Lenovo G530 Review

by Kevin O'Brien

Lenovo offers three lines of notebooks; the ThinkPad, IdeaPad, and the not-so-frequently-mentioned "Value line" series. The Value line currently only includes the G530, a 15.4” notebook offering either an Intel Pentium dual-core or Core 2 Duo processor and Intel integrated graphics. With a starting price of $429, is the Lenovo G530 value notebook worth considering? Read our full review to find out.

Lenovo Value line G530 Specifications:

• Intel Pentium Dual-Core T3400 (2.16GHz, 1MB L2 cache, 667MHz FSB)
• Microsoft Genuine Windows Vista Home Premium (w/ SP1)
• 15.4-inch glossy 16:10 display (1280x800)
• Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 4500MHD
• 3GB DDR2 667MHz RAM
• 250GB 5400RPM HDD
• SuperMulti DVD+/-RW Optical Drive
• Broadcom WiFi (802.11b/g), 10/100 Ethernet, Modem
• 6-Cell 11.1V 53WHr Battery
• Limited 1-year standard parts and labor warranty
• Dimensions: 14.1 x 10.1 x 1.45
• Weight: 5lbs 13.9oz
• Price as configured: $499

Build and Design
The design of the Lenovo G530 is simple yet stylish, having a black MacBook-ish appearance when the notebook is closed. The edges are rounded off and the lid has a matte black finish that is smooth to the touch. The interior of the notebook shares the same color as the lid, but is textured with a rougher matte finish similar to what you would find on unpainted sections of a ThinkPad. Lenovo took the back-to-basics route with the color scheme on this notebook, making it entirely black inside and out.

The chassis is constructed entirely of plastic, but where most budget notebooks might feel flexible or flimsy, the G530 feels like a solid block of sturdy material. When talking about the palm rest on most notebooks, including ThinkPads, notebooks with good support still show some flex under a very strong grip. Somehow squeezing the palm rests on the G530 feels like you are trying to squeeze a rock. Other areas of the notebook share the same toughness, including the keyboard and surrounding trim.

To upgrade components the G530 has easy access panels to the memory and CPU, wireless card, and hard drive on the bottom of the notebook. No components, including the processor, had “warranty void if removed” stickers, making it very easy to handle upgrades or repairs in the future.

Display
The 15.4” LCD is above average compared to most 15.4-16” notebooks, with bright and vibrant colors and decent viewing angles. The panel used is an older 16:10 1280x800 panel, instead of the newer 16:9 1366x768 versions we see in most notebooks today. The screen offers a glossy surface, which helps improve colors and contrast at the cost of added reflections and glare. Compared to “frameless” displays the reflections were tolerable as long as you were not outside under direct sunlight. Screen brightness was adequate for viewing in bright office conditions, but might not cut it outside unless it is an overcast day. Vertical viewing angles were adequate with a broad viewing sweet spot measuring 30 degrees forward or back before colors started to wash out or invert. Horizontal view angles were much better, showing no color distortion at steep angles.

Keyboard and Touchpad
The keyboard is easy to type on, sharing the same comfortable and durable feel as my ThinkPad T60 keyboard and only differing in layout. Individual key action is smooth with no audible click when pressed. The keys are textured with a smooth matte finish, giving decent traction for typing ... unlike the glossy keyboards we are seeing on a greater number of notebooks these days. Keyboard support is excellent, with no hint of flex under strong typing pressure. Media-related keys are limited to touch-sensitive mute and volume up/down buttons located above the keyboard.

The G530 uses a Synaptics touchpad that has good sensitivity and no discernable lag during use. The surface texture is a smooth matte finish that is easy to slide a finger across even when moist. The touchpad buttons are large and positioned directly under the touchpad. I found them easy to trigger, needing only light pressure to activate. Feedback from the buttons was minimal, giving off only a sharp click when pressed. If you prefer to disable the touchpad, the keyboard has a function key that will disable it and light a blue LED in-between the touchpad buttons.

Ports and Features
Port selection is limited compared to other full-size notebooks, offering only four USB ports, VGA-out, and audio jacks. eSATA and HDMI would have been greatly appreciated, but we understand that sometimes in order to cut costs some things have to be sacrificed.

