The new ThinkPad X1 Carbon takes the design of the ThinkPad X1, which we loved, and bumps the screen up to a mainstream 14-inch. The X1 Carbon might possibly be the best business notebook we’ve seen so far as it addresses many of the tradeoffs users must typically make when trading in a typical business notebook.

The ThinkPad X1 should be standard issue in corporate America. No, the X1 won’t fit everybody’s needs, but it will make everyone from road warriors to conference room jockeys very happy. The 14″ display means there’s not much to give up when downsizing from a bulkier business notebook such as the ThinkPad T400.

The ThinkPad Carbon X1 has several creature comforts baked in that make it more user friendly, without giving up its ThinkPad pedigree.

Read: ThinkPad X1 Review

The ThinkPad X1 Carbon has about the same footprint as the original ThinkPad X1, which has a 13.3″ display. One thing we really like is that the new X1 Carbon has an anti-glare display like the rest of the ThinkPad lineup. The display has a resolution of 1600×900 pixels, which means users can edit two documents side by side. A 720p webcam that tracks the user is at the top of the display. The keyboard is backlit, making it easier to use in the dark.

We got to take an early look at the ThinkPad X1 Carbon at a Lenovo event in San Francisco last week. Weighing in at almost exactly three pounds, the ThinkPad Carbon X1 feels even lighter than it looks. Part of the reason for that is that Lenovo built its internal rollcage out of Carbon, hence the product’s name.

The new ThinkPad X1 Carbon includes the new 3rd Generation Intel Core family of processors with better power management and enhanced integrated Intel graphics. Lenovo hasn’t provided official battery life numbers yet, but company representatives said it will last longer than the original X1 on a single charge. That’s important considering users can’t slap an extended battery on this notebook as they can with most ThinkPads. One very nice feature is that the X1 Carbon’s battery can go from zero to 80% in just 30 minutes. That means all you need to do is plug in during a coffe break at a cafe or while waiting for your connecting flight and you’re good to go.

The ThinkPad X1 Carbon isn’t as thin as the MacBook Air or consumer UltraBooks, but it is a world apart from what most business people lug around.

The left side of the ThinkPad X1 Carbon has a single USB 2.0 port and wireless on/off switch. Towards the rear of the left side is the power adapter port. It is rectangular in shape since the notebook is too thin to accomodate the standard ThinkPad power adapter, which features a round connector.

The right side of the ThinkPad X1 Carbon has a Kensignton lock slot, USB 3.0 port, DisplayPort, audio jack and SD card reader.

The rear of the notebook has a SIM slot for 3G and 4G connectivity. Lenovo and its partners will offer users the option of paying per session, which means users won’t have to sign up for long contracts. This is a very nice feature since most people don’t have an ongoing need and bosses aren’t too keen on approving such contracts for people that only travel occasionally.

ThinkPad X1 Carbon: 14 inch Ultrabook for Business is a post by Xavier Lanier from Notebooks.com.

The Lenovo IdeaPad Z370 is a consumer notebook with a bright blue design that stands out in the crowded $600 notebook market.

With a 13.3 inch display and compact dimensions, the Z370 is an attractive option for students and home users who don’t want to carry a bulky notebook to class or the cafe, but aren’t ready to pay up for an Ultrabook.

The IdeaPad Z370 is missing the latest features like USB 3.0, but users will find it tough to argue with sale prices that drop to $569 on a regular basis.

Who is the IdeaPad Z370 for?

The IdeaPad Z370 is a notebook for consumers and students who want a well-built machine that will stand out in the crowd. The bright blue patterned lid and blue interior won’t appeal to everyone, but students drawn in by the looks will find more than enough power for school and personal tasks thanks to an Intel Core i5 processor.

Design

The IdeaPad Z370 has a distinct plastic feel I’m not a fan of, but that doesn’t mean the Z370 isn’t sturdy or a nice look to it. The base of the notebook is very well built, with no flex under pressure and no flex in the center of the notebook, which helps deliver a better typing experience.

The lid has a solid feel and hinges that keep it in place at the angle you open it to. As I mentioned, the Z370 has a very loud color scheme, accentuated with the transparent 3D design that catches the eye.

