Lenovo returns to the consumer laptop market with the launching of its first set of non-business models, the IdeaPad line. The IdeaPad Y510 has a cover finish that's made to resemble fabric, though it's just a textured plastic layer over a plastic frame. It measures 14.2 by 10.2 by 1.3 inches, and features a frameless 15.4-inch glossy screen. It has a resolution of 1,280-by-800, yet picture quality for watching videos and editing photos is superb. The full-size keyboard may not be the same as that found in ThinkPad keyboards, but it still provides a very pleasant typing experience. Sound quality is excellent, thanks to the four speaker grilles around the Y510. Also, the Y510 integrates a subwoofer, as the fifth speaker at the base, and has a Dolby Home Theater audio chipset. The reviewer stated that the Y510 has enough productivity muscle to satisfy the regular user. The Y510 lasted 2 hours 58 minutes a charge, which isn’t so bad. You may not be able to configure the IdeaPad Y510 to be a faster machine, but the design and sound quality is enough to make you take a second look.

Lenovo, taking a break from tradition, now offers its very first consumer notebook: the IdeaPad Y510. The Y510’s design is a deviation from the ThinkPad with its distinctive linen-weave texture and frameless 15.4-ince display. The reviewer stated that it offers plenty of features that make it one of the better 15.4-inch systems under $1,000. The glossy display is very attractive, and the being frameless makes it look very sleek. Able to display in 1280 x 800 resolution, the reviewer stated that colors were vivid and that watching a DVD on the system looked quite good. However, the viewing angles are poor and the screen was very reflective. The Dolby Home Theater audio system of the Y510 is nothing short of impressive. Another feature of the Y510 is the facial-recognition software. After registering their faces, the reviewer noted that it was able to quickly recognize them. The biggest trade-off with its low price is the speed of the system. Benchmark tests for the Y510 returned below average results, though the reviewer noted no problems multitasking. Battery endurance was good, lasting more than 37 minutes against the average. The Y510 is a solid, feature-rich notebook you can get for less than $1000.