Lenovo's IdeaPad S10 with X4500 graphics dubbed "Wind and Eee PC killer"

Hey friend, ready for a full Lenovo IdeaPad S10 review? Sorry, this ain't it, but Laptop's initial hands-on with this "sweet 10-incher" might be enough to help with any imminent purchasing decisions requiring $429 in cash. What if we sweetened the deal and told you that Lenovo's netbook also features that very same un-netbooky X4500 integrated graphics found in Intel's Centrino 2 chipset -- no lame GMA950 here, pal. And as oddball as it sounds, one reader discovered that the red-colored S10 also features an external CD-RW/DVD-ROM for the same price as the white S10 (but $10 more than the black model). Check the full hands-on text (laced with adjectives like "spacious," "lovely," and "stylish") and video (where it's dubbed a Wind and Eee PC killer) just beyond the read link and just for you buddy.

Update: A number of would-be buyers are reporting another case of Lenovo's retail ineptitude. The X4500 graphics appears to be just another misprint -- like those free SSDs and $200 14.1-inch laptops seen before. Hell, even the optical drive appears to be the stuff of data entry error. At this point it looks like we've got another GMA950 netbook on our hands which certainly makes more sense. Our advice? If you're ready to purchase then at least get on the horn with sales and confirm that bill of materials.

[Thanks, Peter and Boning C.]

[YpoCaramel @ Aug 20th 2008 9:17AM]

As a 1000h user I'm quite jealous, but the S10 really should come with 1GB ram standard.

[Mike @ Aug 20th 2008 10:13AM]

... and >2 USB ports!

[Maxwell @ Aug 20th 2008 11:44AM]

@Mike
Lenovo's gallery and LaptopMag's video both show a USB port on each side.

[David @ Aug 20th 2008 9:35PM]

Why are you jealous exactly?

Your computer is the equal of this one.

Haven't you ever heard of being happy with what you have?

[ilh @ Aug 20th 2008 5:36PM]

Which is why he said >2.

[nonamo @ Aug 20th 2008 9:23AM]

I think it's too big to be a 'Wind and Eee PC killer'. The S9 however...

[DeadEagle @ Aug 20th 2008 9:38AM]

10 inches really isn't bad. It's not tiny, it's not huge.

If I ever get enough money, I'll probably pick one of these up.

[ryan @ Aug 20th 2008 12:30PM]

The S9 is the same size. It just has a larger bezel.

[chefgon_ign @ Aug 20th 2008 9:35AM]

Looks fairly excellent, but I would prefer 1gb of ram. I'll see how this compares to the Mini Inspiron and then I may actually buy one of these things.

[Sascha @ Aug 20th 2008 9:37AM]

the day the Lenovo Ideapad S10 gets shipped with the X4500, will be the day when Microsoft makes Windows open source!
Guys this is has to be a mistake on the Lenovo website.

[Jon @ Aug 20th 2008 9:41AM]

Hardly a Wind killer is it? It has less RAM slightly better gfx but is otherwise exactly the same. Move along now. Nothing to see here.

[oZ @ Aug 20th 2008 9:48AM]

Well, it's made by Lenovo, for one.

[David @ Aug 20th 2008 9:44PM]

Agreed, and until it's sold at Newegg or wherever, for a real price, it's vaporware.

Don't forget, it has a 3-cell battery at that price.

This article is silly: the keyboard is clearly cheap (just look at the warped Eee-spacebar). The right shift key is in the wrong place (hardly a "touch-typist's dream").

This is a WIND equal, and I still suspect might have WIND components, or MSi outsourcing.

I predict that when all is said and done and it's available with a 6-cell battery, it will equal the WIND's price as well.

[MC7447A @ Aug 20th 2008 9:40AM]

Don't get too excited. I'm pretty sure the X4500 and the optical drive are just the usual Lenovo website screwups. They've been known to get a lot of specs wrong on their pages lately. For X4500 graphics they would have to order custom chipset from Intel, which is basically impossible at the quoted price point.

[Bernard @ Aug 20th 2008 9:52AM]

haven't read anywhere about this notebook have a cd-rom drive.

does it have one build-in?

[Jason @ Aug 20th 2008 11:17AM]

So, your tidbit of input for the day is that you DON'T READ?

