Quick Review : Lenovo Ideapad Y560

The Lenovo Ideapad Y560 is a feature-packed multimedia laptop with a big price tag.

The Lenovo IdeaPad Y560 has some serious firepower - it has an Intel Core i7-720QM (1.6Ghz ) processor, ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5730 graphics chip with 1GB RAM, JBL stereo speakers and Bluray combo drive.

It also has numerous ports such as three USB ports, and a VGA and HDMI out as well as a 6-in-1 card reader for easily accessing files from memory cards.

The Y560 is marketed as a multimedia notebook and it does not disappoint. The sound quality of the JBL stereo speakers are a lot better than most laptop speakers.

The speakers were great for listening to songs, watching movies and playing games. When listening to songs, the speakers were able to handle gradual changes in notes. And when watching movies and playing games, the speakers produced enough bass to make it a fun experience.

Design

The Y560 has a slick black body with red linings and decals on top. This multimedia notebook looks really impressive even though the plastic body feels cheap and flexes easily.

For a laptop of its class and price, we expected the Y560 to have a more solid design.

The Y560 weighs 2.7kg which is unusual for a notebook of this size but it's probably because of its plastic exterior.

NEAT: The Y560 has a sliding touch control that gives you quick access to applications.

The interior of the laptop is glossy which is nice but is prone to smudges. It has a large touchpad and touch-sensitive buttons located just below the screen. The buttons allow users to customise shortcuts for the programs of their choice.

To test the graphics chip, we played games like Dawn of War 2 and Far Cry 2 on the Y560.

We ran DoW 2 at the highest setting and even when there were a lot of units and explosions, the notebook didn't falter. It was the same for Far Cry 2 - the frame rate was stable and the game sessions were lag free.

The notebook is also great for watching movies as it comes with a Blu-ray combo drive. We watched movies like BBC World's Earth: The Biography and The Phantom of the Opera.

The Blu-ray movies looked great on screen the 15.6in widescreen and played very smoothly. The resolution of the screen is not full HD (1,080p) as it is only 1,366 x 768pixels. That's slightly higher than 720p and is still great for watching movies.

HIGH DEF: The Y560 also comes equipped with a Blu-ray drive for watching high definition videos on the go.

Surprisingly, even after long sessions of watching and gaming, the surface of the laptop remained cool.

The efficient but noisy cooling fan does a great job at venting out the hot air from the system.

An unfortunate problem with most multimedia notebooks is battery life and the Lenovo Y560 is no different.

Even at the lowest brightness setting, the battery life is just under two hours with normal usage. Running more programs in the background will significantly shorten the battery life.

Conclusion

The Lenovo IdeaPad Y560 is a good multimedia laptop with the proper specs to handle graphics and processor intensive programs.

Watching movies and playing games on it is also great because of the nice and large screen, and powerful JBL stereo speakers.

POWERFUL: The notebook's dual JBL speakers sound better than the average notebook speakers.

Sadly, the notebook's main shortcoming is its build quality. For a notebook of this price, the Y560 doesn't feel solid.

Another shortcoming is the battery life but this is not surprising because most multimedia notebooks don't have long battery life.

Overall, the Lenovo IdeaPad Y560 is a decent multimedia notebook if you don't mind the build quality.

Pros: Good performance; stays cool.

Cons: Cheap build quality; noisy; pricey.

Ideapad Y560
(Lenovo)
Multimedia notebook
Processor: Intel Core i7 (1.6GHz)
Memory: 4GB RAM
Display: 15.6in (1,366 x 768pixels) with LED backlight
Graphics: ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5730 1GB RAM
Storage: 500GB
Connectivity: WiFi, 10/100 Ethernet port, Bluetooth
Optical drive: Blu-ray combo drive
Ports: 3 USB ports, eSATA\USB combo port, VGA out, headphone and microphone jack, 6-in-1 card reader
Battery: 6-cell
Other features: JBL stereo speakers, 1.3-megapixel webcam
Dimensions (W x D x H): 388 x 33 x 255mm
Weight: 2.7kg
Price: RM4,999

How ARM will impact Intel market

The hard battle between Intel and AMD seems to be long way to go. While Intel clearly has the upper hand in client processors and AMD is playing catch-up, there is another battle brewing for PC processors, particularly in notebooks. Here, we will discuss about the battle for the “secondary” processor and how this battle will not pit Intel against AMD, but rather, x86 architecture against ARM. And it’s not looking good for x86.

