Ideapad u330 - New owners :-)

So does that mean some may have defective battery?

 

I think so too. Might be worthwhile to install RMClock and throttle down and undervolt.

I wonder how much batterylife one will get with a clean install, many vista services disabled, underclocked and undervolted.

PS. looking forward to your review. When will it be available?

 

i think im the only one with a truely defective battery (atleast from what i have read)

and i am not even getting 1 1/2 hours - on a clean install, with no startup programs allowing to start - about 40 processes running at once.

so i really think im the only one that truely has a faulty one. but then again, i wouldn't like keeping the brightness on 2/10 just to get 4 hours, i like atleast mid brightness, but thats me.

 

If anyone wants to sell theirs without the trouble of returning to Lenovo, let me know! I'll offer $900

 

BBG,

I think I pulled that wallpaper off the Asus M50VM I tried for a couple of weeks. PM your email if you want it.

I didn't do a clean install, just un-installed a few programs and installed others. I deleted most of the icons on the desktop or moved them to the quick launch bar. I left all of the Lenovo specific shortcuts for now until I figure out what they do.

 

Lenovo Ideapad U330 User Review by admlam

 

that sucks to hear there are delays on future shipments, and some of you guys are unhappy with your u330. I clearly have one of the first batches (was the first to post here with initial impressions), and I can honestly say i've had no problems with mine. The rubber feat are fine, it sits nice and level. As i've said a few times already, the screen looks great (NOT overly glossy or hard on the eyes at all). The battery life isn't 5 hours, but I would have been surprised to get that much. On the Balanced power mode (not even PowerSaver), I get 3+ hours of battery life on a full charge, with the screen at 50%... and that's plenty for me. I dont need to use my laptop all day at a location where I can't plug it in if need be.

 

I am also happy with mine.

Must...have...SSD!

 

well processed the return....had to go through technical support first because thats what the return people said and just explained that the battery is faulty, only getting 1 hour and the video card doesnt work either....the first guy i talked to didn't know what the u330 was and i just hung up

but after that, talked to the return people, and at first they said it would be a 15% fee - and i just said, thats funny that your gonna charge me 15% for a defective product you sent me....all it took was that and then the manager gave me a full refund, and they pay for shipping back to them so not too bad.

bought the X200, and went through cpp plus got an extra 5% off with a coupon that expires today so that will be good....for only 3.5 pounds (and thats with the 9 cell), and 9 hours batter life, im sure i will quite enjoy it.


i just thought the u330 was a bit too warm for me and i didnt like the fingerprint magnet glossy top, so i didnt want deal with just sending it in for repairs.

 

what im getting curious about is live cashback....

i canceled an order of the u330 about 30 days ago - yet that $96 is still in cashback and i also have the $95 from the order i actually received and now just returning.

i wonder in 20 days if i will still get both cashbacks and be able to get a free $191....i would say probably not but the fact that the $96 from the canceled order a month ago is still in there makes it a pretty good argument

 

Not going to happen. Microsoft checks to make sure the order went through. Both of your orders will easily be detected as non-existent.

 

I wish the U330 had a slot load drive....would have made almost everything a flush to its case

@kickace....how did you get almost a 100$ live cash back for a U330 when I am only getting 58.46$ (5%) for mine....and this is the one with 3GB RAM at CPP?

 

Now I really don't know if should keep my U330 order or buy an X200 for $180 more shipped... hmmm.

 

Live cashback for Lenovo was 10% at the very beginning, then it disappeared for a bit, and finally went to 5%.

 

To me the two laptops are not comparable to each other. One is an ultra portable and makes many sacrifices to be one.

The U330 might be better referred to as a travel laptop, but not to the extreme level the X200 is. However it has a multitude of features that the X200 lacks.

I know heat issues seem to be the new "popular" complaint. I've been running on the integrated graphics since I got this laptop and it has never gone beyond the "warm" level. Never have I had it be uncomfortable to be on my lap and find it cooler running than my 700M.

I imagine Kickace was experiencing the extreme heat production due to the fact that his laptop was gorging itself on his battery. Coupled with his video card problems it leads me to believe that the battery is not the issue and that the laptop was using more energy than it needed to.

 

I am aware of the differences between the two laptops... they do not need to be comparable to be possible candidates for my purchase. I was looking for something with a small footprint and weight with decent battery life while retaining the ability to play undemanding games and now I am considering abandoning the last requirement for the added portability and battery life.

The U330 weighs one pound less then the T400.
The X200 weights one pound less then the U330.

It would be nice to have the better batter life and less weight for $180 more but I'm sure the graphics power of the U330 and the greater screen size would be nice as well... think they'll ever offer a 9-cell for the U330?

 

I see that you ship date is 9/30. Did you receive any notification from Lenovo saying there are delays. My ship date is also 9/30 and I hope it gets shipped.

 

My order has been delayed several times without notification. Online my order says it will ship on 9/30, when I call they say it will ship the week of 10/06. I have also been told 10/09 and 10/03.

 

lol. Okay. I have also been told 10/6 on the phone, and 9/30 online. I guess time would tell

 

they check this when?

because ofcourse one of the orders have gone through - as i have the laptop right now, but canceled the order so by the time the cash is free'd, the order will already be refunded i suppose.

and if they have been checking for the old canceled order, there not doing a very good job since the cashback is still there, yet canceled a month ago


i'm sure your right, just think its odd that the one that i canceled a month ago is still there....obviously the other one is still there because i havent sent back the laptop yet, been refunded, etc.

