The IdeaPad Z580 shown in the video below is engineered to deliver on both video and audio with Dolby Home Theater audio enhancements.

While won’t carry this one with you everyplace you go, the IdeaPad Z series is light enough to go with you when the road calls. You still get an optical drive on this notebook, which is important to many mainstream users.

IdeaPad Z Series Hands On

The IdeaPad Z series come in 13.3′, 14″ or 15.6″ sizes and can be configured with up to a NVIDIA GeForce GT640M with 2GB of graphics power and OneKey Theater II for a premium visual experience. Having used this mode before, I can say that you are in for a better movie watching experience when you push this button. Because you don’t have to play with settings, you’ll actually use this movie watching mode.

All of these models also include Wireless Display for connectivity to your HDTV with a WiDi adapter. You can add an optional Blu-Ray drive to these systems to round out your multimedia experience.

The IdeaPad Z series will be available in April with a starting price of $599.

IdeaPad Z Series Hands On Video is a post by Josh Smith from Notebooks.com.

Officially called Mini-Notebooks, these 11.6″ notebooks use the same Intel Atom processors found on most netbooks, which is enough for our own K.T. Bradford to call them a netbook.

During CES 2012 we stopped in to the Lenovo trailer to check out the latest IdeaPad notebooks and K.T. found herself immediately drawn to these small notebooks, even as the IdeaPad U310 set right next to it.

IdeaPad S Series Hands On Video

The IdeaPad S200 and S206 measure 11.8 x 7.6 x 0.8 inches and weigh just 2.8 pounds, light for an 11-inch notebook. Unfortunately, these notebooks only have a 2-cell battery. Sure it’s rated at 4 hours, but in real life expect that to drop and to be on the lookout for an outlet.

The IdeaPad S200 has an Intel Atom processor, while the S206 rocks an AMD C-60 processor. The S200 can be configured with a 32GB SSD, and both can be configured with a 320GB or 500GB hard drive option.

The mini notebooks come with 2GB RAM and Windows 7 Home Premium as well as a Lenovo Accutype keyboard that delivers a very nice typng experience, even if it isn’t up to par with the ThinkPad line.

You can order your IdeaPad S series starting in June for $349.

IdeaPad S Series Mini Notebook Hands On Video is a post by Josh Smith from Notebooks.com.

Lenovo took what I liked about the IdeaPad U260 and U300s, and added options like an SD card reader and better graphics options to make a well rounded notebook.

You can purchase Ultrabook versions with SSDs, or “Ultra Laptop” versions with standard hard drives. By packing in a standard hard drive on the “Ultra Laptop” versions, Lenovo has been able to come in at the high end of the mainstream pricepoint, at $699.

IdeaPad U310 Hands On Video

The IdeaPad U310 felt good in the hands, and there’s no arguing with the looks of the thin device. The U310 which we spent most of our tim with felt snappy thanks to the latest Intel Core i processors. The larger 14″ IdeaPad U410 will come with the option of NVIDIA 610M 1GB Graphics, and both notebooks can share their display wirelessly with Intel WiDi.

The IdeaPad U310 is .83 inches thick and weighs 3.74 pounds, and the Ideapad U410 is .97 inches thick and weighs in at 4.18 pounds.

You will be able to buy the new IdeaPad U310 and U410 starting in May at $699. The IdeaPad U series will be available in a variety of colors including, Cotton-candy Pink, Crimson Red, Electric Blue, Graphite Grey and Pearl White.

IdeaPad U310 Hands-On Video is a post by Josh Smith from Notebooks.com.

The Edge line remains aimed at the small to medium business user, but we don’t have to compromise on the latest connectivity options; options not found on many other business or consumer Windows notebooks.

With a Thunderbolt port, we can connect high speed storage devices and daisy chain displays using a single connection to the computer. This means we get simplicity and speed in one small port. You’ll notice in the ThinkPad Edge S430 hands on video that this port is called a Displayport++ port, but it is the same thing as a Thunderbolt port.

Lenovo ThinkPad S430 Hands On Video

In addition to sporting the new Thunderbolt port, you get a good looking notebook. Like the rest of the Edge line you get a nice form factor and attention paid to how it feels in your hand.

From a spec standpoint, you get a .08 inch thick frame and a four pound weight that won’t beat out an Ultrabook, but still goes nicely in a backpack.

Buyers can customize the ThinkPad S430 with the latest Intel Core i processors as well as the option to add an NVIDIA GPU with up to 2GB of video RAM. You can also add on a DVD burner and USB 3.0 connectivity.

