Lenovo Ideapad S12

Lenovo is best known for its ThinkPad business laptops, but itsIdeaPad range provides entry-level systems for both corporate andconsumer use. The IdeaPad S12 is its 12.1-inch offering and strikes abalance between a netbook and a full-sized ultraportable.

As one of the larger netbooks available, the 1.6kg chassis lacks the mobility of its rivals.

Despiteusing a fairly slimline battery, it protrudes 14mm from the rear of thechassis, adding to the bulk of the device. Battery life is excellent,however, running for 334 minutes.

Build quality is average, butfails to match the standard set by the Samsung N310. The matt plasticsare resilient enough, but the glossy plastics on the lid are prone toscratches.

The patterned finish is not the most stylish we've seen and won't suit all tastes.

The extra size of the chassis allows space for a full-sized keyboard,which continues Lenovo's reputation for high-quality usability. All thekeys move smoothly and firmly and this is one of the most usablenetbooks we've seen, making it ideal for frequent business use.

The 12.1-inch screen has a 1280 x 800-pixel resolution, letting youwork with several windows open at once, and image quality is excellent.Brightness, colour and contrast are strong – although the Fujitsu isbrighter – so photos and videos look great.

Easy maintenance

Akey selling point of Lenovo machines is the comprehensive,pre-installed proprietary software. Tools for data backup and systemrestoration are included, among others, making it very easy for evenbeginners to access advanced system maintenance tools.

Anintegrated camera is fitted above the screen. Facial recognitionsoftware lets you log into Windows by looking into the camera.

Dolby Pro Logic offers pseudo surround sound via headphones, but we found the effect less than impressive.

Storageis more than capable for basic use. The 160GB hard drive will holdplenty of music and photos – and the 4-in-1 card reader allows accessto flash storage cards. Despite the large chassis, there is nointegrated optical drive.

802.11g Wi-Fi provides fast access towireless networks, although it's slightly slower than the802.11n-equipped Asus Eee PC Seashell 1008HA.

Bluetooth lets you wirelessly share files between devices, while three USB ports let you connect wire-based peripherals.

Althoughthe size of the IdeaPad S12 makes its netbook status questionable, itis nevertheless a very usable and wellmade machine and provides anaffordable alternative to business ultraportables, without scrimping onfeatures.

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