Customer reviews for Lenovo IdeaPad U400
14" designer notebook with discrete graphics power.
Average customer rating:
(15 Reviews) 15
Rating Snapshot (15 reviews)
5 stars
7
4 stars
5
3 stars
2
2 stars
1
1 star
0
12 of 15(80%)customers would recommend this product to a friend.
Review 1 for IdeaPad U400
OverallOverall Rating
jkweon96
Lenovo u400
Date:April 21, 2012
"Ok, this laptop is an average compared to some other laptop. My friends say that this looks like a copy of the macbook, which is very true (design isnt original). Next the aluminum has a very cheap feel, i use my usb alot and because this computer has a tight space for the usb, the aluminum bends inward and outwards and feels like it has dents in them. Also the book design is very sharp on the edges, i got cut a couple of times while putting and taking out of my backpack. Lastly i wished that this laptop came with a keyboard cover; the aluminum is a dark color and the dust is very noticeable. The only thing that made this computer ok, was the graphics card."
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Review 2 for IdeaPad U400
OverallOverall Rating
Dylantechy
Lenovo - Ideapad U400 14"
Date:April 18, 2012
"PROS:
Ideapad Start time:
Compared to the other NEW line of Ultrabooks, the Lenovo U400 compares really well with boot time.
Ideapad Guts:
On the mid range i5 model, the track-pad is amazing, unlike most notebooks on the market this track-pad is usable.
The OK feature about this laptop is the switch able graphics, between the standard Intel Graphics and the AMD Radeon HD 6470M 1GB.
The screen is of most standard laptops, and at the standard 1366x768 resolution.
The screen is of most standard laptops, and at the standard 1366x768 resolution.
The case is a VERY AMAZING, A SELLING POINT OF THIS LAPTOP. The laptop is in a closed aluminum case to protect it from drops and breaks. Its not your average design plastic. Very nice job LENOVO.
The keyboard is very well laid out, although it is not Back-Lit.
The performance of this laptop for normal everyday tasks and Moderate gaming was outstanding.
CONS:
Not many for this laptop
Majorly NEEDED BACK-LIT KEYBOARD. Everyone loves a back-lit keyboard whats to lose. For its portability you would think Lenovo would include a BL Keyboard, for traveling in airplanes or times of need.
Like most laptops though, the resolution of the screen could be higher. From 1366x768 to 1600x900.
OVERALL:
LENOVO should be proud of this laptop even though it should include a Back-Lit Keyboard, this machine is very close to Amazing. A FORSURE recommend."
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Review 3 for IdeaPad U400
OverallOverall Rating
review
Finicky trackpad and unsatisfying user experience
Date:April 4, 2012
"Yes, the computer is beautiful
but the user experience is totally unsatisfying.
but the user experience is totally unsatisfying.
Before purchasing, I had encountered reviews online about the finicky trackpad, but I chose to ignore them because I thought its other advantages would outweigh it. But the trackpad is indeed a horrible trackpad- and had I truly known how bad it was, I would not have purchased this computer."
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Review 4 for IdeaPad U400
OverallOverall Rating
Mike
Looks Like a Mac!
Date:April 1, 2012
"I love Macs, but i can't afford them, This looks the same, therefore it is the same! Awesome!
All you need is the sticker you get with the iPhone and it is complete!"
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Review 5 for IdeaPad U400
OverallOverall Rating
Schuster
Great, compact laptop
Date:March 26, 2012
"I can honestly say that this is one of the best purchases I have made. Previous to this laptop I had a Samsung and it was very unreliable. I decided to go with the i7 500 gb u400 and it is really great. It is ultra quiet and boot time is extremely fast. I have never owned a computer that matched this speed. The edge of the computer is somewhat uncomfortably sharp, but not a deal breaker. A backlit keyboard and larger shift and backspace key would have been a nice addition. It also has better sound than I anticipated. The large trackpad is a feature that is outstanding, but isn't mentioned very much in the product desrciption.
Overall, I couldn't be happier with my computer. It is sleek, stylish, makes my friends jealous, and is very powerful."
Overall, I couldn't be happier with my computer. It is sleek, stylish, makes my friends jealous, and is very powerful."
