Lenovo's new ultraportable V100 notebook

We're using the term "ultraportable" a bit generously here, since the new V100 from Lenovo is a whole 1.25-inches thick, and weighs four pounds. Of course, this unit does include a disk drive -- as opposed to the lighter and thinner X60 ThinkPads from Lenovo -- along with a 5-in-1 card reader and optional 1.3 megapixel camera and fingerprint reader. The V100 will also be retailing for considerably less than those X60s, starting out at around $1000. Processors range from 1.66Ghz Intel Core Solo to the 2.0GHz Core Duo, the optical drive comes as a CD-RW/DVD combo unit or as a DVD burner, and hard drives range from 40GB to 100GB. The screen is a 12.1-inch affair, with a 1200 x 800 WXGA resolution. So yeah, you can walk out the door with brand spankin' new Lenovo sporting an Intel Core processor, but it looks like you'll have to select quite a few options to get this guy up to the level of even the $1099 MacBook.

[Via MobileMag]

[anon @ May 19th 2006 8:26PM]

You don't have to be a Mac-fanboy to realize that a $1000 for a 12" Lenovo with a 40GB HDD and 1.66MHz Core SOLO, without Wi-Fi, Bluetooth or a digital camera is a pretty crappy deal.

[John @ May 19th 2006 8:31PM]

Ultraportable or Ultra-fat ;)

[Atanas Boev @ May 19th 2006 8:37PM]

No IBM logo is somewhat OK, but no point stick?
Seriously, no point stick??? What makes it a ThinkPad, then?

[POPone @ May 19th 2006 8:42PM]

I'm a big fan of ultra-portables, and this definately does not deserve that title. I have a C400, 700m, and a X41 tablet. Overpriced also for the limited features and non-ultraportable size.

[bob @ May 19th 2006 8:45PM]

while we're on the whole macbook price subject:
http://www.insanely-great.com/news.php?id=6104
quite interesting myth-buster

[foodle @ May 19th 2006 9:21PM]

#3: It's not a Thinkpad. This is from Lenovo's budget line.

[Colin @ May 19th 2006 10:02PM]

Not so much. Too thick, no wireless, very weak display. MacBook with a half gig of RAM can run OSX and Win XP (and some Linux distros if you're crafty).

[yjs @ May 19th 2006 10:18PM]

It's not branded as a Thinkpad mate.

[wwgadget @ May 19th 2006 10:20PM]

Okay, guys. I am an admitted Thinkpad-whore. I have also been greatly intrigued by OS X (stability reasons). Interface (i.e. buttons, no pointing stick - dealbreaker for me). But 4.2 lb is not that heavy; the Macbook is 5.2 lb!! for a 13 incher! and it's 1.1 inches (ok, 1.08 inches thick) When's the last time we've seen a 5 lb 13 inch notebook? Honestly??

ww
(macbook is pretty tho)

[wwgadget @ May 19th 2006 10:22PM]

...that is, to say nothing of the VALUE, however. If I had $1100 to spend between this lenovo (with no pointing stick) vs the macbook , I'd still take the macbook- the latter IS really much better equipped.

[kameronk @ May 19th 2006 10:49PM]

Wow... i want that... its a shame that they don't have the point stick howe'er... its a major selling point as it's one of the few that still have it.

[steeleye @ May 19th 2006 11:29PM]

Yeah, remember folks, Lenovo basically has two brands now. There are the ThinkPads/ThinkCenters and the budget line. It seems every time a new budget model is announced, everyone goes nuts at the lack of trackpoint/IBM logo/whatever. Don't panic, it's just a budget product line. You'll still be able to get a nice high quality ThinkPad with trackpoint and all that.

I'd like to get my hands on some of the newer budget models, the reviews I've read say they still have the solid build quality and great keyboards of the Thinkpads. Nice to see that there is a cheaper choice for a durable notebook.

[tsunami-gadgets @ May 20th 2006 1:50AM]

yes, what the mean of Ultraportable ...because this notebook has 1.25-inches thick ??

[Marc Mayor @ May 20th 2006 5:26AM]

I love my thinkpad. Go Lenovo!

[dsuu @ May 20th 2006 6:33AM]

Lenova laptops and computers are nice. I hope it works properly.

http://laptops-review.blogspot.com/2006/05/averatec-13.html

[Marcos @ May 20th 2006 9:06AM]

I's by far the most expensive brick I'v ever seen. It sucks.

[Alex Valentine @ May 20th 2006 12:10PM]

I've had my X60 for a month, and love it. I would love to see a real ultraportable/widescreen Thinkpad that is around the 3 pound range, but the V100 is pretty sad considering the features and price. 1.25 inches thick? Thats dell territory.

[Pete @ May 20th 2006 2:59PM]

ewwww! Thats ugly!

[DS @ May 20th 2006 11:25PM]

These guys have a *LONG* way to go before they are anywhere near Apple design wise. Nice try but like every other POS I think Ill pass....

-DS

[Echid @ May 21st 2006 10:06AM]

Please. Has is occured to you DS that maybe Lenovo wants to keep their design just the way it is. Sure it may not be the prettiest, but everyone here is mistaken this thing for a Thinkpad, and Thinkpads have a reputation for being solid workhorses. Not every notebook maker has to try and copy Apple, some actually form a unique design of their own. Imagine that!

[nick botulism @ May 28th 2006 10:09PM]

whether it's technically an "ultraportable" or not, at 4lbs it's much lighter than the macbook.

[wolfmagic @ Jun 28th 2007 10:06AM]

commenters are funny creatures. they kinda read then comment and veer off topic. one person mentions "trackpoint" and this page ends up ranking high on google on my "laptop trackpoint" search. someone mentions macbook and tangents go off there. so let me throw in my two cent tangent on pc vs mac...

i'm a former osx G3 and G4 ibook user who burned through both motherboards now shopping for well designed business machines with trackpoint (so i'm on the wrong page). no faith in apple hardware running its own os much less windows. in terms of roi apple relies on mass hypnosis among hipsters who can shell out replacements once warrantees run out. luckily i did not lose traction able to rely on a win98 on dell and xp on a gateway years older than the cute white macs.

in strict roi terms, i see any amount spent on ibm-type laptops a far better investment than on any apple laptop because intelligent design aka business series matters. corporate IT groups aren't biased against macs - they are biased for stable secure systems and robust roi. like it or not.