Review Samsung NP355V5C-S05DE/S03IN Laptop, AA-PB9NS6W /AA-PL9NC6B computer batteries

Product ID:1001369 Battery Type:Li-ion Property:original computer batteries Battery Voltage:11.1V Battery Capacity:49Wh \ 4400mAh Battery Color:Black / White

Battery Life

Buy new SAMSUNG NP355V5C Series Laptop Battery,11.1V 49Wh 4400mAh computer batteries

7 hours and 5 minutes - this figure represent the maximum AA-PL9NC6B battery life of the Samsung 355V5C. This time was measured with the lowest brightness and disabled wireless modules. In most cases, this test result is far from reality. More genuine results are provided by tests resembling practical use, like when surfing the web via WLAN, with a normal brightness of 150 cd/m2, or playing a DVD with the maximum brightness. In the first case we determined a battery life of 3 hours and 15 minutes. The DVD playback test on the other hand led to 2 hours and 22 minutes. While these results could still be described as good for multimedia notebooks from two years ago, figures such as these are more likely to be encountered at the bottom end of the scale of contemporary notebooks. A very positive example in this case would be the Samsung 300E5A, which can be used to surf the web for more than 6 hours via WLAN. Swapping the included 48 Wh battery for a more potent alternative is also not possible with the review device.

Case

Plastic is the main material of choice for the Samsung 355V5C in order to lower costs. The display lid is clad in shiny gray plastic. While opening the notebook, the user is greeted by a matte surface. For those that don't take a liking to the gray display lid, there are also the colors blue and pink available as alternative choices. The color of the keyboard area and the palm rest also change accordingly. Regardless of this, the bottom of the notebook remains black in any case.

When it comes to the build, Samsung has allowed a few considerable blunders to sneak in. The sides, for example, don't have perfectly sharp edges, and the gaps between adjacent panels are not even in some places. The resistance to pressure on the other hand is reasonably good, while only the left and right sides of the keyboard can easily be dented inwards. The palm resting area on the other hand only gives way with a lot of pressure. Another positive is the optical drive, which is firm and doesn't wobble in its slot. In many cases this is an area of criticism for notebooks in this price segment.

The display is held in place by two hinges which aren't able to prevent teetering of the display. Nevertheless, these are still too stiff to allow the display to be opened easily with one hand.

The battery is located on the bottom of the device, and is held in place by two hooks, and can be removed if required. Access to the cooling system in order to clean it is not possible with this Samsung notebook.

With all the flash behind these new designs, it's easy to overlook something such as the Samsung Series 3 NP355V5C. Intel is powering the Ultrabook boom, but we've got an AMD processor in this 15.6-inch laptop. SSDs are the hot technology, but here Samsung has swapped speed for a huge hard drive.

Its size (32 x 372 x 243mm, or 1.26 x 14.65 x 9.57 inches) and weight are fairly standard for this kind of home laptop. At 2.5kg (5.5lbs) it feels a good chunk heavier than an Ultrabook, especially something such as Samsung's own Series 9, but it it's nothing unusual for a 15.6-inch laptop.

Connectivity

From the perspective of interfaces, all the most important connectivity options for multimedia use should be included. And the new USB standard 3.0 wasn't forgotten either. An ExpressCard slot for the addition of further interfaces such as FireWire or eSATA, has been omitted. (SAMSUNG AA-PA1N90W adapters) 

All the interfaces have been spread across the sides of the notebook. Whereby there are two USB ports on either side such that two Y-cables can be used. The two USB ports next to each other can however get in each other’s way if the USB sticks are too wide. In an ideal scenario, the video and LAN ports would be located at the back of the notebook in order to avoid a mess of cables on the desk. The position of the four status LEDs on the other hand is favorable, and also don't annoy the user in dark surroundings.

Keyboard

The keys in the chiclet keyboard have dimensions of 15.5 mm x 15 mm, and are therefore slightly rectangular. These dimensions however only apply to the normal letter keys. The width of the numeric keypad keys lies at 13.5 mm due to the lack of space. This difference is however only optically significant, and doesn't stand out in a negative way.