You’ll be able to purchase the ThinkPad Edge S430 in June with a starting price of $749.

Lenovo ThinkPad S430 Hands-On Video is a post by Josh Smith from Notebooks.com.

Based on my experience with the HP ProBook notebooks, it’s clear that HP knows the business world, and it’s good to see that shine through in the HP Folio 13.

This notebook has a .71 inch thick frame so you can take this notebook anywhere, and a 13.3″ Brightview display to keep you working in harsh lighting situations. While the notebook is thin, you get a full suite of ports, including full size Ethernet, HDMI, SD card slot, and USB 3.0, as well as a 9 hour battery. All of this adds up to a 3.3 pound weight, which is light enough to carry without a second thought.

HP Folio 13 Hands On Video

The keyboard on the Folio 13 remains impressive, with a springy feel and good feedback. The touchpad is an HP ClickPad, which is improved over early HP Clickpad models, so we have hopes that it will deliver an above average mousing experience.

The HP Folio uses the latest Intel Core i family of processors and retails for $899. The price is important given the crowded Ultrabook market and enterprise focus of this notebook.

Based on our hands on, I’d suggest home users also consider this business ready Ultrabook when they are shopping for a new notebook.

HP Folio 13 Hands On Video is a post by Josh Smith from Notebooks.com.

Unlike many business notebooks, the HP ProBook 5330m has backlit keys, good Beats Audio and a premium on looks.

Pros

A durable frame with good looks wraps up a decently powerful notebook with features like Beats Audio, backlit keys, enhanced security options, pay as you go 3G and good performance.

Cons

The 5330m has a nice screen, but the lack of a good matte display means you won’t like using this notebook outdoors. The keyboard is pretty good, but the key placement leaves something to be desired. Also, the touchpad could be bigger.

A Business Notebook with a Fun Side

Quick Specs

The HP ProBook 5330m has an Intel Core i5 processor, 4GB RAM and a 500GB 7200 RPM hard drive. The 13.3″ display has a 1366 by 768 resolution and an anti-glare coating, but it is not a traditional matte display. The notebook includes a fingerprint reader, bluetooth 2.0 and WiFi a/b/g/n as well as a cellular connection through Sprint.

Who is the HP ProBook 5330M for?

HP is aiming the ProBook at business professionals who want a notebook that can easily go from the office to home and on business trips without looking like you’re stuck with a boring business machine.

Students should also consider this well-built and affordable notebook. Unlike many other business notebooks I recommend to students, this one has better than average sound, backlit keys and good looks — all more important to this segment than it is in the corporate world.

HP ProBook 5330M Review Video

Watch the video review of the HP ProBook 5330m to learn more about this business notebook and get a closer look at the build, features and performance.

Build and Design

HP focused heavily on the design of the ProBook 5330m, and it shows. The two-tone brushed aluminum finish is appealing to the eyes and feels good in the hand. The notebook has a metal case that adds to the durability and overall premium feel of the machine, and the magnesium alloy bottom is designed to withstand the on-the-go hazards of business use.

The notebook is under an inch thick, and lacks an optical drive, which helps it feel smaller in your hand and in your bag. Despite the small size, you get a full complement of ports.

The display has a drop hinge that helps keep a slim profile and a the black bezel helps tie together the whole look of the 5330m.

Along with the good looks is an attention to how the notebook feels in your hands. The soft magnesium alloy bottom feels good while carrying it around and offers a non-slip surface when used in your lap. The brushed aluminum on the lid and palmrest also feels nice, though the palm area can get warm after long sessions of use.

Features

Beats Audio, Security and Business Features

HP includes a number of nice features on this notebook, which are impressive to find in a business notebook that starts at $799. Some of the most notable features are;

Beats Audio – I’ll touch on the performance of Beats Audio more below, but suffice to say, this is better than the standard speakers in most systems.

Security – The ProBook 5330m has a number fo security features like a fingerprint reader, facial recognition (paired with your Bluetooth phone) and other enterprise security options.

HP QuickWeb – Don’t wait for the computer to boot all the way up, if you are in a hurry, you can boot right to a web browser to quickly look something up.

No Contract 3G Connectivity – Purchase access on Sprint’s network with the HP DataPass option and avoid paying for service when you don’t need to be connected.

Display

HP kept the display small on this portable machine, but I wish they had bumped up the resolution a bit, so that you get more screen space. There is an anti-glare coating on the display, but during my time using the notebook on a sunny day, I had to go find shade to get any real work done. This is a disappointment on a business notebook, and a surprise to me when I sat down in the sun.

The display has an anti-glare coating, but isn't great outdoors.