The Z370 weighs in at 4.41 pounds, which isn’t going to win any contests, but is light enough to carry in a backpack to and from class without too much weight. The IdeaPad Z370 is .08 to 1.3 inches thick, which is still thin enough for most users, but I wouldn’t want to take it on a trip all the time.

Keyboard and Touchpad

The IdeaPad Z370 has an island style keyboard with good spacing and a nice tactile feel. The keys have a slight indent and offer an OK amount of travel, but there were definitely times where I missed a letter because I didn’t push in enough.

The key layout is OK, but Lenovo continues the trend of placing keys to the right of Shift and Enter, which can slow down touch typers and cause odd spelling errors due to pressing Home or End. The right shift key is also smaller, so you’ll be pressing up accidentally on a semi-regular basis.

The touchpad has a nice tactile feel that makes it easy to mouse to a specific place, but the accuracy is lost when you are trying to select multiple lines of text while holding down the left side of the single mouse button.

Scrolling is smooth with the right side of the trackpad, but if you want to use two fingers be ready for a jumpy scrolling experience. Overall the trackpad is usable, but for extended sessions I suggest a good travel mouse.

Display

The 13.3 inch display on the IdeaPad Z370 has a standard 1366 x 768 resolution which makes it difficult to compare two documents at the same time, such as a web source and Word, or to surf the web and carry on chat conversations.

Unless you plan to spend significantly more though, you’ll be stuck with this relatively low resolution. If you tend to focus on one task at a time, this isn’t a huge deal.

The display is glossy, one of the glossiest I have used recently, kicking back glare from a ceiling light at home and ruling out use outdoors.

Still, the display has good horizontal viewing angles and offers good colors, making it useful for sharing a few YouTube clips with a friend or two. Vertical viewing angles go bad fast, but the display opens up to a wide angle, so you can find a position that works in most settings.

The OneKey Theater button allows you to tweak display settings for a better viewing experience.

I’d recommend using the HDMI connection to mirror to an HDTV if you plan to watch a full movie with more than two people.

Performance and Graphics

The IdeaPad Z370 has an Intel Core i5 processor and 4GB of RAM which combine with the integrated Intel 3000 HD graphics to offer plenty of performance for students and home users looking to surf the web, watch movies, listen to music and work in Microsoft office.

The notebook is capable of casual flash based gaming, but isn’t going to replace an Xbox 360 for gaming. Lenovo includes a Game Console app with the notebook that gives you quick access to many casual games.

I was able to run multiple Chrome windows with about 15 tabs, music playing in Windows Media Player and chat with friends without issues.

The integrated 2.0MP webcam is capable enough for Skype or a Google Hangout, but you won’t come across as crystal clear, though audio does well in chat.

The Z370 has SRS Premium audio enhanced sound which does give a boost in the depth of music and clear highs, but the middle is left muddy. You are able to crank the built in speakers to the Max to fill up a dorm room or bedroom.

When it comes to movies and TV, you can watch Netflix and Hulu without any trouble, though the notebook will hear up after an episode of The Daily Show.

If you want to edit photos for red eye, automatic color correction and cropping, this notebook has enough power, but it wouldn’t be my first pick for a graphic design student. The same is true for video editing.

Battery Life

While using the Laptop Magazine Battery Test, which simulates web browsing on 40% brightness until the battery dies, the Lenovo Z370 was able to last 4 hours and 39 minutes, which isn’t bad, but far below a full day of use.

If you need a full day of computing power, you can carry a second battery, unlike many of the ultrabooks which don’t allow for a replacement.

The Bottom Line

The IdeaPad Z370 is a capable notebook for students and home users, with good build quality and eye-catching looks. There aren’t many frills, but with web sales prices starting at $569, you don’t need or expect the world.

If you are OK with the so so keyboard layout and poor two finger scrolling, the Z370 is a nice catch, especially at the sale price under $600.

Gallery

Specs

Lenovo IdeaPad Z370 Review is a post by Josh Smith from Notebooks.com.