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Review 6 for IdeaPad U400
OverallOverall Rating
Vito
Nice, small laptop
Date:March 14, 2012
"I must say, I really like this laptop.
It can be used for some light gaming here and there, it can run Skyrim pretty decent.
It looks really nice, thin, lightweight, it really doesn't look like a macbook as it seems in some of the pictures but has its own style to it.
The edge is a little uncomfortable when you have your wrist on it while typing.
The keyboard is a little smaller than normal, it would have been nice to have it stretched across more.
I not a huge fan of switchable graphics, its pretty annoying to set which program to run the dedicated card and which to run on the integrated card. I wish I was able just to turn one on and keep it on for everything.
Overall though I happy with my purchase, and overall really do like my new laptop. It runs great, its quite hardly tells its running, and even with only one fan opening on the side, it still manages to run cool, you can hardly tell the machine is on while its running. The screen is pretty nice, I was worried about the glossy screen but when you use it you can hardly tells its glossy only when its off. and Nonetheless I got a pretty good deal on my laptop."
It can be used for some light gaming here and there, it can run Skyrim pretty decent.
It looks really nice, thin, lightweight, it really doesn't look like a macbook as it seems in some of the pictures but has its own style to it.
The edge is a little uncomfortable when you have your wrist on it while typing.
The keyboard is a little smaller than normal, it would have been nice to have it stretched across more.
I not a huge fan of switchable graphics, its pretty annoying to set which program to run the dedicated card and which to run on the integrated card. I wish I was able just to turn one on and keep it on for everything.
Overall though I happy with my purchase, and overall really do like my new laptop. It runs great, its quite hardly tells its running, and even with only one fan opening on the side, it still manages to run cool, you can hardly tell the machine is on while its running. The screen is pretty nice, I was worried about the glossy screen but when you use it you can hardly tells its glossy only when its off. and Nonetheless I got a pretty good deal on my laptop."
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Review 7 for IdeaPad U400
OverallOverall Rating
MrEcho
Don't call it a Mac Book!
Date:March 10, 2012
"The Good: Keyboard, display, responsiveness, track pad (Yes I said track pad) Form Factor, weight.
The Bad: Limited configuration options, noisy unreliable DVD drive. Hard to self upgrade.
The keyboard is very good! not too stiff or loose. Keys have good travel and are nicely spaced. Yes it takes getting used to some of the key because they have been truncated though there is ample space for regular size keys. THis seems to be a purely aesthetic choice. The display is good resolution wise, while those comparing this to much more expensive machines will complain. It has limited viewing angles, but at 14 inches this will not be your main viewing screen so as long as I can see it fine I don't care about the jerks looking over my shoulder on the plane.The track works beautifully now that the driver has been updated. Still not quite as responsive as other machines that I won't name, but again I think that's more down to Windows 7 then the hardware. The i7 8GB of Ram machine I purchased is very snappy and fast. Programs open instantly. System boots in under 20 seconds, instant;y wakes from sleep and shuts down quickly. Size and weight is ideal. Feels solid and sturdy, yet light enough that you can throw on a sleeve and put it under your arm like a book.
The bad.... Even if you offer to pay more,Lenov will not under any circumstance alter their standard configs. What you see is what you get.I had to put an SSD drive in mine which required modification to the SSD. Removing the cover on the machine was no problem. Putting it back however, not so easy. The DVD drive though quick is very noisy making whirring and clicking sounds as if it's going to die. About every other time I put an optical disk in it, it gets stuck. This means I have to turn the machine on it's side to use gravity to help get it out and the pull the small edge of the disk protrudes from the drive. Not cool man! Overall, considering I rarely use DVD's anyway not the end of the world but not happy about it.
With that being said I would still buy this machine again, after all who needs a back lit keyboard when your monitor should provide enough light on the keys?... Best bang for your buck!"
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Review 8 for IdeaPad U400
OverallOverall Rating
Johnson
Just a little short of a wonderful computer...
Date:March 6, 2012
"PERFECT computer, except...
...no back-lit keyboard!
Good luck typing in dark lecture halls or dimly-lit coffee shops or outdoors at night or anywhere else you need light (students should just play it safe with a Macbook Pro instead.)
