Although lenovo battery says the R700 employs special airflow cooling technology, certain areas of the system got quite hot during testing. After playing Hulu at full screen for 15 minutes, the touchpad (87 degrees Fahrenheit) and the area between the G and H keys (91 degrees) remained cool, but we could feel the bottom left side of the machine getting uncomfortably warm in our lap while we typed. How warm?
The center of the underside registered 103 degrees Lenovo 3000 Y410 Battery , and the area by the vent reached a disturbing 114 degrees. Toshiba includes a message on the bottom of all of its notebooks that says, "Avoid prolonged contact to prevent heat injury to skin." It's especially appropriate in this case. The loud fan also didn't help matters; one observer noted it sounded like a small blow dryer. Keyboard and Touchpad The R700 has a spacious chiclet-style layout with satisfying tactile feedback. However, the keys themselves are a bit smaller than we'd expect from a 13-inch notebook, which made typing feel somewhat cramped until we got used to the machine.
Measuring 3.4 x 1.9 inches, the touchpad is huge. Navigating the desktop was mostly smooth, despite a bit of friction. However, because of its size and the fact that the touchpad is set higher than the keyboard, we sometimes brushed up against the pad accidentally. In some cases theLenovo 3000 V100 Battery cursor jumped when we didn't want it to or we inadvertently activated the pinch-to-zoom gesture. Increasing the PalmCheck sensitivity setting helped with the former issue, and we recommend deactivating multitouch gestures. You can also deactivate the touchpad with a button right beneath the space bar. Cheap Lenovo 3000 N200 Battery Zooming in and out with multitouch gestures (when we intended to) worked better than on other notebooks we've tested recently. The two plastic touchpad buttons are a bit smaller than we'd like, and that's because Toshiba put the fingerprint sensor in between them. This made right-clicking somewhat of a challenge without looking--at least at first.
Something this thin and light shouldn't be this powerful. But it is. The Lenovo 3000 C200 Battery delivers strong Core i5 performance (no ULV chip here) in a remarkably portable 3.2-pound body. And this notebook is built to last. Toshiba has decked out its new 13-inch ultraportable with a magnesium finish that feels stronger than its 12-inch predecessor. Just as impressive, the R700 lasts 6 hours on a charge. Reasonably priced at $1,299, this laptop has all the makings of a road warrior's dream machine (while the $799 Best Buy model is better suited toward students). We just wish it ran cooler and quieter.
Design and Durability While the Portege Lenovo Thinkpad X300 Battery sported a silver aluminum body that felt somewhat flimsy, the R700 trades flash for a sturdier-feeling black magnesium cover. The chrome hinges are plastic, as are the darker gray touchpad buttons. The overall look is somewhat subdued but handsome. Those looking for more flair should opt for the Best Buy-exclusive model, which has a dark blue lid. Weighing 3.2 pounds, the Portege R700 is one of the lightest laptops you'll find with both a roomy 13-inch display and a built-in optical drive. The pricier 13-inch Sony VAIO Z weighs an even 3 pounds, but the R700 is still easy to take anywhere, measuring a compact 12.4 x 9 x 0.6--1 inches. The R700's durability extends beyond its magnesium finish. Toshiba used a honeycomb rib structure Lenovo Thinkpad X200 Battery , for the base and palm rest for extra resilience. You also get hard drive protection and a spill-resistant keyboard