What is negative however, are the rattling keys and the vibration of the keyboard base when the keys are pressed quickly. In addition to this, the relatively soft pressure point of the keys is also an area of criticism. Due to these characteristics, the keyboard gives a spongy typing feeling.

Touchpad

The touchpad provides more than enough space even for big fingers, with its dimensions of 98 mm x 50 mm. Fingers glides easily and smoothly across the matte surface. Precise navigation using the touchpad should therefore not have any obstacles in its way, if it wasn't for the frustrating multi-touch scrolling. This only reacts about every fifth time to the input commands. In this case the response can be improved using the Synaptics software though, by enabling the side scroll strip. Another negative aspect is the very loud clicking mouse buttons which also come with short travel.

Display

The 15.6-inch display has a WXGA resolution (1366x768 pixels) and an aspect ratio of 16:9. The pixel density works out to be 100 PPI (Pixel per Inch). This is in line with some of the competition. For comparison, we have the smaller Asus Zenbook UX32VD that reaches a very high pixel density for notebooks of this size with 166 PPI. The matte display AU Optronics B156XTN02.1 houses an affordable TN panel, which is illuminated by white LEDs. A choice of other displays is not provided by Samsung for devices from its Series 3 notebooks.

Unusual for Samsung notebooks is the very low brightness of the display. Despite the prefix SuperBright, the average brightness only reaches a mediocre 207 cd/m2. The illumination distribution of 89% on the other hand stands out positively since this prevents any discrepancies from being visible. The contrast ratio of 195:1 on the other hand is too low, and can be due to the quality of the very affordable TN panel. Compared to its rivals, the contrast can however be classified as high since hardly any device in this price segment has a contrast ratio exceeding 200:1. An IPS panel cannot be expected in this price segment in any case. As a special feature Samsung has installed Movie Color Enhancer, which automatically optimizes the displayed images while playing movies.

The sRGB and AdobeRGB color spaces aren't covered by our review sample. This requirement should only apply to professional use though, who need it for editing images. Compared to the competition from Dell and Medion, the display of the reviewed device is ahead in most areas.

Outdoor use with the Samsung 355V5C is only recommendable in the shade, despite the matte display surface. With direct sunlight, the brightness of the display is quickly trumped, preventing recognition of the displayed images. And also with strong shadows, due to light from behind the screen, the contents of the display are difficult to discern.

The viewing angles are also not able to make a good impression due to the TN panel. An inversion of the colors is noticeable from every angle except the ideal viewing position. Thus the display is only really perfect for someone sitting directly in front of the notebook.

Speakers

Music is emitted from the two speakers located above the keyboard below a metal mesh. The audio sounds a little thin due to the missing bass frequencies, although it is able to score points with a high volume, which additionally doesn't suffer from the usual distortion characteristics. High and low frequencies sound relatively well balanced. Using the pre-installed Easy Settings software, it is also possible to adjust the equalizer setting as preferred.

For those that have an elevated requirement in terms of audio quality, the notebook provides the usual audio output via digital and analog ports for external headphones or speakers. (SAMSUNG AA-PB9NS6B batteries)

Verdict

All in all, Samsung has compiled a relatively comprehensive and high performance package. Anyone who can come to terms with the lower manufacturing quality and battery life could find the 355V5C to be a gaming capable multimedia notebook at an affordable price.

Those that place a high value on manufacturing quality, should take a closer look at the Acer Aspire V3-551G, although the matte display would have to be sacrificed with this choice. The Medion Akoya P6812 on the other hand also has a matte display, and also offers a high performance graphics card and Intel CPU. The downside of this option is however the increased weight and bigger dimensions. In both the case of the Medion and the Acer Aspire V3, users will also have to come to terms with sensitive shiny surfaces. Matte throughout are the Acer TravelMate 5760G and the Samsung 300E5A. In the latter case, the expectations from the graphics card would have to be curtailed however. In addition, both of these options would also imply that a USB 3.0 interface will no longer be available.

