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Lenovo Japan president weighs in on how weird concepts make it to market
We've previously established that the NEC Lavie Mini -- that 8-inch laptop that doubles as a gaming machine -- is a charmingly weird concept that stands a solid shot making it production.
The Lavie Mini is a modern netbook that doubles as a game console
Enter the NEC Lavie Mini: a sort of modern take on the classic netbook that, with the right accessories, doubles as a Switch-style game console. The jury’s still out on how usable the Lavie Mini will actually feel because — again — it only exists as a protoype right now.
NEC's new PC lineup for the US includes a 4K OLED laptop
NEC's LaVie PCs have come to the US before, but with Lenovo badging -- and they've usually played second fiddle to Lenovo's own IdeaPads and ThinkPads. Now, however, they're getting more of a chance to shine. Lenovo is releasing three higher-end LaVie PCs in the US under the NEC name, each of which has at least one stand-out feature. The highlight for many may be the LaVie Vega (above), a 15.6-inch macine that touts a 4K OLED display, a six-core 2.6GHz Intel Core i7 and a 512GB Optane-assisted SSD despite a body that weighs just 4.06 pounds. The base system is stuck with 8GB of RAM and Intel's integrated graphics, but the LaVie logo on the back doubles as a Cortana smart speaker that works even when the portable is asleep.
Lenovo's super-light LaVie Z laptop is now available
If you've been jonesing for a featherweight laptop but feel that Apple's MacBook rubs you the wrong way, you're in luck: as promised, Lenovo is now selling the LaVie Z and LaVie Z 360 in the US. Both 13-inch systems largely resemble what you saw in January, and strike a careful balance between brisk performance and a light design that won't strain your shoulder when it's in your bag. They share Quad HD screens, fifth-generation Core i7 processors, 8GB of RAM and a 256GB solid-state drive. The only big difference is the 360's namesake convertible touchscreen, which turns your PC into a makeshift tablet.
Best of CES 2015 Awards, PC: Lenovo LaVie HZ550
#fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-431162{display:none;} .cke_show_borders #fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-431162, #postcontentcontainer #fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-431162{width:570px;display:block;} try{document.getElementById("fivemin-widget-blogsmith-image-431162").style.display="none";}catch(e){}Lenovo typically brings a lot of new product releases to CES. And it did it again in 2015. However, there was one particular highlight: a 13-inch laptop with top-end specs, but somehow weighing in at 1.7 pounds.This is Lenovo (and NEC's) slender LaVie HZ550. For reference, that's 43 percent lighter than the latest MacBook Air -- and in person you'd think it was a dummy laptop shell. Despite that, the laptop still packs fifth-generation Intel Core processors: It's got muscle too. Was it the best PC we saw at CES? We think so, yes.
NEC shows off a super-thin, 12.8mm thick Ultrabook, we go hands-on
Just after wrapping up its CES 2013 press conference, Intel showed off two Ultrabooks: one that's just a concept, and one that you can actually buy. What you see in that photo up there is the NEC LaVie X, the follow-up to last year's NEC LaVie Z. It's a 15-inch Ultrabook that measures just 12.8mm thick. We realize you might be desensitized to such specs at this point, so here's a little context: that's almost two millimeters thinner than the 15-inch Samsung Series 9, which already seemed impossibly skinny at 14.7mm. Other specs include a 1080p display and Haswell processor, though the machine we saw wasn't powered on, so we could only play with the keyboard and see what it felt like to hold the laptop in one hand. Unless you're reading this in Japan, you probably won't ever have the chance to purchase it, but hopefully this isn't the last time we see a 14-millimeter-thick laptop on this side of the Pacific. Follow all the latest CES 2013 news at our event hub.
