Lenovo ThinkPad SL510 Review

When most people think of the Lenovo ThinkPad brand, they think of the T-series notebook with the alloy unibody chassis, rubberized black paint, and boxy looks. What most people don't realize is Lenovo offers a small business line, called the SL-series, which offers most of the same features at a much lower price. In this review we take a look at the 15.6" Lenovo ThinkPad SL510, and find out if it is a worthy alternative for users who don't want to shell out for the higher-end ThinkPad models.

Lenovo ThinkPad SL510 Specifications:

• Windows 7 Professional
• 15.6" HD 1366 x 768 WXGA Anti-glare
• Intel Core 2 Duo P8700 (2.53GHz, 1066MHz FSB, 3MB Cache)
• 3GB DDR3 RAM (2GB x 1GB)
• 320GB Hitachi 7200RPM Hard Drive
• Intel 5100AGN, Bluetooth 2.0
• Intel X4500M Integrated
• Built-in 2.0M web camera
• 6-cell 10.8v 52Wh
• Dimensions: (LxWxH) 14.9 x 9.75 x 1.45"
• Weight: 5lbs 11.5oz
• MSRP: $1,224 ($989 Street)

Build and Design
The SL-series ThinkPad is the toned-down version of the more rugged T-series. The exterior shell is entirely plastic, but with a softer finish with rounded edges and a smooth texture, instead of the rubberized paint on the more expensive models. The shape is also different, with sloped sides, instead of the flat sides seen on the higher models. Overall it has a more consumer appearance that might be more inviting to some users. Compared to the SL500, the SL510 has a few aesthetic changes, including a redesigned screen hinge assembly, and a few minor body tweaks. Side by side though, they still look almost identical.

Build quality is nice compared to consumer-targeted notebooks, but a step under the T400 and T500, which offer alloy unibody frames and stronger body panels. The notebook still has a very solid feel to it, with very little chassis flex.

The screen cover provides adequate protection for the screen, preventing visible distortion under moderate finger pressure. The keyboard and palmrest have good support, only flexing under strong pressure. The plastics feel durable enough to resist cracking under mild abuse, and the matte-black plastic finish shouldn't make scratches stand out as much as they would on a glossy notebook. For a small-business user, the SL-series is a nice step up from the average multimedia-oriented consumer notebook without the cost of a high-end business notebook.

Upgrades and expansion are easily handled through panels on the bottom of the chassis. The primary panel gives you access to the processor, system memory, and hard drive. No "warranty void if removed" stickers were found anywhere. The two smaller access panels uncover an open mini-PCIe slot for a WWAN card and a sim-card slot when the system is equipped with 3G.

Screen and Speakers
Lenovo offers both matte and glossy screen options on the SL-series, both WXGA resolution. Our review model included the standard matte-panel, but if you enjoy the vibrant colors and increased contrast of a glossy screen, that option is available. The matte WXGA panel was average compared to consumer notebooks, and could have really benefited from a higher resolution. Color and contrast were weaker than normal, but this is common for basic non-glossy displays. Viewing angles were fine for an office setting where the notebook wouldn't be moved around a lot, but on your lap it was easy to see colors starting to shift. In testing we saw colors starting to shift when tilted 10 degrees forward or back. Horizontal viewing angles were better, staying true past 70 degrees from each side. Viewing brightness was perfect for bright office conditions, and with the matte finish partially visible outdoors.

Speaker performance was average for a basic mid-size desktop replacement notebook. Bass and midrange were lacking but for listening to streaming radio or YouTube videos it was fine. The SL510's peak volume level was fine for a small room, but felt lacking compared to other consumer notebooks. For a better experience, using the analog audio out to a pair of external speakers would be a better option. The best alternative would be using the HDMI out to pass a digital audio stream to an outside stereo system.