Viewing angles are sufficient indoors, but this is primarily a notebook you will want to use for yourself while in your office or on the road.

For watching videos and doing presentations, you’ll be OK with the colors, but the white is a but blue-ish when compared to the display on the MacBook Air, and colors don’t pop as much.

Keyboard and TouchPad

The keys on the ProBook 5330m are coated in HP Duracoat to allow them to last longer than your average key. While I can’t test this, the actual use of the keys feels pretty good. The two biggest issues I had with the keys are flatness and placement.

While travel and spacing was very good and I could type without slowing down much, the keys are too flat for my liking. I would prefer a bit of curvature to the keys for a better feel.

As far as placement, the right column of keys is dedicated to home, pg up, pg dn, end and >. This is great if you use these keys everyday and have no use for backspace, enter and shift. Sadly, I use these three keys on a daily basis and the extra indentation made it a pain to find them reliably while touch typing.

The touchpad on the 5330m is small, but performs admirably, even with tasks that normally give windows touchpads an issue, like two finger scrolling. There are two dedicated rubbery buttons that are easy to find and responsive to touch.

You can turn off the touchpad with a double tap in the upper left corner if it is in your way while typing, but I didn’t have any issues with my palms moving the mouse.

Performance, Battery Life and Multimedia

The ProBook 5330m I have in for review has an Intel Core i5 processor, 4GB RAM and integrated graphics. This setup proved to be more than enough power for standard office work, watching videos and web browsing. Opening up large excel files didn’t bog down the machine, nor did running many applications, browsers and playing music at the same time.

When I got into more intensive tasks like photo editing or video editing, I could get some work done, but if these are your primary tasks, you will want to look for a different notebook.

During heavy use, or after long periods of use, the notebook will get a little warm, but it is not too hot to use on your lap.

Battery life on the 5330m is rated at just over five hours by HP. Using the Laptop Magazine battery testing tool, which simulates web browsing with the screen set at 40% brightness, the HP ProBook was able to last three hours and thirty minutes. This is representative of what you might expect under normal use, but if you use the built in HP Power Assistant, you can get closer to the five-hour mark when long life is more important.

As I mentioned, the notebook has Beats Audio for a premium audio experience. While you won’t be replacing a home audio system, the ProBook has a very capable set of speakers and sounds noticeably better than standard business notebooks. Plugging in good quality headphones also helps delivery better sounding music.

While the low-end is still lacking, Girl Talk’s Oh No, which has everything from War Pigs to Teach Me to Dougie, sounded quite good. The music had a crisp sound and there was a depth to the music and clear left and right audio that added to the listening experience.

Connectivity

The HP ProBook 5330m does not have an optical drive, which might bother som users, but other than that you have a full complement of ports including VGA and HDMI.

Left Side: Kensington, VGA, eSATA/USB 2.0, HDMI, SD Card Slot

Right Side: Headphone/Mic Jack, USB 3.0, USB 2.0 (Sleep and Charge), Ethernet, Power

Value

Starting at $799, the HP ProBook 5330m offers an amazing value. Many users will be satisfied with the slower Core i3 processor on the cheaper model, but even the model we had for review offered a great experience for reasonable price.

Both business users and students would be well served to check this model out closely before settling for a business notebook with fewer consumer friendly features or picking up an all plastic notebook from the shelves of Best Buy.

HP ProBook 5330m Gallery

HP Probook 5330m Review — Business and Beats Sounds Good is a post by Josh Smith from Notebooks.com.

The app has a simple interface that is intuitive. The app developer is very responsive, adding a couple of features that the original release didn’t have after we requested them. The first screen you see is the help screen and it is useful to get acclimated.

Start by taking a photo or by tapping the camera icon, one of the three icons along the bottom of the app. If you want to work on a photo you already have on the iPad, hit the folder icon and it opens the camera roll, as you see above. Select the picture or take a picture and you can get to work.

Select your filter from the four icons on the left of AutoPainter HD

On the left there are four icons. Each represents a filter you can use to transform the photo into what looks like a painting. The small help card in the lower left corner tells what each filter does. Tap each icon and read what the corresponding filter is used for, including what kinds of pictures it works best with. For example, the above filter says that it “Works on flowers, landscapes, old houses and people.”

Step one prepares the canvas

The app uses three steps to transform the photo. First, it prepares the canvas with splotches of paint. Then, it starts to add detail in a second pass. On the third pass it fine tunes the image. See the picture above and the two below to show how it transforms this picture, which I took with another camera at Lake Lure near our home in North Carolina.

