RAM Upgrade and Quick Start issues S10-2

[Norway Pad]

As a little christmas gift for my self, I bought a Lenovo S10-2. It runs XP, and I ordered it with the "slightly" faster N280 1.66GHz/667MHz FSB processor. So far this seems like a decent little thing, and it will be used when I am on the move, to avoid dragging the T43 around that much. The T43 is still and will forever be the favourite tool, but I prefer to not drag it around in the garage for my car OBDII and the motorbike Power Commander if I can avoid it.

So far there are just a couple of questions, but I don't know if anyone really knows these things very well.

1. How much RAM can this chipset see? There is one single SODIMM slot, that is now filled with a 1GB module. I have the impression that the 4GB modules are very expensive (If I can get one for this computer at all, I have not checked that yet) So if the chipset can only see 2GB, there is no use.

The reason I want to upgrade, is that I sooner or later will have to move into the Windows 7 world. I skipped Vista, but I don't want to skip another generation of OS'. I know that the S10-2 is sold with Win 7 as well, but I believe that might be a stripped down version. So I don't know if a full version of Win 7 will run good on these machines, especially not with only 1 or 2 GB RAM.

2. The Quick Start is a very nice feature, that I simply love. But it's almost impossible to use with the built in touchpad. It is so sensitive to tapping, that simply moving the cursor over buttons, activate them. I can of course use a mouse, but the QS is most likely to be used when I am on the go, and need quick access. So does anyone know if the touchpad settings can be adjusted somehow in the QS mini OS? So far I have not found any way to do it. The touchpad works fine in XP, where I can adjust the sensitivity.

Thanks!

[Norway Pad]

I did some research on my own, and it seems like the limitation of the 945GSE chipset is 2GB.

So the question will be if the N280 processor with 2GB RAM can run a full version Windows 7. The Windows 7 option for the S10-2 said "Starter Edition", which sounds like a stripped down version. That's why I chose to order it with XP, then I at least knew what I got.

The other option would be to just leave the S10-2 with a good and smooth working XP and put Windows 7 on the T60 that I (hopefully) will buy sometime during next year.

I'll put some thoughts into it during the next months.

[emtee3511]

I've had my S10 for several months -- really wanted to try one of the little ideapads and found this one on the forum -- I'm not a geek -- wish I were -- so I can only share basics on my experience so far -- Very soon after receiving my S10 with XPHome installed, I had memory upgraded and W7 installed very embarrassed to admit upgrade and install was by a bigbox store -- Afterwards, I was missing the QuickStart and had to download it from Lenovo -- don't really use it, but wanted to have it available --

For the way I use my machines (email/surfing/youtube) Windows7 performs quite nicely -- very quick and responsive -- I keep the S10 on a spare desk and use it only occasionally, but have had no OS issues -- It seems to me that I remember the geek who upgraded for me telling me I could only upgrade to 1.5mb due to one ram stick being onboard -- but now I'm wondering if I could have purchased a 2gb stick and maybe had 2gb or 2.5gb to use -- don't really know? So as far as W7 goes, it runs just as well as XP did -- no complaints --

edit --this is the S10 processor: Intel Atom Processor N270 Single Core (1.60GHz 533MHz 512KB)

edit#2 --found this note from the original post for my S10 purchase -- so another ThinkPadder with positive comments on IdeaPad S10 and W7 --I have for sale a lightly used S-10 netbook i purchased to test windows 7 and see exactly what netbooks could do. These netbooks will run windows 7 nicely. This unit is the blue/white version.

[Norway Pad]

Hi.

Thanks for your reply. It's interesting to hear others' experiences, that's what I was looking for. (We can't all be geeks, I don't consider my self to be as much of a geek either as some of the other guys in here. )

You have the S10, while I have the newer S10-2 and the 280 processor. So if W7 performs good on your computer, it should also do so on mine.

