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Lenovo's IdeaPad Y460 may seem a bit expensive with a price tag just over $1000 but it offers a number of welcome features. The excellent switchable graphics let users choose between high performance or longer battery life depending upon their needs. The unique SlideNav also allows for quick application launching. Users will just have to get through a few quirks with the keyboard layout and the preloaded software.
Pros
•Switchable Graphics System
•Above Average Battery Life
•Unique Touchcontrol Functions
Cons
•Glossy Surfaces Around Keyboard Show Fingerprints And Smudges Easily
•Function And Control Keys Swapped
•Lots Of Unnecessary Software Installed
Description
•Intel Core i5-520M Dual Core Mobile Processor
•4GB PC3-8500 DDR3 Memory
•500GB 5400rpm SATA Hard Drive
•8x DVD+/-RW Dual Layer Burner
•14" WXGA (1366x768) LED Backlit Display With 1.3 Megapixel Webcam
•Switchable ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5650 Graphics With 1GB Memory And Intel GMA 4500MHD
•Gigabit Ethernet, 802.11b/g/n Wireless, Bluetooth
•Four USB 2.0, eSATA, HDMI, VGA, 4-in-1 Card Reader
•13.4" x 9.3" x 1.3" @ 4.9 lbs.
•Windows 7 Home Premium, McAfee Security Center
Lenovo's IdeaPad Y460 upgrades the platform to use the new Intel Core 2010 series of mobile processors. This $1000 version of the laptop comes equipped with the Core i5-520M dual core processor that gives it a fair amount of performance without drawing too much power or producing too much heat like the Core i7 laptops. It is matched up with 4GB of DDR3 memory to let it run applications smoothly within the Windows 7 operating system.
Storage features on the IdeaPad Y460 are fairly common for laptops in the $1000 price range. Lenovo focused on storage capacity rather than performance by including a 500GB hard drive that spins at a more sedate 5400rpm rate. A standard dual layer DVD burner handles playback and recording of CD and DVD media.
One of the big feature additions to the IdeaPad Y460 is a switchable graphics system. The tested model came equipped with a dedicated ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5650 graphics processor with 1GB memory. It also features an integrated Intel GMA 4500MHD. A small switch on the front allows the graphics system to be switched between the two provided certain applications aren't running. This gives the system the benefit of being able to use accelerated 3D graphics to play games up to the 14-inch display's 1366x768 resolution or to conserve battery such as IBM 08K8199 Battery, IBM 08K8198 Battery, IBM 08K8197 Battery, IBM 92P1075 Battery, IBM ThinkPad R40 Battery, IBM ThinkPad R32 Battery, IBM 02K7054 Battery, IBM ThinkPad A20 Battery, IBM ThinkPad A20M Battery, IBM ThinkPad A21M Battery when 3D graphics or accelerated features are not needed. On the whole it worked well although had some issues when attempting to switch it via the software interface.
The switchable graphics actually has a very dramatic effect on battery life. With the dedicated graphics enabled, the IdeaPad Y460 was able to run for two hours in my DVD playback test. This is fairly common among laptops that use the six-cell battery packs. The same test done with the integrated graphics pushes the same DVD playback test to an amazing three and a half hours. This puts it at an above average running time for this test.
Lenovo is well known for its keyboard designs. The IdeaPad uses a different layout from their popular ThinkPad designs but it is still very comfortable to use with little to no flex. I dislike the location of the function key on the outside of the left control key which can impact those using it for PC gaming. The trackpad location can also be problematic. At times when typing my palm would accidently touch the pad and shift the cursor. This could cause problems in some applications.
A unique feature to the IdeaPad Y460 is a new series of touch controls above the keyboard that include a touch sensitive slide bar called the SlideNav. This has a number of functions but the customizable shortcuts is probably the most useful. Just by moving your finger along to the appropriate location can launch one of your chosen applications.
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