Step two is the dry reveal where it begins to add some detail

Step three is the finer detail. Stop it by hitting the X as soon as you like the results.

On the last step, as soon as you think the image looks good, stop the process or just let it finish. Each step shows the progress with the percent next to the description.

Below are the before and after shots showing how this app transformed my simple photograph.

Before using AutoPainter HD

After using AutoPainterHD

The four effects can do some interesting things with your photos. Here are a few examples.

A Chick-fil-A cup, flower and table-top advertisment

My oldest son Michael wearing his headphones

Our neighbor's backyard

I really like what the app can do for your otherwise boring or even bad photos. Some of the above pictures were taken with a Nikon D3100 and others with the lowly iPad 2 camera. Because the iPad 2 camera is not as good as it could be, this app will potentially transform an ordinary snapshot into something interesting. The four filters are useful and we hope they will add more in the future.

You can get more detail by painting over certain parts of the image on this screen

After a recent update the app now shows the before and after. Just hit the paintbrush icon and it shows the before screen. The paint brush icon is actually designed to give you more detail. Before you apply the filter you can hit the paint brush icon and paint over the parts of the image that you want to have greater detail. Above I painted over the stream with the rocks and the results were a slightly better image.

Once you are finished transforming your photo, then hit the save button at the right side of the bottom toolbar.

Below is our video review and demo of AutoPainter HD:

We like AutoPainter HD a lot. It is fun to play with and useful for rescuing bad pictures. Our family enjoyed taking portraits and seeing how good or bad we can make one another look using AutoPainter HD. The app makes interesting images from both good photos or even boring photos. At just $1.99 it is a bargain. We hope that a future release might include more filters and the ability to post your resulting photos to Twitter, Facebook, Flickr or a Mobile Me account.

Pro:

• Easy
• Looks nice
• Interesting filters
• Shows before/after
• Fine tunes details
• Saves to camera roll
• Developer is very responsive to suggestions

Cons:

• Would like to see more filters
• Can’t export to photo sites or online sharing directly

AutoPainter HD Makes Art out of iPad 2 Pictures is a post by Kevin Purcell from Notebooks.com.

UPDATE: The Full Toshiba Satellite E305 Review has been posted.

We have just received the Toshiba Satellite E305-S1990 to review and couldn’t wait to share our first impressions of the new Blue Label 3.0 notebook which won our Best Premium Mainstream Notebook of CES 2011 Award.

Toshiba Satellite E305 Quick Specs

The Toshiba E305 is powered by a 2.30GHz 2nd Generation Intel Core i5 processor with built in Intel HD 3000 graphics, 4GB RAM, a 500GB Hybrid hard drive that uses a small SSD to speed up tasks and startup times and a Blu-Ray drive. There is an island style backlit keyboard and a decently sized multi touch mousepad. For audio, the notebook is packing Dolby Advanced Audio. There is a full complement of connectivity including WiFi, WiMax and an ethernet port. You can also find  a USB 3.0 port, USB 2.0 ports, VGA, HDMI and audio jacks.

The E305 has a 14″ display with a 1366×768 resolution and is  also WiDi  2.0 ready for wireless HD streaming to a monitor or HDTV. unlike many WiDi 2.0 laptops, the Satellite E305 includes a Wireless Display 2.0 compatible adapter in the base $899 price.

Toshiba Satellite E305 Hands On Video

Toshiba Satellite E305 Mini Review

We will have a full review of the Satellite E305 posted shortly, but here are our first impressions as we opened the box and began using the new notebook.

Design: The all metal case feels nice and the silver/gold look is nicer than anticipated. Rather than being ostentatious, like some colors are, it looks classy thanks to a pattern that carries over to the keyboard deck. The sides of the E305 have a nice black accent that ties the notebook together well.

Display: The 14″ display has a pretty decent viewing angle, which should work for sharing with a friend or two, but you can use the included WiDi adapter to quickly share on your HDTV too.

Keyboard: The Toshiba E305 has a backlit island style keyboard which immediately drew us to the notebook back at CES 2011 where it won one of our Best of CES awards. So far, the keyboard has a nice layout and good keyspacing. the keys are pretty flat, but aren’t uncomfortable to type on. Key layout is pretty nice, and the key size is also standard. The only issue so far is that the spacebar seems to need more force than the rest of the keys to register.

Mousepad: The mousepad on the E305 is pretty large and supports multitouch. In our initial tests two finger scrolling worked well, as did two and three finger clicks. Though, you cannot tap for two and three finger clicks, you actually need to click.