Front: Wireless on/off, audio jacks

Rear: Screen hinge

Left: Kensington lock slot, LAN, VGA, 2 USB, ExpressCard/54

Right: Modem, 2 USB, optical drive, AC power

Speakers and Audio
The onboard speakers are fine for occasionally playing music or watching video, but they were fairly unimpressive as far as notebook speakers go. Bass and midrange were lacking, but given the low-cost nature of this notebook it was expected. Peak volume levels were fine for a small room, but for the best possible audio quality a pair of headphones connected through the audio jack is the best option.

Performance and Benchmarks
System performance of the G530 was good considering it was equipped with an Intel Pentium T3400 dual-core processor instead of a Core 2 Duo like most of the budget models we review. Graphics are limited to integrated only, with the Intel X4500 chipset used in this notebook. While it can’t handle the latest games, it easily copes with standard applications such as Microsoft Word, Firefox, iTunes, and other media applications. It can also handle playing HD movies, but with only VGA out, external video connections are limited. Overall for basic small business or student use this notebook would work just fine.

wPrime processor comparison results (lower scores mean better performance):

Notebook / CPU	wPrime 32M time
Lenovo T500 (Intel Core 2 Duo T9600 @ 2.8GHz)	27.471s
HP EliteBook 8530w (Intel Core 2 Duo T9400 @ 2.53GHz)	30.919s
Lenovo ThinkPad SL500 (Intel Core 2 Duo P8600 @ 2.4GHz)	32.275s
HP ProBook 4510s (Intel Core 2 Duo T6570 @2.1GHz)	36.583s
Lenovo G530 (Intel Pentium Dual-Core T3400 @ 2.16GHz)	38.470s
Dell Vostro 1510 (Intel Core 2 Duo T5670 @ 1.8GHz)	51.875s

PCMark05 measures overall system performance (higher scores mean better performance):

Notebook	PCMark05 Score
Lenovo T500 (2.80GHz Intel T9600, ATI Radeon 3650 256MB GDDR3)	7,050 PCMarks
HP EliteBook 8530w (2.53GHz Intel T9400, Nvidia Quadro FX 770M 512MB)	6,287 PCMarks
Lenovo T500 (2.80GHz Intel T9600, Intel X4500)	5,689 PCMarks
Lenovo ThinkPad SL500 (2.4GHz Intel P8600, Nvidia 9300M GS 256MB)	5,390 PCMarks
HP ProBook 4510s (2.1GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T6570, Intel 4500MHD)	4,192 PCMarks
Lenovo G530 (2.16GHz Intel Pentium Dual-Core T3400, Intel Intel 4500MHD)	4,110 PCMarks
Dell Vostro 1510 (1.8GHz Intel T5670, Intel X3100)	3,568 PCMarks

3DMark06 measures overall graphics performance for gaming (higher scores mean better performance):

Notebook	3DMark06 Score
HP EliteBook 8530w (2.53GHz Intel T9400, Nvidia Quadro FX 770M 512MB)	5,230 3DMarks
Lenovo ThinkPad T500 (2.80GHz Intel T9600, ATI Radeon 3650 256MB GDDR3)	4,371 3DMarks
Lenovo ThinkPad SL500 (2.4GHz Intel P8600, Nvidia 9300M GS 256MB)	2,242 3DMarks
Lenovo ThinkPad T500 (2.80GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T9600, Intel X4500)	809 3DMarks
HP ProBook 4510s (2.1GHz Intel Core 2 Duo T6570, Intel 4500MHD)	748 3DMarks
Lenovo G530 (2.16GHz Intel Pentium Dual-Core T3400, Intel Intel 4500MHD)	730 3DMarks
Dell Vostro 1510 (1.8GHz Intel T5670, Intel X3100)	519 3DMarks

HDTune storage drive performance test:

Heat and Noise
Thermal performance of the G530 is very good thanks to the large chassis, slower processor, and integrated graphics. Under stress the system controlled temperatures very well, and under normal loads the bottom of the notebook and palmrests stayed cool to the touch. Fan noise was minimal, with it staying off under light system loads, and going just above a whisper under intensive use. The one hotspot that stood out on the G530 was the panel beneath the hard drive that warmed up considerably if you were stressing the disk.