Dell and lenovo have come out with the “instant” laptop, which has capability to instantly access mail, calender, web without full boot up of the machine. They run a version of the Firefox browser for Web surfing and provides direct connection to Exchange, GroupWise or IMAP/POP3 e-mail systems through direct memory access. Also included is a dedicated document viewer for Word, Excel, PowerPoint and PDF files, dedicated Wi-Fi and a VPN for secure connectivity. In essence, what Dell has done with Latitude ON is provide an embedded “smartphone-lite” device that uses the main screen, keyboard, power and memory systems.

What makes the Dell and Lenovo approach interesting is that first, they utilize low-cost, low-power, ARM-based chips adapted from the smartphone industry. Second, they provide dedicated-function processing. And third, each subsystem is capable of being functionally extended, possibly even by third parties through a future API to include additional convenience and protection capabilities.

It is safe to assume that other manufacturers will follow suit and provide coprocessor subsystem in business and higher-end consumer machines—particularly as prices for ARM chips continue to fall. It is also highly likely that additional functionality will be added over time.

Finally, it is apparent that neither Windows nor x86 will be the preferred platforms utilized by these coprocessor subsystems—at least until x86 can match the low cost and low power of ARM (potentially with future Atom chips).

The bottom line: With the potential of one or more coprocessors per PC, ARM has a lucrative path in which to infiltrate the PC market—a market it has never impacted. While it’s unlikely that ARM will displace x86 for the core processor anytime soon, it nevertheless gives ARM a large potential market of many millions of units—a fact not lost on ARM licensees (for example, Texas Instruments, Freescale, Qualcomm and Samsung).

However, the coprocessing subsystems potentially offer another point of machine failure and/or instability, especially in corporate settings where consistency, security and device management is critical. Companies should be careful when and how to deploy these coprocessor-enabled systems until they prove their worth.

source : www.eweek.com

Thinkpad Lenovo X100e: Reviewed

Business users looking for more than what a netbook can provide should check out what Lenovo's ThinkPad X100e has to offer.

THE latest ThinkPad X100e is more of an entry-level ultraportable notebook than a netbook.

Instead of the usual Atom-based processor, it runs on an AMD Athlon Neo X2 Single-Core MV-40 processor.

Supporting the processor is an integrated ATI Radeon HD 3200 IGP 128MB, which provides a boost when playing videos or running graphics-intensive apps on the machine. That's not all, it also has a bigger 11.6in widescreen monitor and the keyboard... well, it's probably one of the best that we have used on a notebook (more on this later).

Of course, being a ThinkPad it wouldn't be complete without having a trackpoint pointing device around. For the uninitiated, it is the tiny red dot that you see in the middle of the keyboard. However fret not if you are not used to the trackpoint as the notebook also has the usual trackpad.

Stay clean

The X100e is available in either the standard non-glossy black or red - which is what we received for review. However, no matter which colour you choose, the interior will always be black.

At first glance, the red review unit looked dull due to the non-glossy coating. Heads will not turn but on a positive note this ThinkPad will stay cleaner, especially from fingerprint smudges, a lot longer than its glossy brethren.

As a matter of fact, we only had to wipe the lid when it was time to return the review unit.

However, for this particular model you will likely notice that not all of the exterior is covered in red. From the rear, you will see the black six-cell battery pack sticking out like a sore thumb.

Seriously, it makes the whole notebook design look awkward. Perhaps, Lenovo will be able to come up with a better design in the future to make the battery pack less conspicious for the coloured models.

