Lenovo officially announced their new refreshed lineup of IdeaPad mobile products and IdeaCentre desktop systems featuring the latest Intel Core processor architectures and the new Windows 7 OS. The new system announcements are as follows (we’ll start with the mobile front):

IdeaPad Y550P:

• Most powerful laptop in Lenovo’s consumer product line
• First Lenovo laptop to feature the Core i7 processor
• NVIDIA discrete graphics
• 15.6 inch HD widescreen display
• Dolby Home Theater surround sound technology
• SlideNav – touch-sensitive bar above keyboard for faster and easier navigation of programs, documents, and shortcuts
• Prices start at $1149

IdeaPad U150:

• Ultraportable notebook
• Intel Core 2 Duo processor
• Support for up to 8GB of DDR3 RAM
• 11.6 inch HD widescreen display
• Long battery life
• Measures only 13.5mm thick
• Weighs only 1.35kg
• Textured red or black cover
• Active Protection System protects hard drive if the laptop is dropped or bumped into
• New version of OneKey Rescue System (v.7.0) which performs data backups up to twice as fast and includes more powerful antivirus scanning that can be run before OS is loaded
• Prices start at $585

IdeaPad U550:

• 15.6 inch widescreen HD display
• Intel Core 2 Duo processor
• Switchable graphics – from discrete to integrated graphics
• Dolby Sound Room surround sound
• Large integrated speakers
• Ambient light sensor automatically adjusts screen brightness based on ambient light
• Built-in DVD drive
• Integrated fingerprint reader
• VeriFace facial recognition software
• Measures 24mm thick
• Prices start at $650

IdeaPad U350 and IdeaPad S10-2

• Both the U350 and S10-2 is now available in a wider ranger of new textures and colorful patterns
• U350 now available in brown lizard print, white lamb skin print and red light weave
• U350 prices start at $649
• S10-2 now available in pop art, violet floral, red floral, green floral, phoenix, garden, sailing and origami
• S10-2 prices start at $349

On the desktop front..

IdeaCentre B500:

• All-in-one system
• Intel Core 2 Quad processor
• Discrete graphics
• Up to 8GB DDR3 memory
• Up to 1TB HDD storage
• 23 inch full HD display
• Integrated JBL speakers
• 4 in 1 remote control acts as motion drive games controller, VOIP handset, air mouse, and media remote control
• CamSuite – tool to help keep users in the center of the webcam’s focus and adds special effects to live video feeds
• Prices start at $649

IdeaCentre K300:

• Intel Core 2 Quad processor
• High performance RAID configured storage
• Lenovo Power Control Switch  – makes it simple to adjust level of power needed – from high performance to power-efficient modes
• Prices start at $499

IdeaCentre H230:

• Value systems
• Range of HDD and DDR3 memory configurations
• Comes with Lenovo Rescue System for worry-free experience by enabling quick and easy data recovery and advanced antivirus tech
• Starting price of $449

Technorati Tags: Lenovo, IdeaPad Y550P, IdeaPad U150, IdeaPad U550, IdeaCentre B500, IdeaCentre K300, Lenovo H230, IdeaPad U350, IdeaPad S10-2

Lenovo is introducing multi-touch capabilities into two of their mobile products – the ThinkPad X200 Tablet which increases the # of supported fingers from one to two and the ThinkPad T400s – the first Lenovo laptop to feature touch-screen capabilities.

Here’s a quick through on specs:

ThinkPad X200 Tablet PC:

• Users can now use two fingers on the display for a variety of gestures including pinching, zooming, tapping, and flicking through documents, webpages, and pictures etc.
• Intel Core 2 Duo SU9400 processor
• Windows Vista Home Premium
• 12.1 inch Enhanced Multitouch WXGA LED Panel with Wide viewing angle
• Intel GMA 4500MHD graphics
• 1GB RAM
• Trackpoint
• 160GB 5400 RPM HDD
• ThinkPad Wi-Fi connectivity
• Integrated Mobile Broadband
• 4 cell Li-Ion baattery

ThinkPad T400s Laptop:

• Lenovo’s first laptop to support touch-screen capabilities
• Users can use four fingers on the display to easily manipulate objects and move images etc
• Displays are sensitive and responsive to even the slightest touch of the finger
• Anti-fingerprint coating
• Intel Core 2 Duo Processor SP9400
• Windows XP Professional
• 14.1 inch WXGA+ TFT Multi-touch with LED backlight display
• Intel GMA 4500MHD graphics
• 2GB RAM
• UltraNav with Fingerprint Reader
• 120GB 5400RPM HDD
• DVD recordable drive ultrabay slim
• 6 cell Li-Ion Battery
• Intel Wi-Fi Link 5100
• Integrated Mobile Broadband

Finally, Lenovo also introduces a new application called “SimpleTap” which “simplifies the multi-touch screen experience.” The app is designed to enable uninterrupted use of people’s touch-screens by providing access to hardware-based functions that may be more easily accessed via touch input. To use SimpleTap, a user simply needs to double-tap anywhere on the display to launch the application. A colorful transparent grid pops up which allows users to access functions such as turning on or off the wireless radio, ThinkLight and microphone, previewing the camera, enabling mute, adjusting the volume or screen brightness, locking the screen or putting the PC to sleep.

