Lenovo drops IdeaPad S10 pricing across the board

A mere two days after launching a large capacity version of its multi-hued IdeaPad S10 netbook, Lenovo's gone and chopped prices through and through, with specialty-color netbooks that used to retail for $439 landing at $359, and the boring black or white models retailing for $349, down from $399. Large capacity versions, with their fancy 1GB of RAM and 160GB hard drives go for $399 and $409 now, respectively. That's a savings of $50 or $80 for all you math whizzes out there, which is great but Lenovo is certainly not the only one to be pushing down netbook price points to what one might call "recession levels."

[Via LogicBUY]

[Dirk Lucas @ Dec 9th 2008 10:54AM]

When will the thing hit shelves over here in Germany?

We only get the crappy education version, seems like Lenovo thinks Gemans are uneducated. Cannot see any other reason why they don't market the real thing here.

[CaliforniaKid @ Dec 9th 2008 10:56AM]

Buy it online, Dude.

[pavlindrom @ Dec 9th 2008 11:07AM]

Now what would you know? You're from California.

[lapster @ Dec 9th 2008 11:36AM]

Can I ask - what is crappy about the education version? has the same specs? 160g drive and splashtop?

[Dirk Lucas @ Dec 9th 2008 11:47AM]

@Iapster: The screen is smaller (1024x576 compared to 1024x600) and is of the glare variety. S10e comes with a 6-Cell battery, though.

[Kris120890 @ Dec 9th 2008 10:55AM]

This USA only or is it outside the states too.

[Valgas @ Dec 9th 2008 11:02AM]

Get the S10 or nc10?

[Uchiha Sasuke @ Dec 9th 2008 11:17AM]

I'd recommend the NC10 just because it comes with a 6 cell battery.

[Fanfoot @ Dec 9th 2008 1:31PM]

NC10. MUCH better keyboard. MUCH better battery life. Probably going to pay more though.

[lgespee @ Dec 9th 2008 5:33PM]

@Patriks 7,

I'm afraid he will reach the "License to kill" level with the next post. We better be careful.

[Fusion Fuzo - 006 @ Dec 9th 2008 11:03AM]

NICE for Professionals

[Patriks7 @ Dec 9th 2008 11:53AM]

You forgot your signature dude.. such a fake comment.

[Patriks7 @ Dec 9th 2008 12:49PM]

I really wonder why it got "bricked"....
BTW, are the two 0's infront of the 6 indicating you will go into the hundreds with your accounts?
If yes, god please save us.

[lgespee @ Dec 9th 2008 5:34PM]

@Patriks 7,

I'm afraid he will reach the "License to kill" level with the next post. We better be careful.

(Sorry for the same post above, I didn't even see the "Reply" button anymore, that's how bright Fusions post became.)

[Doug @ Dec 9th 2008 11:28AM]

Unless I'm missing something, Newegg is selling the black version of this netbook, identical specs, for $349 with free shipping. Nice of Lenovo to drop the price, though.

[Carolyn @ Dec 9th 2008 11:35AM]

I shouldn't be aloowed on this blog I'm sure since I'm not a brainiak and here goes the question that will prove it.
What is this item designed for? Is it basically a 'mini' notebook?

Please be kind. Thanks Carolyn

[Uchiha Sasuke @ Dec 9th 2008 12:29PM]

Since you ask, netbook is probably not design for you.

Anyways, netbooks are designed for people who just wants to surf and do light computing while on the go without the hassle of lugging around a 4.5 lbs notebook laptops or higher. Also, the price factor comes into play as well as the battery life.

[OneLove @ Dec 9th 2008 12:34PM]

You shouldn't be allowed for using the word "item" when describing a piece of tech. :)

Yes, its a "netbook", a mini portable notebook for people that have too much money and way too many internet trolling devices.

[KoKo @ Dec 9th 2008 5:54PM]

To be more specific, netbooks are very light, cheap laptops. They have enough computing power to let you do email, web surfing, word processing, spreadsheets, i.e., most light office work. They also let you skype, facebook, youtube and all the other crazy stuff you youngsters are into nowadays ;-)

They typically weigh less than three pounds and cost less than $500 or so. It is that specific combination of low weight and low cost that makes them distinctive, and that is why they are so hot nowadays.

