By Administrator The Lenovo Y50-70 Touch. The name evokes a particular era in laptop design, a time when touchscreens were becoming increasingly commonplace and manufacturers were experimenting with different form factors and features. This laptop, a product of its time, promised a blend of performance, portability, and interactive touch functionality. But in the fast-moving world of technology, how does this machine hold up years later? Is it a relic of the past, or does it still offer value for specific users? This article delves into the Lenovo Y50-70 Touch, examining its design, performance, and overall appeal in the present day. We’ll assess whether its combination of touch support, decent display quality, and respectable hardware specifications can still provide a satisfying user experience, or whether time has moved on too far.
Design and Construction
The Lenovo Y50-70 Touch boasts a design that was, for its time, fairly standard for a mid-range multimedia laptop. The chassis is primarily constructed of plastic, finished with a brushed aluminum effect on the lid and palm rest. While this gave it a somewhat premium appearance initially, the plastic construction means that it’s not the most durable of laptops. It’s susceptible to scratches and flexing under pressure, a common trait among laptops in this price range during its release.
The hinges, responsible for connecting the screen to the base, feel reasonably sturdy, offering a good balance between smooth opening and secure positioning. They hold the display firmly in place without excessive wobble, a key factor for a touchscreen device.
In terms of size and weight, the Lenovo Y50-70 Touch isn’t the most portable machine. It’s relatively thick and heavy, making it less ideal for frequent travel. While it can certainly be carried in a backpack, it’s not something you’d want to lug around all day. Newer laptops prioritize slim profiles and lighter materials, making the Y50-70 Touch feel rather bulky in comparison.
The keyboard offers a decent typing experience, with keys that have reasonable travel and a tactile response. While it’s not the best keyboard you’ll find on a laptop, it’s certainly usable for extended periods. The layout is standard, and the keys are well-spaced, minimizing accidental keystrokes. The keyboard backlighting, if present on your particular model, is a welcome addition for typing in low-light environments.
The trackpad is generally responsive and accurate, offering smooth cursor movement and reliable gesture support. It supports multi-finger gestures, allowing for easy scrolling, zooming, and switching between applications. The trackpad surface is smooth and pleasant to the touch.
The touchscreen functionality is a key feature of the Y50-70 Touch. The screen responds well to touch inputs, allowing for intuitive navigation and interaction with applications. The touchscreen is particularly useful for tasks such as browsing the web, reading documents, and playing games. However, the glossy display can be prone to glare, which can make it difficult to use in bright environments.
In terms of port selection, the Lenovo Y50-70 Touch offers a reasonable variety of connections. It typically includes USB ports, an HDMI port, an Ethernet port, and a headphone jack. These ports allow you to connect to a wide range of external devices, such as monitors, printers, and external storage drives. The placement of the ports is generally convenient, although some users may find the location of the headphone jack to be slightly awkward.
Display Quality
The Lenovo Y50-70 Touch features a display that, while acceptable for its time, doesn’t quite meet the standards of modern laptops. The screen size is typically around fifteen inches, and the resolution is Full HD (nineteen twenty by ten eighty pixels). While this resolution is adequate for most tasks, it’s not as sharp or detailed as the higher-resolution displays found on newer laptops.
The panel type is usually a TN (Twisted Nematic) panel, which is known for its fast response times but can suffer from poor viewing angles and color accuracy. Viewing angles are a particular weakness of TN panels, as the image can appear washed out or distorted when viewed from an angle. Color accuracy is also not the best, meaning that the display may not be suitable for professional photo or video editing.
Brightness and contrast are decent, but not exceptional. The screen is bright enough for indoor use, but it may struggle in direct sunlight. Contrast is adequate, but not as deep or rich as on displays with higher contrast ratios.
As mentioned earlier, the glossy finish of the touchscreen can be prone to glare, which can make it difficult to use in bright environments. This is a common issue with glossy displays, and it can be especially problematic for touchscreen devices that are often used in a variety of lighting conditions.
The touchscreen itself is responsive and accurate, allowing for intuitive navigation and interaction with applications. However, the accuracy of the touchscreen can be affected by factors such as fingerprints and dust.