More info: laptop-batteries.com.au , laptop-battery.org.uk , battery-store.eu

Review HP ProBook 4530s /4515S Notebook, HSTNN-LB2R / HSTNN-I02C computer batteries

Product ID:1002936 Battery Type:Li-ion Property:original computer batteries Battery Voltage:11.1V Battery Capacity:8400mAh / 4400mAh Battery Color:Black

Battery Life and Wireless

The HP PowerBook 4530s' 6-cell battery lasted 4 hours and 53 minutes on the HSTNN-LB2R LAPTOP Battery Test (web surfing via Wi-Fi). While that's a half hour longer than what we see from mainstream machines, the Tecra R850 (6:34) and the ThinkPad Edge E420s (6:41) both lasted much longer. To be fair, the latter notebook is a 14-inch system. An extended nine-cell battery for the 4530s costs $59.

Using an Atheros AR9285 Wi-Fi 802.11b/g/n radio, the PowerBook 4530s turned in good wireless performance. It offered 36 Mbps at 15 feet away from our test router and 21.5 Mbps at 50 feet, nearly identical to the mainstream laptop averages (36.2 Mbps/21.7 Mbps). The 4530s also comes with Bluetooth 3.0, which allows pairing with hands-free Bluetooth headsets and speakers.

Case

Equally at home in the conference room, living room, and the coffee shop, the HP ProBook 4530s is the most attractive notebook in its class. Its sturdy lid and interior are crafted from brushed aluminium with metallic gray accents, which HP calls deeply anodized. The screen is framed by dark-black plastic and swings open (and down) on silver drop hinges. A long perforated metal speaker grille runs across the deck above the notebook's black keyboard. The underside of the laptop is made from simple black-hued plastic. Overall it's an elegant look. The ProBook 4530s lacks some of the advanced durability enhancements of its corporate sibling, the HP EliteBook 8460p, such as a rubber ring around the screen and a magnesium base. It does, however, feature a similar spill-resistant keyboard and number pad. The Asus P53E-SO102X and the Lenovo ThinkPad Edge E535 can't quite compete here with their fully plastic cases. The ProBook 4530s' case appears well made. 

With a wide rectangular frame that sits high on rubber nubs, the ProBook 4530s weighs 5.6 pounds and measures 14.8 x 10.1 x 1.1 inches. Slightly heavier than the Toshiba Tecra R850 (5.4 pounds), it isn't easy to carry on long trips, but transporting it from room to room won't prove difficult.

Connectivity

The interfaces are similar to the already tested Probook-4530s-Model. Unfortunately the fingerprint reader is missing here. The comparison with the ThinkPad Edge E535 and the Asus Pro P53E-SO102X looks good for the ProBook. With the Asus notebook you are stuck without USB 3.0 or an Express Card reader. The Edge E535 does come with three USB 3.0 ports; although it is still missing an Express Card slot. 

Keyboard and Touchpad

Thanks to its wide-body design, the ProBook 4530s boasts a vast keyboard complete with a number pad on the right side. Its black chiclet-style keys are slightly concave, click softly, offer deep travel, and provide comfortable feedback. The arrow keys right next to the number pad often caused us to press "0" instead of the right arrow button, though.

The large, 3.6 x 2.1-inch touchpad on the ProBook 4530s provides a nice balance of friction and glide. Made by Synaptics, the pad is correctly placed below the G and H keys and supports multitouch gestures such as three-finger swiping, pinch-to-zoom, and object rotation, all of which worked well. That said, two-finger scrolling through documents felt jumpy at times, and you can't adjust this feature's sensitivity. We do like the two discrete left and right mouse buttons, which clicked with authority without feeling stiff.