NEC intros 15.6-inch LaVie X Ultrabook in Japan, claims it's the 'world's thinnest'
Following the announcement of its somewhat flexible LaVie Y in Japan, NEC's now introducing us to a new, much sleeker member of the company's Windows 8 lineup. At first glance, you may quickly notice that the novel LaVie X clearly takes a design cue from another NEC affiliate, the Lavie Z, but does sport a relatively larger 15.6-inch, 1,920 x 1,080 IPS display, a more powerful Core i7-3517U CPU which clocks in at 1.9GHz, 4GB RAM and a 256GB SSD -- all while being wrapped in a slim 12.8mm package. The LaVie X is expected to hit Rising Sun shelves starting December 27th, with NEC slapping a cool 175,000 Yen (around $2,100) price tag on this slim, Windows 8-loaded Ultrabook.
NEC LaVie Y brings Lenovo's 360-degree IdeaPad Yoga hybrid tablet to Japan
Don't think that Lenovo is keeping the IdeaPad Yoga's bendy secrets all to itself: its Japanese partner NEC is bringing a variant of the ARM-based Yoga 11 to the land of the rising sun as the LaVie Y. The 11.6-inch blend of laptop and tablet keeps the signature 360-degree display, 2GB of RAM and 64GB of storage as its more internationally-minded counterpart, and confirms that there's a quad-core Tegra 3 powering either of the Windows RT systems. What differences exist will stem from the software: there's hints of a custom NEC app on an otherwise vanilla interpretation of Microsoft's platform. The LaVie Y should precede its IdeaPad sibling by days, arriving in stores around November 22nd, although any local buyers will pay dearly for the privilege with an estimated $1,136 price. We'd suggest that patience ought to be a virtue for everyone else. [Thanks, Gerald]
Spotted at IDF: NEC's lightweight LaVie Z Ultrabook (hands-on video)
Remember NEC's LaVie Z Ultrabook we first heard about at Computex? It's a super light (875g / 1.93 lbs) and thin (15mm / 0.59-inch) magnesium alloy system running Windows 7 that's only available in Japan and we just spotted it here at IDF 2012 in San Francisco. Spec-wise you're looking at a 1.9GHz third-generation (Ivy Bridge) Core i7 CPU, 4GB RAM, 128GB SSD with integrated Intel HD 4000 GPU driving a 13.3-inch 1600 x 900-pixel display. It features an SD card slot on the left side, audio, USB 2.0, USB 3.0, HDMI and power connectors on the right edge along with the obligatory webcam. We spent a few minutes using the LaVie Z and were quite impressed with how lightweight and well made it is. It feels like a premium Ultrabook yet still looks unique -- unlike the plethora of me-too designs the PC industry's been dumping on the market lately (yes, we're looking at you, HP). The screen is nice and bright with decent viewing angles. NEC's done a good job with the button-less trackpad which is properly responsive. Sadly the keyboard is a bit of a mixed bag -- the short travel and small surface area of the individual keys will be an issue for some. Want to know more? Check out the gallery below and hit the break for our hands-on video.%Gallery-164973%
NEC's LaVie Z Ultrabook has definitely lost weight: just 875 grams and priced from $1,600 in Japan
No one complained when we reported NEC's initial claimed weight of 999 grams (2.2 pounds) for its LaVie Z Ultrabook, but it turns out that statistic is brutally unfair. The 13.3-inch laptop actually tips the scales at just 875 grams (1.9 pounds) thanks to the magnesium lithium alloy used in its 0.59-inch chassis -- not bad when you consider that there are still 1.3kg netbooks wandering the planet. Of course, in line with Intel's official Ultrabook spec, you're getting a minimum Core i5-3317U processor (yes, that's Ivy Bridge) and 128GB SSD, plus USB 3.0, SDXC slot, HDMI out and a claimed battery life of 8.1 hours. There's no word on US pricing yet, but that base spec will set you back ¥130,000 ($1,600) in Japan, while the top model with Core i7-3517U and 256GB SSD will add another ¥30,000 ($375) to your bill.
