Lenovo IdeaPad S12 Review
REVIEW NAVIGATION

• Hardware
o Chassis & Build Quality
o Display
o Keyboard & Touchpad
o Connectivity

• Performance
o CPU, RAM, Video, HDD
o Software Overview
o Benchmarks
o Battery

• Summary w/ Pros & Cons
INTRODUCTION

The 12.1” Lenovo IdeaPad S12, a netbook at its core, offers a premium computing experience over similar netbooks by added Express Card and Memory Card Reader slots, exceptional battery life and the best netbook keyboard to date.

While unboxing the Lenovo IdeaPad S12 we provided a brief overview of the product, hardware and features. Below is a complete and verified list of the specifications for the S12 model we received:

Model Number 295954U
Display 12.1" WXGA TFT LED backlight 1280x800 resolution
Processor 1.60GHz Intel Atom N270
Memory 1GB PC5300 DDR2 667MHz SDRAM
Graphics Intel GMA 950
Hard Drive 160GB (5400RPM) Serial ATA
Wireless Broadcom 802.11g
Audio Realtek HD Audio
Connectivity Express Card Slot/34; MMC, MS, MSpro, SD memory card reader; 3 x USB 2.0; 3.5mm Dolby Digital headphone; 3.5mm microphone; SVGA out; Broadcom 10/100 Ethernet
Webcam 1.3 megapixels integrated
Battery 6-cell 52Wh Lithium-Ion
Operating System Microsoft Windows XP Home SP3
Weight (Including Battery) 3.43 lb. / 1.56 kg.
Dimensions (Including Battery) 11.5”(W) x 9.0”(D) x 0.9-1.3”(H)
Price $499 (as configured)

As many have come to realize, there’s not much on the inside to distinguish one netbook from another. Lenovo likely realized this when creating the IdeaPad S12 because it differentiates itself from the pack by including several premium hardware features not associated with performance: 12-inch 1280x800 resolution screen; full-size keyboard; large touchpad; SD memory card reader; Express Card Slot/34; standard 6-cell battery; stylish chassis.
HARDWARE

Chassis & Build Quality
The S12 chassis, because of the 12.1” screen, is much larger than its 10.1” netbook competitors. Measuring only 1.3” thick at its thickest point where the 6-cell battery protrudes qualifies it for the ultra-portable classification, however.

Sturdy plastics make up the majority of the chassis with a high-gloss pattern of small circles decorating the top. On the inside, a glossy black finish surround the large 12.1” monitor and below it lies a flat black that is still very aesthetically pleasing. Both the high-gloss and flat black track fingerprints easily and I consistently found myself wiping down the hardware – not a deal-breaker because most units in the netbook category equally suffer from this.

Display
The 12.1” display, despite it being only 2” larger than its 10.1” competitors, is a breath of fresh air for netbooks and is absolutely stunning at its 1280x800 native resolution. Brightness was not an issue, nor did it play a huge part in overall battery life when turned to max or dimmed to nearly the lowest possible setting. Another benefit of the larger screen and higher resolution is the ability to run applications that utilize fixed 800x600 and 1024x768 minimum resolutions without important buttons and information extending off the screen, making them hard or impossible to reach without the aid of third-party apps.

Keyboard
Another standout feature of the IdeaPad S12 is its keyboard. A full 100% in width, it is a welcome addition to a netbook whose primary purpose is on-the-go web-browsing and word processing. Not to mention the feel. The feedback its keys offer is precise and distinct and the Fn keys are easily identifiable using bright orange text. Touch typists will appreciate the level of attention given to the keyboard save one button – the left Ctrl key. The left Ctrl key and Fn keys are reversed on the S12 and, despite all efforts, I have consistently and no less frequently pressed the Fn key instead of left Ctrl when using even the most basic keyboard shortcuts - Ctrl+C and Ctrl+V. Be prepared to adjust unless you use key remapping software. Another small and less irritable keyboard mistake is the location of the F12 key. The F11 and F12 share a physical key, only F12 requires the Fn key command.

Touchpad
As far as touchpads go, the S12’s is ordinary. It’s average size and two buttons fall below the touchpad and, mimicking the keyboard, have very nice feedback and sound.

