Lenovo announces IdeaCentre A520, B340 and B345 all-in-ones running Windows 8
If yesterday was the day Lenovo unveiled its new Android products, today's the day it turns its attention to Windows 8: in addition to announcing a slew of laptops, the company introduced three IdeaCentre all-in-ones, all slated to go on sale in October when Windows 8 launches. Of these, the flagship is clearly the A520, with its tilting 23-inch screen that can lie nearly flat. Included in that press release, though, you'll also find details about the B340 / B345, a smaller, more affordable desktop with a less flashy design.
Starting with the A520, it's the little brother to the A720, which we first saw back at CES. Like the A720, it has a screen that can be tilted between 5 and 90 degrees, except this particular model has a smaller 23-inch display (compared with 27 inches for the A720). That 1080p display is of IPS caliber and supports 10-point multitouch. Under the hood, it can be configured with a Core i7 CPU, up to 8GB of RAM, up to 1TB of HDD storage and an optional Blu-ray player. If you need graphics horsepower, though, you might want to skip ahead to read about those B series models, since the A520 will only be offered with integrated Intel HD 4000 graphics.
Indeed, graphics might be a good place to start when we talk about the B340 and B345, since the GPU is the one thing that really separates them. Though both will be offered with a 1GB AMD Radeon HD7470A card, only the B340 will be available with a 2GB NVIDIA GeForce 615. Otherwise, you'll find the same key specs on both models: a 21.5-inch (1080p) touchscreen display, with a choice of a Core i7 processor or AMD quad-core APU on the inside. The two are also VESA mount-compatible, and can be configured with optional TV tuners.
The A520 will sell for $999 and up, while the B series will start at $599. Again, both will arrive in October, at which point we should be neck-deep in Windows 8 PCs to review.
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Lenovo Reveals Portfolio of Idea PCs Primed for Windows 8
New IdeaPad Laptops and IdeaCentre Desktops Designed for Mobility and Productivity in the PC-Plus EraBERLIN (August 31, 2012) – Today at the IFA consumer electronics show, Lenovo (HKSE: 992) (ADR: LNVGY) introduced a comprehensive update of its Idea-branded consumer PCs, including a new IdeaPad® U Series Ultrabook, IdeaPad Y and Z Series laptops, and IdeaCentre® A and B Series all-in- one (AIO) desktops. Powered by third generation Intel® Core processors or AMD A-Series processors, Lenovo's new PCs offer consumers a variety of style, color and performance options, designed for the upcoming Windows 8 operating system.
"Our latest Idea-branded products offer more comfort, simplicity and responsiveness than ever before," said Wei Jun, vice president, Idea Product Group, Lenovo. "Designed for an optimal Windows 8 experience, users can enjoy up to 10-finger multi-touch for versatile computing; Intelligent TouchPad for easy scrolling, zooming and rotating; Lenovo Cloud for media sharing between devices; and the Windows Store for access to thousands of entertaining and useful apps. These new Idea PCs embody our commitment to deliver products that reflect the style and energy of the user."
