Lenovo Ideapad S10 Netbook Full Evaluation

Before we dig in and see what the S10 is like to use in the real-world, let's take a look at what Lenovo is offering with the S10 in terms of its specifications.

"Our new S Series netbook is finally here. And it's designed to keep pace with your busy lifestyle – possibly even simplify it. At a mere 2.65 lbs and about one inch thin, it's so light and portable. You can take it wherever your day takes you. Plus it's loaded with thoughtful standard features to make your life a little easier. A winning combination of mobile technology and exceptional engineering at a fantastic price. All at your fingertips." - Lenovo

Intel Atom N270 Processor @ 1.6 GHz 1 GB of DDR2-533 Memory Intel 945GME / ICH7 Chipset Western Digital 5,400 RPM 160 GB Hard Drive 802.11 B/G and Bluetooth Wireless Networking Broadcom 10/100 Wired Ethernet Realtek High Definition Audio 1.3 Megapixel Bezel Camera and Microphone Integrated Memory Card Reader (MMC/SD/MS) 2 x USB 2.0 Ports, ExpressPort34 Expansion Port 9.8" x 7.2" x 1.08" (W x D x H) 2.65 Pounds (w/ Battery Pack Attached) 3-Cell Lithium Ion Battery 10.2" Widescreen Display, 1024 x 600 Resolution Windows XP Home Edition (32-bit w/ SP3) Available in Red, White, Black, Blue, and Pink colors

Lenovo S10 Device Manager

First off, what we should point out is that the IdeaPad S10 model we received does not appear to be orderable from Lenovo's website currently, at least in the U.S. Through Lenovo's website, you can only configure S10 models with 512 MB of memory and an 80 GB hard drive. Our sample, however, was pre-configured with 1 GB of memory and a 160 GB hard drive. It's likely that Lenovo will be transitioning the S10 lineup over to this default configuration - but as of now, what we see online and what we have in our hands doesn't match up.

The other possibility is that we've heard rumors of a more powerful IdeaPad S10 model being prepped to hit the market at a $449 price point, which seems like it could match up with the configuration we're testing with today.

Beyond this pricing and configuration snafu, the specifications of the IdeaPad S10 are on par with what we expected. The raw dimensions of the notebook are very thin and light for a 10" netbook, besting the competition easily. However, Lenovo uses a smaller three-cell Lithium Ion battery, whereas our competing Asus EeePC 1000H model is equipped with a six-cell unit. The IdeaPad S10 also does not have 802.11N wireless networking by default, but it does have an ExpressPort34 slot for those who want to add it (hey, you could even add WiMax support...if you live in Cleveland).