Battery
The Lenovo G530 uses a moderately sized 6-cell battery that gives modest performance when not plugged into the wall. In our tests with screen brightness at 70%, wireless active, and Vista set to the "balanced" profile the system stayed on for 3 hours and 29 minutes. Average power consumption during the test was between 14 and 15 watts. A better processor with enhanced low-power modes might give increased battery time, possibly extending battery life beyond 4 hours.

Conclusion
Lenovo really made a great budget notebook with the G530. It feels solid and well built, something that isn’t usually the case when it comes to low-cost notebooks. Styling is very basic, similar to the Dell Vostro or HP ProBook line, and just like the ThinkPad comes in an all-black color scheme. System performance was fine for normal use, and could even handle HD content. Gaming is out of the question, but given its intended market that is hardly a concern. Compared to a Vostro or ProBook I think the G530 feels sturdier and given the price and configuration, the G530 is a better deal. Overall I think Lenovo should be pushing this notebook to small and medium businesses instead of the ThinkPad SL500, since the G530 feels like a much better machine.

Pros:

• Excellent build quality
• Good configuration for the price
• Comfortable keyboard
• Simple, let good looking design

Cons:

• No HDMI or eSATA

Related Articles:

• Lenovo ThinkPad SL500 Review
• Lenovo ThinkPad SL400 Review
• Lenovo ThinkPad SL300 Review

 

G530's keyboard really feels like T60's? Even IdeaPad Y530's keyboard was not quite up to the ThinkPad keyboard, IMO. Impressive.

Thanks for the review.

 

(typing this comment on my 2 year old T60)

The G530 feels worlds above the IdeaPad line or SL series Thinkpads. Excellent support and very good feedback from the keys. I would say it feels more like an Chicony model though, over my current NMB T60 keyboard.

 

I don't understand Lenovo's marketing: why do they have 2 value lines?

 

Very impressive for the price. If I was in the market for a notebook right now this would deserve serious consideration. Nice review!

 

No idea, I wish the would have kept it the 3000 lineup they originally had. That at least had stuff like the C and N series.

 

Kevin, what is your infatuation with budget Lenovo laptops? If we look back in history I recall an absolutely glowing review of the Lenovo C100 and C200 laptops. Rewind 3 years:

http://www.notebookreview.com/default.asp?newsID=3391

You were enthralled by the "Rubbermaid" build quality. And here we are in 2009 and you're lauding praise on another $450 laptop from the same company.



Joking aside, looks like a decent laptop for the price, thanks for the review.

 

This notebook gives many netBooks a run for their money. A big 15.4" NORMAL widescreen, fantastic build quality, and a great keyboard, all for just $500?? Granted, it "only" has a Pentium Dual-Core CPU and integrated graphics, but still, for $500, this is a fantastic deal. If I were on the market for a new notebook and I had a tight budget, this notebook would be it. It's almost unfortunate that I don't need a new notebook yet!

 

Wow this review makes this laptop sound like a great deal. I'll keep this in mind for people looking at budget notebooks.

I think the difference between the IdeaPad and Value lines is that the IdeaPads are Lenovo's consumer line--equivalent to the HP Pavilion or Dell Studio--while the Value line is just that, the cheap budget notebooks--like HP's Compaq Presario (not the business HP Compaq) and Dell Inspiron (the Inspiron becoming Dell's budget line being replaced Studio as the main consumer line).

 

Well I ended up buying my own C100 back then, followed me through about a year at school, then got passed to my mom where its still trucking today (~4 hours of battery life mind you). Finding a good "budget" notebook is always a difficult thing, since we have seen many notebooks on both sides of the scale fall apart after a year if not a few months. I don't know how Lenovo does it, but they make one mean affordable notebook. If Jerry or JR want to chime in they can also back me up on this one, it is one SOLID notebook.

I think a notebook could be painted pink with flowers all over the thing, and if it is built well and performs well it is getting a huge thumbs up. (well maybe not pink, perhaps red or some other cool color )

I really wish Lenovo would have these things in stores so at least someone can see it in person. It is like the ugly stepchild they don't mention at Christmas.

 

Soooo... Now that we have determined that Kevin gets paid off to recommend the cheap budget Lenovo's.... And wants flowers on it....

I kid, I kid, but I may end up getting one of these to replace an aging Powerbook 12".

 

Lenovo should really make more of an attempt to market its laptops in conventional electronic retailers, such as Best Buy. I have seen a few IdeaPad Y530's at Fry's, though, so at least they're taking baby steps.