They don't differ much, except in keyboard (where the Samsung NC10 probably wins) and in battery life (where the NC10 also wins.) To get equivalent battery life in other netbooks, you have to buy a higher-capacity battery, like the 6-cell that people are talking about here. And for some netbooks, six-cell batteries aren't available yet (and when they are, they will cost about $100.) The Samsung has a higher initial cost, but it includes the high-capacity battery, so actually it is a relative bargain.

[CDG @ Dec 9th 2008 11:35AM]

With this price drop, I would definitely go for the S10. Get the smaller spec unit with 512 RAM and 80 gig HDD and add the 6-cell battery from the accessories section (Now available in black AND white as of today) and you come in below the cost of the nc10. You now have a 3-cell and a 6-cell battery to blow through. Yea, your specs aren't as good as the nc-10, but I figure most people would want to upgrade their RAM and HDD anyway. For a decent price you can get a 500 gig hard drive and 2 gigs of memory (1 DIMM) and have a pretty pimp netbook. What seals the deal for me with the Lenovo is the ExpressCard slot. Having a sprint wireless card for my MBP already, it only makes sense to have that option in my netbook.

[sean @ Dec 9th 2008 11:37AM]

get the AspireOne!! 6 cell is $399. Lenovo still hasn't figured out to put a 6 cell on those things. Its a must have.

[Xavier @ Dec 9th 2008 11:55AM]

Not true.

6-cell battery already available in Malaysia.

http://forum.lowyat.net/topic/758542/+280

[akumax @ Dec 9th 2008 11:59AM]

Someone PLEASE tell Lenovo to include a 6-cell!!!!!!!

[noyon @ Dec 9th 2008 12:15PM]

- No bluetooth?
- No 6-cell battery?

No thanks. Or at least, not yet. I like Lenovo. Samsung NC10 is great, but price is too much.

[SomeoneWhoKnows @ Dec 9th 2008 1:33PM]

Hey all, I work for Lenovo warranty support, and actually support the S10.

The rule of thumb is no North American model lenovo has bluetooth. I've done some research, and it looks like the wireless card on the S10s are capable of bluetooth, it's just that they're not active I guess. However, I have seen some models that do, in fact, have bluetooth. I could never get a concrete answer.

As for the 6 cells, they are available, but not in North America yet. No date has been set to my knowledge other than "soon."

[Fanfoot @ Dec 9th 2008 1:33PM]

It has bluetooth. There is a 6-cell battery available.

[BLKMGK @ Dec 9th 2008 12:33PM]

How's the keyboard? How does this compare to the HP1000? Looks like the mouse buttons are in the right spot, shame there's no eraser head though! This, the HP1K, and the Samsung are all really tough to choose from! I have had an awesome experience with my current Lenovo Thinkpads though so this is very very tempting for that reason alone - and the expresscard slot

[Fanfoot @ Dec 9th 2008 1:35PM]

The HP has a MUCH better keyboard. Right shift key in the right place, almost full sized (just look at the width of the keyboard), etc. All the reviews out there say the HP has the best keyboard. The NC10 however comes close and has much better battery life and a much faster disk drive (the HP uses a 4,200rpm disk). But the HP is thinner. No reason to buy the S10 though.

[Skazer @ Dec 9th 2008 7:09PM]

Avoid the HP1000 if it has a 4200RPM HD. It slows bootup times a lot.

[skytofu @ Dec 9th 2008 5:17PM]

i personally like the NC10 better than the lenovo. I went around shopping to look for a better keyboard and better battery life because i need my netbook to be mobile so its only right that i look for something that would fit my needs. I tried the lenovo at tiger direct and was not happy with the build and the battery life. I also tried the HP mini and it looks so cheaply built and the keys looked like they were going to come off easy. once again the battery was not as good as NC10.

[ace587 @ Dec 9th 2008 5:31PM]

waiting for the S10, but idk im between the NC10 and S10