Lenovo IdeaPad U150 11.6-inch ultraportable hits the streets with $699 asking price
By Paul Miller 
posted Nov 10th 2009 11:29AM
posted Nov 10th 2009 11:29AM
Please note: If you're a current Engadget commenter, you do not need to re-register. Simply login and you will be prompted to select a username.
That was a sneaky move, not mentioning the janky intel graphics until the very end of the article so I'd read it almost completely.
Ok that was a cheap shot, but still, when Intel finally does make a graphics chip that's not total garbage they're going to have a hard time selling it because everyone is accustomed to associating their name with terrible graphics performance.
Lenovo, stick with your business line laptops, enough of this crap already.
Meh.. I'm not seeing how this would undercut a potential Dell 11z customer.
This is exactly the same laptop as the Dell Inspiron 11z (1100, aka the Mini 11), except that it costs almost double. Even when you take the custom option to bump up the Dell 11z CPU from the Celeron CULV to the Pentium Dual Core CULV, it's still under $550.
Sorry, wrong. If you pick an equivalent model, with the SU4100 dual core, and 4GB of RAM and the 320GB hard drive, you end up at $744.00 after discounts.
The Dell 11z doesn't have VGA. It doesn't have eSata. It doesn't have multitouch. Reviews of the buttonless trackpad have been lousy.
They want $25.00 for 802.11n. They want $30 for Windows 7 Home Premium rather than Vista Home Basic (gack).
And it still doesn't have Bluetooth (at least its not on my equipment list at checkout, despite the claims on the main page that there is an optional Bluetooth module available).
I like Dell normally, but I wouldn't buy the 11z myself. I'd go for one of the others that doesn't nickle and dime you on features.
This could be an impressive computer if they add ION 2...
I really don't see why you'd get this when you could get the similar Acer 1410/1810 or Gateway EC 11.6" CULV notebooks with the exact same specs. The highest priced one is $599 and let's get past the Acer hate, they have improved in recent years.
Completely agree. I thought this was going to be $599 at which point the better build quality, better keyboard, better speakers etc vs. the Acer would win out, but given that you can get an Acer Aspire AS1410 for $399...
Exactly, I picked up my Acer 1410 for $450 immediately after its launch, and its already down to $400. Its a great little second computer, and I use it for hours every day. Sure, Lenovo's build quality is better than Acer's, but I would have a very hard time justifying paying $700 for what is essentially the same machine even if it is built a bit better.
I think if Lenovo wants to really compete in this space they are going to have to price their products more competitively
Much like all netbooks sport the same Atom N270 these days, it seems all 11" CULV notebooks are sporting the same exact internals, screen and similar price point.
Dell makes the cheapest one with the 11z, and their build quality is much higher than Acer/Gateway's. In fact, they've gotten much better, I'd say their Inspiron build quality is higher than Lenovo's IdeaPad quality (I own an IdeaPad S10 and can say the build quality is nowhere near the Thinkpad's quality).
Acer Aspire AS1410 $399: 4400mAh battery, 1.4GHz Solo SU3500, 2GB RAM, 250GB drive
Acer Aspire AS1810tz $549: 5600mAh battery, 1.3GHz Duo SU4100, 3GB RAM, 320GB drive
Acer Aspire AS1810t $599: 5600mAh battery, 1.3GHz Duo SU7300, 4GB RAM, 320GB drive
Lenovo Ideapad U150 (Red) $699: 5700mAh battery, 1.3GHz Duo SU4100, 3GB RAM, 250GB drive
Lenovo Ideapad U150 (Black) $849: 1.3GHz SU7300, 4GB RAM, 320GB drive
Not looking like this makes sense to me. If the AS1410 is good enough for you, buy that instead. If you're going to step up to the AS1810t then maybe, but its still at least $100 more and isn't better on all the specs. Personally I could care less 250GB vs. 320GB and I can always buy my own RAM, but the CPU specs are relevant. From netbooked's reviews, the multitouch trackpad on the Acer is actually better than the Lenovo.
In comparison, the Dell Inspiron 11z is available in at least a couple of configurations:
Dell Inspiron 11z $399: 2300mAh battery, 1.3GHz Solo SU2300 (Celeron 743), 2GB RAM, 160GB drive
Dell Inspiron 11z $744: 5600mAh battery, 1.3GHz Duo SU4100, 4GB RAM, 320GB drive
The cheaper dell has a very weak battery. Similar performance to the AS1410 though. Neither has multitouch, and there have been bad reviews on the button-less trackpad. The cheaper model does not have Bluetooth. The cheaper model only has 802.11b/g (+$25 for 802.11n). In fact even the more expensive model doesn't mention Bluetooth once I configure it maxed out. Even though they mention that there is a bluetooth module available. Also Dell wants $30 more to get Windows 7 Home Premium rather than Vista (?) Home. It doesn't support eSata.
