Lenovo ThinkCentre M90z all-in-one is made for large businesses, but startups like it too
By Tim Stevens 
posted June 11th 2010 7:59AM
posted June 11th 2010 7:59AM
Lenovo Injects Innovation into Desktop for New Breed of Business PCs
First Large Business-Focused 23-Inch All-in-One Desktop/Port Replicator Monitor & Smallest Dual CPU Workstation
RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, NC – June 10, 2010: Lenovo (HKSE: 992) (ADR: LNVGY) today announced five new PC products that inject innovation back into the desktop computing space. The industry's first large business-focused 23-inch all-in-one (AIO) desktop, the ThinkCentre M90z, blends strong performance and IT features with sophisticated style and advanced web conferencing design. The super-compact ThinkStation C20 redefines expectations for a small dual socket workstation. Meanwhile, the ThinkStation C20x offers an extra boost of memory and more powerful processors, making it the highest performance workstation of this form factor.
Lenovo is also introducing two new "first of their kind" monitors: The first port replicator monitor - the Lenovo L2230x wide – attaches to ultraportable laptops for greater convenience and productivity in the workspace. The ThinkVision L2321x wide, the first "duo" display monitor, combines two screens into one for multitasking and running legacy applications using a widescreen display.
"While more and more people are using mobile devices, there are lots of environments where desktop products simply make more sense, and these latest Lenovo products showcase how our new innovations are leading in all-in-one desktops," said Peter Hortensius, senior vice president, Think Product Group, Lenovo. "We believe all-in-one is the future of desktops, so we created the ThinkCentre M90z to deliver everything large enterprise customers need: no compromised performance, customized ergonomic features and a full web conferencing experience."
ThinkCentre M90z – A Full-Scale Commercial AIO
The ThinkCentre M90z has beauty and brains, packing the full performance of a traditional desktop into a slick 23-inch display. It comes equipped with choices of the latest Intel Core i5 and i3 processors, DDR3 memory, selection of hard drives or a solid state drive, a DVD player and optional WiFi/Bluetooth. The space-saving, slim AIO can fit just about anywhere in a home or office by using one of the optional ergonomic stands: frame, height adjustable, extended arm or wall mount arm.
Lenovo designers detail the story behind the design of the AIO here.
And here the Center for Severe Weather Research takes the M90z out on the road tornado chasing.
The M90z also takes web conferencing to a higher level with a number of optional features that give it both style and substance:
Optical touchscreen that can be easily cleaned/Lenovo SimpleTap interface included
Unique web camera on/off switch for physical control of the camera
Autobrightness control to intelligently save energy
Array microphone for clear audio with mute button
Touch capacitive monitor buttons for elegant convenience
While the M90z saves space and fights clutter on the desk, for IT departments, it includes a full complement of manageability features for large businesses. Lenovo's ThinkVantage Technologies productivity tools are included, and the M90z supports Intel vPro and Lenovo's Hardware Password Manager for encrypted hard drives. Additionally, users can easily remove the back to upgrade the AIO.
ThinkStation C20/C20x – A Fit for Finance & Wealth Management
Lenovo designed the ThinkStation C20 and C20x workstations with the ultra-compact, number-crunching performance needed to drive financial markets. With space at a premium at standard traders' desks, the C20's small size – it's 46% smaller than the Dell Precision T5500 and 31% smaller than the HP Z600 – without compromising on performance. Its size allows for more ThinkStation workstations to be installed in a rack or trader desk versus the competition. An analyst can also attach and run up to eight monitors. Lenovo engineered many industry "firsts" to package high performance into such a compact design. New Lenovo-developed technologies include a patented slim, rotatable optical drive and a tri-channel cooling system.
The workstations offer:
Choices of Intel Xeon 5600 Series processors
Up to 96GB of DDR3 memory on the C20x with 12 available DIMM slots
Up to two NVIDIA FX4800 class graphics
Native SAS support on the C20x
Certified for compatibility with SBFI Trading and Control Room Furniture
"SBFI believes the smaller size and reduced heat output of the ThinkStation C20 and C20x workstations will provide greater flexibility for users who have high processing requirements and are a great match for our products," said Andrew Plumbly, International Business Director, SBFI, Ltd. "This will enable users to do more with the space they have.''
Lenovo L2230x Wide and ThinkVision L2321x Wide Monitors – More Than A Monitor
The Lenovo L2230x Wide and ThinkVision L2321x Wide monitors let users do more with two-in-one capabilities. The L2230x Wide monitor makes connecting from a laptop simple and economical by combining a port replicator and 21.5-inch monitor into one device. For an 11-inch laptop, the monitor provides nearly 200 percent extra display space and an easier way to work.
The monitor connects to peripherals through USB and is the first to allow direct plug in of an Ethernet cable. The L2230x Wide provides a cost effective solution at just $259.99 compared with purchasing a port replicator and monitor separately.