The ThinkPad T420s is a capable business notebook with a high-resolution display, durable lightweight frame and plenty of business features.

The ThinkPad T420s commands a price premium over the T420, but that accounts for the lighter weight and the 1600 x 900 resolution display that won my heart during this review.

I would appreciate longer battery life, but the great keyboard, system performance and durability help the T420s move past this shortcoming.

Who is the ThinkPad T420S for?

The ThinkPad T420s is a business notebook aimed at businesses who will deploy them to a full workforce. The ThinkPad T420s isn’t a newfangled Ultrabook, but it is still thin and light enough for the business traveler to take cross-country without complaints. Small businesses and students would also be wise in looking at the ThinkPad T420s.

Design

There’s no surprises in the Lenovo ThinkPad design, with a standard matte black finish and metal hinges. Like the classic black suit, it doesn’t go out of style, especially in a corporate environment.

That said, Lenovo has added a soft touch finish to the lid and curved the edges more so it doesn’t look like you’re carrying a chunky work notebook if you happen to take it with you on vacation or to the coffee shop.

Lenovo uses a carbon fiber reinforced bottom and a ABS plastic lid to add to the durability and strength of the T420s, which is carried over to the interior with a roll cage to keep your hard drive and components safe in case of drops or other accidents. The keyboard is also water-resistant with drain holes on the bottom.

The T420s is .8 to 1 inch thick and weighs in at four pounds, which makes for a portable business notebook that isn’t going to break your back or bulge your backpack.

Keyboard and Touchpad

Lenovo is known for excellent keyboards and users of the classic ThinkPad style keyboards will feel right at home on this notebook. While there is no island style keyboard or backlit keys like the ThinkPad X1 and ThinkPad Edge notebooks, this is still an amazing keyboard.

There are no odd key placements to the edges of the keyboards, which ruin the typing experience on many new notebooks. The key travel is great, though some users will need to adjust to spacing if they are coming from a island style notebook at home. I enjoy using this keyboard, and could use it on a daily basis, which says a lot about its quality.

The ThinkPad T420s has a touchpad and TrackPoint.

The touchpad is small, thanks in part to the extra buttons right below the spacebar which are there for TrackPoint users. If you like TrackPoint you’ll be happy with this system, which performs very well. The touchpad is relatively small at about 3 inches wide and 2 inches tall. The touchpad is textured which aids accuracy, but you can forget about using multitouch gestures. There are dedicated buttons at the bottom of the touchpad which fold over the edge, but are large enough to easily hit without looking.

Display

Lenovo knows that business users need to be able to get work done on the go, and many times that means comparing two documents side by side or using multiple programs at once.

The ThinkPad T420s has a 14.1 inch matte display which helps keep the weight and size down, but there’s nothing small about the 1600 x 900 resolution. Because Lenovo opted for this higher resolution I was able to use this notebook to accomplish tasks that normally would have taken significantly longer or required a second monitor. Most notebooks this size stick with a bare minimum 1366 x 768 resolution.

The viewing angles and colors are both good. Though vertical viewing angles suffer, the ability to adjust the angle of the display all the way flat means you can find a comfortable angle in almost any situation.

The matte display makes working outdoors or in harsh lighting possible, and is a must have for business users that need the ability to work wherever they are.

Features

Dual mics and great camera for video.

The ThinkPad T420s has a number of business friendly features that will help you sell this notebook to your IT manager.

• Docking – The ThinkPad T420s can dock on a port replicator or Mini Dock Series 3 to simplify connecting the notebook in your office and taking it out for a trip.
• Microphones – Dual HD Microphones greatly enhance conference calls, and can keep the other caller from hearing keystrokes as loud and focus the microphones on your voice, or turn it into a speakerphone for a small group.
• Security – Optional fingerprint reader, smart card support and the Lenovo Hardware Password Manager offers a nice collection of security features.
• Durability – The ThinkPad T420s meets eight military specification tests for harsh conditions and durability, so it can handle work in the real world.

Performance and Graphics

The ThinkPad T420s review unit we have comes with a 2.5GHz  Intel Core i5 2nd Generation processor, 4GB RAM and a 320GB 7200 RPM hard drive. Graphics are left to the integrated Intel 3000HD processor, which delivers enough processing power for most office tasks and business users.

