Lenovo B470 Review Discussion

[Amber Riippa]

The Lenovo "Essential" B470 is a decent-performing small-to-medium business notebook with a portable 14-inch form factor. The B470 offers an Intel dual-core processor, 4GB of RAM, a fingerprint reader, and either Intel HD or NVIDIA graphics. The system also provides an excellent 6 hours of mobile battery life.

Read the full content of this Article: Lenovo B470 Review

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[coldmack]

The battery life is nice, but that seems a bit price for a pretty typical glossy notebook. Now if display res was 1600x900, and/or was matte sure that price is a bit more justified; but, as it stands now you can get a similarly spec'd and more durable T420 for about the same price.

[Charles P. Jefferies]

Nice review. The notebook looks OK - the screen is the biggest turn off.

I like IdeaPads in general, I think Lenovo has the formula right except for the screen. Glossy screens do not make sense from a usability standpoint, neither do 1366x768 resolutions.

[booboo12]

Boring? I actually love this design.

It's a shame about the screen resolution and the glossyness.

[Jerry Jackson]

Unfortunately, I don't think there is much we can do about the glossy screens except keep complaining until enough retailers and manufacturers pay attention.

I've spoken with almost every major notebook manufacturer about how glossy screens are horrible, but almost every single one of them say the same thing:

"We know ... but glossy screens sell better in retail stores."

During CES this year I even spoke to a buyer for a major retailer here in the US and she said she won't even place orders for notebooks that have matte screens anymore because the glossy screens sell better and the stores can't afford to sit on inventory of notebooks that don't sell.

Maybe we would see more laptops with matte screens if people started RETURNING notebooks with glossy screens and telling store managers that the reason they are returning the laptop is because the glossy screen is too difficult to read outdoors.

Of course, I'm NOT suggesting people do that ... I'm just saying I hate glossy screens.

[coldmack]

Maybe manufactures could be nice enough to at least on most of their laptops give us an anti-glare option(maybe as custom order) for those who want it?

[Jerry Jackson]

Maybe manufactures could be nice enough to at least on most of their laptops give us an anti-glare option(maybe as custom order) for those who want it?

That sure would be a great solution.

Of course, manufacturers will argue there is a pretty high price tag associated with maintaining both glossy and matte screen options (in addition to multiple resolution options) in the production line.

Personally, I think EVERY notebook that has a relatively small form factor and is marketed as being mobile/portable should have a matte screen option because it's just too hard to see a glossy screen clearly under bright light without reflections getting in the way.

If it's a giant desktop replacement then I guess I can forgive a glossy screen, but then I hate glossy screens on expensive gaming notebooks because the gloss sometimes interferes with game play.

[coldmack]

Well how much would it cost manufactures to give the consumers a anti-glare coating on a glossy screen, cause maybe they could do that? Because again this would be a nice laptop, if a) they gave it a matte or anti-glare screen and/or b) lowered the price a bit.

[Charles P. Jefferies]

I've spoken with almost every major notebook manufacturer about how glossy screens are horrible, but almost every single one of them say the same thing:

"We know ... but glossy screens sell better in retail stores."

During CES this year I even spoke to a buyer for a major retailer here in the US and she said she won't even place orders for notebooks that have matte screens anymore because the glossy screens sell better and the stores can't afford to sit on inventory of notebooks that don't sell.

Nice info. Shiny stuff sells ... when didn't it? At least notebook manufacturers are using less glossy plastic on notebook chassis ... that was such a 2008 fail trend.

Glossy screens look great on a display shelf but that's all, matte screens are superior in every way I can think of in terms of usability.
The last time I bought a notebook with a glossy screen was 2008; the high-res screen on the Pavilion dv5t was only available as glossy. I'll take high-res glossy over low-res matte any day, but ideally you get both (as I did with my EliteBook ).