It's bulkier than other options, but its price and performance are quite attractive.

Lenovo does its best to ensure there's a ThinkPad for everyone, from those who'd like a budget workhorse without any unnecessary frills, to those who'd like a premium device with all the latest technology. The ThinkPad E490 that I've been using for about a week is in the former camp, with a starting price that's cheaper than most ThinkPads and a feature set that is more geared toward a life of hard work rather than anything fancy. Let's see whether or not it's worth the money and whether or not it has the right stuff to be your next laptop.