NEC reveals LaVie Z Ultrabook will ship with third-gen Intel chips, 1600 x 900 screen resolution
By all means, we were quite impressed when we first laid eyes on NEC's LaVie Z early last month, but much to our disappointment, details were a wee bit scarce at that time. Fortunately for us (and you), however, the company's finally detailed the specs we can expect to see on its 13.3-inch Ultrabook. Among these are -- you guessed it -- Intel Ivy Bridge CPUs (i5-3317U, i7-3517U) and an above-average 1600 x 900 display -- of course, let's not forget it's all bundled up in a 999g package, or about 2.2 pounds if the gram system isn't your thing. As stated earlier, the LaVie Z will be Japan-only once it launches later this summer, though NEC has said it hopes to bring the Ultrabook to other markets at some point in the future. We'll have to wait and see.
NEC's 13.3-inch LaVie Z Ultrabook weighs just 2.2 pounds, brings lithium-magnesium into your life
Just in case you thought NEC was done with its PC updates this week, the Japanese PC builder has thrown its hat into the Ultrabook ring with a unique contribution of its own. The LaVie Z has a 13.3-inch screen like your garden variety ultralight, but it weighs just 2.2 pounds through a new lithium-magnesium alloy shell about half the weight of the aluminum that some companies love to use. Unfortunately, that weight and the slim frame are about all we know so far: NEC isn't providing any internal specifications, possibly because it's waiting on Ultrabook-ready Ivy Bridge chips. Even so, if you're hanging around Japan and want the lightest possible laptop you can get at a 13-inch screen size, the wait until the planned summer release will feel like an eternity.
NEC announces Ivy Bridge processors for some, not all, of its series refreshes
Ivy Bridge continues to subsume its aging Sandy brother, this time as part of NEC's refresh of both its laptop and desktop families. However, only two machines have been gifted Intel's third-generation processors. The ValueStar L desktop series arrives with a Core i7-3770S at 3.1GHz, accompanied by a 2TB HDD and a 23-inch display. The LaVie L series packs a Core i7-3770S clocked at 2.3GHz, alongside a 15.6-inch screen, 1TB hard-disk, USB 3.0 port and digital TV tuner -- well, it is Japan. NEC expects both models (alongside the renewed LaVie S, E, M and ValueStar W and N series) to hit Japanese stores later this month.
NEC expands Valuestar 3D lineup with two new desktop PCs; laptops say LaVie
We'll have to assume NEC managed to free Willy and that its first 3D venture was a success, as the company's just revealed a brand new set of stereoscopic screens, one of which is actually not part and parcel of an all-in-one PC. NVIDIA's 3D Vision kit (with active shutter glasses) and a 23-inch, 1920 x 1080 120Hz monitor accompany this Valuestar L, with a 2.93GHz Core i7-870 processor, GeForce GT 330 GPU, 8GB of memory, 1TB of storage and Blu-ray 3D drive in an attractive white case. There's also a similarly-sized Valuestar W 3D all-in-one with a 2.53GHz Core i5-460M and GeForce GT 330M graphics, a digital TV tuner, half the memory, a 1.5TB drive and a passive, polarized display. If you're not interested in wearing glasses while chained to a desk, of course, you could always consider the new LaVie Light netbook, newly refreshed with a dual-core Intel Atom N550. And yes, we know we made a horrible pun. Sometimes we just can't help ourselves.