Performance: We will be putting the Core i 5 Sandy Bridge Processor, new Intel graphics, Seagate hybrid hard drive and everything else to the test for our final review. If you want to know about a specific application or task, leave us a comment below.

Based on our first impressions, the Satellite E305 is meeting the high expectations we had. We’ve been fans of the Best Buy Blue Label notebooks for a while now, and  the current lineup looks like it will continue that tradition. We will update this post when we have a full review of the Toshiba Satellite E305 ready for you to read.

Toshiba Satellite E305-S1990 Gallery

Toshiba Satellite E305-S1990 Specs

• Intel® Core™ i5-2410M processor
• Genuine Windows 7 Home Premium (64-bit)
• 14.0″ widescreen
• 4GB DDR3 1333MHz memory
• 500GB HDD (7200rpm, Hybrid 4G Serial ATA)
• Intel® Integrated Graphics
• Wireless Display 2.0
• 2 Year Warranty
• 3 Year Anti-Theft Protection

Toshiba Satellite E305-S1990 Review: First Impressions & Specs (Video) is a post by Josh Smith from Notebooks.com.

Cartella MacBook Air Case from Pad&Quill

Build Quality and Look

The frame is made of Baltic Birch wood. Inside the frame there is a layer of thin rubber along the edges to act as a bumper. The inside bottom of the case has circular pads where the feet on the bottom of the MacBook Air rest. This raises the computer a little to give it some ventilation. The front is raised slightly higher than the back making the keyboard flat instead of the ever so slight angle at which the MacBook Air normally sits without a case.

The Cartella is made from Baltic Birch

The trim inside the case is an attractive red. The binding is black. On the inside cover there is a pocket to hold thin papers. When you open the case it has instructions for installation as well as a “Table of Contents” which lists major accomplishments of the company as if they were chapters. The Cartella is the fifth chapter. The tongue and cheek nature of the “story” of a pair of “starving artists” which ends with the sixth chapter telling “The Story of No Longer Starving Artists…” is a nice touch. The final line says, “… Thanks to our customers.”

Cartella has an inside pocket for the "Table of Contents"

This is a solid case that will protect your MacBook Air. The wood frame is light but sturdy. It is an expensive case because it is a quality product.

The Cartella is designed with detail in mind

Functionality

The design makes the case easy to put on the MacBook Air. You slide the thin end of the case into the front of the case. Then just drop the back thicker end of the computer down and it should fall right into place. There are a couple of strips of the bumper material with a sticky back in case you need to add some tension to the case to keep the MacBook Air in place better.

Notice the beveling which lets the MacBook open while in the case and allows for easy removal

We must say they have thought of every detail. The rear side edges have cutouts for the ports. And on the back left cutout is slightly larger to accommodate the MagSafe power connector. The woodworking fits the computer nicely and the spacing is perfect. It is easy to get the computer open thanks to the front spacing where the notch is on the MacBook Air. The spacing allows you to lift the lid. The back edge allows the lid to open and gives room for you to get your finger under the back of the computer for quick removal from the case.

Notice the front opening which allows the MacBook Air to be opened while in the case

Not for Everyone

Not everyone agrees that the Cartella looks nice. My wife looked at it and her first reaction was that it looked kind of cheap. I was stunned because I thought the opposite – it looks classy. So you may agree with me or her. At either $80 or $90 you will want to be certain about the look and feel of this case.

I just think the case fits in a category by itself and is designed for a unique market. It is for people who like nice things and don’t feel the need to show off their Apple hardware. They want more than a cheap rubber cover or a nylon computer bag for protection. If you fit that category, then I think you will really like the Cartella from Pad&Quill.

The Cartella top cover bows a little

It is not perfect. The top cover on ours bowed after a short usage. It could be because we stored the two bumper strips in the inside pocket. But where else would you put them? Also the elastic band that holds it closed can get in the way a little. I’ve never been a fan of those folio style elastic bands around covers. These are two very minor complaints.

The Cartella design allows MacSafe connector to be used while in the case

Video Review

Price, Availability and Other Cases

The Cartella from Pad&Quill is available now for $79.99 for the 11″ model and $89.99 for the 13″ model. Soon there will be an iPad 2 case called the Octavo and we will be reviewing it when it is released. Right now there are also cases available for the original iPad, iPhone, iPod touch, Kindle 3 and Nook. We love that the iPhone case is called “The Little Black Book”. Pad&Quill takes quality seriously, but they don’t take themselves too seriously and we like companies like that.

The ports are available for use while in the Cartella case

Pad&Quill Cartella Case Review: Turns MacBook Air into MacBook with Class is a post by Kevin Purcell from Notebooks.com.