Display

The basic specifications of the display have not changed from the already tested ProBook 4530s model. It comes with a matte 15.6-inch display. This uses a native resolution of 1366x768 pixels and is illuminated by LEDs. Other display options are not available. The average brightness of 239.7 cd/m² (X-Rite i1 Pro 2) is clearly above its predecessor (186 cd/m²). The Lenovo ThinkPad Edge E535 is even brighter with 259 cd/m², and the Asus Pro P53E-SO102X falls far behind the others with 165.2 cd/m. (HP ED494AA adapters) 

With a black level of 0.58 cd/m² and a contrast of 436:1 the display of the ProBook 4530s leaves its competition far behind. The ThinkPad Edge E535 delivered very poor scores (2.24 cd/m², 123:1). The Asus Pro P53E-SO102X (0.96 cd/m², 173:1) was also not able to get close to the good scores of the ProBook 4530s. The color range sRGB and AdobeRGB are not successfully reached by the display.

While running on battery power the display reaches a maximum brightness of only 190 cd/m². This value does limit outdoor use. Overall the display profits from its matte surface and good contrast ratio, meaning use in the shade is possible.

The drawback of the display is the usual problem with cheaper notebooks, limited viewing angles. Moving the vertical angle of the display results in a quick break down of the image. The horizontal viewing angle appears more generously sized.

Heat

Under stress, the HP ProBook 4530s kept its cool. After playing a Hulu video for 15 minutes, we recorded temperatures of 91 degrees at the touchpad, 86 degrees at the keyboard center, and 82 degrees underneath the laptop. These readings never reached what we consider too hot to handle (95 degrees) and were below the typical mainstream notebook's temperatures.

Speakers

The stereo speakers of the notebook are placed above the keyboard and behind a perforated cover. The imprinted logo 'SRS Premium Sound' promises more than the speakers can live up to. They produce a full bodied sound, but lack any bass. For an office device the speakers are more than sufficient enough. A better sound result can be found through the use of headphones or external speakers.

Verdict

Some of the positive features of the HP ProBook 4530s include the great case, the bright and high contrast display, the comfortable keyboard and good application performance. These features alone show this is a good notebook. The current price level makes this notebook even more interesting. Anyone who takes advantage of the current Cash Back offers will get a good notebook with a two year Collect and Return warranty and a Windows 8 upgrade for just 398 Euros (~$518). The biggest drawback of the notebook is the constantly audible fan. Anyone who finds constant fan noise annoying should probably stay away from this notebook.

The competition here, the Lenovo ThinkPad Edge E535 and the Asus Pro P53E-SO102X, are also good notebooks. The current price of the ProBook 4530s makes it a better deal. The ThinkPad is worth a closer look at when you want a quiet working notebook. The Asus notebook is better for people who want the longest battery life possible.

More info: laptop-batteries.com.au , laptop-battery.org.uk , battery-store.eu

Review Samsung 13" Series 9 900X3C-A04DE Laptop, AA-PBXN4AR computer batteries

Product ID:1003130 Battery Type:Li-ion Property:original computer batteries Battery Voltage:7.4 V Battery Capacity:7.4 Wh \ 5440 mAh Battery Color:Black

Battery Life

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A realistic measurement simulating everyday use is done through 'WLAN surf test' / AA-PBXN4AR batteries . While running a standard screen brightness of 150 cd/m2, every 40 seconds a new internet page is loaded via a page script. Bluetooth is deactivated and the power profile 'balanced' is used. The test model reached a good result of 6 hours and 47 minutes (407 minutes) in this scenario. The Samsung Serie 9 900X3B, the Asus Zenbook Prime UX31A and the Apple MacBook Air 13 Mid 2012 reach scores here of only 296 (-27 %), 282 (-31 %) and 363 minutes (-11%) respectively. In this area the revised series 9 performs very convincingly. 

case

With the 900X3C-A04DE Samsung is offering the third generation of their own premium subnotebooks. With this update the device recieves and Intel dual core processor from the Ivy Bridge family. In more detail, it is the Intel Core i7-3517U with two cores, a base clock of 1.9 GHz and integrated Intel GMA HD 4000 Graphics. Our test model is the direct successor to the already tested Samsung Serie 9 900X3B-A01. The device is still based on a slim aluminium body, which is being used again without changes. This is why we have called this current review just a test-update, to see what kind of a difference the stronger hardware will make in each area of performance. We won't just take a look at power though, we will also be looking at emissions. The cooling system hasn't really been changed at all.

