Lenovo expands laptop offerings
SINGAPORE--Lenovo is not taking any chances. From the office to the home, the Chinese PC maker has increased its product line so extensively that it has covered almost all market segments. At an event in the Marriott hotel to launch its first Netbooks, Lenovo took the opportunity to showcase its entire range of ThinkPads and IdeaPads.
Budget (IdeaPad S; Lenovo 3000 G)For those on a limited budget, the 12.1-inch Lenovo 3000 G230 and 14.1-inch G430 can be configured with low-end components to keep prices low. However, the real stars in this category are the Chinese maker's first entrants into the Netbook arena.The IdeaPad S9 and S10 are 8.9-inch and 10.2-inch subnotebooks, respectively. Singapore will get the black, white and red versions, though additional shades such as pink and blue are also available in other regions. Besides the usual suspects such as two USB, Webcam, memory card reader, Ethernet, Wi-Fi, the IdeaPad S series may also be the first Netbook to come equipped with an ExpressCard/34 slot (the HP Mini-Note also has this port, though it's priced significantly above most Netbooks). The machine can be decked out with a harddisk or solid state drive, while the keyboard is quite comfortable and comparable with Acer Aspire One. With a starting price of S$739 (US$544.09), it sits between the S$849 (US$625.08) MSI Wind and S$699 (US$514.64) Axioo Pico for affordability. The smaller IdeaPad S9 is not available for retail, but will be bundled with telcos and other service providers. Entertainment consumers (IdeaPad U; IdeaPad Y)To make a clear delineation between corporate and consumer laptops, the latter range was recently badged with the IdeaPad moniker (Though the G series still keeps the Lenovo 3000 prefix). Unlike its business brothers, the IdeaPad Y models are geared towards entertainment needs while the U range goes for the stylish crowd in need of an ultraportable. Though these models are not equipped with the comprehensive ThinkVantage application, a subset called the One-Key Rescue System allows the machine to recover its data with a touch of a button.Facial-recognition (VeriFace) Webcams appeared in previous Lenovo consumer portables, we're glad that this tradition continued in the new lineup. By taking measurements between the key points on a face, the system will recognize an authorized user and log into the appropriate account. Using a photo won't fool the VeriFace technology, as it looks for small eye movements which cannot be replicated in an image. Depending on the security setting, it can even demand that you be in the same position (seated or standing) as you were during the initial setup phase. If a stranger tries to hack into the machine by guessing the password, the Webcam will take a video of the culprit. The system can also be used to leave a video message for the owner as well. The U330 joins the existing U110 and offers a larger 13.3-inch display. Unlike the latter, this model comes with an integrated optical drive and switchable graphics. Its power-saving LED display allows for up to 5 hours of battery life and the Active Protection System detects acceleration during a fall to protect the harddisk from damage. The 14.1-inch IdeaPad Y430 and 15.4-inch Y530 are entertainment laptops with optional Blu-ray drives. Though relatively inexpensive, the latter is decked out with a built-in subwoofer for better audio quality. New consumer IdeaPads
|
|
- Talkback
-
There are currently no comments for this story.
To post comments, you need to become a member. It's FREE.
