Lenovo G50-80 80E501U3US 16-Inch LED Notebook (2.20GHz Intel Core i5-5200U, 6GB Memory, 500GB Hard Drive, Windows 8.1) Textured Black

I have owned several laptops over the years, and this is so far my favorite. From what I can gather, after Lenovo's software snafu this past year, they no longer load any unnecessary software to their computers, and you can pick and choose whether or not you want any particular program. As a result, this computer is extremely fast and responsive. I have added quite a few programs on my own, and it still works wonderfully. I really like the view of the screen -- I prefer reflective over matte. I saw some complaints about the plastic instead of metal feel -- I have had a heavy duty, metal HP laptop in the past, and it was a lug to carry around. Also, I eventually dropped it, and that secure metal casing didn't make a difference. I think I will be less likely to drop this lightweight, breezy piece of machinery. I use this primarily for business, i.e. spreadsheets, accounting program, server, etc. and it fulfills my needs very well.

Hardware and software works well, the speed is good. It's just that the keyboard is too flexy for serious writing. You have to use firm clear pressure with each and every keystroke if you want each and every letter to show up. Also, occasionally after sleep mode a 1-pixel-wide straight vertical black line appears down the middle of the desktop background. It's not in any of the program windows, or anywhere but the background. It disappears if you reboot. Everything else works great and it runs nice and cool no matter how much you tax the GPU with Netflix, YouTube, etc.

First, I must acknowledge that I'm a software engineer that has owned dozens of laptops, built countless custom computers and servers over the years, so I have a significant amount of experience and comfort with computers. However, in this case,the Lenovo G50-80 replaces an aging Acer laptop for my wife. I had upgraded with a Crucial MX100 SSD a year ago to try and get some additional mileage out of it, but it was overdue. Having become a recent convert to Lenovo (via a Y Lenovo Yoga 2 Pro Convertible Ultrabook ), it was my first choice, so I started looking based on that positive experience. I settled on the G50 primarily on price, and while there are several editions of the G50, I opted for the Intel Core i5 version because in my experience, Intel multi-core CPU's run cooler, and outperform AMD in some key areas that matter to me. Build Quality: Average for an entry level laptop, the chassis is primarily plastic, and does exhibit some flex at the center of the display. However, in this price point, that is fairly common for a 15.6 laptop. Performance: Above average, however, I have upgraded the hard drive, and made certain not to retain the default installation of Windows. For a comparison, I have run the Windows Experience Index ( yes, it's still accessible) to compare this machine to my Lenovo Yoga 2 Pro. They are comparable in most respects, the base score coming in at 5.3. Software: Below average, this is where Lenovo looses a point. They've loaded these machines with so much unnecessary, and largely unwanted applications as to make the machines terribly slow, and as well publicized, unsecure (google SuperFish). This is the primary reason that I pulled the hard drive from the machine, in addition to the fact that I had an SSD conveniently available. There are ways to reinstall windows 8.1 without having to jump through too many hoops, but you have to be willing to download the install image. Display: Above average, very good color reproduction in my eyes (I have a glossy screen). The brightness adjustment range is good too, allowing me to use it in low light, as well as in on the deck in the shade. I have yet to try it in the sun, but generally, I don't work outdoors anyhow. The only complaint I would make is that it is NOT a Touch Screen, though my wife had no interest in a touch version. Keyboard: Average again, nothing to get excited about, though it does boast that it's a full keyboard technically, the numeric keys are smaller than average, and will take some getting used to. Tactile response is fine, keys bounce back nicely, and are smooth, and depress evenly. Touchpad: Average, I do like the finish on the touchpad. My Yoga 2 pro is smooth, while this has a texture to it. Tracking is slow with the default settings, and I have yet to try and adjust it. Final thoughts are that this is a good laptop that will likely serve my wife quite well. So far, she's pleased with it's performance, and happy to still have a laptop with a DVD drive, which allows her to watch movies when the kids dominate the living room. I would strongly suggest two things: First, get an SSD for this laptop if you have the means, they make a significant difference. Second, either reinstall windows, or remove all of the bloatware included on the machine. Those two steps will make your experience far more enjoyable.

Purchased this for my son who graduated from high school, and the the trackpad was defective. As I typed, the pointer would move all over the screen and sometimes delete everything that had been typed. This is evidently a known and common issue with this computer. Do not purchase. The only positive was that I was able to return it to Amazon for a full refund.

The hinge that connects the screen with the keypad broke and I have been fixing it time and again. Working good otherwise. But this aspect makes this laptop not worth buying at all. The hinge looks so thin.

I love this laptop because it is easy to upgrade. There are two RAM slots in this model and the maximum amount of RAM that you can install is 16 Gb (I recommend going to crucial.com to see what hardware is compatible). You can also upgrade the Hard Drive (HDD) to a Solid State Drive(SSD) fairly easily (I recommend Macrium Reflect software for cloning the HDD to SSD). So with all of these options available, you can easily upgrade a $560 laptop to something that can compete with higher-end machines. The Intel i5 processor isn't exactly top-of-the-line, but it's performance is far from poor or outdated. The only major flaw that I can think of is the short battery supply (~5 hours between charges). I am currently using this laptop for programming classes. I have installed a couple of IDEs including Visual Studio Community. I have not run into any major problems concerning compatibility or speed. Pros: Easy to Upgrade the RAM (2 slots) and Hard Drive (SSD compatible) Free upgrade to Windows 10 Lightweight, easy to carry to school Bluetooth connectivity Cons: Battery life; if you need more than 4 hours between recharges this might not be the laptop for you