Keyboard and Touchpad
The keyboard was very comfortable to type on and felt very similar to the keyboards on the T-series ThinkPads. The layout is different, missing the extra row of function keys at the top, but the main area has been left intact. Key action was great, with a soft spring movement, giving off a mild click when pressed. Key spacing is nearly identical to regular ThinkPads, with barely any difference noted switching between my T60 and the SL510. The biggest difference is the newer keyboards are slightly quieter. On the left side of the keyboard are some quick-access buttons, used for muting system volume or the microphone, as well as adjusting volume levels.

The touchpad is an ALPS model that looks and feels identical to the newer textured ones seen on the latest ThinkPad models. It is flush mount to the palmrest, and given a soft texture that is supposed to help with traction under varying conditions. I am personally a fan of the old matte plastic style, but given enough time the newer one might grow on me. In general I found the touchpad to be as responsive as the Synaptics model found on higher-end ThinkPad models. The only weakness I saw was tap to select, where the cursor would sometimes not let go of a selected object without a very deliberate click. This is common with many ALPS touchpads, but can be avoided most of the time.

Ports and Features
Port selection was surprisingly good, including three USB ports, an eSATA/USB combo port, HDMI, VGA, and audio jacks. Lenovo also included an SDHC-card slot and ExpressCard/34 slot for expansion. The HDMI-out and eSATA were greatly appreciated, and I almost wish they offered those on more ThinkPad models.

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Performance and Benchmarks
System performance was great, with a quick 2.53GHz processor, 3GB of system memory, and a 7200RPM hard drive helping to keep load times to a minimum. For standard office productivity applications the system had no problems, barely breaking a sweat. Since the SL-series is slightly more multimedia oriented, Lenovo includes an HDMI port on the side to connect the notebook to an HDTV. In our multimedia tests the system had no problem playing 720P or 1080P video in the background while handling more productive tasks up front. Gaming with the Intel X4500 integrated graphics was out of the question for modern games, but previous generation games were possible with heavy tweaking. The 3DMark06 synthetic benchmark below shows how the SL510 provides better gaming performance than other notebooks designed for small business, but doesn't come close to the gaming performance of a consumer multimedia laptop like the Dell Studio 15. For its intended market of small businesses, the SL510 mixes the perfect blend of performance and price.

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

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

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

HDTune storage drive performance test:

Heat and Noise
The system managed heat fairly well in most area, but did leave a few spots warm to the touch. The panel covering the hard drive was stood out on the bottom as the warmest spot, which is most likely caused by the 7200RPM drive that consumes more power and throws off more heat. Under mild stress the plastic panels stayed within very reasonable temperature ranges, without any uncomfortable areas. Fan noise minimal, with the fan staying off the majority of the time while running on battery power, occasionally turning on to bring fresh air through the system. Under heavy stress levels fan speeds would pick up, but still not get overly loud.

Battery Life
Our review unit of the SL510 included the midrange 6-cell battery with a capacity of 52Wh. With its older CCFL-backlit screen, power consumption was higher than the more efficient T-series, using roughly double the amount of power at idle. Under a light load where the T400 or T500 might be using 6-8 watts of power, the SL510 was at or above 12 watts. In our main test with the screen brightness set to 70%, Windows 7 on a balanced profile, and wireless active the system stayed on for 3 hours and 53 minutes. A larger battery would have helped, and is highly recommended if you plan on using this notebook to travel.

Conclusion
The Lenovo ThinkPad SL510 proved to be a reasonable compromise between price and quality. While it doesn't offer the nicer touchpad or rugged build quality of the T-series, it retails for almost half the starting price. The SL-series is a good option for users looking for only basic qualities in a notebook like a standard WXGA screen or integrated graphics. It still offers a great keyboard and extended batteries if you plan on typing documents all day without breaking the wallet. Overall if you are looking for a notebook that will be sitting on a desk most of the day and staying out of harm's way, the SL510 is worth taking a look at.