When it comes to accessing Access databases, complex Excel spreadsheets and using other business software the T420s is more than capable.

If you need to watch HD video, do simple video conversions or process the occasional HD video, it will also work out well. You can use the included DVD drive to burn it to disk.

Don’t plan on playing games on this unit or doing video editing on a daily basis, unless you opt for the NVIDIA NVS 4200M discrete graphics upgrade.

Dolby Home Theatre v4 adds oomph to the audio on the ThinkPad T420s. While it isn’t incredibly loud, you get decent depth and good overall sound for sharing a presentation with a small group or listening to tunes in your office or on the road.

Battery Life

Because the ThinkPad T420s is a thin notebook, you have to give up some battery life, but even with the compromise you end up with more than a half day of battery life. Using the Laptop Magazine Battery Test, which simulates web browsing at 40% brightness, the battery lasted just over 5 hours. 5 hours and 18 minutes of battery life isn’t bad, especially given the size and weight of this notebook.

The Bottom Line

The ThinkPad T420s offers great performance, an incredible high-resolution matte display and an excellent keyboard. With extras like better video conferencing and premium audio users will appreciate the T420s as much as IT managers appreciate the security and durability.

Thanks to the great $1,099 starting price and feature-set, the ThinkPad T420s is very attractive for business users and a good option for students who want a notebook capable of surviving four years of years of school.

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Specs

Lenovo ThinkPad T420s Review is a post by Josh Smith from Notebooks.com.

Lenovo’s U Series IdeaPads are all about the blend of style and substance. We’re fans of the ultraportables and ultrabooks in the line and were eager to see how the mainstream U400 stacked up.

On first glance you might mistake this IdeaPad for a MacBook Pro thanks to the all-metal body, minimalist design, and skimpy port selection. Once you get beyond looks, the U400 impresses thanks to good performance and longevity. All in a package not too heavy to carry around if you need to.

Is the Lenovo IdeaPad u400 the right notebook for your needs? Read on to find out.

Who is the U400 For?

People looking for a sturdy mainstream notebook that won’t choke under heavy multitasking. Users who don’t intend to play graphics intensive games or need robust multimedia editing power. Those needing a portable yet powerful system that does more than an ultrabook yet isn’t so heavy that carrying it all day is a pain.

Design

The best way to describe the design of the IdeaPad U400 is to say: Imagine a MacBook Pro. Now put Lenovo’s logo on it.

That sounds harsh, I know. And unnecessarily reductive. But that’s not a knock on the IdeaPad. In broad strokes, the U400’s “one-piece aluminum shell”, “intelligent glass touchpad”, and chiclet keyboard all evoke the Apple aesthetic. At the same time this design is also a continuation of the U series look.

I think it’s more noticeable with the U400 because of the size. At 13.4 x 9.1 x 0.9 inches with a 14-inch display it straddles the the space between the 13 and 15-inch Apple models.

Though the notebook sports a sturdy all-metal design it only weighs 4.4 pounds. I like how the matte dusky gray aluminum feels under my fingers and hands. The lid could do a better job not picking up fingerprints, especially as there’s little to detract from them.

The bottom and back of the notebook are both smooth, so there’s no removable battery or discernible way to get at the innards to change the hard drive or RAM.

The disappointments in design come from the more practical areas. At this size the manufacturer had plenty of room to include plenty of ports, but instead we only get 1 USB 3.0 and 2 USB 2.0 ports, Ethernet and a slot-loading DVD drive. No VGA output and no SD card slot.

Keyboard and Touchpad

Not only does the U400′s keyboard look like the one found on a MacBook, it feels like it, too. It’s serviceable and comfortable, but doesn’t offer strong tactile feedback or the accuracy-upping dip in the center of the keys.

I’m used to IdeaPad keyboards not living up to the Lenovo standards given to the ThinkPad line, but I still wish for something more than “adequate” in this area.