ThinkPad X220 Rear and Side Angle

Simply put, the ThinkPad X220 is one of the best business notebooks we’ve had the pleasure to use. Check out the full ThinkPad x220 Review below.

ThinkPad X220 Quick Specs:

Unlike many other ultraportable notebooks in this size range, the Lenovo X220 comes with a full voltage 2nd Generation Intel Core i5 processor clocked at 2.5Ghz, with the option to go up to a Core i7 on select models. By using a full voltage processor, the user has much more power, and in this case there isn’t much this 12.5″ notebook can’t do.

The x220 also has 4GB RAM, a 320GB hard drive, 3 USB 3.0 ports, Display Port, VGA, an Express card 54 slot and a SD card reader. There are also a HD webcam, dual digital microphones, a fingerprint reader and wireless b/g/n.

The ThinkPad X220 weighs less than 3 pounds, and even with the optional slice battery only adds another pound when you need the longer battery life. The X220 starts at $899 and the optional 19 cell Slice battery that retails for $179.99.

Who is the ThinkPad X220 For?

The ThinkPad X220 is a business class notebook that is a great fit for business users, as well as demanding individuals who want a durable and portable machine that can handle pretty much anything you want. The ThinkPad X220 can handle gaming, spreadsheets, Microsoft Office and even resource intensive Adobe Applications thanks to the 2nd Gen Intel Core i5 processor.

Given the size and weight, the x220 is ideal for road warriors and frequent travelers as well as users who want to carry their notebook with them everywhere, without lugging around a 5 pound beast. That’s the beauty of the new ThinkPad X220; it can go from the board room to the dorm room with durability and features found on high end notebooks, but it starts at just $899.

If you need to take notes, and prefer a tablet, check out the ThinkPad x220t 12.5″ convertible tablet that launched alongside this notebook.

ThinkPad X220 Hands On Video:

ThinkPad X220 Build and Design:

The ThinkPad X220 has a traditional ThinkPad design. Matte black finish. Industrial looking edges. Visible screws. And shiny metal hinges. Somehow, all of these factors come together to look like a notebook that means businesses; and not just boardroom or sales force business, but take it anywhere and do what you want business.

While the X220 appeals to a different user than say the MacBook Air, it is a very nice looking notebook that feels like it can handle the abuses of the business world or college campus.

The all metal hinges allow the 12.5″ display to open completely flat and provide an incredibly sturdy feel. You won’t need to worry about the screen moving around in during a bumpy car ride or as you carry it from room to room.

ThinkPad X220 Hinge and Design

One thing that has changed from the ThinkPad x201 is the removal of a latch to keep the notebook closed. This may be a negative for some users, but we haven’t had any issues with the display coming open while carrying the X220 in our bag or in our hands. The hinges keep the notebook closed with enough force that you need to hold the base of the notebook to open the display past a half inch.

The lid of the x220 has a bit of a lip that sandwiches with the edge of the palmrest and makes room for the HD webcam and the built in light that can be toggled to light up your keyboard. We really wish Lenovo would embrace backlit keys, but the light on the x220 does the best job of lighting up a keyboard we have seen from this style of light. Most other notebooks from Lenovo and HP that have similar features have, in our experience, only provided a little bit of light, but the x220 provides a bright enough light that we notice an improved experience.

By building the mouse buttons into the trackpad, Lenovo was able to increase the size of the mousepad 45% larger than the ThinkPad x201, which delivers a noticeable improvement over other 12″ business notebooks and tablets. More on the ThinkPad x220 mouse below.

ThinkPad X220 Features:

The ThinkPad X220 is clearly a result of many iterations of design from Lenovo. The X220 brings many new features and improvements over previous 12 inch business notebooks and is by far the most impressive 12″ business notebook we have used.

Durability is a key feature on the X220. This notebook has been tested to meet MIL-SPEC standards. This means that the x220 can survive in areas and conditions where consumer notebooks wouldn’t dare venture. The x220 meets military specifications for physical shock, heat, dust, humidity and more.

Another key improvement is found on many of the latest ThinkPads, an improved video conferencing setup. The new X220 allows you to switch between conference and private mode and features noise canceling to help quiet the keyboard during calls. The keys aren’t totally muted, but they are a bit better than some other notebooks. Check out the webcam section below for more details.

Notebook Display:

The 12.5″ anti glare display on the ThinkPad x220 has a 1366×768 resolution display and can be configured with an IPS extra wide viewing angle display.

The X220 Display has wide viewing angles and opens past 180 degrees.

