Lenovo IdeaPad U110

The Lenovo IdeaPad U110 looks more like an object of art than a piece of consumer electronics. The tendril pattern etched into its aluminum lid (available in black or red) and the patterned vents on its base both bring to mind an illuminated manuscript or a fine textile. But a laptop it is, and for its $1,899 price tag, the IdeaPad U110 is a pretty good ultraportable. Despite its compact size, the IdeaPad U110's screen and keyboard are comfortable to use for long stretches. Its case is stocked with current-generation components and a decent set of features--though media fanatics should note that its DVD burner is an external drive. The fastidious should also note that the very shine that makes the laptop so appealing is easily dulled by fingerprints. Despite these imperfections, the Lenovo IdeaPad U110 offers a combination of price, features, and performance that's competitive with such ultraportables as the Toshiba Portege R500 and the Sony VAIO TZ150, inside a package of unparalleled beauty.

The Lenovo IdeaPad U110 is imperceptibly smaller than one of our favorite 11.1-inch ultraportables, the Sony VAIO TZ150. It gives up 2 inches in screen size to the 13.3-inch MacBook Air, but the U110 weighs a full pound less (when using its four-cell battery). Toshiba's Portege R500, on the other hand, weighs less--just 1.7 pounds--and gives you an extra inch with its 12-inch screen. Aside from its diminutive size and stunning design, the IdeaPad U110 is remarkable in its sturdy construction, thanks to an aluminum cover and magnesium-aluminum case.

The sturdy construction seems to owe something to Lenovo's business-focused ThinkPad line. But the IdeaPad U110 is considerably different from the company's other flagship ultraportable, the $2,476 ThinkPad X300. The latter maintains the familiar ThinkPad DNA--rectangular black case, great keyboard, and such corporate-friendly features as WWAN and a Trusted Platform Module--while still allowing for innovation in design and cutting-edge components. The IdeaPad U110, on the other hand, is focused on the consumer market, and as such gives Lenovo more freedom to experiment with design while still incorporating new technologies. Speaking more concretely, the 11.1-inch, 2.4-pound IdeaPad U110 is considerably smaller than the 13.3-inch, 3.4-pound ThinkPad X300.

The entire keyboard deck on the IdeaPad U110--including the keyboard, touch pad, mouse buttons, and quick-launch keys--is one flush surface, all in a glossy piano finish. At first the flatness of the keys, and the lack of space between them, had us worried about typing comfort. But closer inspection revealed that the keys have a slightly concave surface, and while the keyboard did feel noticeably less than full-size, typing was remarkably comfortable and error-free. Part of the reason: Lenovo extended the keyboard quite nearly to the edges of the system, similar to the HP 2133 Mini-Note, to accommodate larger keys than would ordinarily be found on such a compact laptop. Unfortunately a concession had to be made when it came to the touch pad; the IdeaPad U110's narrow depth means the touch pad sits uncomfortably low on the keyboard deck, and its mouse buttons are part of the laptop's front edge. We were able to complete a day's work with this setup, but would likely want to pack a travel mouse for better ergonomics on lengthy trips. Also, the meticulous among us might be put off by the shiny interior, which easily picks up fingerprints. (Lenovo does include a chamois cloth to help you keep the IdeaPad U110 looking sharp.)

Above the keyboard you'll find another stunning aesthetic touch: a row of glowing orange launch buttons, framed with a curling ivy design evocative of the IdeaPad U110's etched lid. The keys, which include a button to launch an audio manager as well as two keys that launch programs of your choice, appear only when you run your finger across the black panel above the keyboard. To the right of these "hidden" keys sit light-touch volume controls (mute, volume up and down) that are always illuminated. On the far left side are the power button and the Novo button, which provides quick system recovery should you lose the battle against a computer virus; during times of peace the Novo button toggles among different power settings to help you manage battery life.

It's worth mentioning that the IdeaPad U110 is currently available in only one fixed configuration, which simplifies the shopping process but also prevents users from customizing their system with higher-end components, such as a solid-state hard drive (as found in the MacBook Air and the Toshiba Portege R500).

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