Y500 impressions
My Specs:
i5 2,5 GHz model with 8 Gb of RAM.
DVD module in ultrabay.
500 Gb HD (without the small 16 Gb SSD
swapdrive)
Synaptics touchpad (!)
Pros:
-----------------------
* Good screen - Bright and nice colours,
not sure how close to RGB, but as an
enthusiast photographer I have no
complaints. Contrast 500:1 according to
Lenovo. Not very glary.
* Power adapter - has what seems like a
non-flimsy and solid, thick connecter. I
think it'll stand the distance.
* Red keyboard backlighting - 2 values,
shortcut key on hardware level (works
even when booting)
* Powerful CPU and graphics.
* Ultrabay can be fitted with optional
extra GPU (SLI mode), fan, HD or
BluRay.
* Very low noise levels - although when
on battery and "power saver preset" it
sometimes spins up and down erratically.
For comparison the MacBook Retina is
considerably louder under load.
* Heat levels seems reasonably
controlled. Using Speedfan I measured
temps of CPU+GPU cores of no higher
levels than 75 degrees celsius during high
load. No excess heat around handrest
areas.
* Connectivity just works. USB ports,
HDMI, audio jacks (metal)
* Windows 8 (WITH the Classic Start
Menu addon) is a breeze working with.
So far the best Windows experience ever
for me. So fast and responsive.
Neither good or bad:
-----------------------
* Speakers are fine enough, although they
don't handle a lot of deep frequencies.
Cons:
-----------------------
* Update: Keyboard has started acting up
(when I wrote this sentence, it just wrote
"acwegwegkwæe" and then stopped
responding for 2-3 seconds)
* Tried updating to newest Nvidia drivers
- and lost the ability to adjust brightness
with Fn+up/down keys. Come on, this
shouldn't be nessecary.
* Intel 4000 Graphics hidden or not
working. I don't see why, it should be on
the chipset. WiDi also does not seem to
be working. EDIT: Best guess, is that this
is due to the SLI possibility in the laptop.
* Touchpad (mine is Synaptics) - flimsy
buttons, seems like it's a bit loose, very
plasticky feeling. Two-finger scroll works
fine enough. NOTE: I have the Synaptics,
but the Y500 model is also shipped with
Elan touchpads that are prone to failure!
Make sure to get Synaptics.
* Screen has a lot of flex at the top, you
can twist it from side to side around 1 cm
in depth, although it's hard to say
whether it will last or not.
* Preinstalled Windows 8 Recovery
partitions. I don't like it, frankly. Please
give me a USB media with everything on
it, so I can partition my goddamn
harddrive as I wish. If you resize a
partition, you risk losing an OS installer
that you paid for.
* Ultrabay DVD-drive seems VERY flimsy.
I wouldn't want to change it around too
often.
* Chassis of laptop prone to smudges
and finger marks. Easily cleaned off
though.
VERDICT:
There's a lot to like (screen, GFX, CPU,
noise levels, heat levels etc.), but in all
honesty, I don't really trust this laptop.
As recently added, the keyboard has
started acting up. What will be next?