I myself have bought me as a second unit, which is mainly used for surfing and is also played here and there a little bit with it.
On the whole I am satisfied with the device for the price. The build quality is fine, only one lives in constant fear of scratches on the case;) That here and there criticized Display I can not complain. Sure, it's not the brightest, but also in a light-flooded room you can still see everything well and are cooperating fully with it. The resolution of 1366x768 is 13.3 inches in order. To complain about the lack of only Ethernet port here.
Power and battery LEDs are present, but not in the viewing area but on the right side.
I also read in advance that the keyboard gives in a little more pressure and bends. Here I can only say that this extreme pressure is really necessary and is nothing to remember during normal typing it. By pressing FN + Space allows the keyboard backlight off or arrival. The key pressure point is also very pleasant and it can be written well.
The trackpad (here of Elantech) is also a good size, if it is sometimes a bit stubborn in the operation. Thus for example, the blocking of the trackpad when you write not completely turn off Windows. With a twist on the registry you can indeed, at least in the driver software unlock an additional point, where you can set the time window for blocking on 0, but it disables just then but not completely. for normal operation that is not tragic, but at the latest in games where both inputs are at the same time necessary and you have no ready mouse is quite a bit different.
The battery lasts a long time, and I do not at the 10 hours, the will to commit myself are promised by the manufacturer. However 6-7h loose inside. I myself use the device with full display brightness, from time to time and keyboard lighting in the balanced energy profile of Windows. Come a few Games plus Internet (Youtube and normal surfing) are now as I said 6h operational loose inside. That's my opinion perfectly fine.
I can not complain of a high volume operation. The only thing you can hear during normal operation is from time to time, the built-in hard disk. Even under full load the Ultrabook is not overly loud.
Topic operating system: it was up to me, so I had Windows 8 is not required. Now it was even pre-installed and the option without OS to buy, I did not.
The system starts quickly and you will be discontinued after the password entry in the desktop. As is usual for OEMs are installed a few Lenovo apps that you can however also quickly and easily uninstall. The whole thing does not take too long. Other apps like Evernote, Twitter, health tips and recipes are preinstalled (Metro apps) which you can also uninstall.
If times is nothing more just press to start the System Restore on the left side of the device, the "Novo-Key". A disk there is not one of them, but one can imagine the recovery partition with standard Windows tools such as secure on a USB stick, which is also doing the same set up accordingly.
Another thing about gaming capabilities: Here the performance varies regardless of the age of the Games or graphic quality. I knew before already that I do not wonder in the direction expected consumption and was last here and there positive and negative surprises.
I tested here Diablo 3, Counter Strike: Global Offensive, Poker Night 2, Titan Quest, WoT, Borderlands 2, Tomb Raider (2013) and various indie games as well as from the Windows8 store Asphalt 8 and Riptide. 2
The Indies are generally frugal and all run perfectly (Monaco, Solar 2, Splice, Limbo). For the rest I found amazing that Titan Quest was unplayable despite its age. Diablo 3 on the other hand can be played in medium settings with good native resolution. Counterstrike allows even high settings and still runs smoothly, as Poker Night 2 Borderlands 2 was again unplayable even at the lowest details. In World of Tanks, it is, however, cards depends on how it seems. Here are frame rates of 20-50fps possible - though at low Details. Asphalt8 and Riptide 2, however, ran as smooth as silk, despite various shaders and post-processing effects. I am aware that this is a "mobile games" is primarily, I wanted to just again emphasize that the performance can vary greatly given to the optical quality.
Tomb Raider is running at low to medium settings also playable at 30+ frames. However applies to this device that once the operating temperature increases the CPU clocks down and so dramatically, that's to be expected with strong performance. Which means, after about 1/2 to three quarters of an hour a break should be inserted (true for the "big" games).
ADDENDUM: My previously mentioned problems with Ubuntu and the domestic WLAN have unnecessary. Whether it was to update the OS or the whole random malfunction was nobody can say really. It is clear that you can on the device (an actual) Linux operate without significant problems!
Furthermore, it should be mentioned positively that Ubuntu could install 14:10 in UEFI mode, without legacy and with options enabled Secure Boot - contrary to the claims of the Lenovo Customer Service. So to not hear in this case)
My Conclusion:
The Lenovo U330p is a very good all-rounder. For office use and surfing it is thoroughly recommended due to the form factor (13 inches), the associated equipment and price. The workmanship is good and makes a robust impression. Who is looking for a notebook that is portable and easy and promises a long term which is served here well. As a pure games machine, it is, however, limited to recommend. Who can live with the details in current games with smears or may be limited to casual / Indie Games or smartphone reactions with the device but well have fun! As a second device to complement the domestic gaming PCs but a good choice.
Only negatives for me are the lack of Ethernet port and the nonexistent rescue disk.