Another annoyance is the shrunken Backspace and Shift keys on the right. They’re small to make room for a column of keys that no one needs as much as they need Backspace or Shift. I accidentally hit them so much I learned how to re-map keys to avoid the issue.

The wide glass touchpad is both beautiful and easy to use for basic mousing. The smooth glass surface offered no friction and offers precision and accuracy.

Executing typical multitouch gestures like two-finger scroll or pinch to zoom reveals how finicky and oversensitive it is for anything involving more than one finger. That sensitivity can be tweaked in the Mouse Settings of the control panel. Users will need to, as the defaults don’t offer a smooth experience.

There are additional three an four-finger gestures that mimic functions I’m more used to seeing in OS X. When you can get them to execute they’re useful.

Display

The 14.0 glossy display has a sadly typical 1366 x 768 resolution. On a screen this size I’d pay more for 1600 x 900 to take best advantage of the space.

Glossy screens tend to do well with colors and true, deep blacks, and this one is no exception. They also usually have narrow viewing angles; no exception there, either. Watching video is a pleasant experience as long as you keep the display positioned in the sweet spot.

Features

Audio quality on the U400 is impressive for a notebook. Volume is enough to rock out for real when necessary, and the bass and treble are round enough that music actually sounds as if it has layers. Still flatter than you’d get from external speakers, but better than average.

The 1.3MP webcam also offers better than average picture quality for an embedded model. Colors aren’t as deep as I’d like but are true. Plus there’s not much blur, even when you move around quickly. It’s capable of 720p video chat on systems that support it.

Multimedia fans will appreciate the inclusion of Intel’s Wireless Display Technology, which allows users to broadcast whatever is on the screen to an HDTV provided you have a the separate $99 adapter.

Performance, Graphics and Battery Life

My review unit (09932-9U) has an Intel Core i5 2430M processor, 6GB of RAM, and an AMD Radeon HD 6470M graphics processor backed by 1GB of video RAM.

In overall performance, the IdeaPad U400 did well. A monster multitasker won’t have any trouble running multiple programs and switching between dozens of tabs in Chrome or Firefox or both, as I did. Even with a traditional 5,400 rpm hard drive inside it booted in a snappy 46 seconds.

Graphics intensive tasks are another matter. Though the U400 has a discrete GPU, it doesn’t activate when needed at all times. AMD’s Catalyst Control Center utility will mark some programs as needing “High Performance” and thus activating the Radeon GPU. However, the average user won’t even know this is possible.

I discovered that the CCC didn’t think that Firefox or the image editing program Paint.net needed better performance when both of those should get it automatically. Users can manually change the settings for programs, but this is tedious and shouldn’t be necessary.

Even with High Performance activated users won’t find this satisfactory for anything beyond casual gaming on Facebook. Real games are playable, but framerates are slow enough that it’s not worth even loading them.

Video isn’t a problem, though. Even when streaming or watching 1080p clips I didn’t see any dropped frames. The notebook performed well when scenes transitioned from light to dark or with languid motion.

Whenever I used a program that taxed the GPU I noticed that the U400 got noticeably hotter. When just surfing the web and typing in Word it was cool enough to keep on my lap thanks to the breathable keyboard and vent on the left side.

But when watching streaming video or playing games the temperature went up. It got hot enough on the left side that I needed something between the laptop and my lap.

On the LAPTOP Magazine Battery Test (constant web surfing over Wi-Fi with the screen set at 40%) the U400 lasted for 6 hours and 3 minutes. A nice score from a notebook this size. With on and off use it could last you all day.

IdeaPad U400 vs. The Competition

The most obvious competitor is the MacBook Pro line from Apple. The U400 matches it in style and design easily. And at $884 it’s less than the least expensive model in the Pro line. However, when comparing graphics prowess the MacBook Pro 15-inch leads thanks to a more powerful GPU. The 13-inch Pro only comes with Intel’s integrated graphics, so the U400 has the edge.

Looking to slightly large systems, the 15.5-inch Sony VAIO SE is the same weight (4.4 pounds) and at 14.5 x 10.1 x 0.9 inches, not much bigger than the U400. The VAIO also has AMD graphics, but that GPU offered a better gaming experience. Plus you get a full HD (1920 x 1080) resolution on the display. The speakers on the VAIO are weak compared to the U400, as is the battery life.