Connectivity
The S12’s connectivity features mirror the usual netbook offerings – 3 USB 2.0 ports, SVGA, microphone, headphone, Ethernet and AC adapter, but also include a memory card reader that supports MMC, MS, MSpro and SD expandable memory cards as well as an Express Card Slot/34. Both the memory card slot and Express Card slot included dummy plastic sticks to protect the slots while not in use and keep unwanted dust out. The S12 also supports a security lock and wireless on/off switch.
PERFORMANCE

CPU, RAM, Video, HDD
Because most netbooks share equal or similar internal components, there is little of note inside the IdeaPad S12. The unit we received was equipped with an Intel Atom N270 1.6GHz single-core processor, 1GB of memory, Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 950 (GMA 950) and 5400RPM 160GB SATA3.0 hard disk drive. Combined, these are enough to perform most basic work tasks such as browsing the web, sending and receiving email, listening to your iTunes playlist, watching standard definition video either streamed or played from the HDD, word processing, manipulating spreadsheets, preparing presentations. Note: The included 12.1” screen makes for a much more pleasant computing experience with the latter.

Lenovo also packages the following software with the S12:
• Microsoft Windows XP Home SP3 - Full OEM version
• Lenovo Quick Start – A quick-to-boot splashtop that gets you to the Internet faster from a cold start but lacks the functionality of a full-fledged operating system
• Lenovo Easy Camera – Lightweight camera utility that gives a small amount of control to the included webcam
• Energy Management – Equally effective as XP’s power management, this simply allows you to customize up to 4 power settings that rest in your taskbar for easy swapping
• VeriFace III – Lenovo’s replacement to a fingerprint scanner, this software takes a picture of you using the webcam and verifies your face as a security measure for logging in to Windows
• One-Key Recovery – Recover the S12 to a previous or factory default state using one-key
• Microsoft Office 2007 - Trial
• Norton Internet Security - Trial
• Various drivers & hardware utilities

Benchmarks
While most all netbooks have similar performance benchmarks, we expected a small decrease in performance to accommodate the higher resolution screen. Despite our anticipation, the S12 performed equally in our PCMark 2005 earning an overall score of 1555 and 236 in our 3DMark 2005 benchmark. The system performed well despite moderate multitasking and was even capable of running some of our favorite games of yesteryear. Warcraft III ran near flawlessly with all settings on high and ran flawlessly at an average of 36 FPS in single-player campaign mode with only shadows turned off.

For kicks, we loaded up World of Warcraft and were pleasantly surprised at the S12’s ability to run steadily at 12-16 FPS with all settings turned to low and running in the native 1280x800 resolution while trotting around in several starting zones. Whether or not you have the patience for 12-16 FPS is another conversation, however, don’t plan on visiting major cities, battlegrounds, raids or other highly populated areas as framerates were reduced to 2 in Dalaran and Shattrath.

Battery
The S12’s 6-cell battery protrudes a bit from the chassis, giving the keyboard a slight incline. As unsightly as this may sound, it does not detract visually from the unit’s overall appearance. Carrying the unit can be awkward but we found it most comfortable to grasp the side opposite the battery and tucking it under the arm. The battery included with our unit did not fit snugly despite the locking mechanisms on the bottom of the chassis and required us to be more careful with the unit when toting it around. We hope this has been addressed for units that are now shipping or that we received a lemon because I have not seen or heard other mentions of this from other reviewers. I was also disappointed to find absent the Velcro strap used to tidy up the cables when moving from place to place.

The S12’s 6 cell 52Whr battery reported a respectable 4 hours 42 minutes during our stress test which runs the unit at 100% screen brightness and constant 75%+ CPU usage. Our real world experience with the unit reported an average of 5 hours and 25 minutes use before the lights go out. The Energy Management software is very generous with their remaining battery life quotes below 10%, giving you ample time and warnings to save and finish what you are doing before all is lost.
SUMMARY

As far as netbooks go, the Lenovo IdeaPad S12 reaches where few have trod prior – to a 12.1” screen and full-sized keyboard – all in a relatively compact, lightweight and aesthetically pleasing design. Battery life is moderate and should be enough to keep you up and running the better part of a work day so the likelihood of this being used as a desktop replacement isn’t out of the question. Students who don’t require the power of a full-sized notebook would also be smart to consider the ultraportable S12 at its $499 price point. The S12 handles anything a typical netbook can despite the increased resolution and makes for a much easier and comfortable workspace with the large screen and full-sized keyboard. It also supports several memory card formats and an Express Card slot, bleeding even further into the competing ultraportable notebook lines.

PROS:
• 12.1” 1280x800 native resolution screen
• Full-sized keyboard with brilliant feedback
• Memory card reader and Express Card slot
• Stylish and high-quality design

CONS:
• Left Ctrl and Fn Keys swapped
• Loose-fitting, protruding battery

We were exceptionally pleased with the Lenovo IdeaPad S12 despite its few shortcomings. Considering this is still being advertised as a netbook, we like the direction Lenovo has taken with their latest model. We wait in anticipation for the ION version of the S12 to ship and expect to have a chance at reviewing when it becomes available later this year.

from here