 

you might be right, but i can't imagine why, i did 2 clean installs just to make sure somethng wasn't installed wrong and both times, the battery was 1 1/2 hours max on integrated, and the dedicated would not allow to turn on (vista saying they are unable to load the drivers and turn your device on as their is a problem with your hardware). i ofcourse thought it was the drivers, but reinstalled many times, and each time explaining they were successfully installed, upon reboot - both vista and ATI informed me there is a problem with your device, etc

and if you are right - that would explain the heat, but who knows, sending it back tomorrow

 

I would get the x200 but, i cant live without a touchpad. Plus ive never used a thinkpad b4 so it might be hard adjusting to that little knob used to navigate.

 

Kickace when you did the clean installs, did you lose the one button recovery function? and is there an option to create recovery disks.

 

Hey guys,

I'm also in the 10/6 boat (online date of 9/30). For the lucky bunch that already got theirs, has anyone tried undervolting to increase the battery life? And is it still around 3.5 hrs now that you've used the battery a couple of times? The subpar battery performance is really worrying me right now.

 

to all who have yet to recieve their u330s yet:

did u guys order the a model or the b model?
from what i've been reading (here and elsewhere), i think all the u330s that have been shipped have been the a model(3gb ram+320hd). the rest of us, who have yet to get ours, have ordered the b model(2gb ram+250hd) since it seems people who have recieved theirs recieved it in no particular order at least due to original order chronology.

resides that I WANT MY U330 REALLY REALLY BADLY
im using a g4 mac book with a SINGLE CORE 1.2 gh processor right now T.T
yeah im in the 10/6 group 2 through online it says 10/8, even thoiugh i ordered on the 10th

 

I agree with you; from what I've seen only the 3GB/320 have shipped out. I'm still waiting for my lower spec model to ship (ordered 8/25, had 9/23 now 10/6, was "told" mine was being put on a priority list after calling last wends - yeah right). I'm a very patient person but the fact that folks that ordered after me have already received theirs irks me, and the fact that I didn't receive any compensation after repeatedly asking for it bothers me also..

If only all the other laptops out there weren't so craptastic..

 

I have ordered the higher version with 3GB Ram and 320 hard drive.

 

wow my theory just epic failed right there
oh well, as long as i get mine soon i will be content

 

8/25 and you havent received yours yet. Its a good thing your patient, I would be really upset.

 

I ordered the higher spec.

I am in the process of undervolting; should have it done by tomorrow afternoon and will report back with battery life.

 

please post instructions on the undervolting if its successful if u dont mind

 

guide to undervolting:
http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=235824

 

i dont get the point of undervolting. my 3 yr old inspiron 9300 with geforce 6800 ultra (super power eater) gets almost 2 hrs running at max core speed (1.7). screen brightness above 50%. wifi on.

if the u330 cant go anywhere without lasting, mind as well just get another 17in desktop replacement

 

I just received my U330. Battery life is pretty decent for a 6-cell. I get around 3 hrs using conservatively. One flaw with my machine is just that the rubber feet are not even. It's not that bad though, nothing that will make me want to return this notebook.

Also another thing, I opened up cpu-z it reports ddr2 instead of ddr3 as advertised.

 

DDR2? Is this a mistake on lenovo part or they lie on their spec. DDR3 is one of the major reasons why I purchased an U330. :confused2:

 

im not sure it could be cpu-z that is the problem. but if this is true.... i will try to get a class-action going. im pretty sure it's cpu-z that's misreporting. but can someone else confirm?

 

Open it up and check the ram...

 

Happened to one person with the T400 too, I believe its the cpu-z misreporting...really looking forward to getting my U330 and undervolt it.....I believe it should help....and the guide looks really good.

 

CPU-Z misreports the RAM. Calm down.

 

class-action suit... wow remind me not to look at you if i ever walk by you... might get sued...

 

Can anyone else confirm the RAM? I'm at work but I'll check tonight if nobody else gets a chance to open it up.

 

I downloaded RMClock and followed the guide, but it only allows me to configure two different P-States with multipliers 6.0x and 7.0x. Does anyone know how to enable configuration of the processor's other P-States?

 

I ordered the lower-spec U330 on 9/10. Order status shows 10/1 and two different phone reps have stated that it will ship out the week of 10/6. I've read through this thread and it seems that a lot of you are in the same boat. I hope this means they've fixed their manufacturing problems, supply problems, or both.

I've considered canceling my order a few times but I don't think there is anything out there worth the $. I had a PowerBook G4 for 3.5 years until I sold it to buy the U330. Who's heard of an almost 4 year old, heavily used laptop selling for $400? Crazy.

Also, I read that some people got an email requiring them to respond to the email within 5 days or the order would be canceled. Was this wide-spread? I didn't receive the email but, then again, I used my relative's employee discount which may have helped me avoid it.

 

idiotech I am in the same boat. Mine first showed ship date of 9/29, now it is 10/13. However, the Lenovo Reps are saying it will be 10/6.

I think this is an excellent deal of what you are getting vs. price...

 

IDOTECH,

I ordered mine on 9/17/2008 for the higher spec machine. Estimated ship date is 10/01/2008. Never received any email or phone calls about delay ship date. I am not sure if it has anything to do I ordered it through CPP.

I am going to check the next few days and see if they are going to change the ship date.

 

K, I shoot them an email for any update and here's their reply. If they can really ship next week then I am quite satisfy with the short wait - well kind 0f.



Due to a chinese holiday Golden Week . Given this, no orders are being shipped this week. I see that your order is going to ship on the 6th of October given this issue. I didn't realize this could delay your order. If you do have any issues please let me know.

 

samwise, you are right...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golden_Week_(China))

argghhh...

 

Has the RAM been confirmed as DDR3?

And any new data points for the battery life?

 

Seems like everyone's shipping date has been moved to 10/6.....I really hope they do ship the laptop to everyone by this 10/6

 

Yes, it is DDR3.