Compromises are almost always required when it comes to low-cost systems. The Lenovo IdeaPad 100-14IBY ($449.99 as tested) is no exception; it's a good overall budget laptop with a few concessions that come with the price. While it's well designed and has good battery life, it doesn't offer much horsepower, and the 14-inch display only features a low 1,366-by-768 resolution. The Dell Inspiron 17 5000 Series Non-Touch$449.99 at Dell is bigger and faster with a better display for the same price, and it remains our Editors' Choice for budget desktop-replacement laptops.

Lenovo keeps it simple with the IdeaPad 100, with an all-black plastic exterior that sports a slightly angular design. The lid is covered in a bumpy, textured pattern, while the interior and keyboard deck have a smoother (though still textured) finish. The system is light at just 3.74 pounds, and it measures a compact 0.8 by 9.36 by 13.39 inches (HWD). The Dell Inspiron 17 5000 Series Non-Touch is a bit larger due to its 17-inch screen, but the IdeaPad 100 is much lighter than the 5.1 pound, 15-inch Dell Inspiron 15 (I15RV-6190 BLK).

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The glossy 14-inch display is not full HD, instead offering a 1,366-by-768 resolution. This is somewhat disappointing given the screen's size, but 1080p resolution would be rare in this price range—the Dell Inspiron 17 5000 Series Non-Touch features a 1,600-by-900 resolution display, though it's also larger, at 17.3 inches. The glossiness of the IdeaPad 100's screen makes it fairly reflective, which can be irritating in direct light, but the picture is sharp, and the colors are vibrant.cc

Lenovo IdeaPad 100-14IBY
The keyboard and the trackpad feel roomy, despite the system's small frame. The keys are a little springy as opposed to a tighter, more mechanical feel, but typing is comfortable, and the spacing is good. The trackpad is consistent and smooth to use. A small nit is that the left- and right-click controls share one long bar under the touchpad instead of being split into two buttons. There's a good inch of dead zone between the two that isn't visibly distinguishable, but does nothing when pressed.

There is a good selection of ports. The left side has a USB 3.0 port, a USB 2.0 port, an Ethernet port, and an HDMI port, as well as the headphone and Power jacks. The front of the system includes a 4-in-1 card reader (SD, SDHC, SDXC, MMC), and the right side holds a Kensington lock port. There's also a webcam and an integrated microphone. Bluetooth 4.0 and 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi provide wireless connectivity. Not surprisingly, the speakers won't blow you away, but they're adequate for watching a movie from a few feet away. Lenovo provides a one-year warranty for the laptop.

The IdeaPad 100-14IBY features a 1.83GHz Intel Celeron N2940 processor, 4GB of memory, a 500GB hard drive, and integrated Intel HD graphics. Given its low-cost components, the system was not exactly a powerhouse in the productivity tests. Its PCMark 8 Work Conventional test score of 1,614 points falls behind the Dell Inspiron 17 5000 Series Non-Touch's 2,097, but it compares well to the Dell Inspiron 15 Non-Touch$279.99 at Dell (1,554) and the Acer Aspire E3-111-C1BW$249.99 at Walmart (1,605).

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The system was quite slow on Photoshop, finishing in 14 minutes, compared with the Dell Inspiron 17 5000 Series Non-Touch's 8:35. It did better in the Handbrake video encoding at 5:30, beating the Dell Inspiron 17 (5:4 and the Acer E3-111-C1BW (6:03). Its Cinebench score of 136 is also respectable, trouncing the Dell Inspiron 15 Non-Touch (71).

Given its low-speed processor and integrated GPU, you can't do much gaming on the IdeaPad 100, and as expected, it didn't get anywhere near playable frame rates on our graphics tests.Results on our battery rundown tests were quite good. The laptop lasted 6 hours 32 minutes, which is longer than the Dell Inspiron 17 (5:20), as well as the Acer Aspire E3-111-C1BW (5:06).

Conclusion
The Lenovo IdeaPad 100-14IBY doesn't stand out in any one area, but it doesn't have glaring weaknesses for the price either. A better display would be a nice upgrade—the Dell Inspiron 17 5000 Series Non-Touch offers a larger screen with a higher resolution. The physical design is solid and lightweight, with no obvious flaws, but performance is only decent at best. The smaller size may be appealing if you're going to frequently take this system with you, but you might be better off investing in an ultraportable laptop designed for the road. The Dell Inspiron 17 5000 Series Non-Touch remains our Editors' Choice for budget desktop-replacement laptops, due to its powerful hardware, bigger and better display, and aluminum finish for the same price.

Working on a 12-inch laptop doesn't feel so cramped when you have a supersharp 4K display. That's what you get in Toshiba's Satellite Radius 12: a compact, powerful work machine with high-enough resolution for serious productivity. A versatile folding hinge that lets you use the device like a tablet is just a bonus.

Unfortunately, a few glaring weaknesses limit the Radius 12's business potential. Its battery life is too short, and its keyboard and touchpad were victims of some odd design choices. But can strong performance and a brilliant display make this $1,299 notebook worth the money?

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Design
At 2.93 lbs., the Radius 12 is noticeably more portable than rival 12-inch hybrids like the ThinkPad Yoga 12 (3.52 lbs.). That makes Toshiba's laptop the more attractive pick for commuters and frequent travelers who don't want to lug a heavy machine around. On the other hand, the Radius 12 is heftier than many standard 12-inch laptops, including the HP EliteBook Folio 1020 (2.68 lbs.) and the MacBook (2.03 lbs.).
Size aside, the Radius 12 looks every bit as sleek and professional as its premium price tag would suggest. I love the glossy look of the lid, which sports a nice brushed-metal effect, even if it is a bit of a fingerprint magnet.

Plus, the overall build quality is excellent. The Radius 12 feels really sturdy, without any noticeable flex in the lid or keyboard deck.
The Radius 12 has a special hinge that lets you flip the display back a full 360 degrees so you can use it like a large tablet. But remember that the Radius 12 weighs 3 lbs., making it about three times as heavy as an iPad. In other words, it's too heavy to hold up in the air for a long time.

Business users will probably get more mileage out of the tent and stand modes, which let you prop up the device screen-first, which is handy for presentations. I also like using stand mode to get better access to the touch screen in cramped quarters, such as on an airplane tray table.

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