Lenovo IdeaPad S10-2

Lenovo has already updated the IdeaPad S10 to the IdeaPad S10-2 since we first saw it at the beginning of this year, but this new model has slightly tweaked for the release of Windows 7. We didn’t review the previous IdeaPad S10-2, so we’ll highlight the main differences with the original model as we go.

The Original IdeaPad S10 was pretty plain for a netbook, though that was no bad thing — it was very compact without sacrificing usability. The IdeaPad S10-2 is bigger all round, but it’s still a more or less standard size for a 10.1” netbook and, in its standard 3-cell battery configuration, the weight is the same as before.

Other than the size increase, the most obvious change is the glossy, patterned lid and more rounded shape — it was matte black and sharp (ish) edges last time around. This makes the IdeaPad S10-2 look a bit more modern and the design certainly doesn’t look out of place next to the likes of the Samsung N140.

Our only real quibble is that the optional 6-cell battery Lenovo supplied for our review model sticks out from the underside of the case, ruining the slim profile in much the same way as the Dell Inspiron 11z’s larger battery does. It does raise the keyboard to a better angle for typing, but we’d prefer a high capacity battery extends horizontally to make the shape less awkward for carrying in a bag.

That said, we wouldn’t the battery design to much if it made a dramatic impact on battery life, but the IdeaPad S10-2 still only managed just over three hours in BatteryEater Pro’s Classic test and just under five in the Reader test. This is pretty unimpressive for a high-capacity battery and you’ll probably only get around four hours’ typical use out of this netbook with Wi-Fi enabled.

Lenovo dropped the ExpressCard/34 slot from the IdeaPad S10 for the S10-2 and added a third USB port in its place. It’s the same set-up on this model and while the expansion slot will no doubt be missed by some, we think three USB ports are much more useful.

The bigger case means that the IdeaPad S10-2 gets a bigger keyboard than its predecessor, but it still isn’t as wide as those on netbooks like the ASUS Eee PC 1000, MSI Wind or Samsung N140. The keys are still a good size and, once you’re used to the slightly cramped layout, are comfortable to use, but there’s a bit too much flex for our liking. The small trackpad works very well though, and its two good-size silver buttons are nice and clicky.

The IdeaPad S10 had a 10.1” screen with a peculiar 1024 x 576 resolution, but Lenovo has stuck with a more sensible 1024 x 600 display for the IdeaPad S10-2. The glossy display is as crisp and bright as any we’ve seen on a netbook, but it does sit on a pair of stiff hinges that are prone to wobble if the netbook is jiggled about a bit — something to bear in mind if you use a laptop on a train or plane.

Lenovo hasn’t done much to the specification of the IdeaPad S10-2 for this Windows 7 refresh other than upgrade the processor to an ever-so-slightly-faster Intel Atom N280 and increase the hard disk capacity to 250Gb. The 32-bit edition of Windows 7 runs smoothly enough, but you do only get the Starter edition and can only run three foreground applications at once.

Background applications (antivirus, firewall, and so on) aren’t included in this limit, nor are windows or tabs within a single application, so this quite the problem you might think — particularly since netbooks aren’t best suited to running lots of programs at once anyway.

A more annoying limitation of Windows 7 Starter edition is that you don’t get all the frills of the Aero interface — we can live without window transparency, but features like Peek and Taskbar previews would be very useful on a small screen.

At around £270, the Lenovo IdeaPad S10-2 is one of the cheaper 10.1” netbooks around and it’s not bad value as a result. Even so, we’d be more inclined to spend a little more to get a better keyboard and longer battery life, and for just £15 more, the Samsung N140 is still our choice for the moment.