Anyway, I'd say the Dell unit isn't a player. They nickle and dime you for every feature that is included in the competing units. And if you spec it out its almost as expensive as the Lenovo, which has multitouch, and eSata and VGA (as well as HDMI) and ...
Uh... The SU2300 is a dual core chip and is not the same as a 743.
x4500 GMA is a great card
its super energy efficient, and is able to play some games such as.. company of heroes!!
After using an Acer Timeline with the 4500, I gotta say that although the integrated graphics aren't great, they're certainly much better than the netbook stuff, and can handle 720p MKV, which is good for outputting via HDMI.
It can play ZSNES without stuttering, that's all I care about.
Even my AAO's N270+950 can handle 720p mkv. CULV+4500 can actually do 1080p.
Where did this segment come from? Smaller, lighter, and frequently missing the optical drive of a mainstream laptops, which still thinner, lighter and more powerful than ever. Bigger, more expensive and a bit more powerful than a netbook. Nowhere near the same league of ultra portables as the Adamo and Vaio X...
I like it, but when is it niche too many?
I actually like the 11.6" form factor. It's about the smallest you can get with a full screen keyboard (I know there are a few 10.1s that come close), and the physical size is only marginally bigger than a netbook because (in most cases) the manufacturers are making them with very small screen bevels on the side.
It's perfect for those who need a 'little bit more' than a netbook, but find 13+ inch laptops too cumbersome.
Once you buy an ultraportable, you never look back. I owned a Latitude D420 with its 12" widescreen display and under-2lbs weight. I also used to own a lightweight Powerbook 12", but Apple abandoned that market (the new MacBooks are way too heavy). You'll never want to carry a heavy clunker around again once you own an ultraportable. But the things cost over $1200.
Honestly, I hope these new wave of inexpensive CULV ultraportables replace netbooks. For about $100 more, you get much more computer.
And if you buy a large (4GB+) flash drive, you never miss the optical DVD drive.
I feel like most people who look at Engadget do not actually *read* Engadget.
I was just curious if anyone could pinpoint who kinda started this? Was it a hardware manufacture? Was it a chip maker? Consumer demand?
It just seemed like a sliver thin (and light) niche that a TON of computers just started competing in.
Intel created this. They created the specs and the processors to fit them. They encouraged manufacturers to build them. They're trying to create a segment that is above the Atom (cuz while they like Atom, it doesn't make them a lot of margin), but with better profit margins. Encourage people to think about something other than netbooks.
Which is fine with me.
All right guys, I need help... for anyone who's been following the laptop market for the past while, what laptop should I buy? I need it before New Year's and I need it to do the following things:
1)Run Windows 7
2)Run Image Editing Software (Photoshop, Illustrator, etc.)
3)Run Math Software (MATLAB, Maple, Octave, etc.)
4)Run Audio Processing/Creativity Software (MAXMsp for now, potentially others like Pro Tools in the future)
5)Boast a battery life of at least 3 hrs while doing web surfing/image editing (web designing)
Bonuses:
1)Ability to do some light gaming (I'd love to play Diablo 3 and Starcraft 2 when/if they ever come out)
2)Slick Looks
3)Run MacOS (it might be useful for some audio stuff in the future)
Willing to Spend: up to $1200
I'm currently looking at the Sony SR430 as recommended from engadget posts a few months ago but I don't really know if I should be waiting for a new platform (i5?), new wave of 40nm vid cards (the Radeon4830 in the Envy15 seems to be doing well), or any combination of the two.
I understand this isn't my forum and it certainly isn't an "Ask Engadget" feature but if anyone has any great insight, I'd really appreciate the feedback. Thanks!
13" MacBook Pro with education discount? Or, I'd suggest looking for a deal on a ThinkPad T400 on fatwallet or slickdeals. Don't fall for the consumer-grade crap at big box stores.
It's call expanding your brand presences. EVERY company does it to grow. For example, camera brands make almost no profit from their point and shoot line, but they do it for the PR. Learn some basic business strategy before you start blabbing.
Dell Studio 14z (don't confuse with Inspiron 14z)
It has everything you outlined there, and costs half the money you are willing to spend.
Thanks for the suggestions everyone. The Studio 14z seems to be the best bet at the moment but I'm worried about that GeForce 9400's staying power over the next few years. I'll keep watching for a bit longer to see if anything else surfaces but it looks like I'm at least pointed in the right direction now.
Lenovo has some crazy sales right now. core 2 duo, 15in laptop for six bills. btw. it's funny how we're paying more for the smaller sizes. seems counter-intuitive, at first
It's completely intuitive for mini notebooks to cost more. They've been around for a very long time, the only difference is that they used to cost about 10x what they're selling for now. Sony used to make the bulk of them, and they're hating the price deflation that's happened lately. So a few of the netbooks are semi-costly but most of them are drastically cheaper than they were historically.
Intel graphics? Pass.