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ideapad posts

Lenovo IdeaPad U150 11.6-inch ultraportable hits the streets with $699 asking price

by Paul Miller posted Nov 10th 2009 at 11:29AM

Just in case it had slipped your mind, now is a pretty great time to be looking for a computer. Take this IdeaPad U150 from Lenovo which just started shipping, for instance. For $699 you can get a CULV processor, 3GB of RAM and a 250GB HDD stuffed inside a 3 pound, 0.75-inch thick enclosure, with a 11.6-inch 1366 x 768 display and Windows 7 Home Premium. Bump it up to $849 and you're looking at better internals all around, and while those Intel X4500 graphics might be holding you back performance-wise, the external looks and build quality of this thing almost make up for it.

Read - U150 now available in US
Read - U150 review

Lenovo IdeaPad U150 gets unboxed and critiqued (video)

by Darren Murph posted Nov 4th 2009 at 7:26PM

We spotted the IdeaPad U150 sitting pretty as far back as CEATEC, but now it seems the 11.6-inch beaut is finally finding its way out into the wild, wild... wilds. The suave folks over at Netbooked were able to wrap their paws around a retail unit, and aside from just unboxing it on video (which was a nice gesture in its own right), they also ran it through some basic tasks and spit out a few general opinions. Hit the links below if you'd like to follow the journey from undressing to battery life testing, and hop on past the breaks if you're into this hot new thing called "video."

Read - IdeaPad U150 unboxing
Read - IdeaPad U150 impressions

Continue reading Lenovo IdeaPad U150 gets unboxed and critiqued (video)

Slinky Lenovo laptop prototype outed by FCC

by Tim Stevens posted Nov 2nd 2009 at 7:31AM

Slinky Lenovo laptop netbook prototype outed by FCC

Ooh, what's this? A new netbook from Lenovo, or some other flavor of tiny laptop? Little is known about the subject of this FCC filing from hardware assembler (and resurrector) Wistron, other than it will have a 10.1-inch screen, a 3-in-1 media reader, and plenty of wireless options including Bluetooth, WiFi, and HSDPA data. Dimensionally the device, referred to as the 0251, would fit into the IdeaPad category, but with no mention of processor or storage there's still some room to hope for something equally small but with a bit more chutzpah. Yeah, we're optimists.

[Via wireless goodness; Warning: PDF read link]

Lenovo's IdeaPad S12 finally on sale with Windows 7, NVIDIA Ion

by Darren Murph posted Oct 28th 2009 at 2:34AM

Lenovo made us a promise back in August that the Ion-powered version of its IdeaPad S12 would finally be loosed after the introduction of Windows 7, and lo and behold, that very machine is now available to order directly from the outfit itself. The lone Ion configuration starts at $599, and as predicted, it packs a 1.6GHz N270 processor, Windows 7 Home Premium (32-bit), a 256MB Ion GPU, 2GB of DDR2 memory, a 12.1-inch display (1,280 x 800), a 250GB hard drive, Bluetooth 2.1+EDR, WiFi and a six-cell battery. So, if you've held on this long, are you finally jumping in now that the opportunity has presented itself?

[Via Mark's Technology Blog]

Lenovo gets official with Win7-powered IdeaPad and IdeaCentre machines

by Darren Murph posted Oct 26th 2009 at 12:01PM

Lenovo already got official with a couple of its Windows 7-powered machines last week, but it looks like the rest of the crop is landing today. Of course, we've already seen the 11.6-inch IdeaPad U150 and 15.6-inch U550 pop up in various corners of the globe this month, and the IdeaPad U350 has been around since the summer. That said, we'll take the OS refresh and minor spec bumps any day of the week (along with new colors on the S10-2), and that's exactly what we're getting. We'll spare you the rehash (it's all there in the read link if you need a refresher), but over on the desktop front, we're pretty stoked about the stylish (and previously rumored) all-in-one IdeaCentre B500. Packing a Core 2 Quad CPU, 1TB of HDD space, up to 8GB of DDR3 RAM and a 23-inch LCD, this thing may actually perform fairly well in tasks more strenuous than checking email. The business-minded K300 and bargain-priced H230 ($299 starting point) are less thrilling from a hardware perspective, but they'll certainly fit their respective molds quite well. The whole lot should be available to order soon directly from Lenovo, and there's bound to be plenty of options for those not content with base configurations.

