Lenovo Notebook 3000 N200
The n100, the last lenovo notebook we looked at was, that spode reviewed back in september. Cheap, was it, to the more exclusive thinkpad range chunky and cheerful alternative, that lenovo also produce, and to gain a recommended award it impressed us enough. However, if bigger brother, you want something with a bit more oomph the n100 has, the uncannily named n200.
In the time since spode reviewed the n100, been released, vista has, advanced, intel has released a new set of mobile processors and overall the industry has. So, accordingly, updated its entire n-series, lenovo laptop has.
As standard the n100 series now comes with windows vista, minimum of 1gb of ram (which, need for running vista), you will, and larger 120gb hard drive. Also new cpu options with the intel core 2 duo t5300 being the best of the bunch, there are. The basic chassis design and 15.4in 1,280 x 800 resolution screen remain from the previous version.
The n200, then, with a high resolution 1,680 x 1,050 15.4in display being its prime asset takes over from where the n100 series leaves off. Backed up by nvidia geforce go 7300 graphics, this is, to 4gb of ram up, and faster intel core 2 duo t7100 and t7300 cpus. The super duper power saving ones that form part of the santa rosa centrino platform, these new cpus are. Unfortunately, accompanied by turbo memory they are not, gigabit ethernet or draft-n wireless so you will get the full santa rosa experience not. Looking at today has an intel core 2 duo t7300 running at 2.00ghz coupled with 1gb of ram and a 120gb hard drive, the particular model I am. For much customisation so the closest matches we could find were the ty2b4uk and ty2b3iv models this particular specification was not available on lenovo’s website and they cater not which have slightly different memory and cpu configurations.
The overall design of the n-series chassis, one thing that hasn’t changed since last year is. With exactly the same size and weight as its predecessor, dimensions of 360mm x 267mm x 31.4mm and weighing in at 2.8kg it is, which for this type of notebook is about average. To the tried and tested silver and slate combination with the former adorning the outside and the latter blanketing the inside the colour scheme also sticks. As business oriented model I would not hold this staid look against the n200 but it does anything to make it stand out from the crowd either not.
Further emphasised by the inclusion of a fingerprint scanner below and to the right of the keyboard, the n200s business credentials are. To swipe your finger to log into windows or enter a password on a website this works in conjunction with preloaded software enabling you. For like me someone, used the same few passwords for years, that has, company policy is to regularly change passwords they can save much support calls about forgotten passwords, this seem like overkill but if you are.
Best described as sufficient, like many notebooks of this price the keyboard on the n200 is. Quite responsive giving you just enough feedback to enable rapid touch typing, the keys are a decent size and are. Overall it compares to the legendary keyboards found on the more expensive thinkpad models but it is not a complete dog either not. The old problem of the left ctrl key being displaced by the fn key, the one real stinker that lenovo has trodden in is, in the bottom left corner. This detracts from an otherwise perfect layout which is rather a shame
