Laptop Review: Lenovo IdeaPad U260

Looks are everything

Laptop Review: Lenovo IdeaPad U260

THE Lenovo IdeaPad U260 is for those who appreciate beauty rather than brawn.

At first glance, the U260 seems like it could pose a challenge to Apple's MacBook Air. It felt really light in my hands, weighing in at just 1.35kg, and fit perfectly in a small bag.

I was afraid its petite nature would affect the display, but found the size of the screen just nice - you won't have to squint while reading. The high-definition (HD) screen has decent colour contrast, while its matte display effectively reduces glare even when used in bright areas.

Adding to the feeling of a classy package is its minimalist but appealing design, with nice touches in its magnesium-aluminium body and leather palm rest. It looks like Lenovo was going all the way when designing this one.

Not that it's just about the looks. The U260 is more than capable of handling most tasks, with the processor running quite fast without noticeable lag during testing, and never getting particularly hot to the touch.

The glass touch pad is responsive and smooth, and large enough to support the multi-touch functions. The "island-style" keyboard - like a Mac, with each key separate - is wonderfully tactile.

Still, the U260 does have its drawbacks. It seems that in following the design of the MacBook Air, Lenovo's offering also incurs similar drawbacks, such as its unreachable, irreplaceable battery. It doesn't help that the battery only lasts for about three-and-a-half hours.

It is also rather surprising that the laptop only comes with two USB ports instead of three when it clearly has the space for it. Neither does it have an SD card slot - a pain if you take a lot of photos.

On the whole, while it might leave hardcore gamers and other heavy users underwhelmed, it is a good catch for most typical users. And a very pretty one at that. Hazwan Norly



- Runs on Windows 7

- Camera: 0.3-megapixel

- Processor: Intel Core i7 with Intel Turbo Boost Technology

- Connectivity: 2 USB ports, dedicated WiFi switch, Ethernet port, headphone jack, power jack, VGA, HDMI port

- Screen: 12.5-inch HD

- Priced from S$1,799


by Hazwan Norly

05:55 AM Feb 18, 2011


Source: www.todayonline.com