Gallery: Lenovo gets official with Win7-powered IdeaPad and IdeaCentre machines

Lenovo IdeaPad U150 is official in Japan, not very big

by Paul Miller posted Oct 23rd 2009 at 10:38AM

Lenovo hasn't been driving quite as hard after the thin-and-light consumer game as some others (though that U350 is a sexy exception), but this upcoming ULV-powered, 11.6-inch IdeaPad U150 should put it right in the runnings. Unfortunately for us, Lenovo has only just announced the computer for Japan, with no word on when it might be coming Stateside. The specs are alright, with a brand new Intel Core 2 Duo SU4100 ULV processor, integrated graphics, 2GB of RAM, a 250GB HDD, multitouch trackpad and Windows 7. We still don't have a price to go on, but since the whole point of that new Intel proc is taking ULV chips to somewhere approaching Atom prices, we're hoping for good things.

[Via Netbooked]

Lenovo sneaks out IdeaPad U550 laptop, in brown only

by Donald Melanson posted Oct 20th 2009 at 5:29PM

Lenovo has a habit of slipping out products without much fanfare (or even a decent picture), and it looks like it's done it again with its new IdeaPad U550 laptop, which gets out just in time for the Windows 7 rush. As you might expect, there isn't a ton to get excited about here, but the laptop is relatively lightweight for one with a 15.6-inch screen (just 5.29 pounds), and it settles nicely in the mid-range of Lenovo's offering in terms of specs. That includes your choice of Pentium Dual-Core or Core 2 Duo processors, ATI Radeon HD4330 or Intel GMA 4500MHD graphics, 4GB of RAM standard, a 250GB or 320GB hard drive, and even some nifty touches like an ambient light sensor and a standard fingerprint reader. No firm word on a ship date just yet (only "more than four weeks"), but you can get you order in right now for between $699 and $799 -- just hope you like brown, as it's apparently the only color option available at the moment.

[Thanks, alsyl]

Lenovo IdeaPad S12 gets ION powerup on October 22 in Japan

by Vladislav Savov posted Oct 19th 2009 at 4:23AM

At this point, we're not really sure which date has been discussed more in the history of humanity -- the Mayan doomsday prediction or Microsoft's October 22, 2009 launch of Windows 7. Lenovo's S12 was originally supposed to be the first ION-sporting netbook on the scene, but the Chinese company opted to hold back the NVIDIA infusion till Windows 7 showed up, and has been shipping a version of the 12-inch IdeaPad with only standard netbook specs so far. Well, come this Thursday it's out with the old and in with the HD video-decoding new in Japan, where the ION-powered S12 will be unleashed with 2GB RAM, 250GB HDD, a 1280 x 800 glossy display, multicard reader and a HDMI port for company. Priced somewhere near ¥68,800 (about $757), the new machines (available only in white) are likely to dip below $600 when they make their inevitable journey Stateside.

[Via Netbooked]

Lenovo IdeaPad U150 found hiding in plain sight at CEATEC (video)

by Ross Miller posted Oct 7th 2009 at 8:35AM

Can't say we've ever seen this beaut from Lenovo before. Unassumingly tucked away along a number of already-released laptops at the Intel booth, the 11.6-inch IdeaPad U150 is a lightweight with some interesting textures tattooed on its exterior. There wasn't a lot of details at the booth beyond its name, but from what's been unearthed via an xmit online product listing, it's got a Core 2 Duo SU4100 with integrated GMA X4500 graphics, meaning we're falling away from netbooks and into CULV territory. Performance-wise, we couldn't get into it far enough to check the full specs and run some tests, but as you can see in the video after the break, the boot time is not-quite-noteworthy 30 seconds long. Small, light, and more umph than Atom? Sounds like a winning combination, if the price is right. No official word on that, but xmit lists approximately $770 as the cost to own.

[Product page via Liliputing and Netbooked]

Continue reading Lenovo IdeaPad U150 found hiding in plain sight at CEATEC (video)

Lenovo's IdeaPad S12 with NVIDIA ION on hold pending Windows 7 debut

by Ross Miller posted Aug 20th 2009 at 10:41PM

We were all excited for Lenovo's NVIDIA ION-powered IdeaPad S12, which was gonna be the first netbook to market with the HD-capable chipset -- but alas, it was not yet meant to be. Gizmodo reports the company has decided to delay the portable until the end of October, just after Windows 7's launch on the 22nd. By then it'll have to face competition from Samsung, whose $599 N510 will launch first in September, and possibly a rumored HP device coming in the next few weeks. We can take solace in the fact that the ION upgrade will only add $50 to the current $499 tag, but having to wait