The Bottom Line

At $884 the Lenovo IdeaPad U400 is a good value for a well-built mainstream notebook that offers excellent overall performance. If the middling graphics performance were the only drawback, it would be easy to recommend this notebook. The issues with the keyboard and touchpad are a big distraction, especially for such important components.

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Specs

Lenovo IdeaPad U400 Review is a post by K. T. Bradford from Notebooks.com.

Lenovo is most often known for their ThinkPad business systems, but the company also offers a number of systems aimed at the education market, like the ThinkPad X130E.

The X130E is a much tougher model of the ThinkPad X120E which I reviewed last year, and is well equipped to handle the hazards of the classroom. While it isn’t rated for it, I could probably drive my car over it and it would keep working.

The portable form factor, incredibly durable build and excellent keyboard pair up with an all day battery to deliver a well equipped solution for the education market.

ThinkPad X130E - Education Geared Netbook

So far, my only complaint about the system is the very touchy and small touchpad, but an external mouse or smaller fingers will help with that.

The ThinkPad X130E I have in for testing uses an AMD E 300 1.3GHz processor, 2GB RAM and has an 11.6 inch display with a 1366×768 resolution. You might think that this system is underpowered, but I didn’t find it sluggish while going about the tasks I would expect students to be doing such as web browsing, note taking, flash heavy websites and running multiple programs at once.

I’ll get into all the features in a second, but as soon as I picked up the X130E I knew it was a well built notebook. Everything about this device feels durable and well built. Even when I tried to flex the base or lid, I came up with white knuckles instead of buckling plastic.

I haven’t given the notebook a proper battery test yet, which will simulate web browsing until the battery dies, but during my daily use I found that it was easy to get 5 to 6 hours of battery life without worrying about screen brightness. I wouldn’t be surprised if this notebook can last the full schoolday with the 6 cell battery.

As I mentioned, the keyboard is rock solid and perfectly sized for students and teachers. The touchpad is a bit small, and it takes some getting used to. So far it is touchy, even though it is a newer clickpad style touchpad.

Education Ready

The ThinkPad X130E is ready for the hands of schoolkids everywhere thanks to a rugged design and the reinforcement of potential break points. Lenovo has also included security features and customization options that schools will appreciate.

After spending a week with the ThinkPad X130, I can attest to the build quality of the notebook. These design features are more than bullet points on a sales sheet.

The keyboard on this notebook is great, not the best ThinkPad keyboard I have used, but pretty close. It certainly blows away consumer notebook keyboards. This island style of keyboard means that the students won’t be able to pull keys off, at least not without a screwdriver and lots of leverage.

Hinges are tested to withstand heavy use.

Lenovo also made the entire system more rugged, starting with the cover and corners. The corners on the X130 are 33% stronger than the x120E and include rubber bumpers to cope with bumps and drops.

The display bezel is thicker, to protect the display from damage while in transport and the hings have been designed to last 30,000 cycles, or 100 times a day. The ports on the notebook include all of those education environments need including Ethernet and HDMI. The ports are recessed, and Lenovo has made the Ethernet port stronger to prevent damage if a pupil pulls the cord out without pressing down on the tab.

The ThinkPad X130E has recessed ports and a stronger Ethernet port.

Administrators will enjoy the security features including TPM, Intel Anti-Theft (only on the higher end model) and a hard drive retention program that lets the user keep drives that fail under warranty so that IT can dispose of data themselves.

The ThinkPad X130E is available today, but you can only get the Red version shown above in large orders for schools, which can choose from other customizations as well. The ThinkPad X130E starts at $429.

Stay Tuned for our full review of the ThinkPad X130E.

ThinkPad X130e Mini Review: Built Like a Tank, Ready for School is a post by Josh Smith from Notebooks.com.

I think we can all agree that a laptop’s keyboard is one of the most important aspects of the computer. It’s the primary input method, the part of the notebook you touch the most, and its quality and comfort affect your experience more than almost anything else.