What should remain an important driving force for the the 13.3 inch subnotebooks (aka ultrabooks) is the display. The matte PLS screen uses 1600 x 900 pixels (HD+). The luminance should be 400 cd/m2 according to Samsung. Other specifications include 4 GB of DDR3 RAM, a mSATA-SSD with a 256 GB capacity, and current communications capability. You will find out in this test, whether or not 1,500 Euro would be well spent, and how the 900x3C-A04DE compares against the two main competitiors on the market.

Communications

All of the communication options are all up to todays current standard. Including WLAN with 802.11 a/b/g/n (Intel Centrino Advanced-N6235) and support for Bluetooth 4.0, the subnotebook is also equiped for wired transmissions (Gigabit). A standard RJ-45 plug doesn't have any room due to the slim design. The connection is made with the included adapter through a proprietary connector on the right hand side of the case. An intergrated module for mobile internet connection is not included with this subnotebook. A cheap USB stick would be the easiest solution.(SAMSUNG AA-PBXN8AR Battery)

After opening the white and rather large package, the device was not there waiting for us. Instead, there is another smaller black box. Next to the subnotebook you will find the appropriate power adapter (40 watt) with the cabel, the aforementioned RJ-45 adapter, some documents and a recovery DVD all included. A recovery device in the form of a USB stick would have made a lot more sense to us here, seeing as the device doesnt actually come with any optical drive. The adapter for HDMI or VGA output is unfortunately not included. Therefore the offered range here equates to a slightly elevated standard, which can be further extended with seperately sold products

Display

The display should continue to be a critical factor influencing purchase decisions for customers of subnotebooks. The screen measures 13.3 inches on the diagonal and works with 1600 x 900 pixels (HD+) in 16:9 format. The matte surface remains the same. Samsung is using a new edition panel from Seiko-Epsom, which according to the marketing facts, should have a luminance of 400 cd/m2. A screen from their own production line would probably not be profitable just yet. In comparison with cheaper alternatives this subnotebook uses PLS- display technology (Plane-to-Line Switching). This is an evelution from In-Plane-Switching (IPS). The main advantage is the reduced energy usage. Alternative displays to our tested models are not available.

Samsung did however show off a Prototype Series 9 with a so called WQHD-Display at IFA 2012. This panel is 13.3 inches and is packed with 2560 x 1440 pixels. In this region it is the only competition to the bigger display of the Apple MacBook Pro 15 mit Retina-Display. On the other hand is the Asus Zenbook Prime UX31A with a matte FHD dispay (1920 x 1080 pixels) which is tough competition to our test model. The also comprable Apple MacBook Air 13 Mid 2012 can't keep up with both of the notebooks, at least in terms of resolution. It utalizes a display with 'only' 1440 x 900 pixels and has a glossy surface.

The luminance of the panel type SEC0100 gives a good impression with the first glance at it. The maximum value of 420 cd/m2 is high, and meets the claims of Samsung. Also the average is pretty good with 378 cd/m2, although we did notice some uneven lighting here. The differences are generally unnoticable in daily use. (AA-PBYN4AB batteries)  

The other values leave us with a good, but not amazing impression. The black point level is relatively little, meaning that the contrast ratio soars upwards. When watching movies is when this combination especially pays off. The UX31A from Asus performs better overall with display tests. The Series 9 is aimed at consumers who do not need a screen with a large color gamut. A comparison shows that the sRGB reference color space, which is important for professional users, is not met. This means that the rival from Asus gains a point here. The MacBook Air 13 Mid 2012 is on the same level as the 900X3C-A04DE. 

With outdoor use the combination of a matte screen surface, good brightness and a high contrast ratio work well together. The device is usable both in the shade and in direct sunlight. In some scenarios you can even reduce the brightness a bit. In this section there is nothing to complain about.