Great review as always!

 

I would question this as well. Seems like product cannibalization to keep putting out new budget lines. Why not work harder to establish existing product lines?

Still, this looks like a solid performer and for the price its hard to overlook.

 

As ViciousXUSMC has stated again and again, every review **NEEDS** to test the "power-saving" mode for maximum battery life, not "balanced", because that is not the mode users will engage most frequently.

 

Balanced mode ends up being the most relevant for most users, since almost every notebook ships with that mode selected by default. When both modes have the same settings (screen brightness at 70%, set to turn off never, etc) Balanced and Power Saver on most notebooks yield very similar results. Dynamic switching processor modes in balanced mode can go from the lowest to highest clock settings, where power saver is locked at lowest; but under our tests were the computer is sitting under nearly no load balanced stays at the lowest clock mode.

 

While I understand the desire to see battery life numbers for the "power saver" mode in Vista, you could also make the argument that every review NEEDS battery life figures for "power saver" as well as "balanced" and "high performance."

Personally, if a reviewer is only going to pick one power mode for the battery test I feel like it should be "balanced." At least 90% of all notebooks with Vista come preset to the "balanced" (sometimes re-labeled "recommended") power mode. Additionally, the vast majority of average PC users aren't even aware that they can change the power settings in Vista ... so they leave their notebooks in the "balanced" or "recommended" mode and never change it.

Again, we can make the argument that every review should contain all three battery life readings, but if we only pick one it should be "balanced."

 

Looks like it's built off the new Ideapad Y550 chassis without the trim, polish, and finish.

Could explain why there's two value lines...one for consumers and one for businesses.

 

Echoing what a few previous commenters have said- what's the point of this "Value Line"? It seems to overlap with the existing ThinkPad SL500 and IdeaPad Y530/Y550-base models.

Currently there are three G530 models available:
4446-23U: $429- T3400, VHB, 2GB, 160GB, Intel GL40 chipset (Intel GMA 4500M graphics), RealTek b/g wireless
4446-24U: $499- T3400, VHP, 3GB, 250GB, Intel GL40 chipset (Intel GMA 4500M graphics), RealTek b/g wireless
4446-25U: $599- T6400, XP Pro, 3GB, 250GB, Intel GM45 (Intel GMA 4500MHD graphics), Intel 5100AGN

What concerns me is the warranty coverage, which states:
1-Year Limitied Warranty on major electronic components (including battery); 90-day on keyboard, hinges, plastics, power cord, AC adapter

For $549, you can get an IdeaPad Y530 with an LED-backlit display, 2GB DDR3-1066 (faster) RAM, 250GB hard drive and Intel 5100AGN wireless card...

Or for $499, you can get a ThinkPad SL500 with an LED-backlit display, 1.66GHz Intel Celeron Dual-Core T1600 and 1GB DDR2-667 RAM.

I realize that the Y530 is being phased-out by the the Y550. The Y550 has a 16:9 display, which differentiates it somewhat. But the G530 vs. the SL500 still seems redundant.....

 

Agreed. I think every editor in our office considers the G530 to be a better budget business notebook than the SL500 ... at least in terms of build quality.

I personally wish Lenovo dropped the SL series or at least dropped the "current" SL series notebooks and replaced them with new SL series notebooks identical to the build of the G530.

 

Could you link to the source of that warranty information? That seems really off.

 

Sure, it's on page 9 (of 12)- LINK

At the top of page 9, you see the three models currently for sale (itemized in my original posting). At the bottom right corner of the same page, the warranty information is listed.

It may be an error (Lenovo is notorious for listing erroneous specs on their site). If you scroll up to page 8 of the same link, those G530 models just show a standard 1-Year Limited Warranty. Note- you can also access this PDF from the Value Line product page- LINK The bottom, right corner has a link under 'Tech Specs'

 

I haven't seen/used any of the SL-series, but I've heard numerous people say "they're NOT 'real' ThinkPads"! Their (SL) purpose has never been clear to me. They have some features oriented toward non-business users (HDMI, Firewire, and Glossy "VibrantView" Display options). But they also have features like standard LED-backlit WXGA displays, optional discrete graphics and high-resolution display upgrades. To the casual observer, the SL400/SL500 appear to be better-equipped than the R-series!?!?