Pros:

• Good keyboard
• Better than average build quality
• Low starting price for a ThinkPad

Cons:

• Few power-saving screen options
• Higher power consumption than more expensive models

Related Articles:

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

 

Thanks for the review.

I thought WXGA was 1280 x 800. Maybe the manufacturers also call 1366 x 768 on the hope that purchasers won't notice the difference, but we should be helpful and call these wider screens WWXGA. I also find it strange that someone is producing a panel with 16 : 9 aspect ratio but with a CCFL backlight - a mixture of new fashion and old technology.

John

 

Seeing the change from 16:10 to 16:9 on the SL I wonder if I should buy a T500 as long as sane resolutions are still available. :-/

 

Nice review!! And thanks!!

Looks like a good alternative, and a better model than those Probooks

 

I don't understand why Lenovo sacrifice PgUp, PgDn, and possibly number pad by locating media buttons and lights on the sides.

I wonder if there's any big difference in built quality between SL510 and G550.

 

Is it me, or this laptop looks a lot thicker than the last SL series?

 

Nice Review, seems like the SL line is analogous to ProBook and Vostro.

It does seem a bit thick doesnt it?

 

The SL510 feels a good deal better than the G550, although I am not sure which would be more "durable". The G-series has the Rubbermaid feel going for it.

 

Kevin, does it feel bigger than the SL500? The SL500 looks a lot lighter and thinner and smaller than the SL510

 

holy thickness batman...is it just the angle or really that thick?

 

I dont think that is a con but you get what you pay for.

 

Ugh, that seems like a major step back for Lenovo. I realize the SL is barely even a Thinkpad, but that's back to R/A30 days from the looks of it.

Alps instead of Synaptic? That's just inexcusable.




I'm going to have to hug my W500 and cry myself to sleep tonight.

 

The hinge and speaker grille design looks just hideous in my opinion.

 

Seriously, this looks thicker than my brick!! (laptop)

 

Weight and size are roughly the same as the SL500. If you look at the specs in the two reviews, the SL500 was actually heavier, but only because that model included the 9-cell battery.

 

And how big is it? Cause the pics seem the laptop height is double the ODD (roughly), unless it is using the X301's ODD (which I highly doubt so) this thing is possibly thicker than my Dell Vostro (and this one is THICK).

 

Both are around 1.5" thick.

Back shot of the SL500 showing the power port for height:



Side shot of the SL510 showing the power port for height:



Both are on the chunky side

 

It is thicker than mine...wow! *drops dead*

WAIT! How many power plugs does this thing have?!?!?!?
One on the side and one on the back??

 

4, one on each side, Lenovo included 3 power bricks for backup.



One is a picture of the SL500, other is a picture of the SL510

 

ROFLOL



Now I felt so....distracted (read: stupid)

 

This is quite bulky, but then again, the SL500 was too. The extra width from the 16:9 screen makes the bezels on either side of the keyboard look huge though.

 

I'm not sure if unibody is the best term for describing the T series? I thought that the T series have rubberized plastic over a magnesium alloy support frame? I'm pretty sure that unibody refers to construction where the exterior is also the support (if you're wondering, I prefer the former over the latter).

 

Wow a 16:9 thinkpad.

I never though i would see the day/

 

Well it's the SL series, so I'm not too surprised. Hopefully it won't leak into the real Thinkpad line though, and cause an entire industry trend to shift even the highest end business notebooks into 16:9.

*Hugs EliteBook* 1920x1200 tastes so good in it's 16:10 glory. HP can pry my 16:10 from my cold, dead fingers.

 

The latitude Z is super high end and is a 16:9. (Sadly) If the rest of the line switches to 16:9, i'll prob. go to whoever's doing 16:10 still, which will probably be Lenovo based on their fanbase that hates even minuscule changes to the ThinkPad design.

 

it's the panel manufacturers deal, eventually everything will be 16/9. it's sad.

 

I was wondering why this thing looks so much more ugly than T series, when it shares many of the same design elements. Perhaps 16:9 is why.

