Lenovo brings Haswell to rest of ThinkPad line-up, including monstrous ThinkPad W540

Lenovo outed no fewer than five new notebooks just last week, but it doesn't want to stop there. With a distinct focus on business, the world's biggest notebook maker has come to the Intel Developer Forum (IDF) with a refreshed range of T, W, L and E Series laptops, outfitting them with Intel's fourth-generation Haswell processors, better graphics, improved security and faster connectivity. Do Lenovo's new buttoned-down notebooks offer more than their glossy counterparts? Find out after the break.

ThinkPad W540

First up is what Lenovo calls its most powerful mobile workstation ever, the ThinkPad W540 -- clearly aimed at competing with the notebooks like the latest high-powered M-Series Precision models from Dell. The Chinese manufacturer backs its claim up with the inclusion of a 15.5-inch 3K IPS display, delivering a 2,880 x 1,620 resolution. While powered by Intel's quad-core i7 processor, the W540 takes it to the next level with NVIDIA's latest flagship Quadro GPU and support for up to 32GB of RAM and a full two terabytes of storage. That's all packed into a chassis that measures 27mm at its thickest point, weighs 5.45 pounds and delivers around six hours on a full charge of its six-cell removable battery. Lenovo has yet to set a price for the W540 but says it'll go on sale in November.

ThinkPad T440p and T540p

The new T440p and T540p ThinkPads take one step down from there, offering the same i7-core processor but using NVIDIA's non-pro GT730M GPU. With Lenovo's Extended Battery Pack, the T440p and T540p offer up to 13.7 hours and 12.6 hours of battery life respectively and include support for up to 16GB of SDRAM. Compared to the T440 and T440s, the new T Series business notebooks represent a modest upgrade, appealing more to IT departments thanks to their integrated security and management tools. Like the W540, Lenovo hasn't revealed the price of the T440p or T540p but they'll no doubt command a premium over the lesser models. Lenovo says they'll be available from November.

L Series and E Series ThinkPads

Lenovo's updated L Series and E Series notebooks, however, dial down the specs in order appeal to small businesses. To earn their business classification, the L Series notebooks include Intel's vPro management technology, encrypted hard drives and BIOS port locking. The the L440 is rated for up to 12 hours of battery life, whereas the L540 last around 11 hours. All the ThinkPad upgrades include improved security and 4G connectivity (excluding the E Series range). As for pricing, the L440 and L540 will go from $729, the E440 will start at €649 ($861) and the E540 will be priced from €629 ($834) and will all be available in October.

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Lenovo Introduces New User-Inspired Design to the High Performance, Full Function Line of ThinkPad Notebooks

New Performance Notebooks are Thinner and Lighter with up to 13.7 hours of battery life

RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK – September 11, 2013:Lenovo(HKSE: 992) (ADR: LNVGY) today announced new enhancements to their ThinkPad performance and value portfolio. Improvements include new user inspired designs and longer battery life while continuing to support full connectivity capabilities that commercial customers depend on. The new performance systems are thinner and lighter devices with clean designs and maintain MIL-SPEC tested ThinkPad durability and reliability.
"As the No. 1 commercial notebook PC maker in the world1, we remain committed to our core business line of legendary ThinkPad notebooks – and to the customers who use them," said Dilip Bhatia, vice president, Marketing, Think Business Group, Lenovo. "These latest ThinkPad models raise the bar for business class notebooks with new high resolution displays, processor upgrades and powerful graphics delivering exceptional performance and proven security features, in a simpler, cleaner design."

ThinkPad T440p and T540p: Premium Business Notebooks
The T440p and T540p offer the ultimate combination of performance and mobility. Powered by up to Intel Quad Core i7 processors, the T440p and T540p offer high performance combined with mobility features. With battery life up to 13.7 hours on the T440p and up to 12.6 hours on the T540p, with the Extended Battery Pack, workflow is continuous even with the most strenuous of computing tasks.
Powerful NVIDIA GeForce GT730M graphics on select systems combined with up to 16GB SDRAM ensures high performance is always on tap. Solid State Drives (SSD) and Hard Disk Drives (HDD) up to one terabyte means storage needs are easily met. Full connectivity options including 4G/LTE along with mini-DisplayPort, VGA, 4 x USB 3.0 ports and an SD Card reader guarantee compatibility with existing accessory investments.

