Lenovo IdeaPad U150 Review

The Lenovo IdeaPad U150 is one of the growing number of laptop models that exist between the super-small, super-affordable and slightly underpowered netbook category, and the 11-plus-inch “ultraportable” class. In a sense, the IdeaPad U150 combines the best aspects of both, being almost identical in dimensions to a netbook yet offering the sort of processing power that you can normally only find in larger laptops. Has Lenovo succeeded in creating a new niche with the IdeaPad U150, or will this model slip through the cracks?
Positives
The 11-inch U150 is just ever-so-slightly larger than a netbook, starting at about a half-inch thick and just under three pounds, and while the U150 is about as painless to carry around as a netbook, its primary selling point looks to be its relatively powerful hardware. Most importantly, the U150 is equipped with a 1.30GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor, which gives it noticeably more punch than you get with Atom netbooks. The recommended U150 setup also includes 4GB of RAM and a 320GB hard drive.
In recent months there have been a few other laptops released with similar features, but the U150 does manage to stand out. The Toshiba Satellite 135D, for example, has almost exactly the same specs, but with an AMD Neo processor instead. The Intel-powered U150 is noticeably more energy efficient, with a battery life of about five hours. The U150 is a bit more expensive, starting at around $650 as opposed to the Toshiba’s $600, but many users may find the increased battery life to be worth the extra cost.
Negatives
One somewhat disappointing aspect of the U150 is its slightly flimsy build quality. While it does retain many of the design features for which Lenovo laptops are known, most notably a spacious, comfortable keyboard, the U150 is a bit more in line with the average netbook in terms of sturdiness, as some of the panels some noticeable flex to them.
The Bottom Line
The IdeaPad U150 is yet another quality notebook offering from Lenovo. Although budget-conscious consumers looking for something in its class may be better served with the slightly more affordable Toshiba Satellite 135D, the U150 does enough to justify its price tag and should appeal to anyone who’s looking for an ultraportable laptop.

Posted in: Lenovo