The Weaknesses
One of my complaints about the IdeaPad is the lack of Bluetooth in the standard configuration. As inexpensive as it is to include, there’s really no excuse for leaving it out. Especially on an ultra lightweight portable with a built-in webcam, I’d like to be able to pair up a Bluetooth headset for use with Skype.
As nice as the U310’s styling is, it lacks some of the attention to detail found in the Macbook Air. For example, Lenovo has a piece of black plastic trim running around the edge of the LCD display that apparently helps hold the screen in place. This cheapens the look of the machine and may even become a source of problems if it starts coming loose. The keyboard has a bit of flex to it also, indicating plastic underneath instead of metal. And though it’s only a very minor gripe, I noticed its glass trackpad isn’t anchored quite as securely inside as the Apple version the U310 imitates. When tapping on it with a finger, it has a slight rattle and makes a quiet “clunk” when released after depressing it to click. Most users probably won’t ever notice this (or care), but I definitely felt the difference when using it side by side with a 13″ MacBook Air.
And speaking of the trackpad? While the multi-touch gesture support is a welcome feature, I experience some usability issues. Most notably, when using the “pinch” gesture to zoom in or out on a web page in Google Chrome, the computer struggled to re-render the page, freezing the browser for several seconds at a time. I also notice the U310 is picky about how far up the trackpad I’m allowed to tap to constitute a left or right mouse click. This may be a purposeful decision on Lenovo’s part, but it takes some getting used to.
Lenovo’s decision to include the Home Premium version of Windows 7 instead of Professional is unfortunate. Although I realize many home users will never know the difference, others will eventually be frustrated when they discover they can’t take remote control of the machine using Microsoft’s Remote Desktop Client until they upgrade to Professional. Many business users will also require Professional if they need to connect to a Windows domain (a common scenario with corporate servers). It’s almost always much cheaper to buy the OEM version of Windows bundled with the computer hardware than it is to purchase it after the fact as an upgrade, so I’d prefer Lenovo included the Professional edition from the get-go.
Summary
If you’re in the market for an Ultrabook and feel the 13″ screen size is ideal for your needs, the IdeaPad U310 is worth serious consideration. At a retail price of $800, the U310 is relatively affordable too. This is a computer that makes a number of compromises, but they’re calculated ones. Potential buyers who plan on doing a lot of typing (including most college students) will likely find the U310’s superior keyboard feel to be a big advantage over many of the competitors.
On the other hand, the video performance isn’t really adequate for gaming, and its disk read/write speed hampers some of the performance its Ivy Bridge chipset and Intel Core i5 processor could achieve otherwise. The 4 GB of system memory isn’t upgradable, but it’s arguably enough for the typical tasks a user would perform with a portable of this type. As with most Ultrabooks, there’s no built-in optical drive. (Those wishing to pop in a DVD movie to watch it will need an external USB DVD drive.) You could certainly spend more on a 13″ notebook and get more bells and whistles (such as a backlit keyboard, or the mag-safe AC adapter Apple offers, which safely detaches from the machine if the cord is accidentally yanked on), but this one offers a lot for under $800.
Does the U310 come with a lock slot? I’ve heard all over the internet that there are and there aren’t, so if there isn’t a slot, what should I do?