LENOVO IdeaPad Y710 laptop review: Multimedia desktop replacement

The Lenovo IdeaPad Y710 is a multimedia laptop that can be best used as a desktop replacement. Finally, there is a notebook that makes the gaming freaks smile. The uber cool laptop, with gaming features is not aimed at road warriors (travellers I mean), but rather at the sky-warriors. The battery life is excellent too. What else could we want?

Build and Design

For beginners, the design of the LENOVO IdeaPads Y710 grades an important modification for Lenovo. Different from the “all business” typical ThinkPad line of notebooks that Lenovo got induced to from IBM, the IdeaPads have a smooth, sophisticated appearance with an extremely user-focused sense. The lustrous monitor features a flush-rise bezel, which makes the look transition commencing from LCD to keyboard look extremely silky.

Display

The Lenovo IdeaPad Y710 uses the same graphics processor and displays as the other IdeaPads. This is Lenovo’s earliest 17-inch sized laptop and the board uses the comparatively yardstick resolution of 1440×900. For graphics, Lenovo has determined to make use of the ATI Radeon Mobility HD 2600 with 256MB memory. The Direct X10 graphics processor is perfect for sporty gaming, but is deficient in the hardcore gaming requirements. Two documents can be opened in parallel.

17″ screen of Lenovo IdeaPad Y710 is what the movie lovers would love. The viewing angles are great. However, the extra glossy screen of Lenovo is something you would complaint about when watching the dark night scenes. Lenovo has not yet been able to do away with that extra gloss.

Keyboard and touchpad

The keyboards of Lenovo Y710 have a distinguishing “ThinkPad feel” when you type on it. In spite of the loss of the symbolic red referral-point in the centre of the keyboard, it isn’t a problem to type in the right keys. The touchpad and muse buttons are also even and receptive. The red “Shuttle Key” and stroke-receptive media keys over the keyboards on the Y710 brings playback, volume, and equalizer reins at your fingertips. Typing is therefore a pleasant experience.

Performance and Benchmarks

At present, Lenovo has two separate models of the user oriented IdeaPad Y710 under considerations. One is a more economic version while the other is performance based. The latter Lenovo Ideapad Y710 is good at all respects for performances. It has the efficient Wi-Fi. The processor is fast for applications and web browsing, that is normal use. The graphics performance is good and for the first time we see a laptop that gives satisfactory graphics for gaming also. The start-up and shut-down processes take some time though, about 15 seconds longer than the other laptops of the same rank.

Battery Life

The Lenovo IdeaPad Y710 Home has a battery life of 3 hours and 15 minutes on web browsing over Wi-Fi with music playback, after which all batteries drain out. The charging time is somewhat more than other prominent laptops of the day. On watching a heavy sound loaded action movie with the internet on Wi-Fi on at the back, the 6 batteries drained out at 2 hours 55 minutes, which is very commendable. However, the excellent duration is a good exchange for the long charging time.

Specifications of Ideapad Y710

Processor: 1.66GHz T5450 Core2Duo from Intel
OS: Genuine Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium
Memory: 2-GB DDR2
Display: 17 inch WXGA, 1440X900
Hard drive: 250 GB SATA
Battery: 6 cell lithium
Weight: 7.9 lbs
Dimensions: 15.6 X11.2 X1.5 inches

Pros: Elegant and strong; reasonable price; finger-touch media control keys; excellent audio; face recognition software

Cons: Overly reflective screen; heavy; battery life is quite less; graphics abilities aren’t enhanced

MSRP: $937 (base price)