Lenovo IdeaPad U350

Systems based on Intel's consumer ultra-low voltage (CULV) chipsets—that is, laptops that run on budget-friendly, low-powered processors—are no longer rarities, appearing frequently on store shelves in the form of thin-and-light laptops. In speed, these CPUs rank above netbook processors by a mere grade or two, which isn't a whole lot. In return, though, the power savings can mean a great deal for battery life. The Lenovo IdeaPad U350 ($650 direct) is the latest to join the CULV family. It's a 13-inch ultraportable that deep-sixes the optical drive to achieve super-thin form factor. The U350 can be sluggish at times and the 41-Wh battery is small, but at $650, it's not like Lenovo is ripping you off.

Lenovo

http://www.lenovo.com

• Price as Tested: $650.00 Direct
• Type: General Purpose, Media, Ultraportable, Value
• Operating System: Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium
• Processor Name: Intel Pentium SU2700
• Processor Speed: 1.3 GHz
• RAM: 4 GB
• Weight: 3.6 lb
• Screen Size: 13.3 inches
• Screen Size Type: widescreen
• Graphics Card: Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 4500MHD
• Storage Capacity: 320 GB
• Networking Options: 802.11n
• Primary Optical Drive: External