The display lid balance is also made to please: Thanks to the PLS technololgy, the picture remains stable even at flat viewing angles. We couldn't identify any visible loss of light that results in distorted colors or inverted images. Normally the cheaper TN-panels have problems in this test.

Verdict

The Samsung Serie 9 900X3C packed with fresh hardware has left a good impression here. We were pleased by the case, the matte PLS display with a resolution of 1600 x 900 pixels is just about perfect, the input devices are well designed and you can see the running times for yourself. The Intel Core i7-3517U dual core processor with its intergrated graphics used here provides good application performance, meaning that an upgrade from the direct predecessor with the same case might actually be worthwhile. On the flip side, the problem with packing in new hardware without further adjustments can be seen in respect to the emissions. Under stress the fan is still clearly audible, and the surface temperature does rise to somewhat high levels when compared to its predecessor. 

Aside from the current communications options, the interface range is still straightforward enough. In terms of usability, the hard to reach card reader and the missing adapter for VGA and HDMI does cause us a bit of grief. Cleaning the two case fans is fairly simple. On the other side, possibilities for expansion is greatly reduced.

Overall, with the Samsung 900X3C, we are talking about a very successful device, which at the moment can only be compared with two strong rivals in the premium subnotebook class. The prices from 1,500 Euro are quite justified in this case, although this sort of price range is definitely not available to everyone.

More info: laptop-batteries.com.au , laptop-battery.org.uk , battery-store.eu

Review Lenovo IdeaPad N581 Notebook, L11L6Y01/L11M6Y01/L11N6R01 computer batteries

Product ID:1002989 Battery Type:Li-ion Property:original computer batteries Battery Voltage:11.1V Battery Capacity:5600mAh Battery Color:Black

Battery Life

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With 6:49 hours, the IdeaPad N581-MBY4YGE lasted the longest of the three comparison devices in idle mode. HP's Compaq Presario CQ58-148SG (6:01h) and Sony's Vaio VPC-EH3C0E/W (6:12h) lag behind clearly. Idle mode is ascertained via BatteryEater's Reader's test. The screen is set to minimum brightness, the energy-savings profile is enabled and the wireless modules (Wi-Fi, Bluetooth) are disabled. The IdeaPad N581 achieved a load runtime of 1:20h. Both other laptops lasted for six minutes longer. BatteryEater’s Classic test is used for the load test. For this, we set the screen to maximum brightness and enable the high-performance profile and wireless modules.

One L11L6Y01 battery charge is enough to keep the Wi-Fi test running for 4:20h. There is not much of a time difference between the N581 and the CQ58-148SG (4:18h) or Sony's Vaio VPC-EH3C0E/W (4:05h). Websites are automatically opened every 40 seconds in this test. The energy-savings profile is enabled and the screen's brightness is set to roughly 150 cd/m2. The IdeaPad N581 accomplished a runtime of 3:37h in the DVD test (CQ58-148SG: 3:51h, Vaio VPC-EH3C0E/W: 3:11h) The DVD test is performed with disabled wireless modules. The screen is set to maximum brightness and the energy-savings or higher profile is used should the DVD not be rendered smoothly.

The battery life of all three laptops is comparable as they use batteries with similar capacities (HP: 47 Wh, Lenovo: 48 Wh, Sony: 45 Wh). If you are looking for the cheapest laptop with the longest battery runtime, you might take a look at Lenovo's G585. This laptop accomplishes a runtime of 8:40h in idle mode. The device is equipped with AMD's E2-1800 APU. However, we have to point out that the CPU part of the AMD APU is much weaker than the CPU part of Intel's Pentium B970.

