Just days after
FCC approval, the IdeaPad S10 netbook just popped on Lenovo's retail site tossing a big Chinese wrench in ASUS' plans for global Eee PC domination. At least we think so -- the S10 wasn't expected to hit the US until
October (China September 5th). Availability says "ships within 2-3 weeks" but clicking on the "customize and buy" link results in an "Exception Occurred" error -- pretty much
on par with Lenovo's US retail launch routine. Anyway, for
$399, er $429 (thanks again dollar) you'll take home 512MB of memory and 80GB worth of hard drive, a 1.6GHz Atom N270 proc, Windows XP, and a paltry 3-cell Lithium-Ion battery. Annoyingly, the progression from the base-model black color to white or red costs an extra $10 without any appreciation in specs. While ASUS' is approaching the netbook market like
attrition warfare, it might just be a few,
well-placed products with
stellar support that wins over the netbook market in the end.
[Thanks, Kevin]
posted August 19th 2008 3:45AM
The coupon code isn't working for me at all. It tells me "coupon not valid for current shopping cart." Too bad.
i called the customer service to see if they really will ship my s10 on october (if that's the case, im cancelling my order and going for acer aspire one), but the lady on the line was so ambiguous.... anybody out there in my shoes?
GRAPHICS
from Lenovo:
Please note that we recently experienced a web error which caused the Graphics Card of your S10 to be listed erroneously. The correct
card that is configured into the unit is the Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 950. Unfortunately, we are unable to honor the original
component, as it is not available for the system you ordered.
The no bluetooth kinda sucked..but that kensington bluetooth is definitely the way to go. Perfect for tethering Evdo. Also I hope I can do a little light gaming on it with that sad gma950... what do you guys think... Caesar III.. iv? Titan Quest? or maybe just Diablo II ....
http://blog.laptopmag.com/lenovo-ideapad-s10-does-not-higher-end-graphics
The device manager screenshot on this website lead me to believe it has bluetooth, i ordered on and for ship date i have 09/09/08
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You have been connected to Amy Parkin.
Amy Parkin: Thank you for choosing Lenovo Chat service, this is Amy, sales ID ZQ7. How may I be of assistance today?
Customer: hi
Customer: i was reading promos of the Lenovo IdeaPad S10
Customer: and they claimed the Lenovo due out in October was going to have 1GB of ram, but the ones listed on the pre-order page only say 512MB
Customer: there were also tales of the 160MB lenovo upgrade
Customer: for the IdeaPad S10
Amy Parkin: That is the only memory that we have at this time sorry
Customer: yet, I do not see those on the pre-order page either
Amy Parkin: The current configuration is the only one available at this time for the S10
Customer: do you know when those upgrades will become available?
Amy Parkin: No sorry I don't have that informational at this time.
Customer: after 30 minutes all you can say is 'we don't have that' and 'no i don't know'
Amy Parkin: That is correct. Sorry about the inconvenience.
Customer: well
Customer: considering the ASUS 1000HD is the same thing
Customer: but has more
Customer: for the same price
Customer: i think i'll be looking into that instead
I won't buy as long as a 1GB ram+160GB HDD version is released. Hope that it would not 30 usd increase
To really stir up the pot on just what is or isn't included with the models on the US website, take a look at this response I got back from Lenovo customer service today. I sent this to them after I got the email about the graphics chipset being incorrect. I felt "compelled" to spell it all out..... I swear I have not made this up....
My email:
To Whom Can Help Me:
The Graphics issue below is not a showstopper for me in still wanting to purchase your new Ideapad S10. But their has been "many" conflicting responses from Lenovo Sales by both email and phone reported by others who have ordered it on just what the exact configuration of the current models being sold really is.
The model I have on order is a #42312B.
A friend of mine who was just at the Intel Developers Conference had her hands on this same configuration. It had 512KB of memory and a 80GB hard drive. One of the only two configurations that Lenovo has communicated in all press releases as what was being produced. The other configuration being 1GB of memory with a 160Gb hard drive.
The Lenovo representative in the booth told her that other than color, these are the two configurations being produced and the one at the booth was what had just went on sale at your website and "all other published items came with it as standard" - WiFi, Bluetooth, ExpressCard, 4-in-1 card reader and a 1.3 megapixel webcam. The model she had in her hand indeed had "all" these features.
Now "PLEASE" do not reply with a "Canned" set of specifications to these below questions
Here are questions I need answered about the 42312B configuration:
1. Does this configuration include Bluetooth?
2. Does this configuration include the 4-in-1 Card Reader.
3. Does this configuration include the ExpressCard Adapter.
4. Does this configuration include the WiFi Adapter.
5. Does this configuration include the Webcam.
As you indicated below about the wrong information on the sales website, I don't know what to believe at the moment. I like the features as advertised and that's why I place an order for this model. However, if it is being "stripped" down from what has been publicized, this makes it very difficult to consider against other models from your competition.
Eagerly awaiting your response,
Lonnie
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
The response I got today:
Dear Lonnie,
Thank you for contacting Lenovo, the makers of ThinkPad and ThinkCentre products.
I am sorry for any other false information you have been given. The only spec you listed
that is in the configuration is the Wifi Adapter. There is no Bluetooth, no webcam, no 4in1
Card Reader, and no ExpressCard Adapter.
Please let us know if you would like us to continue with your order or cancel it.
If you have any further questions or concerns, feel free to reply to this email, or to call
us at 1-866-42-THINK (428-4465). We will be happy to assist you further at that time.
Once again, thank you for contacting Lenovo.
Sincerely,
Lenovo Customer Service
Website: www.lenovo.com
--------------------------------------------------------
My main concern was the Bluetooth, but only the WiFi card is included! Our only hope is that the CSR's are really clueless...
The only thing that I'm now glad about this moment is that my ship date is currently 9/23. So you "fortunate" souls who got the earlier ship dates have some reviews to do real quick so I can cancel if all the above is true. I will consider a PayPal gift to the first published pictures/review of just what the He## it is that Lenovo intends to vend to the public ;-)
I cannot understand why any of the normal review sites/people have not gotten an actual production unit at least by now. But being a "Stinkpad" user since the 750 series, Lenovo seems to carry on the tradition set by IBM on their "promise" dates.
I'm beginning to believe now that the 15% off coupon was NOT supposed to be included on the S10 and CSR's have been told to get as many to cancel as possible.....
Amy Parkin: Thank you for choosing Lenovo Chat service, this is Amy, sales ID ZQ7. How may I be of assistance today?
Customer: Hi! I am on your website...If I try to look at the S-Series Ideapad, it does not let you press the "configure & buy" button
Customer: S10
Amy Parkin: I am sorry but we have sold out of the S10 series.
Customer: oh! ok....when will they be back on your site again?
Amy Parkin: I am sorry we don't have that information.
Amy Parkin: I would say about a month or two
Customer: ok...i will check back..thanks!!!