![]() ![]() When tested with benchmarking programs, the Flex 15 also proved its worth. Interestingly, the Flex 15 uses the slowest (and cheapest) hard drive available, but you'll only notice its lack of speed when installing and launching programs. These drives are cheap and can't read and write data as quickly as solid-states. Instead, it has an old-school disk-based hard drive. Solid-state drives make everything run faster, and surprisingly, the Flex doesn't utilize one. Similarly, our Excel test is a spreadsheet that has numerous complex equations. Our Photoshop test consists of an image that has many filters added to it. When running Adobe Photoshop or Microsoft Excel, this IdeaPad proved it could handle the difficult tasks we gave it. Its best component is easily a fourth-gen Intel i7 processor, which ran through our tests without a hitch. Performance No solid-state? No problem.įor $829.99, the Lenovo IdeaPad Flex 15 packs a lot of power. I'll pass on this gimmick-the Flex 15 has plenty of other benefits that make "flexing" it irrelevant. Yup, that's it: Lenovo lets you use this laptop as a glorified tablet on a stand. If you rotate it about 300°, you can put it in stand mode. To make up for its lack of resolution and brightness, the Flex 15 can do a fun parlor trick with its screen. But if you have to contend with sunlight on a daily basis, the Flex 15's screen won't cut it. If you're working in a light-controlled environment, then this isn't an issue. Even when cranked up all the way, this Lenovo looks slightly dim. My biggest gripe with the screen is its lack of brightness, though. With a resolution of 1366 x 768 stretched across a 15-inch panel, the image isn't as sharp as we'd like. The touchscreen on the Flex 15 is a slight disappointment, however. Also of note is Lenovo's power input, which charges the Flex very quickly. If you have to contend with sunlight on a daily basis, the Flex 15's screen won't cut it.Īt least this Lenovo contains a host of connectivity options, including three USB ports, an HDMI output, an SD card reader, and an ethernet jack. My only complaint is that pressing the touchpad causes the laptop's base to bend slightly-a clear sign of cheap construction. Let's start with the good: It's incredibly smooth to the touch, which makes navigation a breeze. While the Flex's touchpad isn't nearly as awesome as the keyboard, it's still above-average. The addition of the number pad on the right is a welcome sight for number crunchers, and the entire typing experience is a joy. On the inside, you'll find Lenovo's signature keys, which are curved at the bottom. Whatever the Flex 15 lacks in portability, it makes up for with its comfortable full-sized keyboard. Thumbs up to Lenovo for the stylish scheme. I know-it's a small detail, but most laptops stick to one color. Its color scheme is really eye-catching: The cover is clad in a matte black finish, while the sides are coated in gray. With that said, this Lenovo isn't an ugly device. Looking for a super-slim laptop that weighs next to nothing? Look elsewhere: The Flex 15, while not abnormally bulky, is not the thinnest or the lightest laptop by a long shot. Usability & Screen Great keyboard, good touchpad, lame gimmick It has a sub-par battery and a gimmicky stand feature, but this Flex still offers major bang for your buck-and that makes it stand out. Yet as much as I love SSDs and the performance enhancements they bring, Lenovo's Flex 15 works admirably without one. This same setup would cost upwards of $1200 if you opted for an ultrabook with an SSD (solid-state drive). ![]() The Flex 15 is also equipped with Intel's latest dual-core i7 processor, 8GB of RAM, and Windows 8. With a 15-inch touchscreen display and a 500GB hard drive, you won't get the portability offered by many ultrabooks-but you will get sheer power.
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