Lenovo unleashes new lineup of ThinkPad, IdeaPad laptops

Morrisville, N.C. — In a year of increasingly aggressive moves to win consumers and small-business users, Lenovo unleashed a wide variety of laptop models, some with a choice in a near-rainbow of colors, on Tuesday.

New models include six ThinkPad and three ThinkPad SL models and four IdeaPads, all of which include Intel Centrino 2 processors. According to Intel, the Centrino 2 improves computer speed, extends battery life and increases wireless range.

The barrage of product announcements is part of Lenovo’s 2008 initiative to win more consumer and small-business customers worldwide. Lenovo, a major sponsor of the upcoming Beijing Olympics, is tackling markets abandoned long ago by IBM, which sold its ThinkPad and PC business to Lenovo three years ago.

IdeaPads are designed for consumers and, to help buyers “express themselves,” include four color choices:

• Valencia orange
• Indigo blue
• Bold black
• Crimson red

The IdeaPads also include high-definition capability, optional Blu-ray players and Lenovo’s “one-key rescue system” for data recovery.

One model, the 13-inch-screen IdeaPad U330, is an addition to the super-thin, lightweight U110 that Lenovo released in the spring. The models counter rivals such as the Apple “Air.”

Other features include VeriFace facial-recognition technology for increased security and Dolby Home Theatre.

The IdeaPad laptop lineup is receiving “quite a shot in the arm,” wrote Paul Miller at the Web site Engadget. Miller called the U330 model “the real winner” of the four new models, praising its 13.3-inch screen, the new Centrino 2 processor, and a built-in optical drive as well as a high-definition interface.

The Y430, Y530 and Y730 feature bigger screens, the Y730 topping out at 17.1 inches.

Miller also noted that the Y730 caters to multi-media users who want their laptop for entertainment and gaming.

Jerry Jackson, writing at Notebook Review, praised the ThinkPads. “Lenovo has gone out of its way to give you multiple reasons to consider the SL series over the competition,” he wrote. The Intel Core 2 Duo P8400 processor in our review unit provided ample processing power and never presented any problems when running applications or encoding video and audio files.

“As it stands now, there are a number of reasons you might want to pick up an SL400 rather than a similar notebook from the Dell Vostro lineup or Toshiba Satellite Pro line,” he added.

Jackson noted differences between new and old ThinkPads that some people might not like, such as a lack of a lid latch.

“The performance of our test configuration suggests the SL400 packs enough raw power to satisfy most small-business owners,” he wrote, “but it's clear that the new SL series isn't the same ThinkPad we've seen before.”

The SL ThinkPad series includes built-in mobile broadband capability and a glossy black rather than matte-black top.

“The ThinkPad name is synonymous with leadership in notebook computing for the business user,” said Peter Hortensius, senior vice president of the Notebook Business Unit at Lenovo. “Now we’re bringing the same quality and reliability that ThinkPad is known for to small-business customers with a number of leading technologies like high-speed mobile broadband and new services and capabilities. ThinkPad customers expect more from their notebook PCs, and with today’s announcements, we are pleased to continue our tradition of industry-leading innovation.”

Prices and availability variety. For more information, visit Lenovo’s Web site.