So why is it that there are still laptop designers and engineers in the world that think mucking around with keyboard layout and key size is okay? Not just on smaller systems like netbooks or 11-inch ultraportables, but on reasonably-sized 13 and 14-inch laptops?

I’m currently reviewing the IdeaPad U400. While I have mostly positive feelings about it, the positivity seeps away every time I accidentally hit the Home key when reaching for BackSpace.

I occasionally hit the PgUp key instead of Enter, but this isn’t as much of a problem. The Up Arrow crowding out my Shift key is, though.

There are two big problems with this layout. The first is that oft-used keys like BackSpace, Shift and Enter are smaller than they should be. These aren’t those funny keys people rarely use like ~ or ` or even | and \. These keys are used for almost every sentence written and most of the keyboard-based interactions one has with a computer.

Why, in the name of all that is electrically charged, would you mess with the size of these keys?

The second problem is that they’re smaller to make room for keys that do not need our time and attention. Why do arrow keys need to be that big? Why do Home, End, PgUp and PgDn need their own dedicated keys at all?

The only time I use Page Up and Down is when I’m on a laptop that has really terrible or no two-finger scroll on the touchpad. And that is a problem unto itself (and a separate post). It’s been years since I used Home or End. I stopped doing so when I started using more comfortable mice and touchpads became non-annoying.

These antiquated keys are there because they’ve always been there, but they are not as important as their placement indicates. Certainly not more important than a correctly-sized BackSpace or Shift key.

Lenovo, of all laptop makers, ought to know better. I know that the IdeaPads aren’t as robust as the ThinkPads and the keyboards aren’t the same, even when they look similar. Still, maybe the IdeaPad designers and engineers should wander over to where the ThinkPad designers and engineers work and take a peek at their keyboards. Do they have Home, End, PgUp, PgDn or arrow keys crowding out more important keys? They do not.

That’s a useful clue.

Dear Lenovo: Please Stop Making Terrible Keyboard Choices is a post by K. T. Bradford from Notebooks.com.

Do you want a new tablet? If you answered yes, you came to the right place. We have a new Lenovo ThinkPad tablet to give away to one of our lucky readers.

Lenovo was the official sponsor of Notebooks.com and GottaBeMobile for CES 2012, and as part of that sponsorship we have a collection of gear to give away. There’s still a day to enter to win a ThinkPad X220 and an IdeaPad U400, but now you have a chance to win one of two ThinkPad Tablets.

Lenovo announced several new notebooks at CES 2012, including the IdeaPad Yoga which took home Best of Show at Notebooks.com. We invite you to check out the new Lenovo notebooks and tell us which one you like best.

The Prize: ThinkPad Tablet

Win a ThinkPad Tablet from Lenovo.

The ThinkPad Tablet is a business ready tablet that can be paired with a portfolio that adds a ThinkPad keyboard to the mix. This tablet runs Android and packs in a subscription to Absolute tracking software in the event your tablet is stolen. You can also get a stylus to take notes and increase your productivity.

Check out our ThinkPad Tablet Review and ThinkPad Tablet Stylus Review.

How to Enter:

Leave a comment below telling us what your favorite new Lenovo notebook is. You can pick a series or a specific model. Simple as that.

Comments may not immediately appear.

Contest Rules:

The contest is open to U.S. Residents 18 and over. Contest void where prohibited by law, please check local regulations before entering. The contest will close on Wednesday January 25th at 11:59 PM Pacific. You may only enter once per contest, entering multiple times will disqualify you from the contest.

Win a ThinkPad Tablet from Lenovo is a post by Josh Smith from Notebooks.com.

Lenovo hasn’t forgotten horsepower with the 2012 IdeaPad refresh. The new IdeaPad Z series is a collection of notebooks aimed at consumers who want to be able to enjoy their multimedia and create videos without waiting for a sluggish machine.

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.

Lenovo isn’t makein netbooks, but if you want a small, portable and affordable machine, the IdeaPad S Series is as close as you’ll get.

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 announced a collection of new notebooks at CES 2012, but the most exciting IdeaPad has to be the new IdeaPad U series of Ultrabooks.

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.