Lenovo S12 Review
After two years, netbook styles have evolved from the 7-inch display to some 10-inch screen, currently the business standard. Now, the Lenovo IdeaPad S12, the 3rd 12.1-inch netbook to strike the market, is assisting to augur while in the up coming era of netbooks. getting a checklist cost of $499, the S12 can be an fascinating equipment for purchasers who want a extremely cellular netbook, but getting a bigger display and keyboard. Its great ergonomics, lengthy battery life, instant-on OS, and surprisingly loud speakers ensure it is an Editors? option pick.
Design
The S12 has comparable design and design features common to other types while in the IdeaPad line; not just does it write about features using the scaled-down S10-2, but its keyboard can be reminiscent near to the bigger IdeaPad Y450. while it carries a comparable polarizing pattern on its lid (which is possibly a subliminal advertisement for concentrate on or misplaced nostalgia for 70s-era wallpaper), we such as the S12?s design and design a little bit very much greater compared to S10-2, largely owing to its bigger size. while its edges are nevertheless beveled such as the S10-2, they are not as pronounced, making the S12 appear very much more such as the reliable S10, whose boxier design and design we admired. Still, the chrome-wrapped edges near to the Samsung NC20, in add-on to the actuality that it very much better conceals its six-cell battery (the S12?s protrudes out the back) give the Samsung a slicker look.
With an 11.5 x 9.0 inch footprint, and tapering from 1.4 to 1.0 inch with its six-cell battery, the IdeaPad S12 is almost a comparable dimension since the NC20 in add-on to the Acer Aspire one AO751h. Weighing in at 3.4 pounds, the S12 could be considered a comparable surplus body fat since the NC20, and about half a pound heavier than most other 10-inch netbooks. The bottom collection could be the actuality that this method is straightforward to carry.
Keyboard and Touchpad
At 10.6 x 4.3 inches, the S12?s keyboard is bigger than similarly-sized netbooks, such as all those near to the Samsung NC20 (10.2 x 4.0 inches) in add-on to the Acer Aspire one AO751h (10.5 x 4.3 inches). near to the S12, many near to the keys?including the left and proper Shift keys?were bigger than all those near to the NC20. However, we experienced been slightly much less precise on it compared to Samsung NC20. near to the 10 Thumbs Typing Tutor test, we averaged 74 key phrases every instant getting a 4 % error rate; near to the NC20, we averaged 80 wpm getting a three % error rate. Nevertheless, the S12 could be an extraordinary netbook for touch typists.
The S12?s touchpad was decently sized, measuring 2.6 x 1.5 inches. that is only a tiny scaled-down compared to NC20 (2.8 x 1.7 inches), but only a tiny bigger compared to Aspire one AO751h (2.5 x 1.6 inches). in contrast to its two competitors, we experienced been pleased to construct the fact that S12 has two discrete computer mouse buttons, as opposed to some solitary bar.
Display and Audio
We typically liked the 12.1-inch show near to the S12; its 1280 x 800 resolution was a lot crisp when seeing films from Hulu. However, while the S12 experienced very much better contrast, the NC20 introduced very much more precise colors; when seeing a trailer for Harry Potter in add-on to the Half-Blood Prince, we could very much more very easily make out particulars in clouds near to the S12?s screen, however the NC20 very much better displayed the eco-friendly while in the rolling seas. Also, owing for that slightly glossier display near to the S12, viewing angles experienced been a little bit even worse than near to the NC20.
The stereo speakers near to the bottom near to the S12 experienced been positively booming, and amazing for just about any method of the size. The funky bass collection in Stevie Wonder?s ?Higher Ground? arrived through as obviously since the vocals when we streamed the music from Pandora. utilizing the equalizer while in the Realtek HD audio tracks Manager, we experienced been in a placement to tweak the settings further, making an even very much more pleasurable hearing experience.
Quick start operating System
Like some after editions near to the S10 in add-on to the S10-2, the S12 consists of fast Start, a Lenovo-branded edition near to the Splashtop instant-on operating system. The fascinating Linux-based OS loads quickly, and is also straightforward to use. However, because of the actuality it is produced getting a preboot-OS, you cannot set up additional ask for or customize the embedded apps.
The fast start apps consist of the internet browser, audio tracks player, photo viewer, IM client, Skype client, and flash gaming titles portal. every of those is useful, although not almost as sensible as glass windows software. The Firefox-based internet browser, for example, facilitates Flash, however it cannot hold add-ons or plug-ins of any kind.
Unlike some before IdeaPads, which made you choose in between fast start and glass windows XP just about every time you powered up, the S12 carries a dedicated QS button, situated for that proper near to the quantity controls above the keyboard. at any time you strike the QS key instead near to the energy key once the method is off, it will boot into fast Start.
After hitting the QS button, it requires about 10 seconds to accomplish a splash display in which you can choose which ask for you need to launch. when you start an app, the OS areas a dock in the bottom near to the screen, which you can use to begin one other apps. The internet browser took twenty seconds to fill and one more many seconds to connect to Wi-Fi; while it is only a tiny very much more handy than loading glass windows XP for fast internet browsing, at 30-plus seconds to acquire started, it is not that very much faster.
Ports and Webcam
For a netbook, the S12 has relatively very much the common array of ports. near to the left facet near to the method are two USB ports, a Wi-Fi on/off switch, as well as a 4-in-1 memory space card slot. near to the proper facet could be considered a 3rd USB port, VGA, Ethernet, an ExpressCard/34 slot, and headphone and mic ports. We especially like getting an ExpressCard slot on board for adding a cellular broadband card; regardless of the actuality which you can very easily use a USB device, we favor ExpressCard modems because of the actuality they protrude a little bit much less and so are much less probable to snap off.
