbing the bigger IdeaPad S12 when I’m inside the go on account of the simple fact it has countless using the benefits of the netbook which consists of extended battery lifestyle and relatively tiny sizing and mild weight, using the additional benefit of the display which could show considerably additional information.



But the basic style with an Intel Atom N270 CPU and integrated pictures balks at HD movement image playback collectively with other work that need higher pictures digesting energy compared to individual computer can provide. which could make the S12 really feel slower than countless more compact netbooks, collectively with a good offer slower than a affordable 14 or 15 inch laptop.

If you critically need a good offer better pictures performance, you may desire to preserve out for that NVIDIA ION version. But be conscious that even that edition is not on the way getting in a placement to manage brilliant remarkable Flash movement image in complete display mode until Adobe and NVIDIA hold out out hardware acceleration for that platform.