Lenovo ThinkPad SL500 notebook review

Small business wonder or woe?

Lenovo ThinkPad SL500 notebook . Hardware, Laptops, levono, Intel 0

Reviewer: Stephen Patrick
Review Date: 3 November 2008
Manufacturer: Lenovo
Price as reviewed: £650
Latest price: £0.00

Our score

8/10

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Quick review

The good: Fantastic build quality, great price, good battery life
The bad: Lacks power
Verdict: A budget ThinkPad that delivers on build and usability, making this a great choice of the cash-strapped small business
Key specs: 15.4-inch screen, 3.5mm jack, HSDPA, Li-ion battery, MemoryStick, SD, SDHC, USB, VGA, Wi-Fi, Windows Vista, xD-Picture card

Comments

A good machine for Linux. The SL500 in combination with Ubuntu 8.10 is great. Shame we can't get a Linux version and shave off the Microsoft tax. Posted by Linux user, UK
Understand that these are not real ThinkPads. They sort of look like one (though not really, with the glossy lid) but they don't have lot of the features common to other ThinkPads

No magnesium case
No bottom roll cage
No Think Vantage
No top roll cage
No Steel hinges
No ThinkLight
No lid latches
No Ultrabay

and the BIOS identifies the laptop as an IdeaPad, not a ThinkPad.
This last part isn't going to be an issue for most people, but it's proved a real headache for those trying to run Linux. Other ThinkPad models are made to be Linux-friendly. Posted by thegreatfixer, United States
One of the hinges came out with out any reason Posted by netjam, Australia

Compare prices

Lenovo ThinkPad SL500 (NRJ4DUK) PC Notebook
(Core 2 Duo 1.8 GHz, 2 GB RAM, 160 GB hard drive, 15.4 in. WXGA TFT Active Matrix, Microsoft Windows Vista Business, 6.39 lb.)