Lenovo engineers developed a creative solution to give business customers the best of both worlds with the ThinkVision L2321x Wide monitor. The "duo" monitor features a dual display function so users can work in split screen mode: For example, with 2:1 mode users can view full screen PowerPoint slides on one part of the display and run other applications on the other. The "duo" inputs both VGA and DisplayPort video and comes with a vertical stand that can be height adjusted.
More Gains in Green – M90z First TCO Certified Edge AIO
All of the new PC products incorporate greener designs. As the first TCO Certified Edge AIO, the ThinkCentre M90z sets a new standard for AIO environmental considerations and ergonomics. All the products are highly energy efficient by meeting Energy Star 5.0 standards. Many of the models are rated EPEAT Gold, and the products also use high amounts of recycled materials with the M90z using the equivalent of 65 plastic bottles. Other green highlights include: The C20 and C20x are the only 80 Plus Bronze Certified compact workstations and both monitors are TCO Certified Edge.
Pricing and Availability1
The ThinkCentre M90z all-in-one desktop is available beginning immediately through business partners and later this month on www.lenovo.com with models starting at approximately $899. The ThinkStation C20 and C20x workstations will be available in mid-June with models of the C20 on the web starting at approximately $1,199. The C20x will be sold through business partners. The Lenovo L2230x Wide and ThinkVision L2321x Wide monitor will be available in mid-July through the web and business partners and are priced at $259.99 and $279.99, respectively.
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About Lenovo
Lenovo (HKSE: 992) (ADR: LNVGY) is dedicated to building exceptionally engineered personal computers. Lenovo's business model is built on innovation, operational efficiency and customer satisfaction as well as a focus on investment in emerging markets. Formed by Lenovo Group's acquisition of the former IBM Personal Computing Division, the company develops, manufactures and markets reliable, high-quality, secure and easy-to-use technology products and services worldwide. Lenovo has major research centers in Yamato, Japan; Beijing, Shanghai and Shenzhen, China; and Raleigh, North Carolina. For more information see www.lenovo.com.
Hmmm... not bad pricing really.
Why is the traditional desktop more than the nice touchscreen computer though?
Or do i just need to go to sleep?
It's beautiful.
@Paul Elmy
As far as Lenovo Think-branded products go, it's stunningly gorgeous.
So. A monitor that can play wii on one half of the screen and have a walkthrough on the desktop. Yay. Not like I need a walkthrough for wii games or anything..
A PC made for business has two monitors. Seriously, the productivity improvement of a second monitor is well documented.
@RincewindWiz
Actually, NEC did a study of various monitor configurations and found that a single widescreen can be just as productive as a dual screen config. I had to purchase dual screen setups from some of my users, and for e-mail, web browsing and general office productivity apps, I felt it was overkill for most. Some wanted it because they saw the setup in a client's office and viewed it as a status symbol (like Herman Miller office chairs).
From Slide 3
"Large widescreen monitors can be equally or more productive thandual screen monitors."
See the study here:
http://www.necdisplay.com/Gowide/NEC_Productivity_Study_0208.pdf
If you are going to make a all-in-one desktop for businesses, it needs to be a 27" w/ grid software installed to split the screen.
Otherwise, its just far more productive and cost effective to get two cheapo 20"s.
i like~!!!!!!!
Looks very pro-fesh-uh-nul.
Somehow I doubt my IT department would ever buy that thing. It's nice looking and all, but it'd be a pain in the ass to work on and it has one too many ridiculous consumerish features. At least it has presumably Intel vPro and such. We have generally employed USFF solutions with AIO-type stands from Dell.
without the keyboard and the mouse that looks like a tablet
Somehow the idea of bundling parts that age at very different speeds makes me think that all-in-ones are waste of money and more stuff to recycle unnecesserily. That includes iMac, even though it is beautiful beyond beleif.
This one, however, looks ugly. -1.
I really think all-in-ones are great for companies, as long as they're easy enough for IT departments to work on. Then again, many companies lease computers or only run computers under warranty, but there are always leftovers laying around that might need a few parts to keep running strong.
So much better, though, than the many-component-and-wire mess inhabiting millions of desks around the world. It's a total nightmare when it comes time to move desks... which many companies do FAR too often. Hell, that might be why so many companies issue laptops these days, even for employees who don't need to take their work home with them.
Apparently there will be two different models with different stands. One is this one and another will have a height adjustable stand.
http://www.slashgear.com/lenovo-thinkcentre-m90z-previewed-video-2687115/
If the ram, CMOS battery and HD can be quickly accessed for repair/replacement, these would make great office tools. The only cords coming from it should be a standard power cord and ethernet patch cable. No power brick!
that would look great in my kitchen
very nice computer!
The first one sounds interesting but is a bit too high in price @ $899
More interesting are the monitors.
I would be totally into about a 26" monitor that could do two inputs on split screens with port replication and auto keyboar/mouse switching based upon cursor placement on screen.
So as I move the mouse off the appropriate side of one input all the input peripherals switch over to the other input and vice versa.
That would kick ass!
@savagemike
Of course, that kind of auto switching would need to be software based on the systems.
I would settle for being able to switch input focus based upon tapping on the screen on the real estate of the machine I wanted to select for input.
That should be containable in the monitor.