The SL300 has been missing from the Lenovo website for several months now. I wonder if sales of the IdeaPad U330 saw an increase after the SL300 was dropped?

 

Lenovo is hardly any different than any other brand when it come the the lines.

ThinkPad W500 = Precision M4400 (Workstation)
ThinkPad T500 = Latitude E6500 (True business class)
ThinkPad R500 = Latitude E5500 (Budget business class)
ThinkPad SL500 = Vostro 1520 (consumer/business hybrid--sadly more consumer than business)
Value Line G530 = Vostro A860 (El cheapo laptop)

The line that really puzzles me is the R and E5xxx. They seem like they were geared toward the small business segment till recently when they released the Vostro and SL lines. And is it just me or have these line started to vanish altogether?

It could be noted however that the G530 isn't labeled a "business" notebook like the Vostro A860 so it's actually competing in the consumer line as well.

IdeaPad Y530 = Studio 15 (Consumer)
Value Line G530 = Inspiron 15 (Cheap consumer)
??? = Studio XPS (High end consumer/low end gaming)
??? = Alienware (True gaming)

If anything I think Dell's line is more confusing than Lenovo. Do you really need three consumer brands? Or for that matter five different 15 inch lappies for business alone? I guess I shouldn't really complain because, while confusing, it means more option to choose from.

 

Historically, the R-series has been the entry-level ThinkPad starting (I think) with the R30. The 14.1" R61 and T61 and the R400/T400 are virtually identical in size/look/construction. The R500 lacks the magnesium-alloy roll cage in the lid to protect the display and it's made from PC/ABS plastic. The R400/T400/T500 are all made from Carbon-Fiber Reinforced Plastic and have the Roll Cage in the base and lid. The disparity between the R400 and R500 is puzzling...but makes the R400 (or a 14.1" R61 in the Outlet) a heckuva deal!

The SL-series is all ABS plastic with no magnesium alloy frame/support. Their reliability and durability isn't up to ThinkPad standards and they've actually tarnished the ThinkPad brand a bit, IMO. The SL500, R500 and G530 all seem to be aimed at the same budget user.

The Dell Latitude E5400/E5500 make very little sense to me, too. The Vostro 1520 and Latitude E5500 are also aimed at the same basic user group???

Dell is a whole 'nother matter. At present, they actually have four consumer lines (not counting Alienware)- Inspiron, Studio, Studio XPS and XPS (being phased out). The Studio and Studio XPS models have nothing in common (and the Studio 15/17 feel cheaper than any Inspiron models...I own a Studio 1535, it stinks). The Inspiron is the Mini and budget/entry-level 13.3-15.6" models. Now ther Studio 15 (1555) is a 15.6" model, hopefully higher quality than the 1535/1537!

The other question, both for in the Lenovo IdeaPad and Dell Studio lines- does it make sense to have both a 15.6" and 16.0" model? It seems like such a small difference in size?

 

# Simple, let good looking design
I think you meant 'yet'.

 

There are currently three configurations offered on the Lenovo website-

4446-23U: $429, T3400, Vista Basic, 2GB RAM, 160GB HD, B/G wireless
4446-24U: $499, T3400, Vista Home Premium, 3GB RAM, 250GB HD, B/G wireless
4446-25U: $599, T6400, XP Pro, 3GB RAM, 250GB HD, Intel 5100AGN

The 23U/24U use the Intel GL40 chipset, while the 25U uses the GM45 chipset. The 23U/24U also have a 0.3mp webcam vs. 1.3mp on the 25U.

Lenovo has done NOTHING to advertise the IdeaPads or this new Value Line...the IdeaPad models, in particular, could be much more successful if people knew they existed!

 

I agree. Lenovo was making a run at the consumer market with the IdeaPads but they've totally bombed in getting there product out there. If they got IdeaPads out there and pushed them to the home entertainment crowd boasting the surround sound they'd be a lot more popular. Is it just my imagination or did they have a ad on TV awhile back for the Y510 were guy got shipwrecked and came home all wild looking and nobody recognized him till his IdeaPad Veri-Face thingy recognized him? Pretty cheesy now that I think about it, but I'm sure it probably got some attention.

 

Kevin, thank you for your review. I've been curious about the G series and there are no other reviews out there...Kudos to NBR.