Regarding your RAM, the S10 actually has a 512Mb memory module soldered(!) onto the motherboard, in addition to the free slot. However, the mobo can only see 2GB, so your 1.5GB setup is the furthest you can go without actually "wasting" RAM. A 2GB module would have left you with 0.5GB that the mobo couldn't see.

[emtee3511]

'2GB module would have left you with 0.5GB that the mobo couldn't see.'
That's what I was guessing -- may add a stick anyway

[Norway Pad]

emtee3511: I forgot to ask you, how does your touchpad work in the Quick Start environment? Mine is so sensitive to touch (tap) that I can hardly move the cursor over a button/link without actually activating it. This makes my Quick Start impossible to use without an external mouse.

I believe it isn't supposed to be this way, but so far I have found no way of adjusting the touchpad settings in Quick Start. Only in XP, and that doesnt' seem to affect the Quick Start environment.

[emtee3511]

I haven't used the SplashTop much, so I spent some time on it this evening to pay closer attention to the trackpad -- Like most ThinkPadders, I much prefer using the pointing stick, which is not an option on my S10 or your S10-2 -- I'm not very good using just my finger on the trackpad -- I used the QuickStart to surf the net a bit, and didn't have any problem with the curser/trackpad being too sensitive -- After visiting several websites, I opened the music, photo and one other application (can't remember which other one) -- they all opened and responded to my trackpad/curser even with my inexperienced finger tracking -- I have enhance pointer precision checked in the control panel, but other than that, there are not too many choices -- not sure why your trackpad is so sensitive -- wish I could be of more help

[Norway Pad]

Sounds like your is working like it should. My Touchpad (Trackpad) works fine in XP, where I have extensive settings for it. I have not used Quick Start much because of this, so I will look more into it and go back and forth to double check if any settings done in XP actually can influence anything in QS environment.

I hear you when it comes to Trackpad vs. Trackpoint. When I use any of my Thinkpads away from the docking station and the mouse, I always use the Trackpoint too. That works much better for me.

Thank you!

[emtee3511]

I just found this: http://s10lenovo.com/viewtopic.php?f=42&t=2437

"Adjusting TrackPad Sensitivity in SplashTop -- Did you upgrade to ver 1.0.15.0? -- I see the same problem in ver 1.0.8.1. When I updated to ver 1.0.15.0 (included in the same download from lenovo) the mouse sensitivity returned to normal ... -- As for scrolling, I don't see advanced touchpad functions working in any quickstart release I have used ...
-- Go to "C:\Drivers\Quick Start\1.0.15.0_20090220" (Assuming you installed quickstart on the C drive) and run "ST_LVSPCS_HD_v1.0.15.0_20090220.EXE" to install or upgrade version 1.0.15.0"



I'm not sure what SplashTop version I have, but I had to download it recently because I lost it when I installed W7 -- so my version is new from lenovo website in the last month -- maybe an update is what you need?

[Norway Pad]

Thanks a lot! I will look into this, and let you know if it turns out successful.

[Norway Pad]

I didn't get to look into this before today, so obviously I don't use the IdeaPad too often.. But I am giving a quick feedback anyway.

It seems that I am already on QS version 1.1.8.4, so I am far above the two 1.0.8.x and 1.0.15.x versions mentioned. The newest version from Lenovo seems to be 1.1.8.8, but considering how little time I spend using QS, I chose to keep it as it is. If I plan on working on the IdeaPad for more than just a couple of minutes , I usually spend the 20-30 seconds extra it takes to boot into XP, to be able to work in a familiar environment.

But thanks anyway!

[emtee3511]

My IdeaPad S10 is always on in an my upstairs dressing room and gets only occasional use -- I like having quick, easy access to my email before heading downstairs -- also like having the ability for a quick check-in on the forum

I would like to hear from someone who actually finds a use for the Quick-Start/SplashTop -- I have played with it, but the machine boots quickly and I don't really understand the need for the Quick-Start -- maybe someone can enlighten me