Other than that, a great device."
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Review 9 for IdeaPad U400
OverallOverall Rating
Patrick
Lenovo U400
Date:February 29, 2012
"This laptop is simply great. It is very compact and has an amazing design. The only flaw I would say this product has is the track pad that can sometimes interfere with your typing, depending on how you type. The keyboard is very nice and spaced out, but the shift key is somewhat smaller than what I am used to. The u400 is extremely fast on start-up and you can optimize your settings. The battery also lasts between 4-6 hours depending on if you are using energy star settings or high performance settings. I use my laptop for about 8 hours a day and it barely even heats up. Also, the fan is very quiet compared to most laptops. The speakers are also good for an ultra portable laptop. The laptop closes very smoothly due to the magnets. Fingerprints are not visible, at least on the inside of the laptop. It doesn't come loaded with useless programs. I am a business student in college and would definitely recommend this product to everyone!"
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Review 10 for IdeaPad U400
OverallOverall Rating
Performance
4
out of
5
Mobility
5
out of
5
Design
5
out of
5
Features
4
out of
5
Value
4
out of
5
Reliability
5
out of
5
Dephs
Location:New York, NY
Owned Product:Just got it
Processor:Intel Core i3
Memory:4 GB or more
Macbook ( form factor ) has serious competition!
Date:January 5, 2012
Pros: Weight, Bluetooth, Build Quality, aluminium body
Cons: none.
"For those of you who think Macbook Pro is expensive ( I am one of those ) and are looking for a comparable computing platform, look no further.
I have a Macbook Pro but often find many sites do not publish apps for Lion OS however tons of apps are readily available for Windows 7. Yes, you can install, Windows 7 on Macbook by leveraging boot camp tool. But that would defeat the purpose of owning a Macbook.
I have just finished unwrapping my Ideapad 400, setup was a breeze, even a 4 yr old kid could set it up.
Form factor and features are second to none. Best built laptop in the market. everything is well designed, even the power chord and adapter are cleverly designed.
Only thing I long for is I wish it came in 15 and 17" screens. if that was the case, say good bye to Macbook.
Employee Discount deal is definitely the best deal out there, I saw someone with less than 50 feedback ratings, trying to sell this exact model on Ebay for 750.00 and Lenovo is offering for 719.99.
Grab this Bimmer of laptops at incredibly attractive price being offered by Lenovo.com a.s.a.p.
No regrets.
Thanks Lenovo for putting togather such a nice piece of artistic yet purpose built laptop.
~D"
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Review 11 for IdeaPad U400
OverallOverall Rating
Performance
3
out of
5
Mobility
4
out of
5
Design
5
out of
5
Features
2
out of
5
Value
5
out of
5
Reliability
5
out of
5
viceversa
Location:Anaheim, CA
Owned Product:Just got it
Processor:Intel Core i5
Memory:4 GB or more
Great concept, needs improvement
Date:January 4, 2012
Pros: Weight, Durability, Build Quality, Processor, Keyboard/peripherals, looks amazing
Cons: Screen size, Storage, Display resolution, Battery, no sd card reader, usb port location on right side
"This is a very nice looking laptop. Unlike the others that went for the fruit look. This laptop is just classy and a refreshing design.
Pros:
The overall look of this laptop is very classy. Grown up looking. Love the case that you can also get with it too. Overall, very elegant looking laptop.
The overall look of this laptop is very classy. Grown up looking. Love the case that you can also get with it too. Overall, very elegant looking laptop.
Has a DVD drive unlike it's smaller brother.
Pretty fast for what it is. Runs smooth almost silent.
Keyboard has a decent feel to it. However, it's not concave like the previous Lenovo keyboard keys. The right shift key is also a bit small.
No vents under the laptop so you can use it on the bed. Vents are located on the left side.
CONS:
No SD card reader. It's 2012, all laptop should come with one by now.
No SD card reader. It's 2012, all laptop should come with one by now.
Location of USB port gets in the way when you use a wired mouse. Horrible location. At least 1 usb port should be located near the power port.
No SSD option? Hard drive runs slower, warmer and nosier.
