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Lenovo's latest gaming PCs are faster and flashier
Lenovo probably isn't the first brand you think of when you're looking for a gaming PC, between its reputation for business PCs and its frequently frugal designs. However, it's definitely trying to improve its gamer cred today. The system builder has trotted out three Y-series computers that match the requisite speed boosts with more flair than you're used to from Lenovo. The IdeaPad Y700 laptop you see above has the expected choices of the latest Intel (sixth-generation Core) or AMD (Carrizo-based A10) processors, but it also sports more angular, attention-getting 15- and 17-inch designs. Those red JBL speakers are bound to catch your eye, even if the Y700 isn't quite as ostentatious as other portable gaming rigs.
Lenovo is the latest to hop on the PC-on-a-stick bandwagon
Who knew that stick computers were suddenly in vogue? In the wake of pocket-sized desktops from Intel, Dell and Google, Lenovo is joining the fray with the Ideacentre 300 Stick. The extra-tiny Windows PC is much like a sleeker, more polished version of Intel's Compute Stick. It shares the same 1.3GHz Atom chip, 2GB of RAM and 32GB of built-in storage as its counterpart, and you'll also have the familiar USB port and microSD card slot for those moments when wireless peripherals won't cut it. The system's biggest difference (and really, biggest draw) is its price. It'll cost $129 when it hits stores in July -- that's about $20 less than the Intel stick, and you're getting a full-fledged home computer versus a corporate "thin client" like Dell's similarly priced Wyse Cloud Connect.
Lenovo intros four IdeaCentre all-in-ones, including a super-wide 29-inch model
Lenovo is known for all-in-one PCs that stand out, and that's certainly true of a new four-model update to the company's IdeaCentre line. The headlining B750 is reportedly the first PC to include a 29-inch, 21:9 aspect ratio display; its 2,560 x 1,080 panel is potentially ideal for both movie aficionados and multitaskers. Lenovo appropriately equips the B750 with a 2.1-channel JBL audio system, and gamers may like the combination of Haswell-based processors with standard GeForce GTX 760A graphics. The system ships in October with a $1,199 base price. Don't need an extra-wide screen? Don't worry -- Lenovo's other three introductions may catch your eye. The A530, B350 and B550 improve on their predecessors with both Haswell chips and options for 1TB hybrid hard drives that combine speed with capacity. These smaller IdeaCentres should arrive alongside the B750 in October, with prices ranging from $799 for the 21.5-inch B350 to $1,199 for the 23-inch B550.
Lenovo's Windows 8 PCs to bundle SweetLabs' Start menu replacement, app store
Software developers and PC vendors have frequently catered to reluctant Windows 8 buyers with Start menu replicas, and that trend doesn't appear to be slowing down. Lenovo has just reached a deal that will bundle SweetLabs' Pokki suite with its Windows 8 PCs, including a Start menu replacement, an app store and a game arcade. The two companies haven't said which particular systems will first ship with Pokki, although the deal starts with consumer-focused devices and will spread to include multiple PCs across the IdeaCentre, IdeaPad and ThinkPad lines. The SweetLabs agreement should cheer those who want the old Windows experience or an alternative software store. The bundle may prove bittersweet for Microsoft, however -- it usually wants Windows PC buyers to embrace the future.
Lenovo intros IdeaCentre Q190 HTPC, new C-series all-in-ones for the space-saving set
Most of Lenovo's big Windows 8 desktop push has centered on the mid-range and up. Happily, the company is at last swinging its attention to those who the entry-level crowd, and most of all those who want their PCs as tiny as the price. The highlight of the refresh for many could be the IdeaCentre Q190. It's leaving the Q180's Atom-based nettop roots behind -- while the home theater PC is still skinny at 0.89 inches thick when excluding a Blu-ray or DVD add-on, leaps to both a maximum Core i3 processor and an 8GB RAM ceiling give the Q190 enough grunt to smoothly handle more than just the basics this time around. Mini PC enthusiasts who wait patiently for a January release can buy in starting at $349. All-in-one lovers have no shortage of choices at the same time, as we're seeing no less than seven IdeaCentre C-series revamps. The C240 and C245 are mostly built as secondary PCs with respective Intel Celeron and AMD E2 chips as well as fixed-position, 18.5-inch screens; it gets more intriguing with the adjustable, 20-inch C340 and C345 variants as well as the Core i3 internals of the similarly styled 21.5-inch C440 and C445. A flagship C540 rules the roost with a 23-inch screen and Intel-only processor selections that peak at a Core i3. Despite Lenovo's full-scale assault on the category, only the $349 C240 and C245 will be shipping this month. We'll once again have to wait for January if we want to see the rest, although a tight pricing spread between $479 (for the C345) and $549 (for the C540) guarantees that we won't have to spend much to go bigger.
