Lenovo ThinkPad Edge E530 Pro Reviews

Initially, Lenovo offered the ThinkPad Edge line as a low-cost alternative to the original well-respected and somewhat costly ThinkPad business models. While this ThinkPad is well-suited for most standard business applications, we have to question some of the compromises Lenovo made to reach the lower price point. It's not just consumers who use their notebooks to listen to audio and view videos and photos. In many business settings, these activities are standard business functions. Hence, we would have liked to have seen a better display panel, stronger speakers, and a more capable Webcam on this laptop. This is not to say that the ThinkPad Edge E530 doesn't have many strong points to recommend it, though. It performs on par for its price, and it feels sturdy. We also liked its strong selection of connectivity and expansion options. The fingerprint reader is a nice touch, as is its easy-to-type-on keyboard and accurate touch pad and pointer.

The ThinkPad Edge E530 is an excellent entry into the mainstream laptop market. It has a number of advantages that you won’t find on most competitors — including a wonderful user interface, a matte display, long battery life, and useful pre-installed software. Performance is the only issue, but it’s an important one. Consumers can find much quicker laptops for a similar price. HP’s g6 is a good example. It can be had with a third-generation Intel processor and can even be ordered with discrete graphics, all for just $625. However, the E530 is clearly the choice for people more interested in productivity than entertainment. You won’t find a better keyboard or a more usable display on any other laptop sold at a similar price.