Choosing a laptop can be very difficult. And to make matters worse, it is even more difficult if you find yourself on a tight budget.
The good news is that if you’re willing to put in a little effort and hard work, you can easily end up with a great laptop without spending a fortune.
One such laptop is the Lenovo IdeaPad 100S. Sure, it’s not perfect. No laptop really is. But, with that said, it does have a lot of great features that we think make it worthwhile for the price.
Of course, our goal is not to get you to buy the Lenovo IdeaPad 100S or any other laptop for that matter. Instead, we simply want to provide you with an honest review and all of the information you need to determine if the Lenovo IdeaPad 100S is right for you or not.
The Specifications You Need to Know
Before we can really dive in and give you an in-depth review of the Lenovo IdeaPad 100s, we want to provide you with its basic specifications.
Knowing the “specs” of a laptop can really help you to make the right choice about a particular laptop, especially if you are on the “tech savvy” side. Even if you’re not, it is fairly easy to understand basic specifications.
So, with that said, here are the specs of this laptop that you should know before you buy:
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While these specs should certainly prove helpful to you in determining whether or not this is the best laptop for your needs and purposes, there are still more things to consider before you decide to buy or not to buy.
The Price is Definitely Right
First things first, we do have to say that, if you are looking to get a quality, name brand laptop without breaking the bank, this is a great option.
While prices will vary somewhat depending on where you buy your laptop and any extra features that you might choose to include, you can generally find this offering at just within the range of two hundred to three hundred. With sales, rebates, and other money saving options, you can sometimes even get it for quite a bit less.
All in all, if you do not want to spend a lot on a laptop but you still want a “lot on a laptop,” we highly recommend this option.
A Beautiful Design That Looks More Expensive Than It Is
One of the main things that we love about this laptop is how classic and expensive it looks. That’s funny considering the fact that, as mentioned just above, it definitely is not one of the pricier options on the market today.
It is made in a classic navy blue color and also features a nice matte finish that makes it look quite pricey, even if it actually isn’t. It also has an elaborate dial as a power button.
And, while we do think the overall design could be more sturdy and less delicate, it looks so good that most users probably won’t mind being a little careful with it. The design probably won’t survive a lot of rough drops or falls, but it will certainly look good in the process, making it a good fit for the more conscientious consumer.
A Shell that is Super Fingerprint Resistant
We have already mentioned how good this laptop looks. However, unlike so many other laptops on the market, it is actually made in such a way that it will continue to look good, no matter how much or how often you happen to use it.
We particularly love the fact that this laptop has a fingerprint resistant design. So many smooth, sleek laptops end up constantly marred with unsightly dust and fingerprints, but not this one. It will keep the dirt and dust away and stay looking good as long as you take proper care of it. In terms of attractiveness and long-term attractiveness, we would have to say that this laptop definitely wins out.
A Super Long Battery Life
The whole point of having a laptop instead of an old-fashioned desktop computer is so that you can carry it and your work along with you wherever you go. Unfortunately, a lot of laptops make that difficult by featuring batteries that do not hold a charge for very long.
Fortunately, that is not the case here. This option from Lenovo has a super long lasting battery. In fact, on a full charge, you can expect to get several hours of use out of it- at least a full workday.
Plus, unlike so many other laptops, it actually keeps up its charging capabilities for the long haul. While other laptops feature batteries that quickly grow less and less useful over time, this one should last you for a year or more.
Just make sure you charge it as needed, and you should be good to go with this laptop by your side.
If you have ever owned a laptop, then you already know that all of the best features are located along the sides… if they exist at all.
Fortunately, they certainly do exist when it comes to this laptop. It has plenty of ports and connections for you to make the most of.
Along the left-hand side, you will find a USB port, an HDMI port, and a microSD slot. On the other side, there are two more USB ports, as well as audio and microphone jacks. One thing is for sure: you can connect all of your media to this laptop without issues.
A Stellar, Easy to Use Keyboard
Image Source: Cnet.com
Wth many laptops, especially the lower priced ones, you often have to deal with a keyboard that is too small, difficult to use, and generally uncomfortable.
