Buyer BEWARE! Read the fine print!"

Lenovo S10 comes in lots of configurations, not just different models. Their spec sheets lurk deep in the Lenovo website; complex, densely worded and hard to find, unless you know exactly what you're looking for.

I spent hours trying to activate Bluetooth on my new IdeaPad S10 (model "4231-AGU") until Lenovo Tech Support researched it and told me that Bluetooth wasn't supported on that model. They gave me the number for sales.

All the marketing material and reviews I had ever seen touted Bluetooth as an IdeaPad feature. but sales said "Bluetooth is an option. Didn't you read the spec sheet before you ordered it?"

"Fine", I told them. If its an option, I'll send this one back and pay you for the Bluetooth 'option'. That's when I discovered we weren't in IBMland anymore.

Lenovo wouldn't make it right. Their best offer was a 15% restocking fee plus return postage, And then they would sell me a different S10 model. Or I could just buy an external USB adapter...

I've been a Thinkpad user since 1995 and IBM, for all their faults, took care of me. Sorry, Lenovo. The S10 may be cheap, but my loyalty isn't.

 

"Bluetooth is an option. Didn't you read the spec sheet before you ordered it?"

 

only thinkpad is 'ibmland' as you say it, if anything.

plus you made the purchase. if the original specs had bluetooth and not included in your delivered laptop thats one thing. but if you purchased it with the specs without reading the specs before you paid, thats another. and it happens to be your fault more than anything.

bluetooth is optional on most thinkpads also, even.

 

A laptop is always advertised in its "well-equipped" status, not its "base" model, so it's not out of the ordinary that the S10 would be advertised as having Bluetooth capabilities.

Obviously, it's another story if the particular model you bought was advertised as having Bluetooth, but it doesn't seem to be the case. The restocking fee is standard as well for opened laptops, although it obviously isn't great.

Sorry to hear your troubles, but I'd have to say it isn't Lenovo's fault here.

 

Buy this for $2.46 and solve your problem.

 

Thanks for the link. I hate to lose a USB port, but this looks workable.

 

Those don't always work so well...or at least they don't like my phone.

 

I looked at all the Ideapad S10 models on Lenovo USA's site. I didn't see a single one that offered Bluetooth as an option.

 

Sounds more like a case of "buyer be aware". It's fairly common for computer makers to tout the capabilities of notebooks even if many of those capabilites are actually options rather than standard equipment (such as bluetooth, WWAN, SSD, LED screens etc.). Similarly, it's common for computer makers to send highly-specced machines for review even though most people would never buy all the options.

 

You could always buy a Bluetooth module and install it, they go under the palm rest. I purchased an S10e, also thinking it came with bluetooth, all of the reviews of the model I was getting said it had it, and I knew it was an option before buying it but I thought it was on the model I was getting. I fell under the HORRIFYING realm of hell where the serial number for my S10e IDEApad classified it as being supported by IBM THINKPAD support, yes you read that right and I spent 3 days being bounced back and forth because the two parties couldn't get it right. I personally feel the marketing for the S10 is a HUGE flop and is very unclear and murky. But in the meantime, here is the link for the BT module, cable, and screw on ebay, ALL s10's are BT ready, just some dont have it installed. http://cgi.ebay.com/Lenovo-Ideapad-S10-Bluetooth-2.0-EDR-Module-cable-screw_W0QQitemZ320385271761QQcmdZViewItemQQimsxZ20090617?IMSfp=TL090617187004r27105