Lenovo IdeaPad U310 (Summer 2012)

Pros: Pretty in pink
Keyboard feels nice when typing
Fast for daily tasks
Quick to boot and wake up
Touch pad works reasonably well
Quiet for the most part
Long accident protection warranty available

Cons: Keyboard not backlit
Easy to hit the touchpad when typing
Battery life is barely acceptable

Summary: I wanted a Macbook but I couldn't afford one. There. I said it.

I'm starting graduate school this fall and it was time to finally break down and buy a new laptop, which I'll be using heavily in class. I wanted something light enough to carry to class everyday. I wanted it to work fluidly without hanging up when I ask it to do something. And I wanted it to be pretty. Yes, I wanted a Macbook. But they cost too much and my graduate program needs me to run Windows. For the most part, the U310 has met, and even exceeded, my expectations.

The U310 arrived quickly from our friends in China. I ordered it, with much trepidation, in Cherry Blossom pink. Opening the box, I was so afraid that I had purchased Barbie's laptop. However, I was pleasantly surprised. In bright light, the shell is clearly a soft pink and in low light you have to look closely to even tell that it's pink and not silver. It's perfectly acceptable for graduate school and career, in my opinion. Good job, Lenovo.

The U310 boots quickly, as it should. I didn't time it but I was pleased and I'm not very patient with technology. The inside of the laptop is a white, slightly iridescent plastic but it feels sturdy enough. I was actually told by a Lenovo rep that the entire body is aluminum, which is NOT true. Only the outer shell (top and bottom) is aluminum. They keyboard is nice and easy to type on once you get the hang of the smaller backspace and shift keys. I did notice a little bit of flexibility in the keyboard and in the whole body but it isn't really noticeable during use. Overall, it's hard to deny that the U310 looks like a white Macbook Pro. The difference in design is really in the details. That's fine by me, as Apple came up with a great design and Steve himself was pretty fond of stealing good ideas (Xerox, anyone?).

The U310 has a few quirks that I'm less than pleased with. I keep hitting the trackpad with the base of my thumb when I type, which sends the cursor flying somewhere else. This is my biggest disappointment, as it happens a lot and is very, very annoying at times. I'm sure Apple has managed to figure out how to prevent this from happening on their laptops so it's a shame that Lenovo did not. The keyboard is not backlit, which is a tragedy because it is otherwise lovely. The backspace and shift keys are little. I missed them all the time at first I'm adapting. And ultimately, the U310 is still running Windows, which I believe is slow and clunky no matter what processor you have or how much memory you have. Last but not least, the battery has been a large disappointment so far. I seem to get about 3.5 to 4 hours on it, not doing much and running the screen at maybe 70% brightness. Given that I'll spend 6 to 8 hours in class using this laptop daily, this is a monumental disappointment. Avoid this laptop if you plan to be without a power outlet often. I would have paid for the option of a batter upgrade. Hear that, Lenovo?

I'm not a techie, so I haven't run any tests on the U310. I wordprocess and use the Internet. Obviously, almost any laptop built in the last 5 years will do that. The U310 does it fast and looks pretty doing it. It's easy to carry and was good for my budget. It's a winner in my book.

Updated on Jul 12, 2012

I couldn't figure out how to reply back to you specifically. So far, the wifi seems okay. I have noticed that every time I restart the laptop it does this funny thing where it thinks it can't connect to the network and I have to disconnect/reconnect a few times until it finally connects. It doesn't seem to affect performance but it is annoying. Might just be my network though. This laptop should serve you very well in college. Good luck!