Case

The IdeaPad N581 is made completely of plastic. The lid's rear is rubber-coated just like the wrist rest and keyboard bezel. Here, Lenovo makes reference to the ThinkPad series. The laptop does not feature many glossy parts due to the rubberized surfaces. The only exceptions are the screen and display bezel. The case's workmanship is acceptable, although there are a few flaws. For example, a few places with sharp edges on the base unit's sides. (LENOVO CPA-A065 adapters)

The base unit basically conveys a solid impression. It hardly yields under pressure. Merely the bezel over the optical drive can be dented more intensely. The laptop only warps marginally when we pick it up at its opposite corners. The lid also can be twisted a bit. The hinges keep the display firmly in position. The lid rocks when we let go of it. It is possible to open the laptop with one hand if you lift the lid carefully.

Connectivity

Lenovo's N581 does not bear any surprises when it comes to connectivity and presents the expected interfaces. It is great to see that Lenovo has given the laptop two USB 3.0 ports. Neither HP's Compaq Presario CQ58-148SG nor Sony's Vaio VPC-EH3C0E/W can serve with that.

Keyboard

Lenovo installs its own, well-known AccuType keyboard into the IdeaPad N581 that is also built into many other Lenovo laptops. The keys feature a clear pressure point and a sufficient drop. One feature of Lenovo’s keyboards is the rather small enter, backspace and the right shift key. They are easily missed in the beginning and thus need a certain period of familiarization. (ASUS A32-K56 batteries)

Touchpad

The laptop's touchpad features a generous size of 10.2 x 5.4 cm. It is slightly lowered in the wrist rest and rubber-coated, just like the wrist rest. The finger should not be pressed too hard on the touchpad when gliding over its surface because the rubber coat slows down the finger and makes gliding difficult. The touchpad's right edge serves as the scroll bar. However, it is cannot be seen or felt since it is not marked. The touchpad supports multi-touch gestures. Thus, functions like pinch-to-zoom are available. Both mouse keys are below the touchpad and feature a clear pressure point and short drop.

Display

Unsurprisingly Lenovo builds a 15.6 inch, glare-type screen into the IdeaPad N581. The screen features a native resolution of 1366 x 768 pixels. It is illuminated by LEDs. Other screen models are not offered. Considering it is a low-budget laptop, the screen's average brightness of 219.7 cd/m2 is quite high. It surpasses the rates of HP's Compaq Presario CQ58-148SG (186.7 cd/m2) and Sony's Vaio VPC-EH3C0E/W (199.6 cd/m2).

The IdeaPad N581's black value of 1.37 cd/m2 is in the lower midfield. The contrast ratio of 163:1 is not much better. Thus, none of the three laptops excel in terms of black value and contrast. HP's Compaq Presario CQ58-148SG (1.24 cd/m2; 152:1) and Sony's Vaio VPC-EH3C0E/W (1.54 cd/m2; 144:1) even supply worse rates for the most part. The screen covers neither the sRGB nor the AdobeRGB color spectrum. However, this is not a problem since these color spaces are only required in the professional picture and graphics field.

The screen's brightness allows using the laptop outdoors. However, the glare-type surface makes this difficult. Thus, you should avoid overly bright surroundings and direct sunlight.

The screen's viewing angle stability did not surprise us and corresponds to the IdeaPad N581's price range. Adapting the vertical viewing angle quickly causes the image to distort. In return, the horizontal viewing angles are more tolerant. (LENOVO L11P6R01 batteries)

Speakers

The IdeaPad N581's speakers are located above the keyboard behind a finely perforated cover. They produce a very thin sound that can be enhanced audibly by enabling the pre-installed Dolby Home Theater software. The speakers basically fulfill our expectations. We had to listen to worse speakers in the past. If you do not like the sound, you can always connect external speakers or headphones to the device.

 

Verdict

With the IdeaPad N581, Lenovo again introduces an affordable laptop that excels with its good money for value performance. The device provides enough power to satisfy the requirements of most users. However, you have to live with a contrast-poor screen like in almost every low-budget laptop. You can also opt for the IdeaPad N581-MBA4XGE, if you do not need Windows 7. The saved money could then be invested in a warranty upgrade. If you are looking for an even cheaper laptop, you should look closer at HP's Compaq Presario CQ58-148SG.

More info: laptop-batteries.com.au , laptop-battery.org.uk , battery-store.eu