NEC debuts new hybrid storage LaVie Light netbook
Netbooks with hybrid storage are still pretty few and far between, but it looks like NEC is set to offer one more option with its latest LaVie Light netbook (the BL350/TA6), which also offers a few other improvements over the previous model. That includes a slimmer form factor (1-inch at the front, 1.4-inches at the back), an improved 10.1-inch LED-backlit display, an Atom N280 processor, 1GB of RAM, 802.11n WiFi, an optional high capacity battery and, of course, those dual 16GB SSD and 160GB hard drives. No word on a release 'round here, but folks in Japan should be able to pick this one up this month for a hefty ¥70,000 (or about $730), or they can save a few thousand Yen and grab one of the non-hybrid models.[Via Portable Monkey]
NEC introduces wild new ValueStar, LaVie and LaVie Light models
NEC is back on the scene with a clutch of new products, including a couple all-in-ones, some notebooks and a color refresh for the LaVie Light. Standing in stark contrast to the new Viewsonic all-in-ones, the two additions to the ValueStar line pack a little heat, with Intel Core and AMD Athlon processors, generous helpings of memory and storage, and features like Blu-ray and digital TV tuners that are sure to amuse and titillate. The new LaVie notebooks run the gamut from 13.3- to 16-inch, with either Core 2 Duo or AMD Athlon processors. In addition to the usual storage and memory options, the 13.3-inch model sports an LED that can be configured by the user to display either the time or a line of text. Last but not least, fans of the boxy LaVie Light netbook have a couple more color options -- aside from the original black or white, they've thrown pink and blue into the mix. Be sure to check out the additional images and detailed specs after the break.Read: Two NEC New ValueStar All in One DesktopsRead: Three New LaVie Notebooks from NECRead: NEC Launches a New Color Pack for their LaVie Light Netbook
NEC's L series is back -- now in four exciting colors!
The last time we saw a LaVie netbook we were seriously taken aback by the company's apparent decision to base its design on that of a ten year old Micron, so it's nice to see that NEC Japan will soon be releasing another of their (relatively) classy L series machines. Due out Christmas Day for about ¥175,000 (about $1,950) the LL750 sports a 15.4-inch, 1280 x 800 LCD display, a 2.4GHz Core 2 Duo with Intel graphics, 4GB of memory, 320GB storage, HDMI out and a FeliCa port. No sure on Stateside availability, but lucky consumers in Japan will get their choice between white, pink, black, and red -- how debonair! [Via Akihabara]
NEC LaVie Light gets the hands-on treatment, looks better in person
NEC's new LaVie Light netbook didn't exactly do much to make itself noticed when it was first announced, but our pals at Engadget Chinese say the pictures of the device are a tad deceiving, and that it's actually a pretty solid little number in person. That's apparently partly due to some solid fit and finish all around, and some fairly unique features like a screen that tilts back a full 180 degrees. They still aren't sold on that over-sized bezel though, or the device's thorougly ordinary spec list. Hit up the link below for a closer look.
NEC LaVie Light hits netbook scene with a whimper
We're so very over this spec sheet: 8.9-inch 1024 x 600 LCD, 1.6GHz Atom N270 processor, 160GB HDD, 1GB of RAM, 802.11b/g WiFi, SD slot, 1.3 megapixel webcam, XP Home. We could recite that song of the netbook in our sleep, and the Japan-bound LaVie Light doesn't stray a note. NEC even did us the special honor of placing the mouse buttons on either side of the trackpad, placing it in the upper echelon of lazybooks, and seems to have fended off any industrial designers that might be lurking around the company with great success. Akihabara News says the price is "really similar to all Netbook already put on the market," which is probably the least surprising statement we've heard all week.[Via Akihabara]
NEC's LaVie G laptop gets Kimi Kissed
NEC's LaVie lineup has been dressed up in just about every costume imaginable, but for whatever reason, it has yet to be embossed with the characters from Kimi Kiss -- until now, that is. Fans of the series will surely appreciate the design cues, but the hard part will be choosing from the smorgasbord of color options. Nevertheless, those actually concerned with what's inside the chassis will find a 2GHz Mobile Sempron 3600+ CPU, 512MB of RAM, an 80GB hard drive, DVD combo drive and a 15.4-inch 1,280 x 800 resolution panel. A bit underpowered for ¥90,783 ($879), but even NEC knows you aren't looking at this one for the exquisite componentry.[Via Gizmodiva]
