Thinkpads Forum

http://www.notebookreview.com/default.asp?newsID=4182

Keyboards - the bane of all laptops that are not thinkpads, continues to be.

It's a bit too shiny! It looks a lot like the Sony TZ series.

The shiny finish of the keyboard is really loss (don't mention its layout and "flatness"). Apart from that it does look quite well.

I've only seen photos so far, but my first impression is to like the 15" and 17" IdeaPads. They include some nice, entertainment-oriented features without going overboard. But that 11" model is just too garish for my tastes.

First there is the orange color and the flower-like texture, or pattern in the lid. No man is going to have that. Yeesh! Either Lenovo is going after a female-only audience, or they just aren't thinking.

I'm not sure about that keyboard either. I figure there's a reason why good keyboards are designed with keys that taper towards the top, and with gaps between the keys. Making the keys flat with no spacing between them strikes me as a mistake.

Is anyone else struck by the sharp difference between the 15/17-inch IdeaPads and the 11-inch model? The 11-inch model sure is the odd man out, isn't it?

Doesn't look too bad to me. The real question however is what are the software tools going to be like and what is the build quality going to be like. I like the striking design.

dead1nside wrote:I like the striking design.

Hate to admit it but I did too

I like the design, the keyboard definitely doesn't look promising though.

qviri wrote:the keyboard definitely doesn't look promising though.

The only thing good about the keyboard is it's already shiny, so, unlike Thinkpad keyboards, it will never get any shinier!

More pics in today's article:
http://www.notebookreview.com/default.asp?newsID=4188

pianowizard wrote:

qviri wrote:the keyboard definitely doesn't look promising though.

The only thing good about the keyboard is it's already shiny, so, unlike Thinkpad keyboards, it will never get any shinier!

Yes, but....after the machine gets used for a while do the keys start to get -dull-?

According to CNET's editor / reviewer Michelle Thatcher, the keyboard on Ideapad U110 is quite comfortable to type on:

Lenovo Idea Pad U110 - Video.

CNET has declared lenovo Ideapads as CNET's CES award winners in Computers and hardware category.

JonathanGennick wrote:I've only seen photos so far, but my first impression is to like the 15" and 17" IdeaPads. They include some nice, entertainment-oriented features without going overboard. But that 11" model is just too garish for my tastes.

First there is the orange color and the flower-like texture, or pattern in the lid. No man is going to have that. Yeesh! Either Lenovo is going after a female-only audience, or they just aren't thinking.

I'm not sure about that keyboard either. I figure there's a reason why good keyboards are designed with keys that taper towards the top, and with gaps between the keys. Making the keys flat with no spacing between them strikes me as a mistake.

Is anyone else struck by the sharp difference between the 15/17-inch IdeaPads and the 11-inch model? The 11-inch model sure is the odd man out, isn't it?

Well, the target customer for this model seems to be the lifestyle-conscious hard working female executive who needs something good working but also good-looking notebook that fits into their female briefcase. I could believe this thing will become a best seller, topping Sony and Tulip.

Maybe Lenovo will release the same model for male executives too?!
I would prefer a dark-marine blue or Ivy league dark green notebook with golden or yellow prints. Executive boardroom ready.

Puppy wrote:The shiny finish of the keyboard is really loss (don't mention its layout and "flatness"). Apart from that it does look quite well.

No problem for me. Every Thinkpad keyboard is shiny anyway... after only 3 weeks as I just realized with my new replacement keyboard. (That sux!)

No trackpoint, no purchase. It is a shame people are going away from these (Dell for example) Otherwise a great laptop I would purchase.

steined wrote:No trackpoint, no purchase. It is a shame people are going away from these (Dell for example).

I think the trackpoint is somehow considered to be suitable only for "business" laptops. It doesn't make any sense to me but that's the way it is. I know for sure that HP's business line still uses trackpoints, and thought that's also the case for Dell Latitude but correct me if I'm wrong.

The touchpad is harder to master but it's not impossible. You may want to learn to use touchpads well rather than avoiding all laptops that don't have a trackpoint. Otherwise, you'll have fewer and fewer laptops to choose from.