Lenovo S12
The 1.3-megapixel webcam near to the S12 shipped decent video, regardless of the actuality that colours arrived out slightly very much more washed out than near to the NC20. Still, within of a Skype chat, our caller stated the fact that visuals experienced been very much greater than acceptable, and the fact that S12?s mic picked up our voice clearly.
Design
The S12 has comparable design and design features common to other types while in the IdeaPad line; not just does it write about features using the scaled-down S10-2, but its keyboard can be reminiscent near to the bigger IdeaPad Y450. while it carries a comparable polarizing pattern on its lid (which is possibly a subliminal advertisement for concentrate on or misplaced nostalgia for 70s-era wallpaper), we such as the S12?s design and design a little bit very much greater compared to S10-2, largely owing to its bigger size. while its edges are nevertheless beveled such as the S10-2, they are not as pronounced, making the S12 appear very much more such as the reliable S10, whose boxier design and design we admired. Still, the chrome-wrapped edges near to the Samsung NC20, in add-on to the actuality that it very much better conceals its six-cell battery (the S12?s protrudes out the back) give the Samsung a slicker look.
With an 11.5 x 9.0 inch footprint, and tapering from 1.4 to 1.0 inch with its six-cell battery, the IdeaPad S12 is almost a comparable dimension since the NC20 in add-on to the Acer Aspire one AO751h. Weighing in at 3.4 pounds, the S12 could be considered a comparable surplus body fat since the NC20, and about half a pound heavier than most other 10-inch netbooks. The bottom collection could be the actuality that this method is straightforward to carry.
Keyboard and Touchpad
At 10.6 x 4.3 inches, the S12?s keyboard is bigger than similarly-sized netbooks, such as all those near to the Samsung NC20 (10.2 x 4.0 inches) in add-on to the Acer Aspire one AO751h (10.5 x 4.3 inches). near to the S12, many near to the keys?including the left and proper Shift keys?were bigger than all those near to the NC20. However, we experienced been slightly much less precise on it compared to Samsung NC20. near to the 10 Thumbs Typing Tutor test, we averaged 74 key phrases every instant getting a 4 % error rate; near to the NC20, we averaged 80 wpm getting a three % error rate. Nevertheless, the S12 could be an extraordinary netbook for touch typists.
The S12?s touchpad was decently sized, measuring 2.6 x 1.5 inches. that is only a tiny scaled-down compared to NC20 (2.8 x 1.7 inches), but only a tiny bigger compared to Aspire one AO751h (2.5 x 1.6 inches). in contrast to its two competitors, we experienced been pleased to construct the fact that S12 has two discrete computer mouse buttons, as opposed to some solitary bar.
Display and Audio
We typically liked the 12.1-inch show near to the S12; its 1280 x 800 resolution was a lot crisp when seeing films from Hulu. However, while the S12 experienced very much better contrast, the NC20 introduced very much more precise colors; when seeing a trailer for Harry Potter in add-on to the Half-Blood Prince, we could very much more very easily make out particulars in clouds near to the S12?s screen, however the NC20 very much better displayed the eco-friendly while in the rolling seas. Also, owing for that slightly glossier display near to the S12, viewing angles experienced been a little bit even worse than near to the NC20.
The stereo speakers near to the bottom near to the S12 experienced been positively booming, and amazing for just about any method of the size. The funky bass collection in Stevie Wonder?s ?Higher Ground? arrived through as obviously since the vocals when we streamed the music from Pandora. utilizing the equalizer while in the Realtek HD audio tracks Manager, we experienced been in a placement to tweak the settings further, making an even very much more pleasurable hearing experience.
Quick start operating System
Like some after editions near to the S10 in add-on to the S10-2, the S12 consists of fast Start, a Lenovo-branded edition near to the Splashtop instant-on operating system. The fascinating Linux-based OS loads quickly, and is also straightforward to use. However, because of the actuality it is produced getting a preboot-OS, you cannot set up additional ask for or customize the embedded apps.
The fast start apps consist of the internet browser, audio tracks player, photo viewer, IM client, Skype client, and flash gaming titles portal. every of those is useful, although not almost as sensible as glass windows software. The Firefox-based internet browser, for example, facilitates Flash, however it cannot hold add-ons or plug-ins of any kind.
Unlike some before IdeaPads, which made you choose in between fast start and glass windows XP just about every time you powered up, the S12 carries a dedicated QS button, situated for that proper near to the quantity controls above the keyboard. at any time you strike the QS key instead near to the energy key once the method is off, it will boot into fast Start.
After hitting the QS button, it requires about 10 seconds to accomplish a splash display in which you can choose which ask for you need to launch. when you start an app, the OS areas a dock in the bottom near to the screen, which you can use to begin one other apps. The internet browser took twenty seconds to fill and one more many seconds to connect to Wi-Fi; while it is only a tiny very much more handy than loading glass windows XP for fast internet browsing, at 30-plus seconds to acquire started, it is not that very much faster.
Ports and Webcam
For a netbook, the S12 has relatively very much the common array of ports. near to the left facet near to the method are two USB ports, a Wi-Fi on/off switch, as well as a 4-in-1 memory space card slot. near to the proper facet could be considered a 3rd USB port, VGA, Ethernet, an ExpressCard/34 slot, and headphone and mic ports. We especially like getting an ExpressCard slot on board for adding a cellular broadband card; regardless of the actuality which you can very easily use a USB device, we favor ExpressCard modems because of the actuality they protrude a little bit much less and so are much less probable to snap off.
Lenovo S12
The 1.3-megapixel webcam near to the S12 shipped decent video, regardless of the actuality that colours arrived out slightly very much more washed out than near to the NC20. Still, within of a Skype chat, our caller stated the fact that visuals experienced been very much greater than acceptable, and the fact that S12?s mic picked up our voice clearly.
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