With the holiday gift-giving season rapidly approaching, we will all begin searching for popular toys, unique gadgets, and top-notch electronics gifts for our family and friends. If you plan to hunt for any laptops or netbooks this season, I have a sneak peek at a quality brand you should consider first!

Lenovo is one of the largest makers of personal computers and computer equipment. As I write this review, I’m using both a Lenovo mouse and Lenovo keyboard. Both are great pieces of equipment, but let’s be honest, you’re not still reading because you want to hear about my mouse and keyboard. Lenovo makes some of the most highly advanced computer systems, such as the ThinkPad, famous for its silent design.

Earlier this year, Lenovo introduced two new IdeaPad S Series netbooks designed for easy portability, high performance, and stylish features. The IdeaPad S10-2 is sleek and stylish, measuring in at less than an inch thick and roughly 2 pounds. Since our lifestyles have become more mobile, Lenovo created this innovative netbook to match our need for simple, easy-to-use technology.

My thoughts? At work I use a full size keyboard created for a desktop computer and at home I use a 16” laptop. Transferring from a full keyboard to the space-saving 89% keyboard on the IdeaPad S10-2 was difficult for me. After about an hour of playing around on the S10-2 I was more comfortable with my hand placement over the keyboard and I was almost completely adjusted to the mini computer sitting on my lap. The S10-2 was so portable that instead of printing a new recipe I wanted to try, I just brought the netbook to my kitchen table and read the instructions from the screen. It saved me from printing paper unnecessarily, it didn’t take up much space on the table, and was easily carried from one room to the other! The IdeaPad S10-2 is even customizable with the option to add vibrant, exciting graphics of your choice on the cover. (The S10-2 I reviewed has the black S Series design on the cover, pictured above.) As far as innovation, the S10-2 is set! The netbook has the facial recognition feature, called Veriface, which allows you to lock/unlock your computer using the built-in camera. If someone tries to use your netbook while in the locked, Veriface mode, they have the option of leaving you a recorded message for you to view when you return. Innovative AND clever!

Lenovo also sent the white IdeaPad S12 for me to review (the picture above is the S12 in black, but the S12 I reviewed is in white). Along the same lines as the S10-2, the S12 was created for simplicity, portability, and ease of use. The S12 measures in 2” larger than the S10-2 which proved to be a huge difference with the keyboard. I wouldn’t have imagined before using these netbooks that 12” would make a big difference from 10” but my assumption was way off. This netbook sports a full keyboard which made adjusting to the style of the netbook easier and faster than I had with the S10-2. Not to worry though because the S12 is still as lightweight and easy to tote around as the S10-2 model, weighing in closer to 3 pounds. (As a nice extra…these netbooks run on Windows XP, NOT Vista. If you’ve ever used Vista you’ll understand why this is a GOOD thing!)

I thoroughly enjoyed reviewing both of these netbooks which will make it hard for me to part with them. But you will be glad to know that Lenovo would like to offer the IdeaPad S10-2 and the IdeaPad S12 that I reviewed to our Mommy PR’s readers. That’s right! You have the chance to win the S10-2 or the S12! (IdeaPad S10-2 ARV $330, IdeaPad S12 ARV $449)

To Enter:
All you have to do to enter to win one of the IdeaPad S Series Netbooks listed above is visit the Lenovo website and pick a product that is a must have for your household this upcoming holiday season (other than these great netbooks).
Leave a comment below letting us know what you picked!

Extra Entries:
Visit the Mommy PR Contest Rules page for all the extra entries available.

 NOTE: You are only allowed to enter each “extra entry” once, except for your daily Tweets. Failure to abide by this will result in your comments being deleted.

Open to US residents only
Contest open until 11:59pm PST on 11/18/09

For all other rules please visit our Contest Rules page

Disclaimer:
I was not paid in any form of cash for this posting.
I did receive a product to keep for my testing purposes.
The product itself did not persuade my personal beliefs or views.
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