[thr33face @ Aug 20th 2008 9:45AM]

How's this a killer?
Like everything else this has no DVI/HDMI port. Only that sorry analog vga connector.
... welcome to the digital age...

[InfinityPlusOne @ Aug 20th 2008 9:50AM]

I don't know how many projectors you've used for presentations, but one thing is for sure, they ALL connect via the VGA connection.
Welcome to reality.

[Michael @ Aug 20th 2008 9:58AM]

I work at an IT company and only know one person who uses their laptop with a projector. Most people don't. It's not the laptops that need to change, it's the projectors. HDMI FTW

[Erwos @ Aug 20th 2008 10:28AM]

Totally agree. HDMI is a small connector, it shouldn't be that hard to integrate. If they feel like they absolutely need VGA, let 'em do both.

And, yeah, this thing would do a lot better with more RAM. Is it user upgradeable?

[Bhavishya Kanjhan @ Aug 20th 2008 10:30AM]

Do you really expect these half powered notebooks to even have the ability to playback 1080p smoothly?

[Jason @ Aug 20th 2008 11:09AM]

Seriously? Because the CONNECTOR is small you think it should fit easily into a netbook? nevermind the actual graphics card whose length is nearly the width of the screen You realize we're not talking about your 10lb gaming lap burner here?

[Jason @ Aug 20th 2008 11:14AM]

Seriously? Because the CONNECTOR is small you think it should fit easily into a netbook? nevermind the actual graphics card whose length may as well be the width of the screen You DO realize we're not talking about your average gamer's lap-burner here? 10 inches, not 10lbs!

[Jason @ Aug 20th 2008 11:32AM]

Would you look at that crap? It failed to post, I edit the damned thing, wait 5 minutes worth of refreshing F5's and I still get a damn duplicate comment! Self, GTFO!

[Srini @ Aug 20th 2008 11:44AM]

If it is x4500 it should support HDMI/ displayport and 1080p playback. it should be a complete custom chipset for S10 because existing mobile chipsets with x4500 graphics doesn't match S10 specs.

http://softwarecommunity.intel.com/articles/eng/1488.htm

so, are we getting all this for $429 ??? too good to believe...
Lenovo should increase their website standards to avoid these confusions.

[thr33face @ Aug 20th 2008 1:18PM]

About 50% of the projectors I've ever used had a DVI port in addition to a plethora of other input methods.

Anyway, the DVI connector has this wonderful feature that it can carry analog signals as well. So with a simple dvi/vga adapter one can connect analog vga monitors and projectors.

[mrlogical @ Aug 20th 2008 9:55AM]

I've got a sweet 10-incher you can go hands on with.

Sorry.

[notYou @ Aug 20th 2008 10:02AM]

"The Lenovo S10 left a good taste in my mouth."

Geez Joanna, could you spare us some details?

[Q. @ Aug 20th 2008 10:25AM]

I was hoping she'd say "the 10 incher left a good taste in my mouth"....

[DssTrainer @ Aug 20th 2008 10:58AM]

ROFL! F'ing priceless!

[Alex the Sane @ Aug 20th 2008 9:58AM]

If you're going to order the S10 don't forget to use the USPIDEAPAD15 coupon code for 15% off.

[notagolfer @ Aug 20th 2008 10:18AM]

Thanks for the code!

[Vic @ Aug 20th 2008 10:02AM]

I odered mine yesterday and used a fat Wallet code for a $65.00 discount. And I just called Lenovo to confirm the CD-RW/DVD-ROM. It's a go for an after tax and free shippling total of $395.54!

[JohnnyRico @ Aug 20th 2008 10:30AM]

I'm personally gonna wait the 2-3 weeks, maybe a month before I'll order one. That way, any rumors will be settled, and the specs can be confirmed. Until then, I honestly don't know who to believe, is it x4500? a cd-rw/dvd-rom drive, really? a 1gb ram upgrade in the works? Besides, I need to save up $$$. D:

[Jason @ Aug 20th 2008 11:20AM]

I'm personally going to wait a month and see if the Wind actually has a Synaptics touchpad...aw what the..!!!

