Lenovo IdeaPad Y550
Specifications

Price comparison
Average of 4 scores (from 5 reviews)
Reviews for the Lenovo IdeaPad Y550
Source: Comp Reviews

Lenovo's IdeaPad Y550 isn't really targeted towards the budget market, but it is possible to get a model equipped for under $650 that has some surprising offerings that make it more future proof than other budget laptops. While you will need to get a memory upgrade at least to make it truly functional, the system has dedicated graphics and a wide range of ports that you just can't find in other laptops in this price class. It keeps Lenovo's class leading keyboard designs that make it a joy to use. So, if you want to do a little gaming on the side, this is clearly the budget system for you.
Single Review, online available, Medium, Date: 10/12/2009
Rating: Total score: 80%
Source: Infosyncworld

The Sony VAIO NW is a classy-looking midrange laptop with a solid selection of features, and even some advanced options available if you want to configure your own, which we'd highly recommend. At its base, the machine doesn't really standout, but pop in a Blu-Ray drive for less than $100 and you've got a much more capable addition to your home theater setup. Throw in a discrete graphics card from ATI and then you'll really be flying along, but you'll also increase the base price to almost $1000, which is still competitive, but not cheap. Overall, we liked the design and options we found on the Sony Vaio NW, though many of the extras seem to be conceits for Sony fans, like the extra Memory Stick slot or the choice of i.Link (Sony's brand name for FireWire) over eSata for an expansion port.
Single Review, online available, Long, Date: 10/02/2009
Rating: Total score: 69%
Foreign Reviews
Source: Notebookjournal

Single Review, online available, Long, Date: 11/30/2009
Rating: display: 50%
Source: Benchmark.pl

Comparison, online available, Long, Date: 05/12/2010
Rating: Total score: 80% performance: 70% display: 90% mobility: 60% ergonomy: 60% emissions: 60%
Source: Sohoa VN Express

Single Review, online available, Short, Date: 02/06/2010
Rating: Total score: 77%
Comment
Intel Graphics Media Accelerator (GMA) 4500M: The graphics core of the Intel GL40 and GS40 chipset features a slower clocked GMA 4500MHD (400 versus 533 MHz). Because of the slower core speed, full Blu-Ray Logo support is not given and the gaming performance is a bit worse.
Only some 3D games with very low demands are playable with these cards.
» Further information can be found in our Comparison of Mobile Graphics Cards and the corresponding Benchmark List.
Intel Pentium Dual Core: The return of the name Pentium, though it is a Yonah core. In fact, it is a double Core processor with a very good relation of performance to current consumption.
T4300:
Entry - middle class dual core CPU with 1 MB level 2 cache and no virtualization technology. Compared to the Core 2 Duo line, some power saving mechanism are deactivated.
» Further information can be found in our Comparison of Mobile Processsors.15.60":
15-inch display variants are the standard and are used for more than half of all laptops.
The reason for the popularity of mid-sized displays is that this size is reasonably easy on the eyes, often allows high resolutions and thus offers rich details on the screen, yet does not consume too much power and the devices can still be reasonably compact - simply the standard compromise.
» To find out how fine a display is, see our DPI List.Lenovo: Lenovo ("Le" from English legend, novo (Latin) for new) was founded in 1984 as a Chinese computer trading company. As of 2004, the company was the largest laptop manufacturer in China and, after acquiring IBM's PC division in 2005, the fourth largest in the world. In addition to desktops and notebooks, the company manufactures monitors, projectors, servers, etc, and specializes in developing, manufacturing and marketing consumer electronics, personal computers, software, enterprise solutions and related services.
In 2016, the company ranked first in the world in computer sales. It still held it in 2023 with about 23% global market share. Important product lines are Thinkpad, Legion and Ideapad.
In 2011, it acquired a majority stake in Medion AG, a European computer hardware manufacturer. In 2014, Motorola Mobility was purchased, which gave Lenovo a boost in the smartphone market.
76.5%: This rating is not earth-shattering. This rating must actually be seen as average, since there are about as many devices with worse ratings as better ones. A purchase recommendation can only be seen with a lot of goodwill, unless it is about websites that generally rate strictly.
» Further information can be found in our Notebook Purchase Guide.