Final specifications for Lenovo's IdeaPad U110 revealed

Get ready, ultraportable fans -- here's the dirty details you've been demanding. Lenovo's IdeaPad U110, which becomes available in the US tomorrow in black and red -- is all set to start at $1,899 directly from Lenovo. Wondering what that'll net you? Here goes:

• Intel Core 2 Duo L7500 CPU (1.6GHz, 4MB, 800MHz)
• Windows Vista Home Premium
• 11.1-inch widescreen WXGA (1,366 x 768) LED-backlit panel
• Intel's GMA X3100 graphics set
• 120GB 4,200RPM hard drive
• 2GB of RAM
  
• dual-layer DVD writer (external)
• 1.3-megapixel camera
• 10/100 Ethernet, WiFi and optional Bluetooth
• 2.4-pounds with 4-cell battery
• Dimensions: 10.8- x 7.7- x 0.72- through 0.88-inches

You'll also get a 1-year warranty, a trio of USB 2.0 ports, FireWire / VGA sockets, a 6-in-1 multicard reader, Mini-PCIe / ExpressCard slots, audio in / out and a pair of stereo speakers. It should be noted that the 4-cell battery is only rated for 2-hours of use, while the rig can withstand up to 8-hours if the 7-cell Li-ion expansion pack is utilized, too. You may also notice a slew of retailers carrying a $1,999 model starting in mid-May -- those come stocked with 3GB of RAM versus the standard 2GB on the $1,899 model.

[happy_penguin @ Apr 28th 2008 2:16PM]

No internal DVD but other than that, very nice. The cover finish is pretty funky!

[Joe_Templeman @ Apr 28th 2008 2:18PM]

I'm still gonna stick with the eee.

[tom @ Apr 28th 2008 2:39PM]

IdeaPad has thinkpad's kick a$$ keyboard, that's a 1+ for me, too bad there is no trackpoint.

The specs looks very impressive, not a good comparison with Asus' eee.

I hope Lenovo keeps their promise in allowing buyers to upgrade to XP

[Mark @ Apr 28th 2008 4:17PM]

I guess broke people don't have a choice.

[Elaine @ Apr 28th 2008 9:40PM]

@tom;
At Lenovo USA, you can't configure an IdeaPad (and I'm assuming that it will remain the same way for the U110), which means that you don't have the choice of XP unless you buy your own copy and want to go hunting for drivers.


IdeaPads are overpriced, IMO. Choosing an IdeaPad over a ThinkPad is like choosing style over substance. I would go with a T61p over an IdeaPad any day.
If we're talking about an ultraportable, I'd go with an X61 or X300 over the U110.

[spass @ Apr 28th 2008 2:18PM]

11". This is more "portable" to me than the Air to me.
Thickness it not such a big thing, it's the overall size and bezel that matters.

[Jason @ Apr 28th 2008 2:20PM]

While I understand the spec difference between this and 2cd/3rd gen EeePC-like devices, why should I spend $1900 when I can get 80% of this for $400?

[stan @ May 2nd 2008 8:37PM]

Because it sucks to have a game that can be 80% played or a program that can be 80% used.

[thailion @ Apr 28th 2008 2:22PM]

4200 rpm HDD? What year is, 1990?

[ChuChu @ Apr 28th 2008 2:35PM]

What part of "ultraportable" don't you understand?

[Craig @ Apr 28th 2008 2:40PM]

@ChuChu: Ultraportable has nothing to do with it. There are sub-3-lb notebooks out there with very nice 5400 or 7200 RPM drives, so why not this one? Could it be that the rather tepid 2-hr standard battery would only last 90 minutes if they stuck a halfway decent drive in there?

[ChuChu @ Apr 28th 2008 2:45PM]

Craig you say ultraportable has nothing to do with it then go on to describe why ultraportable has EVERYTHING to do with it.

Performance is sacrificed in favour of weight. Batteries are very heavy.

[spass @ Apr 28th 2008 2:25PM]

It might be a 1.8" HDD (just guessing), as opposed the typical 2.5".
This is why it's slower.