Lenovo caves, lets you order 14-inch IdeaPad U450p laptop

by Darren Murph posted Aug 12th 2009 at 6:57AM

Apparently the note sent in by the collective internet had its desired effect, as the machine we knew was sitting somewhere in a Lenovo R&D lab two weeks ago is now available to order. The IdeaPad U450p packs a 14-inch "anti-glare" display (1,366 x 768 resolution), your choice of Intel's 1.3GHz SU2700 or 1.4GHz SU3500 CPU, Windows Vista Home Premium, GMA X4500 integrated graphics, 3GB or 4GB of DDR3 RAM, a 250GB or 320GB 5400RPM hard drive, six-cell Li-ion battery, WiFi and a bundled DVD writer with Ultrabase. Current shipping estimates show that machines ordered today won't arrive until mid-September, but those with ample amounts of patience (and at least $799 in marked US bills) can get in line right now.

[Thanks, M. Hellenthal]

Lenovo IdeaPad U350 review roundup

by Tim Stevens posted Aug 7th 2009 at 10:17AM

If you have laptop needs but only a netbook-sized cavity in your carry-on, you need one of the growing number of notebooks that slot in between the eee-clones and pricey ultraportables. Lenovo's IdeaPad U350 is the latest, a svelte, 13.3-inch machine with a funky rubberized back and sophisticated design. It's been hitting test benches at various places and is getting good but not quite great reviews. Laptop Magazine loved the design and the $679 starting price, but found battery life (3.5 hours) to be disappointing. Computer Shopper was a bit more positive, knocking its performance but calling the system "feather-light" and its 1,366 x 768 screen "gorgeous." Finally, StarkSilverCreek's review is the least flattering, including concerns about excessive heat and a system fan that hardly ever turned off. Overall it seems like a decent choice if you don't mind a warm lap and can't quite swing a T400s, but if you're looking for alternatives perhaps you'd be interested in a Timeline 8000 or the like.

Read - Laptop Magazine

Read - Computer Shopper

Read - StarkSilverCreek

Lenovo slips out IdeaPad U450p, won't let you order one

by Darren Murph posted Jul 31st 2009 at 4:31AM

Hey Lenovo, that's a pretty sweet landing page you've got there for this newfangled IdeaPad U450p. In fact, we're crushing pretty hard on that glossy 14-inch display, ultrathin frame and patterned lid. If you're really looking for candor, we'd even go so far as to say that the "energy-efficient ULV processor" and "integrated optical drive" have us all sorts of hot and bothered, but the inability to actually see a full build sheet or order a unit for ourselves is simply disheartening. Care to fix that? Thank you so much.

-Signed: The Internet

[Thanks, alsyl]

Lenovo IdeaPad S12 not-a-netbook sized up

by Nilay Patel posted Jul 13th 2009 at 2:04AM

The Lenovo IdeaPad S12 just started shipping last week, and it looks like units have begun to arrive -- the folks at GottaBeMobile just posted up some quick impressions of their review unit. Sadly, it's sporting Intel GMA 950 graphics instead of the NVIDIA Ion chipset that's available for $50 extra, so it runs pretty much like every other 1.6GHz Atom machine with 1GB of RAM in the world. Hopefully those Ion units will arrive soon -- in the meantime, hit the read link to see how the S12 stacks up against the S10. (Hint: it's way bigger.)

Lenovo's IdeaPad S10-2 reviewed: great battery life, but more of the same

by Darren Murph posted Jul 9th 2009 at 4:51PM

Lenovo's S10-2 was a minor update to the original S10 (to put things nicely), but that's not to say it's not worth a look for those in the market for a 10-inch netbook. Boasting a slightly thinner, more beautified frame, the S10-2 also includes a tweaked keyboard, optional 3G, an extra USB port and none of the quirks that plagued the first edition. The benchmarking fiends over at HotHardware managed to sneak one of these things into their labs for testing, and while they largely found the S10-2 to be about the same as every other N270 + GMA 950 netbook out there, the 5.5 hour battery life was definitely impressive. All told, the S10-2 was found to be solid from top to bottom, but the $350 price tag did feel a bit steep considering just how many alternatives are out there. Still, even with the positive vibes, it's hard to recommend buying a WinXP netbook now with Windows 7 (and thus, no hardware limitations) just around the bend. Tap the read link if you're jonesing for more.