I think the point that get's lost in the discussions is that with the value line Lenovo has created is a extremely affordable yet DURABLE notebook. When I have read reviews on Dell's value line...the common theme is "you get what you pay for".....poor build, creaky cases. Lenovo has brought to market (or emerging markets) a great value line notebook.........that pays homage to its Thinkpad heritage....just like the Ideapad, very solid. I did notice that the keyboard is the exact same as my Y530.


Drake

 

The closest thing I've seen to an IdeaPad advertisement was on a Windows Vista commercial where a little kid was using a Y650.

Lenovo's probably more widely advertising it in China, its biggest market, though.

 

The comments about the G530's solidity and build quality are VERY impressive. The same can't be said of most entry-level (and many mainstream) laptops! Not to pick on Dell, but the quality of the materials used in their Inspiron 1545 are substantially inferior to those used in the 1525 that it replaced. I have the mid-level Dell Studio 1535 and the construction quality and plastics used are among the worst I've ever seen. It has about the same structural rigidity as jello!

Based on this review, I'd say this is likely the best sub-$500 full-size notebook currently available. I just placed an order for the $429 model for a friend's daughter. Originally, I had suggested a base configuration of the Toshiba Satellite L305, but the G530 is a little cheaper and better looking (not glossy), IMO.

 

You're probably right. I've read that Lenovo's greatest focus is on China and "emerging markets". They have far less competition and/or higher overall demand than the ultra-competitive North American market.

The lack of exposure in the retail market is a BIG issue, too. The only brick-and-mortar chain that carries any IdeaPad models is Fry's Electronics (34 stores natiowide, 25 of them in California and Texas). Circuit City sold the Y430 for a few months prior to their demise. If I were them (Lenovo), I'd try to get the new Y450/Y550/Y650 into Best Buy (by any means necessary).

 

I love my R61... to a large part due to the unique track-point... (though I've noticed that both Dell and Toshiba have "business" models with similar trackpoints). In any event, does anyone know if the keyboard from a R or T series would fit on this budget laptop? Would the plugs be the same? The G530 has basically everything I would need, except the lack of a trackpoint...

 

I had an R61 14.1" for almost a year and it was easily the best laptop I've ever had. I got bored with it and sold it...bad move!

I don't know if the keyboards are interchangeable or not....someone in the Lenovo forum might have a better idea....

 

looks good!

 

Sorry a bit out of topic from the original thread, but could you post some link stated R400 does have roll cage?

Based on the spec breakdown above, so actually R400 and R500 is having substantial difference in sense of roll cage implementation? Why they dont apply the same roll cage in R500 as in R400? (as in same logical comparison between T400 and T500?)

 

The Thinkpad Tabook (warning, PDF) describes the R400 as having the "ThinkPad Roll Cage and Top Cover - Roll Cage (one-piece magnesium)", while the R500 has the "ThinkPad Roll Cage (one-piece magnesium frame)", indicating that the R500 does not have the Roll Cage display protection, presumably to lower the weight of the bulkier R500.

Both the T400 and T500 have the Thinkpad Roll Cage and Top Cover.

 

Here's a link to the R-series "Features" page on Lenovo's website- LINK (look to the right under the header "Durable design").

It states- "On 14.1" widescreen models, the Top Cover Roll Cage gives extra protection to the display. Combined with the ThinkPad Roll Cage in the notebook body, this innovative new feature enhances the R Series reputation for toughness and durability."

The R400/T400/T500 have the Top Cover Roll Cage, R500 doesn't. The previous generation R61 14.1" and the 14.1"/15.4" T61 models all had the Top Cover Roll Cage, but not the 15.4" R500. It doesn't make a lot of sense, but it made the 14.1" R61 an awesome deal...and the R400 also, if you don't need dedicated graphics...

 

I'm in the market for a laptop and the G530 seems right for what I want (business use in remote offices with plug-in power). What would be the real-word difference between the three models of the G530? I'd prefer Win XP but that's the $599 model. What would I lose by getting, say, the $429 one? For convenience, here are the specs I copied from an earlier post:

4446-23U: $429, T3400, Vista Basic, 2GB RAM, 160GB HD, B/G wireless
4446-24U: $499, T3400, Vista Home Premium, 3GB RAM, 250GB HD, B/G wireless
4446-25U: $599, T6400, XP Pro, 3GB RAM, 250GB HD, Intel 5100AGN

The 23U/24U use the Intel GL40 chipset, while the 25U uses the GM45 chipset. The 23U/24U also have a 0.3mp webcam vs. 1.3mp on the 25U.