ThinkPad W540: Lenovo's Most Powerful and Mobile Workstation Ever
Featuring the best ThinkPad display ever, the 15.5 inch 3K IPS panel, the W540 answers the demand for a portable, independent software vendor (ISV) certified mobile workstation. With an eye catching 2880x1620 resolution and the wide viewing angles of IPS Technology, the new W540 delivers the ultimate display for business professionals. At just 27mm and 5.45 pounds, the W540 is the thinnest and lightest mobile workstation in its class.

Powered by the latest Intel Quad Core i7 processors, up to 32GB of memory and using the ThinkPad Precision backlit keyboard with number pad provides faster processing for complex and detailed spreadsheets and large data sets. In addition, the W540 delivers the ultimate mobile graphics power with NVIDIA Quadro graphics with Optimus 2D and 3D content creation. Storage options up to two terabytes ensure plenty of local space and RAID options guarantee full data backup and protection.
Customers can take advantage of high speed data transfer with the on board Thunderbolt port, and can calibrate their display with the integrated X-Rite color calibrator. A full array of ports and connectivity options are available including 4G/LTE WWAN.

ThinkPad L Series: Entry Business Notebooks – Best Value ThinkPad
The L440 and L540 deliver mainstream business notebook performance at highly competitive price points. The new modern design will appeal to value conscious buyers who want ThinkPad durability and the latest technologies. Powered by Intel's 4th generation Core processors, the L Series also feature vPro technology and are optimized for easy integration into new or existing IT infrastructures.

Both the ThinkPad L440 and L540 include WiFi, Ethernet and 4G/LTE connectivity for virtually continuous connectivity. Offering dual HD noise cancelling microphones, HD Camera and HD+ on the L440 and Full HD on the L540, these systems are Microsoft Lync Certified for robust video calls and conferencing. In addition, L series is our greenest ThinkPad.

ThinkPad E Series: Optimized Small Business Value
Offering one of the best value full function Windows 8 notebook experiences, the new affordable ThinkPad E440 and E540 feature a new thinner, lighter, and more elegant design with the enhanced performance of the latest 4th Generation Intel Core Processors and full function to provide a perfect combination of price, performance and style for demanding small business users. With up to Quad Core Intel Processors, optional NVIDIA discrete graphics, storage up to one terabyte, memory up to 16GB, and optical drive, the E440 and E540 ensures lightening fast responsiveness and plenty of storage space for documents, music and movies. The Windows 8 experience is further enhanced by screen resolutions up to 14 inch HD+ and 15.6 inch Full HD antiglare displays with touch screen options and larger gesture trackpads. Voice over IP (VoIP) is significantly improved for small business owners with new multi-function noise cancelling microphones and the ability to switch between conference mode or single voice mode. Dolby® Advanced Audio™ improves engaging multimedia content and offers the best entertainment experience for those moments of downtime.

The ThinkPad E series also includes Lenovo's unique OneLink technology allowing a single cable connection to the ThinkPad OneLink Dock completes the solution. In addition to powering the system, the OneLink Dock also provides driver-free video connection, USB 3.0, Gigabit Ethernet and audio, all through a single cable.

Amplify Experience with Accessories
In addition to the ThinkPad OneLink Dock, Lenovo offers a comprehensive portfolio of accessories to build a complete solution for each system. For more information on Lenovo accessories, go to http://www.lenovoquickpick.com.

Lenovo Services offers Integrated Solutions
Lenovo's comprehensive portfolio of Services provides relevant and integral value to businesses. With a committed focus on customer, quality and responsiveness, Lenovo Services offers innovative and integrated solutions to ensure maximum productivity. Warranty Extensions, Upgrades, Accidental Damage Protection, Keep Your Drive, Priority Technical Support and a complete set of factory and automated deployment services help organizations effectively bridge the gap between consumer and business.

Pricing and Availability2
ThinkPad T440p, T540p and W540 pricing will be available closer to availability dates.
ThinkPad T440p available starting November.
ThinkPad T540p available starting November.
ThinkPad W540 available starting November.
ThinkPad L440 available starting October priced from approximately $729.
ThinkPad L540 available starting October priced from approximately $729.
ThinkPad E series will be available initially in selected markets from October.
ThinkPad E440 priced from approximately €649.
ThinkPad E540 priced from approximately €629