Lenovo G570 Review: A Low-Cost Champion

Our Lenovo G570 review unit has the following specifications:

• 15.6-inch 720p (1366x768) HD glare with LED backlighting
• Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit
• Intel Core i5-2410M dual-core processor
• Intel HD Graphics 3000
• 4GB 1333MHz DDR3 dual-channel RAM (2x2GB)
• 500GB 5400rpm Western Digital hard drive (WD5000BPVT)
• Atheros AR9285 802.11n wireless LAN card
• DVD-multi burner
• Bluetooth 2.1
• 6-cell Li-ion battery (10.8V, 48Wh)
• 1-year limited warranty
• Weight: 5.73 lbs
• Dimensions: 14.8? (L) x 9.8? (W) x 0.7~1.4? (H)
• MSRP: $899 (starting at $449)

Our review unit is built for general use computing, but the Intel Core i5 dual-core processor and 4GB of system memory should work well with multitasking. This system will not, however, be able to run most major 3D games without flaw because of the Intel integrated graphics card, the HD graphics 3000. Other upgrade options upon first customization include 750GB capacity hard drive at 5400rpm, 8GB RAM (1333MHz), and a Blu-ray/DVD combo.

Build and Design
The G570's outer build does not differ that much from its prior model, the G560. The G570 has a simplistic design, glossy plastics on the display lid with molded plastics throughout, and brushed aluminum across the entire top of the chassis around the keyboard. With the Li-ion battery, this unit weighs in at just under 6 pounds and measures in at about 1.5" thick, making it doable for light travel.

Even though it is made almost entirely of plastic material, the overall build quality feels very good and considerably solid. There is minimal flex when pushing down on the palmrests, but due to the brushed aluminum it is not significant; the aluminum also helps to keep this area where your palms and hands will rest stay cool even when the notebook is under exertion. The notebook is not, however, as durable as it could be thanks to the plastic build. The bottom plastic panels will hold up fine on your desk if you aren't a frequent traveler.

The chassis itself is solid; when a lot tension is applied to the keyboard there is only minimal flex. Typing with heavy pressure should not cause any problems as far as chassis flex or "bounce" is concerned.

Because of its glossiness, the dark lid will inherently collect fingerprints, dust, grime, and so forth, so be aware that this notebook may be high maintenance. The glossy lid does add a touch of style, however, to an otherwise simple design. The lid also flexes easily when any amount of pressure is applied and when bending it inward at the corners, so much so that ripples did appear on the LCD display. Overall, the build quality is good; my only complaint is the average build quality of the glossy lid. 

Ports and Features
The port selection has not changed much since the G560. There is no longer an ExpressCard/34 slot, and there are two more USB 2.0 ports. The overall selection is very good for an entry-level/general use notebook. Notably, there is an HDMI port for hooking the system up to an HDTV, plenty of USB ports (although no USB 3.0), a media card reader, and VGA.

Front: wireless on/off switch, status lights, media card reader (MMC/MS/MS Pro/SD/xD)

Back: nothing

Left: Kensington lock slot, exhaust vent, VGA, Ethernet, HDMI, USB/eSATA, USB 2.0 x2

Right: headphone and microphone jacks, DVD multi/CD RW optical drive, USB 2.0, A/C adapter slot