Lenovo IdeaPad S12 Ion - Intel Atom

Overview

TechSpot Metascore

Based on 7 expert reviews

Excellent:

1
Good:

2
Average:

3
Bad:

1

Pros:

Robust components; better-than-average graphics; powerful speakers; gorgeous display
Excellent keyboard; bright, crisp screen; improved graphics performance for a Netbook.
Played back all types of 1080p videos flawlessly. HDMI-Out port included. Large screen for a netbook. 3GB of memory. Big hard drive. Benefits in 3G gaming. Best netbook keyboard.

Cons:

Expensive; subpar CPU performance; cramped touch pad; short battery life; streaming video lags
Same old Atom N270 processor; high price.

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Last revision on August 15, 2011

Reviewers Liked

Robust components; better-than-average graphics; powerful speakers; gorgeous display
Excellent keyboard; bright, crisp screen; improved graphics performance for a Netbook
Played back all types of 1080p videos flawlessly. HDMI-Out port included. Large screen for a netbook. 3GB of memory. Big hard drive. Benefits in 3G gaming. Best netbook keyboard
Good graphics performance, Crisp, colorful display, Spacious keyboard, Instant-on functionality, Loud speakers

Reviewers Didn't Like

Expensive; subpar CPU performance; cramped touch pad; short battery life; streaming video lags
Same old Atom N270 processor; high price
Priced out of netbook range. Performance hit in both speed and battery life. Sacrificed the ExpressCard slot. Heavy for a netbook
Short battery life, Expensive for a netbook, Dark webcam visuals

Expert reviews and ratings

The IdeaPad S12 is a relatively big and well-designed netbook which lies at the borderline between subnotebook and netbook. Due to the Ion-platform the netbook has some graphics power and the user can play older games on the netbook, but despite...

By NotebookCheck on February 22, 2010

Lenovo's top-of-the-line S12 model displays high-def content handily and features some ultraportable-grade hardware, but its performance parks it in the netbook camp....

By Computer Shopper on January 01, 2010

Although the IdeaPad S12, with its Nvidia Ion graphics processor, provides some 3D muscle, it costs more than comparable Netbooks. Read full review See all...

By cnet on December 21, 2009

The Lenovo IdeaPad S12 (Ion), Lenovo's Ion netbook, finally ships with full support for 1080p, though battery life and speed take a...

By PC Mag on December 08, 2009

This Ion-powered netbook features good graphics performance and a great keyboard, but it’s high price and short battery life make it less...

By LaptopMag on December 07, 2009

The Lenovo IdeaPad S12 with NVIDIA ION graphics costs about $170 more than the version with integrated graphics. Is it worth the extra price? That depends on how important the extra graphics capabilities are to you. In terms of everyday performance,...

By liliputing.com on March 13, 2010

We pit two new Ion-based netbooks from HP and Lenovo against a budget Gateway ultraportable with the mobile GS45 platform and see Intel's platform comes out on top. We all know that netbooks are small, underpowered, and inexpensive laptops, good for...

By Tom's Guide on January 04, 2010

Sum and Substance:Thumbs Up:Great keyboard, graphics are improved and HD videos look great.Thumbs Down:Low performance Atom N270 processor.Inside the Trunk:Power cables and software.The Whiz Kid Speaks:The processor of the S12-2959 is Intel Atom N270...

By eTech Reviews on December 25, 2009

By pairing Nvidia's Ion graphics engine with Intel's Atom processor, Lenovo's IdeaPad S12 Multimedia mini is rewriting the rules of how netbooks are made and what they're capable of. The S12 mini -- the first netbook to carry this...

By Computerworld on December 18, 2009

Der EeePC 1005HA ist ein grundsolides Netbook mit Standardkomponenten und schnellem n-WLAN. Es ist gut verarbeitet, die Tastatur könnte jedoch besser sein. In der Praxis liefen WMV-Videos in 720p-HD-Qualität auf allen Netbooks mit...

By Magnus.de on January 03, 2010

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