TAKE NOTE: Half of the inserted SD card also sticks out from the built-in slot, so don't forget to take it out when moving the notebook around.

Unfortunately that is not the only thing that protrudes from the notebook. Half of an inserted SD card also sticks out from the built-in slot, so don't forget to take it out when moving the notebook around.

As mentioned earlier, the X100e offers a slightly bigger screen than usually found on a netbook.

Its 11.6in WXGA screen is able to display an image at up to 1,366 x 768-pixel resolution, which allows users to view widescreen movies with ease.

To complement the video is a built-in sound system that produces decent audio even at full blast.

It is also worth noting that the notebook supports the company's ThinkVantage suite of professional security features such as Access Connections, Power Manager and Active Protection to give business users peace of mind while using the X100e.

Fast operation

The AMD processor with help from the integrated ATI graphics card and 2GB of RAM ensure fast and smooth notebook operation. It is able to play 1080p HD videos well and handles photo-editing tasks without a fuss.

NICE: The X100e has an excellent keyboard and two navigation methods, trackpad and trackpoint.

It is a shame then that the model does not offer any HDMI connectivity. Users will just have to make do with the built-in VGA port when connecting to a HDTV for a larger viewing.

One feature we liked a lot is the keyboard. Unlike a typical full-sized island-type keyboard, the one on the X100e takes it slightly further where each matte key is curved as if it has been moulded to neatly fit your fingertip.

Plus the keys are raised in order to provide maximum tactility and the keyboard is also spill-resistant.

Some rarely-used keys such as Pause/Break, Scroll Lock and SysRq have been removed, leaving more room for the rest of the keys. Other changes include much smaller Function buttons and two full-sized Shift keys.

However the keyboard is not without its fair share of problems especially in the form of lots of "mis-pressing" due to the different key layout.

On the X100e, the Delete key now sits three keys away from its regular position at the end on the top right corner. The position of the Fn and Ctrl keys are also reversed, with the former now located at the far end on the right bottom corner.

All these switches led to us pressing the wrong keys or key combinations when trying to delete some files fast or when executing certain commands.

2-in-1

As mentioned earlier, the X100e offers both the trackpad and trackpoint, with two mouse buttons for each. Some people find the extra navigation method an unnecessary addition to the notebook but we beg to differ. There are times when you would like to use one over the other.

For instance, based on our experience, the trackpoint allows us to finely position the pointer especially when editing photos while for faster access to the notebook's functions we prefer the touchpad.

Plus the touchpad also has multi-touch capabilities for quick zooming. In any case, the notebook allows you to disable either function if you prefer to use only one method.

SPOILER: The black six-cell battery pack at the back of the notebook sticks out like a sore thumb.

One area users need to be aware of is the heat - the notebook gets pretty hot especially on the left side and bottom. Our advice is to make sure you put it on the table and not on your lap when using it.

What really surprised us was the battery life. Unfortunately, not in a good way.

Despite being equipped with a six-cell battery, the notebook only managed to last slightly more than three and half hours, compared to five hours as claimed by Lenovo.

As a comparison, most Intel Atom-based netbooks with a six-cell battery pack that we have used before can last way longer than this.

However this could be down to the power management, larger screen or simply that the Neo processor needs more juice than its Atom-based competitors.

Nevertheless, the result here is still a disappointment.

The legacy... continues

The first things that come to mind when one sees the name "Thinkpad" are reliability and solid construction.

We are glad to note that the legacy continues with the X100e series. It also ships with enough firepower to let you go about your daily computing life with ease and it feels as fast as other full-fledged notebooks that we have tested before.

Of course, the awesome keyboard helps to give the X100e an edge over the competition in comfortable typing.

While it's impressive in many ways, we simply cannot ignore the heat and rather poor battery life that seem to plague this notebook. And the mismatched colour battery pack definitely ruins an otherwise clean exterior design.

In any case, if you think these drawbacks are something you can live with, then the X100e could just be the good companion that you are looking for when travelling.