IdeaPad U510 Ultrabook – Ultra Thin, Ultra Light
Following in the footsteps of its fashionable predecessors, the U310 and U410, the 15-inch IdeaPad U510 combines the best features of a traditional laptop with the sleek aesthetics and desirable qualities of a tablet. Measuring just 21mm thick and weighing under 2.2kg, the U510 combines high-performance technologies for ultra-responsive computing and instant-on system resume in just over a second, including up to a third generation Intel Core i7 processor, and as much as 1TB of HDD storage with an optional 32GB solid state drive cache, and a battery life of up to six hours. The U510 is also equipped with an integrated DVD reader/writer or Blu-ray Disc drive.IdeaPad Y400 and Y500 – Multimedia Powerhouses
The latest offerings in Lenovo's Y Series, the IdeaPad Y400 and Y500, are mobile gaming and multimedia powerhouses. Designed to perform, the Y400 and Y500 feature the unique UltraBay-an interchangeable bay that users can instantly swap out for dual graphics capability, increased storage space or an additional fan for cooling. Whether editing photos and videos or playing computer games, the laptops can handle almost any intensive task thrown at them. Each model is equipped with up to third generation Intel® Core i7 processors, NVIDIA® GeForce® GT655M 2GB dual graphics, up to 16GB DDR3 memory, and as much as 1TB of HDD storage. With looks to match, they also feature an eye- catching carbon fiber patterned cover, 14-inch and 15.6-inch LED backlit widescreen HD displays, and a dual-layer backlit AccuType keyboard with a large one-piece touchpad. The IdeaPad Y400 and Y500 also include JBL® speakers and Dolby® Home Theater® v4-a perfect audio complement to when watching HD videos.IdeaPad Z400 and Z500 – Slim, Powerful Laptops
The Z400 and Z500 are 25 percent slimmer than a standard laptop2, without compromising on processor or graphic performance. Equipped with up to third generation standard voltage Intel Core i7 processors, instead of the low-voltage processors used on ultraportable notebooks, the Z400 and Z500 are available in a range of colors, including coral blue, dark chocolate, peony pink, and enamel white, have a soft- touch exterior and a 14-inch or 15.6-inch LED backlit HD widescreen display, respectively. Combined with the latest NVIDIA GeForce graphics technology, smart features like Intelligent Touchpad and access to Lenovo Cloud, the Z400 and Z500 laptops offer users a slim laptop with robust performance.IdeaCentre A520 – Slim, Stunning and Space Saving 23-inch AIO PC
The stylish IdeaCentre A520 is cast from the same striking mold as its multi-award-winning predecessor, the IdeaCentre A720, but with a more compact 23-inch frameless 1080p full HD display that starts at US$999. The A520 supports 10-point multi-touch with a widely adjustable screen angle (from -5 to 90o flat) and IPS LED with perfect picture at any angle, so users can watch movies, play touch-based games or enjoy video chat in any position. The A520 comes with up to 3rd generation Intel Core i7 processors with Intel HD Graphics 4000 and as much as 8GB DDR3 of memory with up to 1TB of HDD storage. Additional features include Dolby® certified speakers with Dolby® Home Theater® v4, optional Blu-ray Disc, and a range of touch-optimized multimedia applications and games.IdeaCentre B340, B345 and B545 AIOs – The Home Entertainment Hub
Lenovo B Series all-in-one desktop PCs come packed with fun entertainment features right out of the box. Multimedia entertainment comes alive on the 21.5-inch (B340 and B345) and 23-inch (B545) with full HD widescreen frameless displays that support state-of-the-art 3D vision-with two pairs of glasses included-and 10-point multi-touch technologies. The B Series all-in-ones use more powerful processors and components designed for desktop tower PCs. Available with up to 3rd generation Intel Core i7 or AMD quad core processors and cutting-edge NVIDIA® GeForce® 615 2GB (B340) or AMD Radeon HD7470A 1GB (B345 and B545) graphics, users can also enjoy a great gaming experience. VESA mount compatibility gives users flexibility on where to situate their all-in-one in the home, while optional TV tuner provides great access to HDTV.Pricing and Availability
The IdeaPad U510 will be available September 2012 starting at US$679.
The IdeaPad Y400 and Y500 will be available October 2012 starting at US$649.
The IdeaPad Z400 will be available November 2012 starting at US$549.
The IdeaPad Z500 will be available September 2012 starting at US$549.
The Lenovo IdeaCentre A520 will be available October 2012 starting at US$999.
The IdeaCentre B340 and B345 will be available October 2012 starting at US$599.
The IdeaCentre B545 was available in April starting at US$699.For the latest Lenovo news, subscribe to Lenovo RSS feeds or follow Lenovo on Twitter, Facebook and Youtube.
