Lenovo IdeaPad Y650 4185
Manufacturer: Lenovo Part number: 418534U
- More product information:
- Editors' review
- User reviews
- Specifications
- Accessories
- Manufacturer info
- Bottom Line:
- Online media consumers who want a portable laptop with high style and plenty of screen real estate should give the Y650 a look.
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CNET editors' review
Lenovo IdeaPad Y650 4185 price range: $1,249.00 - $1,621.99
- Reviewed by: Scott Stein
- Edited by: Dan Ackerman
- Reviewed on: 05/07/2009
- Released on: 04/15/2009
The good: Movie-friendly 16:9 screen, thin and light, sturdy and stylish design, good speakers.
The bad: Too much dead space in the keyboard tray; multitouch touch pad isn't well supported.
The bottom line: Online media consumers who want a portable laptop with high style and plenty of screen real estate should give the Y650 a look.
In a media-saturated online world, it's no surprise that whole categories of laptops now seem made to appeal to the home streaming-video connoisseur. Lenovo's IdeaPad Y series, and the Y650 in particular, look tailor-made for those who want to watch TV and media on a big, bright screen with better-than-average audio, and a decor-friendly design to match.
The $1,249 Y650 we reviewed is the higher end of the two fixed-configuration models, which includes a fast 2.53GHz Intel Core 2 Duo P8700 and 4GB of DDR3 memory. The Y650 is the thinnest, lightest 16-inch laptop we've seen, and our only real complaint is the not-quite-full-HD display, which isn't ideal for 1080p content.
| Price as reviewed / starting price | $1,249 / $1,149 |
| Processor | 2.53 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo P8700 |
| Memory | 4GB, 1066MHz DDR3 |
| Hard drive | 320GB 5,400rpm |
| Chipset | Mobile Intel PM45 Express |
| Graphics | Nvidia GeForce G 105M 256MB |
| Operating system | Windows Vista Premium |
| Dimensions (WD) | 15.4x10.2 inches |
| Height | 1.0 inches |
| Screen size (diagonal) | 16.0 |
| System weight | 5.62 pounds |
| Category | Mainstream |
Not long ago, Lenovo was known best for their minimalist, nondescript business ThinkPads. Comparatively, the Y series (part of the company's consumer-targeted IdeaPad line) is eye-popping and clearly targeted for younger media consumers. Designed with sleek materials, the 16-inch Y650 is matte black on the outside, with a slightly rubberized hex pattern and a copper stripe along the edges. Inside, the glossy white keyboard and palm rest area really pops in contrast to the shiny black screen--it comes across as slightly futuristic and very competitive with the aesthetic benchmark set by Apple's MacBook designs.
Carbon fiber helps reduce weight and add sturdiness, and the overall feel is pleasantly rigid. It's also lightweight for its category: 5.6 pounds for a 16-inch screen is hard to beat. The Y650 is very thin considering its considerable screen real estate. The lid, to no surprise, is a two-hander for opening. Spread across your lap, this laptop feels like a Cadillac.
Surrounding the keyboard are stereo JBL speakers, volume control buttons, a OneKey data backup shortcut button, and backlit touch-panel program launcher--which works nicely--with shortcut keys to Dolby audio options and screen brightness settings. The touch pad is large, comfortable, and multitouch capable, covered in a tactile surface that responds with excellent sensitivity. However, support for multitouch is sparse, to the say the least, as opposed to the relatively robust multitouch experience in recent MacBooks.
The built-in 2-watt speakers are boomy for their size, plenty loud enough for personal use (we kept them at midlevel most of the time). Dolby simulated surround even worked, too. For games, having a better-than-average set of speakers paid off. In a laptop this thin, it's nice to have speakers that aren't totally useless.
The 16-inch wide-screen LCD screen offers a 1,366x768 native resolution, which is a bit of a disappointment--no 1080p means that some HD videos won't display at their best. Still, it's enough resolution for 720p content, and the brightness and overall picture quality are excellent for any casual media viewing.
| Lenovo IdeaPad Y650 | Average for category [mainstream] | |
| Video | VGA-out, HDMI | VGA-out, HDMI |
| Audio | Stereo speakers, headphone/microphone jacks, SPDIF | Stereo speakers, headphone/microphone jacks |
| Data | 2 USB 2.0, SD card reader, 1 eSATA | 4 USB 2.0, SD card reader |
| Expansion | ExpressCard/34, | ExpressCard/54 |
| Networking | Ethernet, 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 2.0 | Ethernet, 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, optional WWAN |
| Optical drive | DVD burner | DVD burner |
Other than lacking an ExpressCard/54 slot and a third USB port, its port collection is reasonably complete. The eSATA port isn't a combo USB port, which is a lost opportunity. Large rear rubber feet on the bottom of the chassis give the laptop good support and a slight elevation on flat surfaces. The pop-out DVD drive is front-loading, which may lead to problems in already-cramped places such as airplanes.
