Lenovo ThinkPad E520 review

The ThinkPad’s design, as ever, is functional, and it feels well built. As is usual with ThinkPads, you get a touchstick as well as a large touchpad. Both are responsive and have large buttons. Lenovo has used the full width of the case to accommodate the keyboard and, if anything, the keyboard feels too wide. The moulded keys are slightly convex, providing good tactile feedback when you strike the key, and their action is light and crisp.

We don’t like its layout, however; the Control and Function keys’ positions have been swapped, while the Function key is now used to access the F1-F12 functions rather than the shortcuts it normally activates. We also don’t like the small PageUp and PageDown keys because they’re tucked away above the arrow keys and recessed to half-height, which means they’re almost impossible to press without also hitting an arrow key.

All in all, the E520 is fairly boring, but its low weight and long battery life make it ideal for working on the move. The keyboard is a delight to use, and our only complaint is its dull screen, which prevents movies and photos looking their best. Still, it’s the ideal travelling companion for the price, and it wins our Business Buy award.