Lowest Price: 
- Good graphics performance
- Crisp, colorful display
- Spacious keyboard
- Instant-on functionality
Loud speakers
- Short battery life
- Expensive for a netbook
- Dark webcam visuals
CPU: 1.6-GHz Intel Atom N270
Operating System: Windows 7 Home Premium (32-bit)
RAM/Expandable to: 3GB/3GB
Hard Drive Size/Speed: 320GB/5,400-rpm
Optical Drive: None
Display/Resolution: 12.1 inches/1280 x 800
Graphics/Video Memory: Nvidia Ion/256MB
Wireless: 802.11b/g, Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR
Price as Reviewed: $649.00
Editor’s Note: Portions of this review were taken from our original review of the Lenovo IdeaPad S12.
We recently celebrated the second anniversary of the netbook, and in that relatively short period of time, the systems in this class have grown from cramped 7-inch machines with short battery life to 12-inch laptops that blur the lines between mini-notebooks and full size portables. Now the Lenovo IdeaPad S12, the second Nvidia Ion-powered netbook to hit the U.S. market, is continuing that evolution. Priced at $649, the S12 is more expensive than many other systems in the category, but with the premium you get ample graphics capable of playing HD video and mid-range games, 3GB of RAM, good ergonomics, an instant-on OS, and surprisingly loud speakers. We just wish that this version of the S12 was cheaper and could crank out longer battery life.
Design
The S12 with Ion looks identical to the previously released S12. Featuring an 11.5 x 9.1 footprint that tapers from 0.9 to 1.4 inches with its six-cell battery (which juts out slightly from the back) and weighing 3.4 pounds, the S12 is easy to carry. We’re fans of the subtle dot pattern that graces the glossy black lid, but it picks up fingerprints quickly. The inside of the S12 has a matte black surface and a series of buttons above the keyboard, including one for system recovery, volume controls, and a button to launch Quick Start, Lenovo’s instant-on operating system. Overall, theHP Mini 311 is lighter (3.2 pounds) and sleeker, but the S12 has better ergonomics.
Keyboard and Touchpad
This 12-inch system accommodates a wide base with a spacious keyboard. Those accustomed to typing on 10-inch netbooks will immediately notice and appreciate the large Shift keys, and lion-pawed touch typists will especially appreciate the additional width that the extra 2 inches provides. We like that the keyboard on the S12 didn’t flex under rigorous typing, and feedback from the individual keys was satisfying.
The S12’s touchpad is decently sized at 2.6 x 1.5 inches, which is a hair smaller than the HP Mini 311’s 3.3 x 1.5 touchpad. We would’ve liked more space, but we didn’t have any problems whipping the cursor around the desktop while surfing the Web or checking e-mail. In fact, we prefer the S12’s touchpad overall because it doesn’t have as much friction as the Mini 311’s glossy touchpad. We like that the S12 has dedicated left and right mouse buttons, even if they are narrow.
Heat
The S12 proved to be a machine that may require a notebook cooler, depending on how you use it. We took the netbook’s temperature after streaming an episode of Community for 15 minutes and discovered that the space between the G and H keys measured 90 degrees Fahrenheit (warm but not unbearable), while the touchpad and palm rest held around 91 degrees. The only area that got hot was the middle of the underside, which registered a rather uncomfortable 105 degrees. However, as this section of the chassis is suspended in midair (due to the protruding battery), it’s unlikely to come in contact with your lap. Still, we could feel the warmth penetrate our jeans.
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