With a fast 2.53GHz Intel Core 2 Duo P8700 processor and 4GB of DDR3 RAM, the Y650 seems especially zippy jumping around applications. The discrete graphics processor, an Nvidia G105M, helps with HD video and gaming graphics, but the performance isn't speedy enough to consider this a gaming laptop. In performance tests, the Y650 only handled Unreal Tournament 3 at 21 frames per second--a decent rate to play at, but not ideal. Similar laptops, including the Dell Studio XPS 16, more than doubled that framerate (thanks to the Dell's ATI Mobility Radeon HD3670 graphics).
The Lenovo IdeaPad Y650 ran for 2 hours and 17 minutes on our video playback battery drain test, using the included six-cell battery. That's less than we'd expect from a six-cell battery, but slightly better than the Dell Studio XPS 16. In anecdotal home usage, it chewed up a good chunk of its life during one streaming episode of an hourlong TV show. Still, a 16-inch laptop passes the point where we'd expect to carry it around very often, and it will likely remain tethered to a power outlet most of the time.
Lenovo includes an industry-standard one-year parts-and-labor warranty with the system. Support is available through a 24-7, toll-free technical-support phone line, and the Web site has the usual driver downloads and FAQs.
(Shorter bars indicate better performance)
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1,280x800, 0X AA, 0X AF |
(Longer bars indicate better performance)
Find out more about how we test laptops.
Lenovo IdeaPad Y650
Windows Vista Home Premium SP1 (64-bit); 2.4GHz Intel Core 2 Duo P8600; 4,096MB DDR3 SDRAM 1,066MHz; 256MB Nvidia GeForce G 105M; 320GB Western Digital 5,400rpm.
Dell Studio XPS 16
Windows Vista Home Premium SP1 (64-bit); 2.4GHz Intel Core 2 Duo P8600; 4,096MB DDR3 SDRAM 1,066MHz; 512MB ATI Radeon HD3670; 320GB Seagate 7,200rpm.
HP Pavilion dv7-1285dx
Windows Vista Home Premium SP1 (64-bit); 2.4GHz Intel Core 2 Duo P8600; 4,096MB DDR2 SDRAM 800MHz; 512MB Nvidia GeForce 9600M GT; 500GB Western Digital 5,400rpm.
Asus F50SV-A2
Windows Vista Home Premium SP1 (64-bit); 2.4GHz Intel Core 2 Duo P8600; 4,096MB DDR2 SDRAM 1,066MHz; 1GB Nvidia GeForce G 120M; 320GB Seagate 7,200rpm.
User reviews
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Fastest computer I have ever used
by younggun21 on November 3, 2009
Pros: Processing, customizable, memory, appearance
Cons: The facial recognition software is still in its infancy, keyboard a bit far up (am used to it now)
Summary: I am a college student and purchased this computer after holding off for nearly three years (family desktop was substantial), with that said I am 100% pleased with my decision. ...
Summary: I am a college student and purchased this computer after holding off for nearly three years (family desktop was substantial), with that said I am 100% pleased with my decision.
My lenovo is bar none that fastest computer I have ever had the enjoyment of using. Once I discovered the 64-bit Internet Explorer program, it officially surpassed every need I had in a laptop. I am capable of running numerous programs at once including large powerpoints (gigabite range), internet explorer windows, media player, limewire, all on three different screens (the computer makes it easy to run seperate programs on add-on screens and is capable of running them smoothly).
Negatively, I will mention the veriface is still in its infancy and takes at least ten seconds to boot up and identify the user, especially in low-light conditions. The keyboard is a little far up, however it only took a week to get used to. It would have been better to place it farther down in placement so only the palms of hands are on the empty space instead of half of the arm.
