Pros:
Powerful processor
8 GB memory (even though it says 4; it actually came with 8)
750GB hard drive
Solid construction
eSATAp/USB 2.0 port
HDMI port
4 USB ports
Nice touchpad
Built in system image backup/restore software (limited, but useful nonetheless)
Cons:
THE WORST keyboard layout of any laptop I've ever used!! For some unknown reason, the left shift key is HALF NORMAL SIZE. And RIGHT NEXT TO IT is the forward slash key. EVERY TIME I went to hit the left shift key I ended up hitting the forward slash key. It's insane. Really. I absolutely HATE this keyboard. So much so, that I replaced it with a keyboard specifically made for the V570 and sold here on Amazon. (Replace with LotFancy New Black keyboard for IBM LENOVO Z570 V570 B570 B570A B570G B575 V570C Y570 Series 25200308 25-200308 MP-10A33US-686A MP-0A T4TQ-US MP-10A3 25013385 25-013385 MP-10A33US-6861 Laptop / Notebook US Layout (Note: Two kinds keyboard for Y570...)) A.S.A.P.)
VERY POOR TRACK RECORD of motherboard failure (4 months or less down the road the laptop won't power on because the motherboard has died)
VERY POOR HARD DRIVE PARTITIONING (i.e. Lenovo hogs FOUR PARTITIONS with their proprietary stuff, making it impossible to create other partitions for data, etc, unless you really know what you're doing. Fortunately, one of the 4 partitions is an extended partition, not a primary partition, and, with the proper partitioning software (you can't use Windows to do it) you can shrink the big "C" drive, and move that space into the UNNAMED/UNLETTERED extended partition that houses the proprietary Lenovo "D" Drive (But DON'T touch the D drive itself, it will mess up some of the proprietary Lenovo programs; just add the unallocated space created by shrinking the "C" drive to the extended partition that houses the "D" drive.) Then once you've done that, you can create as many logical drives in the extended partition as you want. It took me over a year to figure that little trick out (I have another V570 that I purchased directly from Lenovo, and never did figure it out in time. I basically wiped out everything that came on the laptop, loaded Windows 7 Professional 32 bit, then had to add back all the Lenovo drivers to make everything work. It was a major hassle, but I was able to partition the one 750GB HDD exactly the way I wanted to.) And the Lenovo forums were NOT helpful, even though it is a relatively simple task once you know what to do. Other laptops don't hog so many partitions with proprietary stuff to begin with, so it's much simpler to create a data only partition and have a more manageable "C" drive partition.
NO USB 3.0 ports
A horrible "ONE YEAR WARRANTY" policy that shaves off MONTHS of that policy unless you buy directly from Lenovo. For instance, I bought this a month ago, in March, but the warranty expires in SEPTEMBER, NOT one year from the date I purchased it, as per Lenovo and their arrangement with their resellers. I think that stinks, and I've told them so.
You MUST use LENOVO batteries with this laptop. And THEY DON'T HAVE ANY FOR SALE NOW. And neither does anybody else. They are not really supporting this laptop very well. I was told by one of the sales reps to call the warranty people and order the batteries from them. After some reluctance, the warranty rep finally agreed to sell me two batteries -at $20 more than the sales site used to charge when the actually HAD the batteries to sell, but at least I have two more batteries than I had before.
Also, the first V570 I purchased from Amazon had 5 very visible dead pixels. I returned that and got another one -the last one they had here for sale on Amazon. That one had a dead Ethernet port. (I could connect via the wireless card, but not the wired Ethernet card.) I had to PAY $20 to ship the one month old laptop with the dead Ethernet port back to Lenovo, then wait 12 days to get it back. They had to replace the entire motherboard, but at least it's working fine. For now.
So, as I stated in the title, there are definitely pros and cons to the V570. I would DEFINITELY suggest purchasing an extended warranty via Square Trade. I did. And I'm glad. And as noted above, unless you are a total masochist, or you type with 2 fingers, replace this HEINOUS keyboard A.S.A.P. It takes around 10 minutes and is worth its weight in gold. (NOTE: Save the original keyboard because if you ever do have to send it to Lenovo for warranty work, changing the keyboard, according to what I read on their forum, will invalidate the warranty. I have no idea why, but apparently it does. So don't ship them the laptop with the after market keyboard; put the original one back in. Then when you get your fixed laptop back, put the after market keyboard back in. You'll thank me. I guarantee it.)
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I bought this laptop for work and for the price point it was perfect.However, I don't think the laptop is new. There is no visible damage; however, on the bottom some of the screws and screw holes have signs that they have been opened. (Chipped paint on screws, tooling mark around one of the holes.)
The Biggest problem is the keyboard. I live in the US and received a laptop with a Canadian Keyboard. No where in the description does it mention this. While I'm sure that I can adapt over time it is a huge inconvenience and very misleading.
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