No Matte Screen option? Glossy screen are overrated."
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Review 12 for IdeaPad U400
OverallOverall Rating
Performance
4
out of
5
Mobility
4
out of
5
Design
4
out of
5
Features
5
out of
5
Value
5
out of
5
Reliability
5
out of
5
Tekwrin
Location:Raleigh, NC
Owned Product:Less than a week
Processor:Intel Core i3
Memory:4 GB or more
Slick laptop that will truly turn heads
Date:December 31, 2011
Pros: Weight, Security Features, Durability, Software compatibility, Bluetooth, Video card, Wireless card, Screen size, Build Quality, Display performance, Display resolution, Battery, Input/Output compatibility, Included software, Storage
Cons: Keyboard/peripherals
"I decided to upgrade from my mid-2007 MacBook and did a lot of research on comparably sized laptops prior to making a purchase.
The value I found on a Lenovo U400 could not be beat. I got this one on sale after the holidays.
I regret that I got the lower end model (i3 processor and 4gb memory). I would suggest that anyone looking to take full advantage of the machine's capabilities go for the higher-end model (i5 and 6gb ram).
Intel WiDi is a feature that is only available in a select number of laptops and it was the number one selling point while I was considering what laptop to get. Other laptops I played around with (and one I actually purchased) lacked the solid construction and peace-of-mind internal roll cage and APS that the Lenovo offered. This is an all-aluminum laptop that is very strong but still relatively light.
The screen is nice and vibrant and satisfying when using to watch videos. The speakers great for a laptop and much, much better than speakers offered on similar laptop offerings by other manufacturers.
Two concerns I have is the strange keyboard layout where the Enter and Backspace keys are not the end-of-the-line options but precede a vertical set of home/end/pgup/pgdwn keys on the right side of the keyboard set. The delete key is positioned in the very top right..an odd spot as well. I commonly find myself missing these keys when I try to type them. They keyboard is taking a bit of time to get used to.
The trackpad is pretty excellent minus its page scrolling capability..which is a bit stuttery for some reason. Though tracking and selecting is smooth and responsive.
If you want a reliable laptop that is not cheaply made, this is the right choice."
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Review 13 for IdeaPad U400
OverallOverall Rating
Performance
5
out of
5
Mobility
5
out of
5
Design
5
out of
5
Features
5
out of
5
Value
5
out of
5
Reliability
5
out of
5
Ideapadowner
Location:Cherry Hill, NJ
Owned Product:Less than a month
Processor:Intel Core i3
Memory:4 GB or more
Love this laptop
Date:December 24, 2011
Pros: Battery, Weight, Video card, Keyboard/peripherals
"Performance - I went with the i3 core processor, and it runs beautifully. It is so quiet, the only time it makes noise is when I play video games. The 500GB hard drive is probably more than I'll ever need, including games and an extensive music library.
Graphics - I like to play games, so I like the discrete card. I'm just a causal gamer, and I find the graphics beautiful compared to what I'm used to. It also doesn't get scalding hot like most laptops.
Trackpad - Another review mentioned the sensitivity of the trackpad and how it messed up their typing. I had this problem too - for about 2 weeks. I just had to get used to the nice big trackpad.
Design - I love the design, it is reminiscent of the MacBook Pros. The keyboard is discrete and quiet. The size is nice for me, I hate huge 17-inch laptops. It has a nice vibrant wide screen and I simply enjoy looking at this laptop.
Battery Life - It lasts for about 3-4 hours without a charge, perfect if I want to bring it to class for the day, and that's with a high screen brightness.
My only complaint - The keyboard is not backlit. In this day and age, a backlit keyboard should be an industry standard. Also, the other day part of the bottom plate popped out when I was carrying it upstairs (but I should have closed the lid before doing this). It popped right back in, but still freaked me out a little bit."