 

Came across this site from HongKong that put up simple test of the SL510 and 410... they claimed that the delete button is not easy to locate?
http://www.eprice.com.hk/nb/talk/?prod_id=804&tid=822

 

Thanks for the review.

How does the build quality compare to the SL500 (which was really not up to scratch)?

 

If you are used to the ThinkPad layout it is in the same spot, 3 function keys over from the far right.

 

LOL
Well, to be honest, id prefer G530 over this one

 

16:9? On a Thinkpad??

Just what on earth was lenovo thinking???! (pun intended).

*faints*

 

Come on, when using small icons in the Windows 7 taskbar and keeping IE8's default panels you'll still have ~620px in height to browse the internet.

Awesome!

 

I like my 1200 vertical pixels in my 15.4'' screen just fine. ^^

Thats what I was thinking too. The T400s has a somewhat unibody design but thats about it.

 

Kevin - I have questions, and would like some opinions...

- the SL510 keyboard looks smaller than on the T60 - or is that because the SL510 is wider? (i.e., has much wider edges)?
How would you compare the processor? My current T60 has the T7200 2G processor. Is this one appreciably better?

- I was just looking at the T500s but they are VERY pricey - how would you compare the SL510 to the T500? especially considering I am used to the T60?

I do a lot of photo-correcting for websites, and tend to have several programs open at once, plus a bunch of tabs in Firefox. No gaming, but do like CD/mp3 ripping/burning from vinyl & cassettes.

I also looked at the Dell Latitude & Toshiba Tecra, both also pricey - I am hopelessly addicted to trackpoints. I've loved my previous 2 Thinkpads (true-IBMs), especially the keyboards, but this T60 hasn't been quite as good otherwise. My way-back Toshies w/trackpoints were 'meh'.

My BIG concern is what I've been hearing about Lenovo support vs the old IBM support - I've read it's gone SERIOUSLY downhill - and just from my limited experience the last year I guess it's true. Very sad.
Disappointingly, it appears that DELL support has ALSO gone downhill, and Tosh never has been great.

My T60 is hopelessly bogged down, in part due to what is now a ridiculously small 100 G hard drive - well it SEEMED big at the time, but just in the last 3 years every software I use seems to have gotten incredibly bloated.
I never had problems with Vista, but I think cause it was a clean factory install.

I also considered just upgrading this T60 with the 320G 7200 HD + more memory (from 2G to 4G) but since I'd be re-installing I'd also want to buy Win7, so by that time I just don't know if it's cost, not to mention TIME, effective on this 3 year old laptop.

Anybody wish to give an opinion? Upgrade, or buy? and if so, to what?

 

Well, I wound up buying the SL510 - and unfortunately, I HATE IT!

The big problem is the wide edges around the keyboard - I have already developed what is most likely carpal tunnel - my right hand tingles and aches terribly - even when I wake up in the morning, and especially the pinky finger/outer edge of my hand up past my wrist. Actually, I think it's not only the wider edges on the SL510, but also that it is thicker than my previous, T60 Thinkpad (therefore the edge of the laptop presses harder against my wrist area, hope you can picture what I mean).

Unfortunately, it appears that Lenovo/Thinkpad is ONLY making widescreen laptops, except for one small netbook model.

I don't know if the T 510 is any better. I *think* it's a little thinner, but it appears to be just as wide.

But it looks like there is no one here anyway, since no one replied to my previous post...

 

They say that for proper typing, your hands should be "floating" over the keyboard, and thus your wrists should not be in contact with the edge of the keyboard, or even the palmrests. I think that's also a big part of why a lot of notebook stands emphasize placing the keyboard of a notebook at a slant, so that you can type properly, with no contact.

Unfortunately, the entire industry is moving to widescreen. In fact, the previous widescreen, 16:10, is even disappearing in favor of the wider and shorter 16:9. At this point, getting a new 4:3 format notebook is essentially impossible.