Overall, i am extremely satisfied with my purchase. I for one have used numerous macs in my life and, although I may sound like a mac-basher, I refuse to purchase one simply for the difficulty in both continued and initial use. I feel their opperating system requires me to 're-learn' the computer and that is simply acceptable. It may look similar to a mac but it is lighter, thinner, by far sturdier, and simpler to use. I have not had any problem running any program, including a star-wars game originally produced for windows 95 (tie fighter - still a classic). The zoom feature on the keypad comes in handy when viewing small type anything, and the audio capabilities are second only to a dedicated home system. My girlfriend loves using my computer because the lenovo easy capture software allows for rapid capuring of images using the built in webcam. I can take hundreds of photographs in a matter of minutes by simply tapping the touchpad, great for 'silly moments'. Further, i carry mine to class every day in a neoprene messenger bag designed only for a laptop and a few folders (very condensed), as such i have never felt that the laptop will break or fail me in my commuting. I have seen numerous classmates find their machines could not handle daily commuting and have found that fact to be true only when they need their computers most.
Overall I am extremely satisfied with my purchase and will recomend the brand to anyone (although it does stink that it is a chinese brand, luckily it is manufactured by an American subsidiary. -
Easily the worst laptop I have ever owned.
by LagunaSteve on October 7, 2009
Pros: It's nice looking and I like the layout of the keyboard and USB ports etc.
Cons: This is the slowest laptop I have ever owned. It make me think back to my old 8088 desktop. Lenovo has loaded the machine up with so many junk programs that it just bogs down so terribly that I'm thinking of sending it back.
Summary: The facial recognition - security software makes the boot up process so tedious and long that you're frustrated before you even get logged into your system. I own several ...
Summary: The facial recognition - security software makes the boot up process so tedious and long that you're frustrated before you even get logged into your system. I own several other laptops from Toshiba, Sony and Dell that are all superior to this Lenova.
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Awesome machine, everything i want, nothing i didnt
by jumperbeast13 on August 24, 2009
Pros: The screen provides an excellent picture and glare is minimal
The sound quality is amazing and can match my TV at its middle volume.
With 2.54 Ghz of processing power and 4 GB of RAM this laptop fliesCons: The mouse pad is a little temperamental, it likes to zoom in and out of pages on its own (aka at the slightest touch)
Summary: This machine a wonder, I like to call it the Anti-MacbookPro, it has all the luxuries of a PC but with the eleganat styles of the Mac. I love the ...
Summary: This machine a wonder, I like to call it the Anti-MacbookPro, it has all the luxuries of a PC but with the eleganat styles of the Mac. I love the detail of the HD screen. The mouse pad problem is easily fixed by simply using a mouse, corded or cordless. The keyboard is a little sscrunched at the top but for someone that types with the heels of their hands on the free area of the surface and only moves their fingers, its absolutely perfect. The speed is icredible compared to a 2 GB laptop which i was using previously. Lenovo also has done something different with the machine's capablities, ive been using it for nearly a month now and Vista hasnt crashed once nor have i had any problems with programs shutting down. the only problem with prgrams is the strange inability to use Mozilla firefox with facebook but seeing as Internet explorer is just as fast as Mozilla on the Ideapad, this isnt that big of a deal. In conclusion excellent machine and i would highly recommend it to anyone.
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Screen and sound great. . Keyboard a bit cramped
by radnuke on May 30, 2009
Pros: Bright Screen, Sound, Look and finish are all unique and pleasing
Cons: Cramped keyboard, aircraft carrier sized touchpad and palm rest.
Summary: Got it for about $1100 shipped. . .Vista 64 bit, 4gb RAM, 320gb hard drive. Was going to upgrade to a faster hard drive, but the dozens of screws I removed ...
Summary: Got it for about $1100 shipped. . .Vista 64 bit, 4gb RAM, 320gb hard drive. Was going to upgrade to a faster hard drive, but the dozens of screws I removed just got me to a very compact layout that is not conducive to upgrading. It is very high performance for the money. On-board sound negates me having to carry speakers anymore. That is nice. Screen brightness, and the fact it is driven by LEDs is great at this price range.
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MacBook PC of sorts
by jayescru on May 29, 2009
Pros: Size. Speakers. Makes a great desktop replacement. Very quiet. Screaming fast w/4GB of RAM. I was expecting Vista to be rougher of a transition from XP. I don't think the touchpad is as useless as others make it sound. eSATA (fast) & various outputs.