Performance and Internal Components
Under the hood, the Lenovo Y50-70 Touch typically features Intel Core processors, ranging from Core i5 to Core i7 models. These processors provide adequate performance for everyday tasks such as browsing the web, editing documents, and watching videos. However, they may struggle with more demanding tasks such as video editing and gaming.
The amount of RAM typically ranges from eight to sixteen gigabytes, which is sufficient for most users. However, if you plan on running multiple applications simultaneously or working with large files, you may want to consider upgrading to sixteen gigabytes of RAM.
Storage options typically include a hard drive (HDD) or a solid-state drive (SSD), or sometimes a hybrid drive combining both. An SSD will dramatically improve boot times and application loading speeds compared to a traditional HDD. The inclusion of an SSD is highly recommended for optimal performance.
For graphics, the Lenovo Y50-70 Touch often features an NVIDIA GeForce GTX graphics card, such as the GTX eight sixty M. This graphics card provides decent gaming performance, allowing you to play many games at medium settings. However, it’s not powerful enough to run the latest games at high settings.
Overall, the performance of the Lenovo Y50-70 Touch is decent for its age. However, it’s important to keep in mind that it’s an older laptop, and its performance may not be as good as that of newer laptops.
Audio and Webcam
The audio quality of the Lenovo Y50-70 Touch is adequate for everyday use. The speakers provide clear and balanced sound, but they lack bass. The volume is also not very loud, so you may need to use headphones or external speakers in noisy environments. The placement of the speakers is typically on the bottom of the laptop, which can muffle the sound when the laptop is placed on a soft surface.
The webcam provides decent video quality for video conferencing. However, the image can be grainy in low-light conditions. The microphone quality is also adequate, but not exceptional.
Battery Life and Thermals
Battery life is a significant drawback of the Lenovo Y50-70 Touch, especially considering its age. The battery life is typically around four to five hours, which is not very good compared to modern laptops. Battery life will also vary depending on usage, with more demanding tasks consuming more power.
The cooling system is generally adequate, but the laptop can get quite hot under heavy load. This can lead to thermal throttling, which can reduce performance. Fan noise can also be noticeable when the laptop is under heavy load.
Software and Included Features
The Lenovo Y50-70 Touch typically comes with Windows pre-installed. It may also include some pre-installed software, which may be useful or unnecessary. The touchscreen functionality is a key feature, allowing for intuitive navigation and interaction with applications.
The Good and the Not-So-Good: A Balanced View
The Lenovo Y50-70 Touch certainly had its strengths. The touchscreen functionality was a definite plus, offering a more interactive and engaging user experience. Its performance, for its time, was respectable, allowing it to handle everyday tasks and even some light gaming. The design, while not groundbreaking, was generally appealing. And, of course, its current price point on the used market makes it a potentially attractive option for budget-conscious users.
However, it also had its drawbacks. Its age is a significant factor, meaning that it’s likely to have outdated components and a battery that’s seen better days. The battery life, even when new, wasn’t exceptional, and it’s likely to be even worse now. Its weight and thickness make it less portable than modern laptops. And, finally, there’s the potential for driver compatibility issues with newer operating systems.
Still a Viable Option?
So, is the Lenovo Y50-70 Touch still worth buying in today’s market? The answer depends on your specific needs and priorities. If you’re looking for a budget-friendly laptop for basic tasks such as browsing the web, writing documents, and watching videos, it could be a viable option. However, if you need a laptop for more demanding tasks such as video editing or gaming, or if you prioritize portability and long battery life, you’re better off looking at newer laptops. The used market is now flooded with machines that offer more performance for the money, with better screens, and far superior battery life. Consider a modern machine even with basic specifications over this aging laptop.
Final Thoughts
The Lenovo Y50-70 Touch was a solid laptop for its time, offering a decent blend of performance, features, and value. However, technology has moved on, and there are now many newer laptops that offer better performance, battery life, and features for a similar price. While it may still be a viable option for some users, it’s important to carefully consider its limitations before making a purchase. Ultimately, the decision of whether or not to buy a Lenovo Y50-70 Touch depends on your individual needs and priorities. If you can live with its limitations, it could be a budget-friendly option. But for most users, newer laptops offer a better overall experience.