Pros: Good performance; reliable; solid construction; excellent keyboard; dual navigation method.

Cons: Unappealing colour; positions of Ctrl, Fn and Delete keys have been switched; poor battery life; runs hot.

X100E RED

(Lenovo)
Ultraportable notebook
PROCESSOR: AMD Athlon Neo X2 Single-Core MV-40 (1.60GHz, 512KB)
MEMORY: 2GB 667MHz DDR2
DISPLAY: 11.6in HD AntiGlare (1,366 x 768-pixels)
GRAPHICS: ATI Radeon HD 3200 IGP 128MB
STORAGE: 320GB hard drive
CONNECTIVITY: WiFi, Bluetooth, 10/100 Ethernet
PORTS/SLOTS: Three USB 2.0 ports, VGA port, Ethernet LAN port, 4-in-1 card reader, heaphone and mic combo jack
BATTERY: Six-cell lithium-ion
OPERATING SYSTEM: Windows 7 Professional 32-bit
OTHER FEATURES: Trackpoint, multi-gesture touchpad, low-light sensitive webcam
DIMENSIONS (W x H x D): 282mm x 209mm x 15-29.5mm
WEIGHT: 1.5kg
PRICE: RM2,200

Lenovo Thinkpad X300 is an ultraportable masterpiece

Advantages: Lightweight; built-in DVD burner; dual cursor controllers; host of advanced features.

Useful feature are dedicated switches to turn on the notebook’s wireless LAN and Bluetooth connectivity.

It also has the usual Thinkpad features, including the blue backup button (Vantage) to restore the OS and applications in a jiffy, as well as the light switch (now in a brighter white LED) to comfortably see the keyboard when typing in the dark.

Additionally, there is a dedicated volume control button on top as well as keys to control the media player together with the function (Fn) key.

On the productivity side, the X300 performed as expected — the machine is able to run all the regular productivity apps, surf the Web, play DVDs and MP3s, as well as run photo-editing software on average performance.

When it comes to battery life, it did not disappoint either as we managed to squeeze out more than three hours on a single charge.

Additionally, the DVD burner powers off when not in use to conserve battery life.

Disadvantages: Pricey; no memory card reader, default OS is Windows Vista (currently known as the worst OS in the world) and it is hard to recustomize for other operating system such as Windows XP or Linux unless you run it using on VMware. As with most products, however, the X300 has its fair share of drawbacks.

For starters, the X300 does not come with a built-in Flash memory card reader, which is really a shame as it is one of the must-have features in today’s laptops.

Then, there is the RM9,588 price tag, which clearly means it is targeted at the high-end market.


Conclusion

Ultraportable notebooks usually sacrifice a lot especially for multiple externals ports to keep their slimness and stay lightweight, but the X300 is really in a class of its own. It is very useful for technical troubleshooting guy. It is not meant for multimedia purposes. For photo editing, it is still cannot compete with Mac Book Pro.

Still, if you are willing to look past some of the drawbacks, the X300 is an ideal choice for road warriors who are looking for the ultimate thin and light notebook without sacrificing much of the features they need to be productive. 

THINKPAD X300 Default Specification

Ultraportable notebook

Processor: Intel Core 2 Duo processor SL7100 (1.2GHz, 4MB, 800MHz FSB)
Memory: 2GB DDR2 RAM
Graphics: Intel Graphics Media Accelerator X3100
Display: 13.3in with LED backlight (1,440 x 900pixels)
Storage: 64GB Solid State SATA Drive
Connectivity: WiFi, 10/100 Ethernet, 56k modem, Bluetooth
I/O ports: Three USB 2.0 ports, legacy ports.
Operating System: Microsoft Windows Vista Business
Battery: Lithium-polymer
Other features: Ultrathin DVD burner, built-in webcam, biometric fingerprint reader, TrackPoint and TrackPad combo
Dimensions (w x d x h): 318 x 231 x 23.4mm
Weight: 1.42kg