One of three new entertainment laptops, the IdeaPad U110 features a textured red lid.
(Credit: Lenovo)
Getting a jump on the product-launch blitz that is CES 2008,
Lenovo has announced a whole new brand of consumer-oriented laptops and
desktops. Called IdeaPad and IdeaCentre, the lines are intended to
complement the company's flagship business-oriented ThinkPad and
ThinkCentre lines. While today's announcement does not include any
specifics on desktop models, we learned plenty about the new IdeaPad
laptops.
The first full line of entertainment-oriented Lenovo laptops to hit the United States (we saw one consumer model, the Lenovo 3000 Y410,
sneak into the States last fall), IdeaPads include such welcome design
touches as textured lid finishes and a sleek "frameless" screen that's
ergonomically situated a bit farther away from the keyboard than most
laptops. Also key to the IdeaPad look are touch-sensitive media
controls above the keyboard and a bright orange button, called the
Shuttle Key, which can be used on its own to control volume or in
combination with the touch controls for additional functionality
(somewhat like a Fn key). There's Front Row-like media software, called
Shuttle Center, and Dolby Home Theater sound. Every IdeaPad is also
outfitted with a built-in 1.3-megapixel Webcam, VeriFace software for
biometric security via face recognition, and a ThinkVantage-like Novo
key that provides quick system recovery should you ever encounter a
data-destroying virus.
Tonight's announcement includes the first three laptop models
in the IdeaPad line: the 17-inch Y710, the 15.4-inch Y510, and the
11.1-inch U110. Individual specs and details after the break.
A unique hinge on the Y710 makes for better ergonomics.
(Credit: Lenovo)
First up, the IdeaPad Y710, which Lenovo describes as "the
17-inch notebook for entertainment-focused users." Key specs include a
17-inch wide-screen display with a 1,440x900 native resolution, a 256MB
ATI Mobility Radeon HD2600 graphics card, and Dolby Home Theater sound
with a built-in subwoofer. The laptop can be outfitted with a Blu-ray
drive (handy when paired with the laptop's HDMI output) as well as up
to 500GB of hard drive space for your collection of media files. If
those features don't provide enough entertainment, there's always the
glowing Lenovo logo on the lid and lighting along the side bezels.
Early photos of the IdeaPad Y710 also reveal a feature called
the Lenovo Game Zone, located to the right of the full-size keyboard.
In addition to oversize directional keys for game control, there's an
overclocking switch to control CPU speed and a secondary display to
show performance information. I'm told this feature won't initially be
available on models in the United States, but it is expected to appear
on our shores early in the second quarter.
The IdeaPad Y710 weighs 7.9 pounds and measures between 1 inch
and 1.5 inches thick, making it a relatively portable desktop
replacment. Pricing starts at $1,199--though features like the Blu-ray
drive will likely raise the cost significantly--and the laptop will be
available this month at Tiger Direct.
The IdeaPad Y510 is best suited for general computing
(Credit: Lenovo)
The IdeaPad Y510, meanwhile, is aimed more at generalists.
Its 15.4-inch display features a fairly typical 1,280x800 native
resolution and its 6.4-pound case is stocked with mid-range components:
a handful of processor choices topping out at the 1.83GHz Core 2 Duo
T5550, integrated Intel graphics, up to 4GB of 667MHz RAM, and up to
250GB of hard drive space. The Y510's standout features are its Dolby
sound, including a subwoofer, and an LED battery life indicator on the
keyboard deck. The laptop also features an attractive "light weave"
texture on its gray lid. With a starting price of $799, it should stack
up favorably against similar sub-$1,000 laptops we reviewed last fall. The Y510 is available this month at various retailers including Best Buy, Newegg, and Tiger Direct.
We love the 'tendril' texture on the IdeaPad U110.
(Credit: Lenovo)
Last but not least (unless you're talking about weight) there's the IdeaPad U110,
a 2.3-pound ultraportable with an 11.1-inch screen. Judging from the
floral design on its textured, red, aluminum-alloy lid, the U110 is
aimed at women who want a lightweight machine for personal use. Being
squarely in that demographic, I'm smitten by this laptop's looks.
Adding to its appeal: thickness that ranges from 0.7 inch to 0.9 inch.
Like the Y710 and Y510, the U110 features a "frameless" display
plus the Shuttle Key, touch-sensitive media controls, and Dolby Home
Theater sound, though it (unsurprisingly) lacks a subwoofer. To that
the U110 adds support for a solid-state drive, which should provide
faster access to data and--important in an ultraportable--lengthy
battery life. Some configurations will also include Lenovo's Active
Protection System, which protects the hard drive in case the laptop is
dropped.
The IdeaPad U110 isn't scheduled to ship until April, which is
why the rest of the details are sketchy. However, the laptop will
likely incorporate low-voltage Core 2 Duo processors on Intel's latest
Centrino Duo platform, 667MHz RAM, and up to 160GB of hard drive space.
The official starting price has yet to be set, but given the inclusion
of a costly solid-state drive, the IdeaPad U110 will likely cost around
$1,800.
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