The Lenovo ThinkPad T400s with the multi-touch display will have a starting price of $1999 while the ThinkPad X200 Table with multi-touch will have a starting price of $1654. Both products are available now through business partners and at lenovo.com. SimpleTap will be available for download after October 22nd.

Technorati Tags: Lenovo, ThinkPad X200 Tablet, ThinkPad T400s

As we mentioned earlier this morning, Lenovo will be introducing several new products tomorrow in what amounts to their first entry into the digital home space. First up is Lenovo’s first ever home theater PC – the IdeaCentre Q700 – with features such as 1080p playback, digital surround sound, and connectivity straight to an HDTV set. Secondly, to complement the HTPC product, Lenovo will be rolling out their first ever Windows Home Server product –the IdeaCentre D400. The D400 provides a central storage solution for all of your digital content as well as providing an easy means to backup all of your networked PCs. Finally, Lenovo will be rolling out the world’s thinnest nettops in the form of the IdeaCentre Q100 and Q110 series.

Oh and one more item – Lenovo will also be updating their IdeaPad U series of notebooks with the new IdeaPad U450p laptop – a new 14 inch thin and light notebook.

Let’s jump right to it shall we?

First up, there’s Lenovo’s first ever home theater PC – the IdeaCentre Q700.

Features and specs to the Q700 include:

• About the size of a consumer DVD player
• Can be placed vertically or horizontally
• Supports 1080p full HD playback
• 7.1 digital surround sound
• Your choice of fast Intel Core 2 Duo processors
• Support for up to 1TB of disk space
• Eight USB 2.0 ports and an eSATA port
• HDMI and VGA connector

Lenovo currently has one model’s specs up on their website (Q700-3015). This system features the following:

• Intel dual core Pentium Processor E5200
• 4GB PC2-5300 DDR2 RAM
• Intel GMA X4500 graphics
• One VGA, One HDMI with HDCP support
• Choice of 320GB, 500GB, or 640GB 7200RPM SATA drive
• Multi-format DVD burner
• 4 in 1 media card reader
• Intel G43 Express Chipset
• Eight USB 2.0 ports
• microphone
• headphone
• FireWire 400 connector
• Realtek ALC888s HD audio
• Gigabit Ethernet
• Optional NTSC/ATSC tuner
• Black color bezel
• Measures 2.36 x 7.87 x 9.84 inches and weighs 5.69 pounds
• Available in August according to the PDF

The Q700 will be available through business partners and www.lenovo.com with a starting price of around $499 (yes.. I’m lining up for one of these bad boys I think..)

Moving onto storage now, as we mentioned earlier this morning, Lenovo’s first ever Windows Home Server product will be the IdeaCentre D400.

Features of the D400 include:

• Support for up to 8 terabytes of total disk space
• Hot swap different brands and capacities of hard drives
• Five USB ports including a front mounted port with one-touch data copy function
• eSATA port for high-speed data transfer
• The D400 will have a starting price of $499

Next up, Lenovo has these down-right super-sexy, super-thin nettops – the IdeaCentre Q100 and Q110.

Featuring a new stylish black patterned design, the nettops measure a mere 0.7 inches thin making them about the size of a book! Features include:

• Intel Atom processor
• The Q110 model will be equipped with NVIDIA ION graphics which means this box will be able to support HD video and provide accelerated media conversation etc
• Measures 6 x 6.3 x 0.7 inches
• Q100 runs on just 14 watts when idle and 40 watts at full operation
• Q100 supports VGA output while Q110 supports 1080p HD video with DirectX 10 graphics along with NVIDIA CUDA technology
• The Q100 will have a starting price of $249
• The Q110 will have a starting price of $349

Finally, here’s information on the newly announced IdeaPad U450p notebook/laptop.

• Intel Pentium SU2700 processor or Intel Core 2 Solo SU3500 processor
• Windows Vista Home Premium
• Intel Integrated Graphics X4500
• 3-4GB RAM
• 14 inch HD antiglare display with 1366 x 768 resolution
• Touchpad
• 250 – 320GB 5400 RPM HDD
• DVD burner
• 6 cell lithium ion battery
• Wi-Fi
• Prices starting at $799

Have to admit – the IdeaPad U450p looks pretty sweet in terms of portability. These inexpensive thin and lights are certainly making heads turn if you ask me.