Cons: Relatively noisy HDD.
Vista is a RAM hog! Idles over 1.25GB.
Some useless software pre-installed. *Remove*
I have not heard anybody comment on the fact that this thing gets HOT gaming. Wouldn't be surprised by a recall.Summary: Nearly every corner screams MacBook on this thing. From the design to the hardware, you can see the similarities. I would consider them cousins. All-in-all, this is an excellent machine ...
Summary: Nearly every corner screams MacBook on this thing. From the design to the hardware, you can see the similarities. I would consider them cousins. All-in-all, this is an excellent machine for the price (<$1200 shipped to my doorstep).
The rule still applies that you get what you pay for. It's only 2 weeks broken-in so keep that in mind. Vista is not as terrible as I was expecting. iTunes 64-bit is a little sketchy on playback, but WMP does fine. As soon as more machines go 64-bit, software will have to improve.
Lenovo corp has had a history of pushing ship dates back. Mine was pushed back 3 times until I contacted billing. Then it miraculously left warehouse. Seemed pretty ridiculous since nothing was customized on it.
Beautiful machine. Highly recommend to anyone looking for a MacBook Pro that can't foot the bill on one.
Specifications
- Manufacturer: Lenovo
- Part number: 418534U
- Description: Select Y650 laptop is equipped with an ambient light sensor that automatically adjusts screen brightness in response to current light conditions. It is feature-rich with roomy widescreen, yet thinner and lighter than most 15" laptops. Features include multi-touch pad and touch-sensitive desktop navigation.
General
- Platform Technology Intel Centrino 2
- Built-in Devices Stereo speakers, Bluetooth antenna, Ambient light sensor, Wireless LAN antenna
- Width 15.4 in
- Depth 10.2 in
- Height 1 in
- Weight 5.5 lbs
- Color Black
- Localization English
- Notebook type Thin-and-light (4-6 lbs.)
- Wireless capabilities IEEE 802.11 n (draft), Bluetooth, IEEE 802.11b, IEEE 802.11g
Processor
- Processor Intel Core 2 Duo P8700 / 2.53 GHz
- Multi-Core processor technology Dual-Core
- 64-bit processor Yes
- Data bus speed 1066 MHz
- Processor features Intel 64 Technology, Intel Dynamic Acceleration, Intel Virtualization Technology, Intel Trusted Execution Technology
- Chipset type Mobile Intel PM45 Express
Cache Memory
- Type L2 cache
- Cache size 3 MB
RAM
- Installed Size 4 GB / 8 GB (max)
- Technology DDR3 SDRAM - 1066 MHz
- Memory specification compliance PC3-8500
- RAM form factor SO DIMM 204-pin
- RAM configuration features 2 x 2 GB
Environmental Parameters
- Environmental standards EPA Energy Star, EPEAT Silver, RoHS
Storage Controller
- Storage controller type Serial ATA
- Storage Controller / Serial ATA Interface Serial ATA-300
Storage
- Floppy Drive None
- Hard Drive 320 GB - Serial ATA-300 - 5400 rpm
- Storage Removable None
- Hard drive type Portable
Optical Storage
- Type DVD-Writer - Integrated
Optical Storage (2nd)
- 2nd optical storage type None
Card Reader
- Card reader type 6 in 1 card reader
- Supported flash memory cards Memory Stick, MultiMediaCard, SD Memory Card, xD-Picture Card, Memory Stick Pro
Display
- Display Type 16 in TFT active matrix
- Max Resolution 1366 x 768 ( WXGA )
- Widescreen Display Yes
- Features Glossy, LED-backlit, VibrantView
- Screen type Widescreen
Video
- Graphics Processor / Vendor PCI Express x16 - NVIDIA GeForce G105M
- Video Memory 256 MB
Audio
- Audio output type Sound card
- Audio codec Realtek ALC272
- Audio output compliant standards Dolby Home Theater
- Audio Input Stereo microphone
Notebook Camera
