Lenovo introduced a number of new products at CES this year, including a convertible tablet-style netbook, an ARM-based smartbook, and a futuristic-looking laptop with a removable display that functions as a standalone tablet. In all the excitement, it would have been easy to overlook the most mundane of Lenovo’s new offerings: an updated 10 inch netbook. But while the Lenovo IdeaPad S10-3 might not be the most exciting product the company introduced in January, I imagine it actually has the potential to sell better than any of the other models. It’s cheap, functional, and moderately slimmer, lighter, and more energy efficient than earlier Lenovo netbooks.

Laptop Magazine has published a detailed review of the 2.6 pound Lenovo IdeaPad S10-3, and fines that the new design has a somewhat more professional look and a lid that does a better job of resisting fingerprints than other models.

On the inside, the S10-3 gets the Pine Trail treatment, with Intel’s new 1.66GHz Intel Atom N450 processor and GMA 3150 graphics. It has a 10.1 inch, 1024 x 600 pixel display and runs Windows 7 Starter Edition.

There is one major problem (if you ask me) with the new design: the touchpad. Lenovo decied to save space by integrating the touchpad buttons on the touch area, much the way Dell has done with its past few netbooks. Th result is a touchpad that takes some getting used to, at best. Laptop Magazine wasn’t impressed either, saying that “the cursor jumped around at times.”

On the bright side, the S10-3 ran for nearly 7 hours in Laptop’s battery test. That may not come close to the 10+ hours you’ll get from some netbooks, but it’s certainly not bad.

Support Liliputing

Liliputing's primary sources of revenue are advertising and affiliate links (if you click the "Shop" button at the top of the page and buy something on Amazon, for example, we'll get a small commission).

But there are several ways you can support the site directly even if you're using an ad blocker* and hate online shopping.

Contribute to our Patreon campaign

or...

Contribute via PayPal

* If you are using an ad blocker like uBlock Origin and seeing a pop-up message at the bottom of the screen, we have a guide that may help you disable it.

4 replies on “Lenovo IdeaPad S10-3 reviewed”

  1. hi,

    do you think you could start a battery eater classic test with this netbook if you still have it?

    kind regards

    rolf

  2. The S10-3 is a remarkable computer. Then Tablet version really caught our attention when we first got word of it, but unless you need a tablet or swivel display, the S10-3 really is a good quality machine. It’s thinner than the IdeaPad S10-3t, and gives you your money’s worth.

    It’s a very good compromise for someone who wants to stray away from what they might see as the boring design of the ThinkPad, while getting a quality machine from Lenovo. It doesn’t scream, “I’m colorful and flashy and your two-year-old will love me!”, but it’s not dull at the same time.

    1. 2nd mini pcie slot locked. you won’t be using a crystal hd card with these 🙁

  3. TBH love its desing, i wish they had one with C2D or Core cpu retaining 10″ size!

Comments are closed.