Technorati Tags: Lenovo, IdeaCentre Q700 HTPC, IdeaCentre D400 WHS, IdeaCentre Q100/Q110 Nettops, IdeaPad U450p Laptop

Oh man.. I can’t stand teasers.. and Lenovo is totally being a tease by releasing sneak peaks (or pictures at this point) of two sets of upcoming products – the D400 Windows Home Server and the Q100/Q110 nettop systems.

Not much is really known about either product but according to this tweet from the official Lenovo Twitter account, the Q100/Q110 nettop is supposedly “some of the thinnest nettops in the world”. Heck.. it’s definitely one of the sexiest nettops out there if you ask me. Expect this to be an Atom-based system – would love to have this in the kitchen coupled with a nice wall-mounted display.

As for the D400, this is Lenovo’s first Windows Home Server product featuring four hot swappable hot drives, 4 USB ports, and a single eSATA port. In many ways it resembles the Acer Aspire easyStore Windows Home Server. You’ll be able to find more info at WeGotServed.com.

Expect Lenovo to release information on these two product lines this week. Exciting stuff.

[Check it out via Akihabara News]

Technorati Tags: Lenovo, Lenovo Q100/Q110 Nettop, Lenovo D400 Windows Home Server

Above is Lenovo’s latest thin and light ThinkPad notebook – the ThinkPad T400s. Inspired by the superlight ThinkPad X301, the T400s measures a mere 0.83 inches thin, weighs less than four pounds, features a 14.1 inch LED display, and the second generation Top Cover Roll Cage which helps keep the laptop light yet sturdy.

Features of the T400s include:

• Choice of up to Intel 2.53 GHz Core 2 Duo processor
• 128GB or 250GB SSD
• 9.5 mm slim DVD burner or Blu-ray player
• Ethernet, Wi-Fi, and optional WiMAX, WWAN, Bluetooth
• 34mm Express Card slot
• 5 in 1 memory card reader
• Nearly six hours of battery life
• Supports up to 2 monitors via Display Port and VGA connector
• Built-in USB/eSATA port

ThinkPad T400s models start at $1599 and is available now at lenovo.com.

[Check it out]

Technorati Tags: Lenovo ThinkPad T400s

Lenovo announces three new systems today as part of their “Idea” PC product lineup – the affordable ultra-portable (which we mentioned yesterday) IdeaPad U350, the small/home office oriented Lenovo G550 laptop, and the all-in-one desktop, Lenovo C300. Let’s quickly get into the details of the new systems:

IdeaPad U350:

• Encased in sleek silver shell
• Starting weight of 3.5 pounds
• Measures one inch thin
• 16:9 aspect ratio, 13.3 inch LED screen
• HDMI connector
• Ambient light sensor which automatically adjusts screen brightness according to environment
• Dolby Sound Room
• Built-in camera
• VeriFace facial recognition technology
• Choice of Intel Core 2 Solo and Pentium ULV processor
• Up to 8GB DDR3 memory
• Up to 500GB HDD storage space
• Active Protection System
• OneKey Rescue System
• Available in July with a starting price of $649

Lenovo G550 Laptop:

• 15.6 inch 16:9 aspect ratio display
• DVD burner/player
• Wi-Fi, Ethernet, Optional Bluetooth connectivity
• VeriFace facial recognition technology
• Built-in camera
• Numeric keypad
• Intel Centrino 2 platform
• NVIDIA graphics
• Available in June with a starting price of $599

IdeaCentre C300 All-in-One desktop PC:

• Hand-grip and Fold-away stand – can be positioned between 12 and 40 degrees
• 20 inch 16:9 aspect ratio widescreen display
• Built-in DVD burner/player
• Built-in camera
• Color choices include red, black, or white
• Intel Atom processor
• Wi-Fi, Ethernet connectivity
• Six USB 2.0 ports
• FireWire port
• 6 in 1 media card reader
• Lenovo Rescue System
• Available in July with a starting price of $449.

[Check it out]

Technorati Tags: Lenovo IdeaPad U350, Lenovo G550, Lenovo C300 All-in-one desktop PC

Lenovo will be upgrading their IdeaPad U series in July with the introduction of the IdeaPad U350. The new ultra-portable will measure less than an inch thin, feature a 13.3 inch display, an Intel ULV processor (either a Core 2 Solo, Pentium ULV, or Celeron) on the inside, up to 8GB of RAM, and up to 500GB of storage space. Prices are expected to start at around $650 dollars.