However, that is not the case here. The keyboard is designed to be ergonomically friendly, and it is also super easy to use. It can even understand all of the common keyboard shortcuts for much easier use and increased accessibility. The keys are also large and easy to see, and they respond immediately to touch.
While we have listed a lot of things to love about this laptop- and there are plenty, we also mentioned that it isn’t perfect.
And, one of its major imperfections is the touchpad. It isn’t a bad touchpad altogether. However, it is a bit sluggish in terms of its response time. Plus, it does not support gestures, which is becoming a more and more common way to use a “mouse.”
However, if the touchpad does annoy you, you can always rely on the arrow keys instead. The only issue is that you might lose touch with how to operate newer computers. However, if you don’t mind this small blur on an otherwise very nice computer, it is still a solid choice.
A Computer that is Super Lightweight and Easily Portable
We have already mentioned how this computer, with its long battery life, can really come in handy if you are a person who is constantly on to go.
Another factor that supports the on the go lifestyle is the fact that this laptop is very lightweight. In fact, it weighs in at only 3.2 pounds, and it is not super wide either.
Thus, if you are looking for a laptop that you can easily slip into your carry-on luggage, take with you to the coffee shop, or just generally tote everywhere without a lot of bulk and hassle, this model will definitely work for you.
No Touchscreen Capabilities
Perhaps our least favorite thing about this laptop is the fact that it does not feature touchscreen technology. This is becoming a rarity these days, so it is actually somewhat surprising that a computer from an advanced brand such as Lenovo would not have this feature.
Regardless of the whys, the fact remains that there is no touchscreen in sight. However, this is something you can get used to with a little time.
As you probably already know, having Office 365 installed on your computer makes it a whole lot easier to use. With the programs that come with this setup, you can make PowerPoints, create SpreadSheets, make word documents, and more.
Unfortunately, buying a license for all of these programs can get quite expensive. However, you don’t have to worry about that if you choose this computer. It comes pre-installed with a year’s worth of Office 365.
So, if you want to get a computer that you can use easily without having to buy a bunch of costly programs, this is the one for you.
An Imperfect But Still Workable Display
We’ve already mentioned how we don’t like that this laptop does not have touchscreen capabilities.
Another thing that we frown upon is that the display leaves much to be desired. It is a decent size, but the picture quality is not particularly sharp or bright. Thus, this is probably not the laptop that you will want to watch your favorite movies on.
With that said, though, the screen is decent when it comes to wide viewing angles, color, and even flat viewing. It is not the kind of high quality screen that you will find on more expensive computers, but it still gets the basic job done and is not really bad quality when you consider the price.
It’s just something to be aware of since screen quality is a “make or break” factor for some people.
It’s A Little Slower Than Some
While, as you can tell, there is plenty to love about this laptop, we do have to admit that it’s a little bit slower in terms of booting up and overall functioning than we might like.
As mentioned, the worst feature in terms of slowness is the touchpad. While it operates great sometimes, it can, at other times, be quite slow to react.
We also think that booting up takes longer than it should, especially when updates need to be installed. Browsing the internet is generally quick but altering settings and features can take awhile.
If you can stand the slowness, though, we still think that this laptop is a pretty fair deal.
You Don’t Have To Worry About Overheating
Image Source: pcworld.com
A big concern with laptops is overheating. When a laptop overheats, the insides could easily be damaged, potentially rendering the laptop not useful.
In severe situations, a laptop that overheats could even catch fire, which could pose a serious risk to safety. The good news, though, is that these things are not concerns with this particular laptop, though you should be mindful of them when buying any laptop on the cheaper end of the spectrum.
This laptop never gets overly hot at any of the touch points, which means that you can always use it comfortably. This remains true even when the computer has been in use for quite some time.
The bottom, however, does get somewhat hot, so it is not ideal if you like to balance your computer on your lap, at least not without a cooling pad.
However, the heat never reaches dangerous levels, so you can breathe a sigh of relief if you take this laptop home.
As you can see, there is a lot to like about the Lenovo IdeaPad 100S, as well as a few points of concern. However, if you can keep in mind the advice presented here, you can make an informed choice about whether or not it is the right computer for you and thus avoid disappointment.