Lenovo ThinkPad L520 review

Most 15in laptops have room for a numberpad, and it’s odd that the L520 lacks one. However, its large keys have a moulded shape that provides great feedback. They also have a light, crisp action and a fairly standard layout. The only black mark is the placement of the Function key in the bottom left corner, where the Control key should be.

In front of the keyboard is a small touchpad with a dimpled yet smooth surface that we found responsive. Its two buttons sit close to the edge of the case, where your thumbs naturally rest, and they have a light action. Typical of ThinkPads, there’s also a touchstick; a Function shortcut lets you disable either the touchpad or touchstick, depending on which you prefer.

As well as three standard USB ports, there’s also a shared eSATA/USB port. As well as an analogue VGA video output, Lenovo has opted for a DisplayPort output rather than the more common HDMI. DisplayPort is becoming more common in business monitors, but it’s easily converted to HDMI, adaptors coast around £10.

The L520 also has an ExpressCard/54 slot and a TPM module – a security device that lets IT administrators set up hardware encryption for business data. There’s also a memory card reader and a single audio socket that supports headsets.

The L520 may be something of an ugly duckling, but if you’re more concerned with typing long documents than watching movies, it may well appeal to you. It has enough power to handle most applications, and a long-lasting battery that will almost see you through a working day. It wins a Business Buy award.