[Justin @ Aug 20th 2008 10:31AM]

I just called Lenovo to confirm the specs on the site and ask about getting an optical drive with the white or black model, the rep. I spoke with indicated that the optical drive is NOT available for any model, and that the X4500 graphics are also a mistake--it uses a variant of GMA950-series from Intel.

Additionally, the max memory is 2 Gb., and the largest HDD you should be order is 160 Gb. Regardless of what's right, sounds like Lenovo is all sorts of mixed up on this, so I'm staying away (whereas if it was truly X4500 graphics I'd be in already).

[Jim Salabim @ Aug 20th 2008 11:21AM]

I just called them myself and the rep said:

It is GMA950!! NOT X4500!

That is a big of a disappointment...

[rv @ Aug 20th 2008 12:02PM]

Can anyone else confirm? Is this indeed too good to be true?

[mtotho @ Aug 20th 2008 11:05AM]

i prefer the less oem equipped stuff.. small hdd, low ram, linux preinstalled.. cause i will just buy 2gb ram stick, bigger hdd, and install xp pro anyway.

This is an eee 1000h and msi wind killer, in no way is it a eee 901 killer. If the s9 becomes available.. same price/specs, it will infact be a 901 killer.

[1234 @ Aug 20th 2008 7:32PM]

The S9 will only be available in Asia. Pity because I don't like the bigger 10 inch notebooks.

[Tim Cuculic @ Aug 20th 2008 11:40AM]

Just ordered using eCoupon code USPIDEAPAD15 (Thanks Alex!). Total came to $390.18 with tax and free shipping. Estimated ship date: 09/24/2008.

[Draggy @ Aug 20th 2008 11:51AM]

Anyone know when the S10 is going to hit the canadian market?

[Jon @ Aug 20th 2008 12:10PM]

Now the specs have been confirmed. Worth saying again. This is no "Killer" other then being made by Lenovo, it's exactly the same as the Wind. Oh no wait.... It's got less RAM. Hardly a great product seeing as they've had how long to improve the specs since the Wind came out??

Gee sign me right up

[crsh @ Aug 21st 2008 6:41PM]

I think some folks are vastly overrating what the X4500 is capable of; yes it is tons better than the old GMA 950, but it's no gaming/high-performance GPU either. We are still very much in the realm of low-end, basic functionalities, display adapters.

[FakeGreenDress @ Aug 20th 2008 12:28PM]

I bought one last night that lists the higher-end graphics and external CD drive on the receipt. I honestly wasn't expecting to get either feature, but is there any chance I could argue my way into a CD drive anyway? (Or possibly a ram upgrade instead?)

Now to cross my fingers and hope the wireless works with ubuntu...

[Jason @ Aug 20th 2008 1:12PM]

Why Ubuntu, when you can have Linux?

[FakeGreenDress @ Aug 20th 2008 2:52PM]

From what I've seen the netbook remix setup is slick and functional on a system this size. I definitely like the looks of it more than Acer's linpus variant or the Eee's xandros -- just have to hope it plays nice with the hardware! I'll be really sad if I'm stuck booting to XP every time I want to chat or check my mail.

Now if only I had a clue what exactly I've just bought. All this conflicting information is awful. I have an estimated ship date of September 16, who knows when I'll actually see this thing?

[nxp3 @ Aug 20th 2008 1:08PM]

Hey guys enter the code below for 15% off the ideapad...it saved me like 65 bucks.

Lenovo coupon code USPIDEAPAD15 [Exp. 09/02] for:
* 15% off these IdeaPad notebooks:
23042AU, 23042BU, 23043AU, 23043BU, 40542AU, 40542BU, 40542CU, 40542DU, 77582CU, 77582EU, 77582FU, 77583AU, 77583BU, 77583CU, 77583DU, 77583EU, 77583FU

[fede @ Aug 20th 2008 1:10PM]

right now it does not cost anything!!! ZERO!
look at the lenovo website
Lenovo IdeaPad S10 - 42312DU
Edit
Ships within 1-2 bus. days** $0.00 $0.00

ARE THEY TOTALLY CRAZY?

[Jason @ Aug 20th 2008 1:14PM]

Unfortunately it would be better at $.01, with no consideration they're not really bound to that price.