Our review unit came with the IPS wide view ultra bright display and we were certainly impressed with the viewing angles and the ability to use the notebook in an outdoor or bright setting. In our extended use of the 12.5″ display we had trouble finding an angle which made it difficult to view the screen while reading webpages or watching video on the 12.5″ screen.

While 12.5″ can be small and we would really like a slightly higher resolution display, the size and resolution does suite the X220 and delivers a very usable canvas to get your work done on, or to relax and enjoy video or gaming.

X220 IPS Display Outdoor Head On

ThinkPad X220 Keyboard:

The ThinkPad x220 has a standard ThinkPad keyboard, which means it doesn’t have a chiclet style, but it delivers a pretty amazing keyboard experience. The X220′s keys have a nice curve to the edges that make it easy to find your keys as you touch type. The keys have a very nice feel and great response. This is one of the few notebook keyboards we could type on all day long. The keyboard doesn’t suffer from a mushy middle which can be an issue on many notebooks.

The key size and placement are both really good. Despite the small size, the x220′s keys are full size and you will notice this. The placement is for the most part ideal. The Shift, Enter, Tab and Backspace keys are all where you would expect them to be and at a normal size. The Delete and Esc keys have been shifted to the upper deck, near a collection of other function keys, but that works out well because they are now oversized.

The only key placement that took much getting used to was the inclusion of Forward and Back navigation keys to the right and left of the Up direction key. These keys are handy, but we found that on more than one occasion we would hit them while writing in the browser and leave the page we were working on. We’d much rather see two blanks in this area on the next ThinkPad X series.

The keyboard can be lit up with the built in light that is built in next to the webcam, allowing you to use the keyboard in low light situations. As mentioned, the light seems brighter and more focused than many others we have used, but still not as handy as a backlit keyboard option.

ThinkPad X220 Touchpad:

Touchpads on small ultraportable notebooks are always a challenge to use, specifically when it comes to the size. On the ThinkPad x220, the touchpad is 45% larger than the previous x200 models and also much larger than you’ll find on many competing business notebooks in this size range. The extra size is achieved by making the mousepad clickable and eliminating the physical buttons from the base of the mousepad.

Buttonless Trackpad on the ThinkPad x220

Traditionally, a mousepad like this introduces usability issues, but this is one of the better clickable mousing surfaces we have used on a Windows notebook. Things we like include the ability to click, actually click, almost anywhere on the mousepad to perform a left click as well as the general performance of the button clicking. We did experience a few issues of moving the mouse with our palms, but overall this is a great mousepad for such a small device.

The multitouch mousepad allows for pinch to zoom and two finger scrolling, which does work, but isn’t as responsive as we would like. Still, the two finger scrolling was a notch up than we typically experience on Windows notebooks.

The X220 has the traditional TrackPoint navigation nub and complementary mouse buttons at the top of the mousepad to satisfy the TrackPoint loyalists. The TrackPoint performed like any other Lenovo ThinkPad we have tested, though we are first to admit that the TrackPoint isn’t our preferred mousing method.

ThinkPad X220 Processor and Performance:

The full voltage 2nd Gen Intel Core i5 processor that powers the ThinkPad X220 is a powerhouse, and is part of what really impressed us about the ultraportable X220. Thanks to the included power the x220 was able to handle standard business tasks, photo editing and even movie editing the x220 has what it takes to be the only computer a busy professional needs whether he or she is on the road or in the office.

The X220 can also be configured with the more powerful Intel Core i7 processor, which comes with USB 3.0 support to handle the power and data transfer needs of more demanding users.

ThinkPad X220 Multimedia and Gaming:

The X220 uses the Integrated Intel HD 3000 graphics, but with the new 2nd Generation Core i family of processors, integrated graphics perform much better than in the past.

We were able to play HD video on the X220 without any hiccups, allowing you to connect to a projector to give a demo or watch a Netflix or iTunes movie when you get back to your hotel room.

Believe it or not, the x220 can handle some gaming using the new Integrated Intel graphics that are part of the new Sandy Bridge processor line. We know Intel claimed that this would be a possibility, there’s something exciting about firing up a recent game like Just Cause 2 and playing on Medium settings on a notebook without a discrete graphics solution. We couldn’t play the Crysis 2 demo, nor would we think this machine could handle the high demands of games like Crysis 2 or Call of Duty Black Ops, but it will handle some mainstream gaming if that’s how you unwind after a busy day of meetings or class.