[Check it out]

Technorati Tags: Lenovo IdeaPad U350

Lenovo will introduce their second generation netbook tomorrow known as the IdeaPad S10-2. The followup to the fairly successful S10, the new S10-2 features enhancements such as a slimmer, lighter form factor, optional 3G connectivity, a new top cover design, Dolby Headphone technology and a longer battery life.

On the outside, the S10-2 surely won’t break your back as it weighs just a little over 2 pounds and measures less than an inch thick.  Other beauty enhancements include a new top cover design featuring a “modern and sophisticated ring pattern” personalized in grey, pink, white, or black.

Though the unit got thinner and lighter, Lenovo decided to increase the keyboard size from 89% on the S10 to 90% on the S10-2. OK it’s still not the size of the Samsung NC10 (nor the NC120’s 97% keyboard size) but I suppose it’s better than nothing. Other enhancements and specs to the 10-2 include the following:

• Intel Atom N270 processor
• 10.1 inch LED display
• 1GB RAM
• 160GB HDD
• 3 – USB 2.0 ports
• 4 in 1 memory card reader
• VGA port
• Windows XP Home Edition
• 1.3 megapixel camera
• 6 cell battery for up to six hours of battery life
• Available in black, white, grey, and pink
• EnergyStar 5.0 and RoHS compliant
• Larger touchpad

Oh yes – on the sound side, the S10-2 features Dolby Headphone technology which means – plug in any pair of headphones and enjoy surround sound audio from 5.1 channels of sound.

The unit also comes with Lenovo’s QuickStart system which allows users to listen to music, view photos, send IMs or make Skype phone calls without waiting for the OS to boot.

Expect the S10-2 to be available on the Lenovo website at the end of this month with a starting price of  $349.

[Via NetbookTech]

Technorati Tags: Lenovo, Lenovo S10-2

*drool*…

That’s how I get every time I see a picture of the Lenovo IdeaPad Y650 notebook – the lightest 16 inch notebook in it’s class. I can’t quite pinpoint why I feel that way.. it’s a combination of several things I suppose – from the contrasting color design to the feel of the cover; from the light weight of the system to the insanely large touchpad; from the feel of the keyboard to the built-in speakers.. yes.. all very good things indeed and all witnessed first hand back at CES 2009.

Ok.. so that’s just me.. but what would the folks at PC Mag think? They’ve released a new review of the Y650 and the verdict’s pretty good (although the unit didn’t win an Editor’s Choice award unfortunately). Here’s their verdict:

“The Lenovo IdeaPad Y650 is the lightest 16-inch media center around, but its somewhat high price tag isn’t justified by its parts.”

Pricing is certainly a ding to the system – as well as the use of Intel integrated graphics (tho you can opt for discrete graphics from NVIDIA). Plus – strangely enough the notebook only has two USB ports – that’s way too small a number for a notebook this size. Yet.. if the price comes down a bit, you’ll quickly see me swap my VAIO notebook in favor of this display in a heartbeat.

[Check it out]

Read this in Chinese Simplified and in French

Technorati Tags: Lenovo IdeaPad Y650, PC Magazine Review

[Republished from NetbookTech] – The story behind the “Lenovo Pocket Yoga” has finally surfaced courtesy of a blog posting by Johnson Li, Director of Lenovo’s Beijing Innovation Center and .. we’re sorry to say that the system was in fact a  2 year design concept that never saw the light of day from a production standpoint.

Boo.. Hiss….

According to the posting, the “Yoga notebook experiment is finished“. A real shame…

However the rest of the posting is certainly interesting if you’re into the design characteristics of the Pocket Yoga. There’s even a brief mention of a “similar form factor by one of [Lenovo’s] competitors” (ahem.. Sony VAIO P Lifestyle PC).

Here are some tidbits from the posting for your edification:

• Called the “Pocket Yoga” because it was an extension of their other folding concept design which was inspired by the practice of yoga. The design came from one of their New Zealand –based designers
• Shaped liked a large wallet – the system could be placed in your pocket
• Surfaced is covered with wallet leather which is designed to be soft and comfortable
• 360 degree soft hinge design. Supports three modes – which each mode lockable.
• One mode was to use it in “normal angle” similar to how you might use a laptop
• Second mode was to open it “360 degrees” – folding the top cover back on itself thereby converting the system into a tablet PC
• Full function keyboard
• Elegant belt which wrapped the system AND can be used as a mouse

Make sure to read the rest of the Lenovo blog posting to understand the nuances of the design. Unfortunately, the “Yoga” experiment, as we said in the beginning, is “finished”.

[Check it out via SlashGear, NetbookTech]

[Check out the complete Flickr feed]

Read this in Chinese Simplified and French

Technorati Tags: Lenovo, Lenovo Pocket Yoga