[Lein @ Apr 28th 2008 2:39PM]

I believe Dell offers a 5400RPM 120GB hard drive in their current-generation D430 ultra-portable. It shares the same 1.8" form factor, so they're out there. Of course, it's also a $200 upgrade off their site, and there is nowhere else to get it because it has a proprietary connector cable.

[SNP @ Apr 28th 2008 4:42PM]

There is no 1.8" 5400RPM HD

[Lein @ Apr 28th 2008 6:52PM]

http://accessories.us.dell.com/sna/products/System_Drives/productdetail.aspx?c=us&l=en&s=bsd&cs=04&sku=341-5732

That has the same size specs as the stock 60GB from D420 and D430, all 1.8" form factor.

[thailion @ Apr 28th 2008 2:26PM]

Guys, remember this isn't competing with the EEE. It's got it's sight set on the MBA, and the specs/price/STYLING reflect that.

[L. M. Lloyd @ Apr 28th 2008 4:39PM]

Umm... to be honest, I think this is competing more directly with the Sony and Fujitsu Windows ultraportables that have been out for many years, not the Air.

[N30 G30 @ Apr 28th 2008 5:10PM]

On top of everything L. M. Lloyd said, Lenovo also created the X300 to directly compete with the MacBook Air.

[coffee @ Apr 28th 2008 2:34PM]

There's gotta be a warehouse somewhere full of 4200rpm hard drives, cause you couldn't buy one anywhere else if you wanted to.

They are the devil, and I'll never buy a laptop with one.

[Ruben @ Apr 28th 2008 2:44PM]

Yea, an Apple warehouse, Microsoft warehouse, Creative ware..

[rob @ Apr 28th 2008 2:39PM]

ill take the x300 over this anyday

[AC @ Apr 28th 2008 2:54PM]

so true

[darkstar @ Apr 28th 2008 3:00PM]

i wanna see what the NEC LUI RN has to offer.
when is NEC's ultraportable coming out anyway?

[Francisco Miguel Martinez Gonzalez @ Apr 28th 2008 2:46PM]

I prefer the XPS m1330. better in every way..

[ChrisH @ Apr 28th 2008 3:57PM]

Except that the Dell is 70% heavier or so. I might prefer the Dell myself for how I use a laptop, but I'm not going to say it's better in every way, when it's not.

[CosterMonger @ Apr 28th 2008 2:50PM]

I wouldn't buy it, but it looks cool.

[Viakenny @ Apr 28th 2008 2:57PM]

but when will IdeaPads (even the good ones) come to Brazil?
(Lenovo does sell ThinkPads - including the X300, ThinkCentres and Lenovo 3000s here)

[Victor @ Apr 28th 2008 3:28PM]

when it comes it wil costs 100% more so forget it

[ak @ Apr 28th 2008 3:03PM]

same... m1330 much better, a hdmi out on a 13 inch! processor upgradeable to T9500 2.6ghz, but battery life only 2 hours wiv 6 cell. i m not sure if im ever away from a plug socket that long.

any news on the new montevina platform for the penryn processor. i heard its ment to be 40% smaller according to engadget, TPD 25w (10w less than santa rosa[excuse spellin]) and ddr3 (dont know wot dat means) out in june i think? surley laptops would be able to be smaller?

[SuperQ @ Apr 28th 2008 3:21PM]

Except the XPS weighs 4 pounds, not 2.4 pounds, and is 50% thicker.

4 pounds is NOT ultra-portable.

I'm just upset it doesn't have trackpoint. I guess I can still get an X300 when they come down in price a bit.

[ForsakenDonkey @ Apr 28th 2008 5:55PM]

The m1330 is not 50% thicker with the LED screen. I paid $1390 for a T8300, 5400RPM 320gb hdd, 4g of RAM, nv GS8400, internal slot loading DVD drive, and a LED backlit 13.3 inch screen, and a 9 cell battery that pushes 5.5 hours of useable time.... all of that in 4 pounds.

If you really think its worth $600 to cut all those specs in half, lose an optical drive, take a smaller screen and save maybe a pound after you add on the inevitable 9 cell battery then good luck to you. 2 hours battery time? Please.

