Lenovo IdeaPad S10

To prevent the previous post in this series from becoming a one-off, one-hit wonder, I have been tirelessly searching the past two weeks for another Blast from the Past.  The inspiration came to me when I saw that Lenovo began selling their IdeaPad S10 netbook earlier this week.  Looking at the IBM WorkPad z50 lying next to my desk.  I began to realize the similarities.

Even though the IdeaPad is much more of a full-fledged notebook than the WorkPad ever was, they occupy a very similar niche and have similar form factors.  The WorkPad z50 for those unfamiliar was a Windows CE-based Handheld PC.  It had a QWERTY keyboard and the trademark red eraserhead trackpoint from the ThinkPads.  It was meant to be an ultraportable companion for a computer when portability was key and a true ultraportable notebook was too expensive or did not have enough battery life.  In this regards, the IdeaPad S10 is the spiritual successor to the WorkPad z50.  Fast forward 9 years, and true ultraportable laptops still cost an arm and a leg.  Netbooks, like the IdeaPad, offer the portability of a small computer without the cost.  They also have limitations, like the WorkPad, in that they cannot do everything a full-sized computer can.

IBM WorkPad z50

The specifications of these two devices are actually quite similar considering they were released almost a decade apart.  In fact, some of the numbers would even be closer if we were to consider the IdeaPad S9, but Lenovo has decided not to sell that model in the U.S.

WorkPad z50 vs. IdeaPad S10

The IdeaPad uses a spinning hard drive, while many competing netbooks use solid state drives (SSDs), which would make the storage numbers even closer.

As I have said before, I own an IBM WorkPad z50.  Unfortunately, the screen is cracked on it now, so I cannot carry it around with me to use it as something to take notes on or check my calendar.  With a wireless card plugged in, I could even surf the internet and check email.  Today, this role could be played by a netbook like the Lenovo IdeaPad S10.  The new class of netbooks that are coming out allow me to do 75% of what I need an ultraportable laptop for at 25% the price.  Some good, old ideas never die.

Similar Posts:

• Netbooks: Fad or Future?
• Are netbooks emasculating?
• Pipe Dream: Netbook Tablet PC
• Here comes another one: New Asus Eee PC 1000HE
• Rumor Mill: Dell Studio XPS 13