 

I found this comment on Amazon about the 4446-25U:

"be advised that it comes with both XPPro and Vista installed, but it was built for Vista. You will not get any XPPro disks and will have to burn your own. I was given this information by Lenovo (IBM). Be sure to burn those disks before you start installing any other software."

How would you burn your own XP Pro disks from an installed XP Pro?

 

I think this is a great buy. I just bought the 4446-25U (T6400) model.
Since the 4446-25U has Core 2 Duo CPU socket, GM45 Express Chipset, and a SATA hard drive it should be easy to upgrade.
Add a T9600 Core 2 Duo (2.8 GHz), more RAM, and a 500 GB 7200 RPM SATA and you have a machine that is about as good as they get.
Unless you plan on gaming on a laptop this is a very top notch performer.

 

>Unless you plan on gaming on a laptop this is a very top notch performer.<

Not a gamer, just remote-offices business use and possibly some Photoshop. I ordered the 4446-25U yesterday, that model mainly for its Win XP. I'm sure it will be fine for me with no mods. I'll be curious to see how it displays photos. I haven't met a laptop yet that did a good job; in any event, that's a secondary use.

 

Thank you for the awesome review. After much deliberation and research(this is my first lappy)your review is what sealed the deal for me on this particular machine. However, your review did not do this awesome laptop the justice I feel that it deserves. I purchased the exact configuration a few days ago and received it today and haven't turned it off since. I feel that this particular laptop is a steal at this price. Thanx to you and everyone here at notebookreview.com I am now the proud owner of a brand spanking new Lenovo G530 and I couldn't be happier with my purchase.

Thanx again and again,
rodericke

 

After going to nearest Lenovo dealer, I found this budget notebook is very fantastic. Solid construction, excellent keyboard which flex was almost non existent.
I also found the smaller version, G430 which sports Pentium Dual-Core T4200, 14" WXGA, 320GB 5400RPM HDD, and a dedicated GPU; an nVidia GeForce 9300M. The other specs are same with G530. Lenovo G430 with specs I mentioned costs around $600 before rebate in most ASEAN countries.

 

My new G530 4446-25U, intended for remote office and traveling use, quickly became my one-and-only computer when my well-seasoned Dell desktop died. I had everything except installed programs on an external drive so I just plugged that drive (and the keyboard and large monitor) into the G530 and I was off and running.

There is one continuing annoyance with the G530, but I've decided to live with it and hope for a firmware or driver upgrade to fix it. It often (several time a day) loses and then regains WiFi network connection. And once or twice a day it doesn't fix itself and I have to delete the WiFi driver and restart so the computer will automatically reinstall the driver. It's a known issue with Lenovo support.

 

I forgot, does the G530 use Access Connections for handling network stuff?

 

Bit stupid question but i have to ask, not that im noob conserning pc's, but this question seems appropriate to ask here rather than research

So here it goes - If its Core Duo, it means it has 65nm CPU's and if i buy one for example with T3400, then i wont be able to upgrade later on to Core2Duo, right?
Also, what about RAM, it doesnt support DDR3 in either versions be it Core Duo or Core2Duo CPU?

Thanks in advance !

 

I don't know enough to answer that question.

 

yeah...I was ordered one the G430...they say it's still shipping.
maybe on July they'll arrive....can't wait to use it

but what I'm concerning rite now is the GF 9300M.
when I read it on http://www.notebookcheck.net/NVIDIA-GeForce-9300M-G.11359.0.html.
they say

does that mean the 9300M will look alike with his brother GF 8400GS which defect.

if it does....then I'll regret to buy it

 

They are technically related while the manufacture screw-up was hardware related, so I wouldn't be concerned. I had problems with those bad chips, so I punish them by getting an ATI based notebook, but I'm pretty sure they've learned from that disaster.

 

I bought a g530-444623U and Yes it does use Access Connections. It's a very nice laptop. Sad that I bought the one with the Vista Basic, Luckily enough for me I've switched to Windows 7 and the laptop FLYS, also Have a copy of Windows Vista Ultimate and it runs great also. paid 450.00. Good investment.