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Review 14 for IdeaPad U400
OverallOverall Rating
Performance
5
out of
5
Mobility
5
out of
5
Design
5
out of
5
Features
5
out of
5
Value
5
out of
5
Reliability
5
out of
5
bestever89
Location:Detriot, MI
Owned Product:2 years+
Processor:Intel Pentium Dual Core
Memory:4 GB or more
best ever
Date:December 22, 2011
Pros: Weight, Warranty, Security Features, Durability, Software compatibility, Bluetooth, Video card, Wireless card, Screen size, Build Quality, Display performance, Display resolution, Battery, Input/Output compatibility, Processor, Support, Included software, Memory, Keyboard/peripherals, Storage
"there is nothing i can say except is the best labtop ever :D"
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Review 15 for IdeaPad U400
OverallOverall Rating
Performance
5
out of
5
Mobility
4
out of
5
Design
4
out of
5
Features
5
out of
5
Value
3
out of
5
Reliability
4
out of
5
mchst805
Location:Michigan
Owned Product:Less than a month
Processor:Intel Core i5
Memory:4 GB or more
Great potential, but falls short in key areas.
Date:December 14, 2011
Pros: Input/Output compatibility, Weight, Processor, Memory, Video card, Keyboard/peripherals, Storage
Cons: Battery, track pad
"PERFORMANCE: The U400 is a powerful laptop in a mobile form factor. My Core i5 with dedicated graphics is speedy at performing tasks. The 5400rpm hard drive is somewhat limited and not upgradable prior to shipping.
MOBILITY: For a full powered, full featured, laptop…it is very mobile. At around 4.5 pounds, it’s great for all it offers. To get this sort of size and weight for a computer with an optical drive is pretty good. For the wireless capabilities of the mobility, this computer seems to be lacking. The download speeds are very slow (slower than my 5 year old Dell). I noticed this right away while installing updates and applications the first couple of days. The wi/fi reception seems to be an issue if you take a look at other reviews.
DESIGN: The beauty of this laptop really shows. I love the smooth, simplistic, all metal chassis. The ventless bottom is nice, because it’s safe to set on carpet, a bed, etc. without worrying about overheating. This is due in part to the side vent and breathable keyboard. One design flaw is putting the majority of inputs on the right side of the computer. Say you want to have a monitor plugged into HDMI, or an external hard drive, keyboard, or mouse, all of the plugs will stick out the right side. This could become quite troublesome for those of you who will be using a mouse.
FEATURES: There are a full array of features with this laptop. Plenty of I/O ports including USB 2.0, USB 3.0, HDMI, optical drive, dedicated graphics, comfortable keyboard, and so on.
VALUE: At the discounted Black Friday or Employee pricing of around $840 for the i5 model, I’d say the value is spot on. At the full retail of $1,000+, I feel it’s highly over priced considering its shortcoming (to be discussed).
VALUE: At the discounted Black Friday or Employee pricing of around $840 for the i5 model, I’d say the value is spot on. At the full retail of $1,000+, I feel it’s highly over priced considering its shortcoming (to be discussed).
RELIABILITY: I have not owned it long enough to comment.
My biggest gripe with this computer, and the reason I am most likely returning it, is the track pad. I had high hopes for this, as its large and all glass. I love a smooth, responsive, track pad, as I intend to use this laptop for what it’s designed for…a laptop. The sensitivity however, is extremely high. You can be typing normal on the keyboard, and accidentally tap even the slightest kiss of the side of your hand on it, and you’ll be clicked away somewhere else. Just last night, I was typing a short email, and twice was clicked away, changing lines, requiring me to correct something and click back where I was. There is the option to turn off ‘touch to click’, but why would you want to? That’s one of the features I love on a laptop. Plus, if you turn that off, you’re required to actually click the track pad, and I find the clicking to be a bit too hard for my taste. It requires a bit of force, which takes away from the ease of use. Also, since there are not dedicated buttons, you just have to push down on the pad on the bottom left or right side. For whatever reason, Lenovo decided to not disable touch sensitivity on the bottom of the pad when you are clicking down. Meaning, you can be clicking, and if you move, slide, or roll your finger what so ever, your cursor can and most likely will move on you, potentially clicking on something you did not mean to. I tried updating the driver, but this did not change anything.
Overall, I still rated the U400 with 4 stars. I believe the design and performance is there, but for whatever reason, they just got a few very key items wrong. Keep up the updates on this one, and maybe a few new drivers and a hardware refresh could make this a 5 star computer. It’s definitely one of the better options out there right now."
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