The Lenovo Essential Family is a category of laptops that are mostly intended for business usage, although one member of the family is also capable of functions that are intended for gaming, which requires more powerful features. In any case, being a family, all the members share some common features.

One such feature is the processor. All members of the Essential family are equipped with Intel Core 2 Duo processors, each running at an average speed clocked at 2.0 GHz. Five units run at a processor speed of 2.20 GHz, while the other two are running at a speed of 2.10 GHz. In any case, these speeds are all good enough for multi-tasking. Being mostly laptops designed for business and everyday usage, multi-tasking is very important so users can finish their tasks quickly and efficiently. All of them also have fat memory spaces. Majority of the laptops have 4 gigabytes for RAM, but two models are different with 2 GB and 3 GB RAM spaces.

The Essential laptops come in two sizes: 15-inches and 14 inches. All LCD screens for the Lenovo Essential familiy laptops are widescreen, and all of them have the native resolution of 1366×768. this resolution is very favorable towards multi-tasking, especially when one needs to open and look at one or more windows simultaneously. They can do so by stacking window after window beside each other for quick reference while working. Regardless of sizes, however, all LCD displays in the Essential family are backlit by light-emitting diodes.

Majority of the Essential family laptops are weak when it comes to the graphics part. Five models are given only integrated graphics media accelerators from Intel. However, one unit stands out – the Lenovo G450 – 2949CGU – because it has a dedicated graphics card with 512 megabytes to spare for graphics processing: the Nvidia GeForce G 210M. Of all the Lenovo Essential laptops, this model alone is able to function both for normal computing as well as for heavy graphics processing. Other members of the family are limited to basic computing purposes like word processing as well as some light gaming in the side.

Hard disk capacity also varies for the members of the Essential family of laptops. Most of the laptops have 320 gigabytes of hard disk available for its users, but the G550 – 2958R6U and the G550 – 2958HHU have 250 GB and 160 GB, respectively.

Let us now look at the individual members of the Essential family of laptops from Lenovo.

Lenovo G550 – 2958R6U

The Lenovo G550 – 2958R6U is one of the 15-inchers in the Essential family of laptops. Powered by a 2.10 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor, the Lenovo G550 – 2958R6U also has 3 gigabytes of RAM making it the least powerful of the family in terms of RAM and processing power.

PROS

The G550-29586U has a powerful processor on its side, though it has less processing power than its siblings at only 2.10 GHz. It also has lower RAM and hard drive capacities. The differences are only miniscule, however.

The laptop also has a decently sized screen at 15.6 inches.

CONS

A common feature among majority of the Essential laptops, the Lenovo G550-29586U is unable to go beyond normal graphics processing with its Intel GMA X4500 graphics card.

Lenovo G550 – 29586SU

Another 15-incher in the series, the Lenovo G550 – 29586SU is powered by a 2.20 GHz processor backed up by 4 gigabytes of RAM. It is also one of the models with the most amount of hard disk space at 320 GB.

PROS

The processor in this Essential laptop is at the more powerful end of the series at 2.20 GHz. It also has 4 gigabytes of RAM, a combination, which certainly results to great performance. It also has a large hard disk capacity at 320 GB.

CONS

Being powered by an Intel 4500M GMA, the Lenovo G550 – 29586SU is yet another Essential laptop with the inability to process heavy graphics.

Lenovo G450 – 2949CHU

The Lenovo G450 – 2949CHU is the second member of the Essential family line with the 14-inch LCD screen.

Cnet estimates the price range for the Lenovo G450 – 2949CHU starting at $599.

PROS

Most of the best of the Essential family line can be found on this one: fat RAM space, large hard disk capacity and a powerful processor.

CONS

Like most of its siblings, the Lenovo G450 – 2949CHU is only able to process normal graphics and none of the heavier ones.

Lenovo G550 – 2958HHU

The Lenovo G550 – 2958HHU is at the lowest end of the stick. While it has equally powerful processor like its siblings, it has lower RAM and hard disk space. It does have a 15.6-inch LCD display however.

CNet estimates the price range for the Lenovo G550 – 2958HHU to be from $649 to $789.

PROS

The Lenovo G550 – 2958HHU is equipped with the powerful 2.20 GHz Core 2 Duo processor. Its decently sized screen and its native resolution is a plus for this Essential laptop as well.

CONS

It has lower HD space at 160 gigabytes, and only 2 gigabytes of RAM as well. It also has an integrated Intel GMA X4500 as well.

Lenovo G550 – 29586TU

The fourth and the last in the series with an 15.6 inch screen, the Lenovo G550 – 29586TU carries a 2.20 GHz Core 2 Duo processor. It is also equipped with 4 gigabytes of RAM and a 320-GB hard disk.

Estimates put the Lenovo G550-29586TU’s price range to be at least $550 and higher.

PROS

The Lenovo G550 – 29586TU has enough space for files with its 320-gigabyte hard drive. Its 4-GB RAM space also acts as an excellent support for its Intel Core 2 Duo processor to ensure seamless performance.

CONS

The Lenovo G550 – 29586TU has only an integrated Intel GMA 4500M to process its graphics, leaving it unable to accommodate 3D graphics just like its siblings.

Lenovo G450 – 2949CGU

The Lenovo G450 – 2949CGU is perhaps the eldest and the most powerful of all the Lenovo Essential laptops. Aside from its 4-GB RAM and its Intel Core 2 Duo processor, it is the lone Essential laptop that has its own Nvidia GeForce G 210M graphics card with 512 MB.

The G450 – 2949CGU’s price range falls at $699 and higher.

PROS

The Lenovo G450 – 2949CGU has an excellent Nvidia GeForce G 210M graphics card. With 512 MB for its video RAM, the video card can process heavier graphics that the other Essential laptops cannot.

CONS

It has a smaller screen than the other Esssential laptops that otherwise have weaker graphics processing power than it does.

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