- Camera Type Integrated
- Sensor Resolution 1.3 Megapixel
Input Device(s)
- Input device type Keyboard, Touchpad
- Features Spill-proof, Volume control, Touch inductive panel, Multi-touch technology
Telecom
- Modem None
Networking
- Networking Network adapter
- Networking / Wireless LAN Supported Yes
- Wireless NIC Intel WiFi Link 5100
- Data link protocol Ethernet, IEEE 802.11a, IEEE 802.11b, IEEE 802.11g, Fast Ethernet, Gigabit Ethernet, Bluetooth 2.1 EDR, IEEE 802.11n (draft)
- Networking standards IEEE 802.11a, IEEE 802.11b, IEEE 802.11g, Bluetooth 2.1, IEEE 802.11n (draft)
Expansion / Connectivity
- Expansion Bays None
- Expansion Slots Total (Free) 2 ( 0 ) x Memory - SO DIMM 204-pin, 1 ( 1 ) x ExpressCard/34
- Interfaces 3 x Hi-Speed USB - 4 pin USB Type A, 1 x Display / video - VGA - 15 pin HD D-Sub (HD-15), 1 x Audio / video - HDMI, 1 x Network - Ethernet 10Base-T/100Base-TX/1000Base-T - RJ-45, 1 x Infrared, 1 x Storage - eSATA, 1 x Microphone - Input - Mini-phone 3.5 mm, 1 x Headphones - SPDIF output - Mini-phone stereo 3.5 mm
Miscellaneous
- Features Hard drive password, Administrator password, Security lock slot (cable lock sold separately)
- Compliant Standards RoHS
Power
- Power device form factor External
- Voltage Required AC 120/230 V
Battery
- Technology 6-cell Lithium ion
- Installed Qty 1 / 1 (max)
- Battery capacity 2000 mAh
- Mfr estimated battery life 2.5 hour(s)
Operating System / Software
- OS Provided Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium 64-bit Edition
- Microsoft Office Ready Includes a preinstalled image of select 2007 Microsoft Office suites. Purchase a Medialess License Kit (MLK) to activate the software.
- Software Media Show, Adobe Reader, Easy Capture, Lenovo VeriFace, Lenovo ReadyComm, CyberLink Power2Go, Windows Live Toolbar, Lenovo OneKey Theater, Lenovo OneKey Recovery, Lenovo OneKey Antivirus, Lenovo Desktop Navigator, Lenovo Energy Management, Microsoft Office 2007 (60 days trial), Norton Internet Security (90 days subscription)
Manufacturer Warranty
- Service & Support 1 year warranty
- Service & Support Details Limited warranty - Parts and labor - 1 year - Pick-up and return
Sustainability
- ENERGY STAR Qualified Yes
- EPEAT Compliant EPEAT Silver
- Greenpeace policy rating (Sept 2009) 2.5
Accessories
- Lenovo Mini Wireless Laser Mouse N10 - mouse (33302456)31.00
- Lenovo Essential Notebook Stand - notebook stand (33710948)59.00
- Lenovo IdeaPad notebook battery - Li (33631827)59.00
- SwissGear Lancer Laptop Backpack - notebook carrying backpack (33686929)55.72 - 63.99
- Case Logic 16" Laptop Sleeve - notebook sleeve (33318997)18.84 - 20.99
- HP Urban Courier Bag - notebook carrying case (33403361)14.99 - 34.95
- SanDisk Cruzer USB flash drive - 32 GB (33544914)58.74 - 139.99
- SanDisk Cruzer Micro - USB flash drive - 8 GB (32631690)18.69 - 29.55
- SanDisk Cruzer Micro - USB flash drive - 16 GB (33032681)27.45 - 79.99
- Lenovo ThinkPad Bluetooth Laser Mouse - mouse (32826425)49.00 - 55.99
- 3BTN SCROLLPOINT OPTICAL MOUSE PS2 USB 800 DPI (20587152)24.00 - 28.00
- Logitech V220 Cordless Optical Mouse for Notebooks (32481206)22.95 - 29.48
- Lenovo ThinkPlus Preferred Pro USB Fingerprint Keyboard - keyboard (31338050)93.12 - 115.00
- Lenovo Wireless Keyboard and Mouse Kit - keyboard , mouse (32318137)72.99
- Logitech Wireless Desktop MK300 - keyboard , mouse (33687687)32.88 - 43.46
Manufacturer info
- Lenovo
- Manufacturer profile
- Browse Lenovo products on Shopper.com
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- Website: http://www.lenovo.com/us/en/
- Address:
1009 Think Place, Morrisville, NC 27560
