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Two-Pounder From Lenovo Might Be Too Light For Comfort

Posted by timothy on from the my-keyboard-weighs-more-than-this dept.

MojoKid writes: With the advent of solid state storage and faster, lower-powered processors that require less complex cooling solutions, the average mainstream notebook is rather svelte. Recently, however, Lenovo announced their LaVie Z and LaVie Z 360 ultrabooks and at 1.87 and 2.04 pounds respectively, they're almost ridiculously light. Further, with Core i7 mobile processors and fast SSDs on board, these machines perform impressively well in the benchmarks and real world usage. If you actually pick one up though, both models are so light they feel almost empty, like there's nothing inside. Lenovo achieved this in part by utilizing a magnesium--lithium composite material for the casing of the machines. Though they're incredibly light, the feeling is almost too light, such that they tend to feel a little cheap or flimsy. With a tablet, you come to expect a super thin and light experience and when holding them in one hand, the light weight is an advantage. However, banging on a full-up notebook keyboard deck is a different ball of wax.

17 of 134 comments (clear)

  1. Give me battery or give me death by Sowelu · · Score: 5, Insightful

    If you can cut something from 3lb to 2lb, that just means you have room for 1lb more battery.

    Same thing applies with phones. Stop making them thinner, and use the saved space for more battery!

    1. Re:Give me battery or give me death by afidel · · Score: 2

      Agreed on the phones, 2mm thinner does nothing for me, but 2x more battery would change the way I use the phone. However since I started carrying a tablet as my primary remote work machine I have to disagree on that, saving a pound means I'm that much more likely to actually carry it with me.

      --
      There are 4 boxes to use in the defense of liberty: soap, ballot, jury, ammo. Use in that order. Starting now.
    2. Re:Give me battery or give me death by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Insightful

      I wasn't aware that there was an OS that provided infinite battery life, thanks!

    3. Re:Give me battery or give me death by nine-times · · Score: 4, Informative

      I tend to agree with you less when it comes to laptops, and more in terms of phones. Often enough, when I use my laptop, I'm seated someplace close enough to a power outlet. My laptop has something like an 11 hour battery life, so effectively I pretty much never run out of battery life unless I've just been totally careless. I'd generally rather have lighter weight so I can save my back from some pain. My phone, however, is always in operation and usually in my pocket. Charging isn't terribly convenient, and if I don't charge it every night, I'll probably end up stuck someplace without a working phone.

      However, in the case of this laptop, I completely agree. The reviewer says that the battery lasted around 5 hours with light web browsing, which is too short in my opinion.

    4. Re:Give me battery or give me death by EvilSS · · Score: 2

      Or? Why limit yourself? They can give you a big, faulty battery and you can have both!

      --
      I browse on +1 so AC's need not respond, I won't see it.
    5. Re:Give me battery or give me death by AmiMoJo · · Score: 2

      I own a LaVie Z (it's actually made by NEC who have been selling it for years, but only in Japan) and the battery life is pretty good. Overall it's a very nice machine. Fast, good keyboard, good touch pad, two USB ports and a separate charging port, nice screen... About the only thing that isn't good is the sound from the speakers, but that's always going to be the case in such a small device.

      I got it fit travelling, because I suffer from arthritis so carrying a bulky laptop isn't something I want to do. In the end I decided I wanted a larger screen and upgraded to the 15" X model. Both models are upgradable too. Mine was an early model that I upgraded to 802.11ac and a larger SSD with OPALv2 support.

      --
      const int one = 65536; (Silvermoon, Texture.cs)
      SJW, n: "Someone I don't like, and by the way I'm a fuckwit" - AC
    6. Re:Give me battery or give me death by thegarbz · · Score: 2

      Dell have been selling dual, and oversized battery options on many models for the past 15 years. The did and continue to sell well.

  2. Weight has always been a "quality" factor by PhrostyMcByte · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Weight plays a lot into our perception for how solid and well built things are, even when they're not. Lightweight is great, but go too far and things feel like a fragile toy.

    This is almost too good a problem to have with a laptop -- too lightweight? Put more battery in it.

  3. But still no active digitizer by Overzeetop · · Score: 2

    It looks chunky enough it should have had room for at least an optional extra battery to last more than 3-4 hours under real use. And, seriously, how can you make a tablet without a real digitizer these days? Why must I use a crayon or my finger to draw figures or edit photos in tablet mode? (Don't even get me started with that Adonis bullshit - been there, done that, not worth a penny much less $100).

    --
    Is it just my observation, or are there way too many stupid people in the world?
  4. Too light? by TsuruchiBrian · · Score: 4, Funny

    Don't worry, it will soon be weighed down with the burden of crippling malware.

  5. Re:Also by meadow · · Score: 2

    Without a trackpoint I don't even want to look at it. Wtf is up with Lenovo not putting trackpoints on a lot of their laptops?

  6. Scenario 47 by Tablizer · · Score: 5, Funny

    "As you can see in my PowerPoint slide, the...ah, ah, Aaachoooo!... Hey, where's my laptop?"

    --
    Table-ized A.I.
  7. Re:Nice by tepples · · Score: 4, Insightful

    A refund for what? It's not like he's paid for the copy of Windows that comes with it.

    Then who did pay for it? I was under the impression that PC makers paid about $60 per copy for a lawful Windows install. Or are you claiming that publishers of Windows-only trialware completely subsidize the Windows license?

  8. Macbook Airs have sold millions by adisakp · · Score: 4, Insightful

    ... and they are in the similar 2 lb weight category.

    1. Re:Macbook Airs have sold millions by adisakp · · Score: 4, Insightful

      As long as there isn't flexing (decent stiffness) and there is a good balance (the screen doesn't want to topple over a too-light base), a light laptop is better than a heavy one. Especially if you want to carry it around with you.

  9. My Lenovo Thinkpad X1 Carbon by rssrss · · Score: 3, Interesting

    I bought a new Lenovo Thinkpad X1 Carbon. It weighs 2 lbs 12 oz 1270 g. A bit more than the LaCie. OTOH it is built to Thinkpad standards so it is quite rugged. The keyboard is excellent. The machine came with Win 7 professional and no bloatware. It has a 500 GB SSD. It is fast and easy to use. I love it, and think the money was well spent. The battery life is excellent, it will run all day in ordinary usage. (i.e. not playing streaming HD video).

    --
    In the land of the blind, the one-eyed man is king.
  10. Here's what's wrong by ITRambo · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Lenovo still uses TFT displays in high priced hardware. In this product line you pay an extra $200 to get an IPS display in the Z 360. Our business is a Lenovo authorized reseller. I do not understand why they do not put an IPS display in all their higher end gear. There shouldn't even be a TFT option at $1499. The $1699 model should be the only one available. Reduce the SKU's and hence you have less capital tied up. Sell better products, Lenovo. Your image is tarnishing more all the time. I expect more from the world's #1 PC maker than TFT junk.