Lenovo IdeaCentre Q180 Pro Reviews

The Lenovo IdeaCentre Q180 is a mediocre performer, but its size, portability, and couch-friendly multimedia remote make it a good contender for media mavens on a budget. It isn't the most capable media-center PC, but if you're looking for a very inexpensive nettop to flesh out an entertainment center or stash in a nook, this is it.

It isn’t a powerhouse, but its Blu-ray drive and large hard disk make this mini PC perfect for film fans

I think we can safely put Atom (for PC) to rest. It is dead. Even after several years of evolution it has proven unsuitable for the demands of modern software and Intel clearly has no interest in updating the architecture. Hopefully the next iteration of Lenovo’s tiny Q-series computer abandon Atom and instead use an Intel low-voltage processor or perhaps an AMD Fusion APU.

While its benchmark performance wasn’t quite what we expected from looking at the system’s spec sheet, it’s the IdeaCentre Q180’s other issues that really give us pause. Its noticeable and near-constant fan noise is not only annoying, but it makes us worry a bit about sticking the system inside a cramped (and usually poorly ventilated) confines of a living room entertainment center. If you set your television (with the IdeaCentre Q180 mounted behind it) on an open surface, however, heat becomes less of an issue. Also, the system struggled at times playing back 1080p video, even after we downloaded the files to remove any potential issues with our wireless connection. Quiet operation and flawless HD media playback are two of the most important things we look for in a media PC. The Q180 almost gets there with its playback abilities, but we can’t forgive its whirring fan. You could opt for the quieter Acer Revo RL100, keep its somewhat awkward remote stashed away, and purchase Lenovo’s N5902 keyboard remote to use with it. But even that may not be the best solution. While we love the design of Lenovo’s Blackberry-inspired wireless peripheral, after having a key cap pop off in just a few days, we’re not too sure about its durability.

The Lenovo IdeaCentre Q180 nettop is compact and inexpensive. It has a lot of features and a good price, though this configuration could use a bit of tweaking to really shine.