The Lenovo IdeaPad S12 features a 12-inch screen and is one of the largest netbooks on the market. The S12 comes pre-loaded with Windows XP, has a full keyboard, and includes a six-cell battery for five hours of run time. - Read on to see how it fared in our testing * Intel Atom N270 (1.60GHz)
* Windows XP Home Edition
* Intel GMA 950 integrated graphics
* 1GB RAM
* widescreen 12.1-inch (1280x800) with LED backlight
* 160GB 5400RPM hard drive (Hitachi HTS543216L9A)
* battery 6 cells Li -ion (11.1V, 52Wh)
* Broadcom 802.11b / g wireless
* limited one-year warranty
* White color (also available in black)
* Dimensions: 11.5 x 8.5 x 0.9 to 1.4 inches (L xpx H)
* Weight: 3.42 lb from w / 6-cell battery
As configured, our S12 is currently priced at $ 499. The base model starts at $ 449 with a 1.3GHz VIA Nano processor.
Build and Design
Like all netbooks have nearly identical specifications, manufacturers need to consider the design and build quality to differentiate. Lenovo IdeaPad S12 is a docile machine and easy to search for a not a square edge in sight. second generation of the company netbooks feature rounded edges and a slimmer chassis. The S12 looks well built; all parts fit together perfectly.
The back cover has a design "fashion" with hundreds of little circles dotting the lid. The S12 would be home in a Target store because I think all these little circles resemble the bullseye company logo. In addition, the majority of people that I show he thought it was the machine of a young girl, probably because he is white and has that circle design on the lid. Your mileage may vary - I suggest guys go with the black version
The S12 is constructed of ABS plastic through and through .. It looks and feels sturdy and is not fragile at all. The only part of the laptop which could be more solid is the battery, which slightly oscillates. There is little flexible anywhere on the machine, with the exception of what is the cover; ripples show on the screen when only mild pressure is put on the back of the screen. This should be a non-issue as long as the machine is not thrown around. The hinges that hold the display on are very strong as well. A point of interest about the lid is that it tilts backwards about 20 degrees from vertical; given the light of this machine, it will likely be used in a variety of situations and therefore should probably tilt another 10-20 degrees or more.
The whole base of the laptop has a matte finish, while the lid is glossy plastic front and back. The glossy plastic is surprisingly durable; I did not use a sleeve to protect the S12 in my bag during the week I had it and there were no scratches at the end of the review period.
The glossy screen attracts dust and fingerprints easily, so keep a microfiber cloth handy. Regarding cleanliness goes, the white plastic stayed clean during the time that I had; only time will tell how long-term rates. Hopefully the plastic is not too absorbent and will not pick up stains and discolorations. The black S12 is better at hiding everyday wear.
Compared to the Dell Inspiron Mini 12, a direct competitor to the Lenovo S12, the S12 is slightly smaller (but more about a tenth of an inch thick). The S12 feels deceptively heavy in the hands depending on how you pick it up (rear, front, and so on). The stick-out 6-cell battery is the main reason S12 feels heavy.
Overall, the S12 has excellent fit and finish with an accommodating design.
screen IdeaPad S12 and Speakers
screen and speakers
The S12 features a wide screen 12 inch (16:10) with a 1280x800 resolution and LED backlighting. Contrast and brightness are excellent; the display lighting LED (instead of traditional CCFL lighting used in most notebooks) make for a very homogeneous brightness distribution, with only a hint of bleed at the bottom. There are ten brightness levels; I found level 7 or 8/10 to be the sweet spot, but dimming the screen to 4 or 5/10 are perfectly usable and I extend the battery life. The higher brightness level is almost too bright. Viewing angles are average at best - above the photo quickly washed, and below it darkens. angles Side by side are better but it is noticeable color change.
Unfortunately, the coating of the glossy screen means a lot of reflections, so using this machine outside or areas with lots of lighting sources could get annoying.
The 1280x800 screen resolution is excellent for a netbook; most have 1024x600 or less. The display also has a 16:10 ratio, which is unusual since most manufacturers are turning to 16: 9 displays. The higher resolution makes the S12 feel more like a full computer than other netbooks with lower resolutions.
There are two speakers located under the palm rests on the S12. These are essentially stereotypical notebook speakers -. They get loud enough to hear sounds and are reasonably clear but for situations where audio matters, such as movies and music, will make use of the headphone jack
Speaking of the headphone jack, it is unfortunate that some background noise is present. It is easily embedded with audio and most people probably will not even notice, but an audiophile like myself, it is disappointing.
Keyboard and Touchpad
Keyboard The IdeaPad S12 is, in a word, superb; it is full-size and requires no adjusting from a standard notebook keyboard. There is no flex and key travel is right. The keyboard feels high quality and makes typing accuracy; each key is anchored securely and does not wobble at all. It has excellent tactile feedback and enough resistance that you can rest your hands on the keyboard in typing position without pressing keys accidentally. Lenovo designers made good use of keyboard real estate - I am pleased to see the PrintScreen key is its own key and not mapped as a secondary function (as in, need to press the [Fn] in conjunction with the corresponding key to use ), and the Page Up and Page Down keys are near the arrow keys. The Home and End keys are secondary function keys, but looking at the space the designers had to deal with, it was clearly not an option for separate as well.
Overall, this is one of the best keyboards netbook / notebook I used a long time.
The touchpad has its ups and downs. While tracking is easy and it is reasonably accurate, it is a little too small - I found myself short pieces often. If it measured half a centimeter more in diameter would be perfect. The touchpad buttons provide good feedback and make an audible but not annoying click when depressed. The buttons are easy to find by feel and other than wishing they were slightly larger, I have no complaints about them
Ports and Features
The IdeaPad S12 has a limited selection port -. We'll take a picture round. Right side: ExpressCard / 34 slot, headphone and microphone jacks, USB, VGA, 10/100 Ethernet, Kensington under
lock before: Stereo Speakers
Back: Battery
the S12 has the essentials; considering this netbook is designed to do, the port selection is difficult to complain.
via NotebookReview
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