ThinkPad X220 Audio and Speakers

The integrated speakers are positioned on the base of the notebook near the front edge and provide a quality audio experience, but the sound is a bit quiet for our liking. We found that the best result came while we used the notebook on a table or other hard surface that allowed the sound to grow a bit louder. Because of this placement, you may end up further muting the sound while resting your hands in between typing. Overall, audio isn’t amazing, but it will fit the needs of most business users.

ThinkPad X220 Hard Drive:

Our review model was equipped with a fairly standard 320GB 5400 RPM drive, which performed like we would expect. The higher end models can be configured with a 7200 RPM hard drive, hybrid SSD/HDD model and SSD only models. The Lenovo Enhanced Experience 2.0 results in a faster boot time, even with the standard hard drive.

ThinkPad X220 Benchmarks

The X220 feels noticeably faster than the low volttage notebooks we have tested, but you don’t have to take our word for it, see how the X220 scores on the GeekBench test below.

Lenovo X220 Benchmarks - GeekBench

ThinkPad X220 Heat and Noise

During our extended use of the Lenovo ThinkPad x220 we didn’t run into the heat or noise issues you might expect on a 12.5″ notebook with a full voltage Core i5 processor. While we could hear the fan running under stress, it wasn’t loud enough to distract or cause any concern. Similarly, the x220 ran cool to the touch, even during long periods of use.

ThinkPad X220 Battery Life

The small and light X220 is rated for up to 23 hours of battery life with the 9 cell battery and the extended 19-cell slice battery. Our review unit came with the 6-cell battery and extended 19 cell slice battery which runs $179.

With the extended battery connected, we were able to achieve 15 hours and 13 minutes of life using the Battery Informant tool from Laptop Magazine. This tool surfs popular websites to recreate a standard user experience. To get to 15 hours, we had the screen at a usable 40% brightness and had the Lenovo Battery Stretch options turned on.

19-cell optional slice battery for the ThinkPad x220

With the standard 6 cell battery, the tool delivered nearly 8 hours of battery life (7 h 47 minutes) using the same testing tool and settings. Overall the X220 delivers impressive battery life and stands out in a sea of high life battery claims.

Connectivity:

For a small business notebook the X220 has pretty much all the standard connectivity options you could hope for including a built in ExpressCard 54 slot to expand your connectivity if needed. The only thing missing from our model is a USB 3.0 port, which as we mentioned can be included with the Core i7 processor option.

Left Side: (left to right) USB 2.0, VGA, Display Port, USB 2.0, ExpressCard 54 and a Wireless switch.

Right Side: (Left to Right) SD card slot, USB 2.0 (charging), Ethernet, combo microphone and headphone and a Kensington lock

The X220 can also be configured with several wireless connectivity options for cellular access.

ThinkPad X220 Webcam and Video Conferencing:

The X220 comes with a built in 720P had webcam that delivers nice looking images that are crisp and clear. The webcam performs well in low light settings and is not affected by the keyboard light, which is situated right next to the camera.

ThinkPad X220 720P HD webcam

The webcam comes with software to optimize the audio for video conferencing as well. The included software and digital microphone is tuned to suppress the clicking of keys while you take notes during a call. While it won’t silence the keys, they were noticeably quieter than with the setting disabled.

ThinkPad x220 webcam settings

You can also switch between private and conference mode, which tells the built in microphone to listen to one user or the entire room. This setting worked out well in our case, tuning out a nearby TV when in private mode.

ThinkPad X220 Software:

The X220 comes with a complement of ThinkVantage software that allows you to quickly access and change settings. These tools include changing wireless radio settings, mousepad and TrackPoint settings and several other system functions. Perhaps the best part was the lack of any extraneous software to bog the system down.

ThinkPad X220 Value:

The overall value of the ThinkPad X220 is very high. For around $1,000 you get a business class notebook with a full voltage Core i processor, 15 hour battery life all in a package that weighs 3-4 pounds depending on whether or not you add the extended battery.

ThinkPad X220 Conclusion:

The ThinkPad X220 is one of the best notebooks we have used in recent memory. It delivers everything a business user would need — power, long battery life and a plethora of connectivity options — in a small and portable package that is rated for demanding conditions for a price that businesses can afford and appreciate.

The ThinkPad X220 delivers on all counts and earns our Editor’s Choice award as one of the best business ultraportable notebooks on the market today.

Pros:

• 15 hour real world battery life
• Great keyboard
• Larger mousepad
• Portable package
• Price

Cons:

• Multitouch mouse could be better

ThinkPad X220 Gallery:

ThinkPad X220 Detailed Specs:

Lenovo ThinkPad X220 Review is a post by Josh Smith from Notebooks.com.