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Lenovo IdeaPad S10 NetBook Review and Buying Recommendation. If you’re looking at the confusing number of Netbook’s that have suddenly hit the market and wondering which on to buy, look no further.

Right now the Lenovo IdeaPad S10 is the only kid on the block and is the IdeaPadToday Recommended Buy.

Since the creation of the NetBook segment by Asus with the introduction of the Asus Eee, it seems that everybody has climbed on the NetBook band wagon. It’s a market niche which with its rapid growth in popularity has taken everybody by surprise.

Who would have thought that a diminutive, lightweight, notebook with a low power processor and a 7″ screen could be a success, let alone create a new market sector and a whole new class of niche users

Small form factor, mini ultraportables are not a new phenomenon. Savvy users have been secretly into ‘Netbook’s’ for years with the legendary ThinkPad brand being the market leader with such ground-breaking designs as ThinkPad 701C and 701CS with it’s astonishing Butterfly keyboard, the ThinkPad 240 and 240x and the eye-catching ThinkPad I Series S30.

These were the real precursors of the ‘Netbook’ craze so with every producer falling over themselves to introduce their own ‘take’ on the NetBook theme it was only a matter of time before Lenovo strolled in and stole the  NetBook show with the IdeaPad S10.

The IdeaPad S10 is an impressive, petite machine, which has an excellent 10″ screen, a superb keyboard, and an extraordinary build quality. As we write this review, you can pick one up at around $399, or even less with some of the current Lenovo IdeaPad Coupon Codes available, and at this price it’s unbeatable.

Whilst the S10 hasn’t been designed for heavy computing, it will certainly handle everyday Word processing and ‘out of office work’ with aplomb. Where the IdeaPad S10 really shines is as a light weight, ‘flip it out of your bag’, emailing, surfing, communicating, connecting on the go machine!

In other words, it does exactly what it says on the box, it’s a Netbook!

The Base model features an Intel ATOM Processor 1.60GHz, Windows XP Home Edition, 10.2 WSVGA Antiglare 1024×600 TFT Screen with a great integrated camera, Intel 950 Graphics, 512 MB PC2-5300 DDR2 SDRAM and an 80 GB Hard Drive.

You get a Broadcom 11b/g Wi-Fi wireless adaptor, a 3 cell Lithium-Ion battery and One Year parts and labour warranty.

Should you pay for upgrades?

Every review that you read will tell you that the model tested has 1 gig of memory and a 160 GB Hard Drive, as we write this review on the 23rd October 08, those options are not available and a Lenovo Rep has told us that currently, it’s the base configuration only. Depending on the cost when these options do become available you may want to consider upgrading the memory, but really, we wouldn’t waste money on a 160 GB Hard Drive.

keep in mind  that this is a connectivity tool!  it’s a ‘Netbook’, not a notebook!
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Striking IdeaPad S10 Design

The IdeaPad S10 is simple, but striking in its appeal, with clean lines and a solid feel. The 3 cell Battery is incorporated into the hinge and you will have your choice of colours ranging from Pearl White, Black, a very girlie Pink, deep Blue, and a stunning Ruby Red.

The interior surfaces are a matt white and the 3/4 keyboard is a touch typists dream and general build quality is excellent. The S10 looks solid but pick it up and it’s lightweight will amaze you.

Fit yourself out with a fitted neoprene slip case and this really is light enough to drop into a handbag or briefcase without taking up to much space. No more lugging your laptop around and hoping through airport security with your shoes in one hand and your 5lb laptop in the other! This is what mobile internet and connectivity is all about.

Think you may need to upgrade? Everything in the S10 is easily accessible and unlike other Netbook’s, the IdeaPad S10 includes an Express card slot for a Cellular Broadband Card for connectivity anywhere.

The great thing about having an Express card Slot are the expansion opportunities they offer, with external SATA Hard Drives, SSD Drives, TV Tuners and additional memory.

The S10 Keyboard.

The keyboard on this little Netbook stands head and shoulders above anything else in the segment. What really gives the keyboard extra room is the width provided by incorporating a 10″ screen instead of an 8″. Like the IdeaPad U110, the keyboard takes a little getting used to, but once you know where the keys are you can two finger type with the best of us!

Touch typists will find the keyboard great to use after a little orientation and with little flex or bounce.

If you are going to use the S10 as a ‘regular’ machine on a trip, in an RV or maybe up at the weekend place, then consider buying Lenovo’s excellent wireless keyboard and mouse combo.

Touchpad’s on Lenovo laptops have always been good and the IdeaPad S10 Synaptic Touchpad is no outsanding. It has a light sensitive feel and the left and right keys have just the right level of ‘click’. Synaptics allow you to zoom in and out buy opening or closing your fingers across the pad and allow for an excellent degree of control.

IdeaPad S10 Netbook, the one to buy.

This an outstanding entry into the market for Lenovo and one that has rewarded their patience in waiting. The IdeaPad S10 sets the benchmark now for other manufacturers to follow.

The 10.2 WSVGA AntiGlare 1024×600 TFT Screen is really good to look at with deep vibrant colours and an AntiGlare coating that makes outside viewing easier.

There are two USB ports, an Express card slot, and a feature missing in other Netbook’s, built in Bluetooth. Fire up your Skype, slip in your Bluetooth earpiece and phone home!

Oh, and don’t forget that wonderful of all Lenovo innovations for the average technophobe, the wonderful ‘OneKey’ Rescue system which allows you to quickly recover your system and data at the touch of a button.

Performance is excellent with a 30 second Windows start up and this tiny demon flies through any everyday task you can throw at it.

Netbook’s are not about 3D graphics or ‘Benchmarks’. No Intel Atom based Netbook is going to outperform a dual core laptop, but if you want to have a neat, great looking machine in your bag that’s fast to fire up, quick to connect, and will handle email, browsing, and posting to your favourite social sites, plus a little bit of work on the side, then the IdeaPad S10 is the ideal solution.

But if you really want to do Benchmarks, at 1,466 PCMARKS, right now it’s faster than any other Netbook out there.

So should you buy an IdeaPad S10?

Well let’s put it this way, if you’re in the market for a Netbook, the IdeaPad S10 is the only way to go. If your fed up of heaving a 5 to 6 lb laptop everywhere, just to connect and communicate, the S10 NetBook is for you.

When I showed my wife the Ruby Red IdeaPad S10, it was instant love. ‘How much do you think?’ I asked. She was stunned when I told her that right now you could have one for under $400. So needless to say we have one on the way!

With its great looks, lovely vibrant screen, reasonable sound, good battery life at almost 4 hours, superb connectivity and nimble performance there is nothing out there right now to touch the IdeaPad s10. It’s no wonder Lenovo are having challenges keeping up with demand. Buy your S10 right now, it’s this year’s Netbook winner.

You can find Lenovo ThinkPad reviews and news at our sister site at ThinkPadToday.com