LENOVO IDEAPAD S10

Netbook with the Right Stuff

The rapid emergence of netbooks, or UMPCs (ultra-mobile PCs), over the past year has changed the landscape of affordable mobile computing. Although these little ultraportables are meant to satisfy basic computing needs, an imaginative user can take them well beyond their intended roles. Only a few netbooks have gotten it right so far, and the Lenovo IdeaPad S10 is one of them. Its right stuff includes a 10-i nch screen, Intel Atom processor 160GB hard drive. ExpressCard slot, and a price as sweet as that of our current Editors Choice, the MS1 Wind.

The S10 is clad in white (a red version is also available), and its dimensions of 7.3 by 9.8 by 0.9 inches (HWD) are similar to those of the Wind. Its shape resembles a rectangular box, and at 2.7 pounds, it is one of the heaviest netbooks out there. The S10's keyboard is a bit underwhelming, and the mouse buttons are noisy and overly resistant when pressed. This netbook's feature set is as strong as the Wind's, however: It has two USB ports. a 4-in-1 card reader, VGA-out. Ethernet, a webcam, and 802.11g Wi-Fi.

The 1.6-GHz Intel Atom N270 is a wise choice as well, as it is the fastest and most energy-efficient netbook processor. The S10's Overall score of 39 on SYSmark 2007 Preview, although it's 2 percent lower than that of the Wind, means that this laptop is fine for
office tasks. Web browsing. and light photo editing. And its score of 4 minutes 38 seconds on our video encoding tests is much faster than the Wind's. Battery life was almost identical. Its cramped keyboard and lack of battery options kept it from an Editors' Choice, but it is still a great choice.—Cisco Cheng

Specs: 1.6-GHz Intel Atom N270; 1GB DDR2 SDRAM; 160GB, 5,400-rpm hard drive; 64MB Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 950; 10.2-inch, 1.024-by-600 display; Broadcom 802.11g; 2.7 pounds (3.4 pounds travel); two USB ports; 28-Wh, 2.5-Ah lithium ion battery; Windows XP Home Edition.

PC Magazine January 2009