Lenovo's website is absolutely terrible. I simply don't understand why people can't customize their notebooks/netbooks more than the stock listings on the website. I think they need to hire a new 3rd party to manage and develop a coherent website to compete with Dell, HP, Apple, and others by offering full customization of orders along with a better interface.
However, it is apparent that manufacturers are starting to push inexpensive notebooks (though many of them are cheap) and ultraportable notebooks more and more over netbooks. This IdeaPad from Lenovo looks more like an inexpensive notebook. Kinda begs the question as to why people should purchase netbooks now especially whenever the ones featuring "cutting edge" technology come in at $450+.
I was in Best Buy the other day an came across an Inspiron 11z with a 1.3GHz Celeron M processor, 4GB of RAM, a 250GB hard drive, Windows 7 Home Premium (64-bit), Intel integrated graphics that can handle full 1080p playback, and a 3 cell battery (advertised as lasting for 3.5 hours) all for $480. Sitting on the other side of the isle was an HP Mini 311 for $450. Sure, the Atom N270, N280, and N450 processors actually outperforms these lowly Celeron M processors (especially when it comes to multi-tasking) but you are getting so much more in that 11z package. I can even customize a Dell Inspiron 14 notebook with a new Intel Core i3 processor (hyper-threaded, dual-core, 64-bit, 2.16GHz), 2GB of RAM, a 250GB hard drive, the next GPU after the 4500MHD (which means it is capable of 1080p video playback and it is more powerful than the 4500MHD and Nvidia ION chips), 14" screen, and 9 cell battery (which has an advertises life of 9 hours) all for $575.
So why purchase a "high end" netbook such as a maxed out HP Mini 311, Samsung model, Lenovo, or Sony model when there are notebooks like this that can last for longer than those netbooks on a single charge? I understand that the netbooks are much smaller than the notebooks but that Inspiron 14 is running a workhorse processor (dual-core, hyper-threaded, Windows 7 is going to cruise without a hiccup on that) along with graphics that are more powerful than the Nvidia ION platform all for a price that is a little bit more than what companies are charging for their "high end" netbooks. I think people will be willing to compromise a little and get a larger notebook for roughly the same price due to all the performance increases.
I think netbooks still have their place in the computing world especially whenever they can be purchased for $400 or less. I would even purchase a netbook over a $450 notebook simply because the ones I have seen are made of cheap flexible plastic, have older AMD processors (maybe a dual-core Pentium processor which means that efficiency and performance aren't going to be great), older ATI graphics (or an Intel GMA 4500 IGP, no HD capabilities), get only 1-2 hours on a single charge, are rather large, have 15" low resolution monitors (1366X768 is a low resolution for a 15" screen), etc. A $450 netbook will offer much better build quality along with an increased battery life, more powerful graphics (a setup that can play HD videos), etc. However, once you get up to the $500 price range, I see no reason to purchase a netbook as higher quality notebooks are available for just a little more.
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