Digital Trends

Lenovo 3000 V100

June 7th, 2006 | by Alan Dang

Features and Design

The Lenovo V100 is a 12.1" 4-lb class notebook with an integrated DVD burner. This form-factor is perfect for someone who doesn't need to duplicate the  features of a performance desktop, and instead values mobility and function. The nearest competitors would be the Sony SZ series, the Dell Inspiron 710m,  the Dell XPS M1210, and the Apple MacBook. 

While the V100 has a silver-colored lid, curved edges, and a high-gloss anti-reflective LCD screen, Lenovo still adopts the design language of the IBM  ThinkPad. The ThinkPads are famous for "overengineered" LCD hinges, and with the Lenovo V100, that design motif continues. Unfortunately in the case of  the V100, the beefy hinges are just cosmetic -- those are "hinge covers" that you're looking at. 

But there is substance behind the style: although the faceplate of the DVD-RAM has a bit of rattle, there's almost no flex to the keyboard over the alphabetical keys. Even our 6-cell extended battery fit perfectly snug -- even better than an extended battery in a ThinkPad Z60t. The latchless lid feels solid and reassuring. There's no mistaking the V100 for a  "lifestyle" or "gaming" machine. This is a laptop that means business. If you're looking for a notebook that'll be a conversation starter -— you should  look elsewhere. This is notebook that gets people to focus on what you have to say.

Lenovo 3000 V100

Don't be fooled, these are just hinge "covers"

The V100 is just a tad bit taller than a quarter

The rear of the 3000 V100

The specifications list may seem par for the course for this class of notebook. Everything you expect to be there, is there: Firewire 400, three USB 2.0  ports, Wi-Fi, integrated modem, 100 MBps Fast Ethernet, optional Bluetooth, and a 5-in-1 media reader (SD, MS, MS Pro, xD, MMC). One exception is the lack  of a TV-out.

Dig a little deeper, and you start to notice some less-common features such as a 1.3 megapixel webcam, an "Instant On" feature where you can play MP3s, music  CDs, and DVDs or look at digital photos without having to boot into Windows XP (like some of the HP or Compaq PCs), and the ExpressCard 54 slot offering more "future-proof" upgrades than a traditional PC Card slot or an Express 34 slot. However, where the V100 really shows its ThinkPad heritage is the keyboard  and integrated fingerprint scanner.

The integrated webcam on the V100