[leonel lopez avalos @ Apr 28th 2008 3:03PM]

YA WHAT UP WITH THE NO INTERNAL DVD BUT I GUESS IT STILL COOL

[Low Ranked @ Apr 28th 2008 4:49PM]

YEAH, MAN. WHAT UP WITH THAT?!

[Zach @ Apr 28th 2008 6:08PM]

aww he just found the glorious caps lock key!
...

[Michael @ Apr 28th 2008 3:16PM]

I've got a 3000 v100 that has nearly the same specs, but only paid $400 open box. Seems they could drop the price on this thing or at least add a blu-ray player and dedicated graphics.

[Aaron @ Apr 28th 2008 3:16PM]

honest question.....what does this have over a $1000 x61?

[Jimmy Jones @ Apr 28th 2008 3:20PM]

You musta saw the recently advertised $999 on SD few days back......which i repped nicely..

[benjesuit @ Apr 28th 2008 3:17PM]

Nice, but what exactly justifies the price?

[Jimmy Jones @ Apr 28th 2008 3:18PM]

The price is too much for the specs.........I am currently typing on a thinkpad x61 tablet which i recently recv'd as a gift...but this unit is way too much for the bells n whistles...

yeah i know they're trying to live up to the brand name n their stinginess in giving away more better specs.... but they can definitely do better w/d specs...

[Hiro11 @ Apr 28th 2008 3:25PM]

I understand the attraction of ultra portables, but I think they only appeal to a small niche of the market. Get something that weighs maybe 1.5 to 2 pounds more and you can get a much nicer machine (from a specs perspective) for basically half the price. It's a beautiful machine, but this one is for expense accounts or money-is-no-object buyers, IMO.

[BigTeebo @ Apr 28th 2008 3:27PM]

You see, this is where the EEE succeeds, where any laptop that goes physically smaller than the $400 models, suddenly goes much MUCH larger in price. Fail.

[Pete @ Apr 28th 2008 4:16PM]

I don't understand why people compare the EEE to this machine. A 900Mhz Celeron does not even stand in the same ballpark as a 1.6Ghz Core 2 Duo. Some people actually need power in their ultra-portables and a keyboard that doesn't feel like jello to get real work done, which is what justifies the price tag.

[Stranger @ Apr 28th 2008 3:40PM]

While this machine looks nice I hope a genuine Thinkpad with similar specification and a trackpoint will show up soon. I still don't understand why the X60-series haven't been updated with 12" WXGA-screens. It would give more pixels and more space for a larger keyboard.

[somemale @ Apr 28th 2008 3:41PM]

will they be releasing something like this under their thinkpad lines? (smaller then the X series...)

[paul-engadget @ Apr 28th 2008 3:56PM]

the sony tx/tz series had the same size screen but internal dvdrw. the tosh is r500 is slightly bigger and also has internal dvdrw. so, it's not really that impressive.

[Jason @ Apr 28th 2008 4:11PM]

No trackpoint = -1 sale.

[The Dude @ Apr 28th 2008 5:44PM]

The ThinkPad red clitoris is indeed absent. >:|

[fh @ Apr 28th 2008 4:36PM]

Wait, Lenovo put in a proper LED-backlit display? All of the early reports indicated CCFL. Not that I'm complaining: Lenovo managed to stay on target for the launch price, and made better use of the money with the LED display instead of SSD. I just hope they listened to the first impressions and ship units with a tad less gloss than the demo units.

Now if only I had the $1899...

[jaalin @ Apr 28th 2008 4:40PM]

for only another $1000 you can get a 64gb SSD from newegg, yay!

i had higher hopes for this but it really seems like sony tz and asus eee got this thing licked from both sides. it looks amazing and i dig the WXGA 11" LED (thats 3 things the x61 dont have), but it just feels like lenovo was about a year too slow with this one, and ultimately i dont think it will sell that well. hopefully they'll give it a second shot, as the second iteration of this model should be quite good.

m1330: power and style with affordability
x61: lightweight and usability with affordability
x300: power, thin & light (for 13"), usability
u110: style... doubt it's under 3.5ish lbs with the 2nd battery in there...

i'd like to think that the styling justifies the purchase of one laptop over another if the price and performance is similar. seems like you'd be paying quite a premium for just the styling with the u110