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. %Gallery-163882% %Gallery-163872%
Lenovo IdeaCentre A720 all-in-one hands-on (video)
Lenovo announced the IdeaCentre A720 at CES: an all-in-one touchscreen desktop that transforms into a surface-like device by just pushing the display down. The 27-inch, 10-point multitouch display is a little bit wider than a finger and connects via a moveable armature to the base where the various ports are -- including HDMI in and out. The surface's response was still a little flaky, but with half a year ahead of them we hope Lenovo will nail it. Feel free to watch us play Pong with elastic bands and poke at bugs.
Lenovo outs IdeaCentre B340 and B540 all-in-ones, H520s and IdeaCentre K430 towers
Ultrabooks might be the belle of the ball at this year's CES, but that doesn't mean you won't see a few desktops thrown in for variety's sake. Lenovo just unveiled a quartet of stationary machines, including two towers and a pair of touchscreen all-in-ones. Beginning with those touchscreens, the IdeaCentre B340 and B540 are essentially the same system, except the former has a 21.5-inch screen and the latter expands to 23. Both have 1080p displays and can be configured with up to 8GB of RAM and 2TB of storage, an optional Blu-ray drive and 3D tech. The only variation in specs, so far as we can tell, is that the 21.5-inch version maxes out with a 1GB NVIDIA GeForce 615M card, whereas for the 23-incher the top-shelf offering is the GeForce GT 650M with 2GB of video memory. Lenovo's also bundled its finger-friendly IdeaTouch software, whose OneKey TV feature lets you toggle between your desktop and TV mode using a picture-in-a-picture. Look for these in June, with an entry price of $699.Shifting gears to towers, the IdeaCentre K430 is aimed at gamers and other users of the powerful sort, with room for up to 32GB of DDR3 memory and either a 128GB SSD or as much as 4TB in HDD storage, with optional twin hard drives arranged in a RAID0 configuration. And, unlike with Lenovo's more mainstream desktops, you'll get a choice of graphics: a 2GB NVIDIA GeForce GTX660 or, from AMD's camp, a 2GB Radeon HD 7750. Don't need that much muscle? The H520 tower has a compact shape and still accommodates up to 2TB of storage space and 8GB of RAm, along with either a 2GB AMD Radeon HD7570 or a 2GB GeForce GTX630 card. Expect the K430 to arrive in May for $599, and the H520s to follow in June for $499 and up.Sean Cooper contributed to this post.
Lenovo's diminutive Q180 HTPC dishes out multimedia for $349
Ultrabooks have been getting a lot of love from PC makers these days, and Lenovo's no exception. But laptops aren't the only machines getting slim and trim, and the Chinese firm has outed its svelte IdeaCentre Q180 home theater PC to fulfill your entertainment needs. Stuffed inside a 22mm-thin frame that makes other skinny HTPCs look downright portly, is a 2.13GHz Intel Atom dual-core CPU plus Radeon HD 6450A graphics and up to 4GB of DDR3 RAM to keep video playback buttery smooth. You can also get up to a 750GB HDD or a 128GB SSD to store all of your myriad media, and a Blu-ray drive's available for those digging disc-based content. Hooking up displays and peripherals are easy with USB 3.0, VGA and HDMI out, and wireless connectivity via Bluetooth and 802.11b/g/n WiFi. The Q180 starts at $349 for the base model, with prices escalating accordingly if you start adding options like a hand-held keyboard. Full PR's after the break.
Lenovo L2363d is a 3D monitor with 3D webcam and 3D glasses (update: eyes-on)
NVIDIA blew what's left of our minds with its Project Denver announcement yesterday, so today it's back to the more familiar world of 3D to soothe our souls. The company's 3D Vision technology has been installed on the above Lenovo L2363d, which touts both three-dimensional output and input, courtesy of a pair of webcam lenses embedded in its top bezel. This 1920 x 1080 display spans 23 inches diagonally and requires the usual active shutter glasses to enjoy its content. So, if you buy one for yourself and your nearest and dearest, you can get your 3D videoconferencing action on in proper Blues Brothers style. Update: We tracked the monitor down at CES 2011, and while the 3D webcam sadly wasn't functional, we appreciated the matte screen inside the awkward shiny bezel. Find pictures below! %Gallery-113911%
Lenovo debuts IdeaCentre A320, B520, B320 plus C205 all-in-ones
Lenovo's just spewed forth a volcano of all-in-ones, including three IdeaCentres, the A320, B520 and B320. First up the thinnest of the group, the IdeaCentre A320 boasts up to a 2.30GHz Intel Core i5 2nd generation CPU, a 21.5-inch full HD 16:9 widescreen display, up to 8GB DDR3 SDRAM and an up to 750GB HDD. It also boasts integrated 802.11n WiFi, Bluetooth, HDMI out, and integrated 2 watt stereo speakers. The IdeaCentre B520 packs up to an Intel Core i7 CPU (also the 2nd generation), a 23-inch full HD 16:9 display, up to 16GB of DDR3 SDRAM, and a up to 2TB HDD. You'll also get a 3-in-1 mouse, integrated Dolby Surround Sound 5.0 speakers, and a Blu-ray drive. The IdeaCentre B320 has up to an Intel Core i5 processor, a 21.5-inch HD 16:9 widescreen panel, Intel HD Graphics, up to 8GB of DDR2 SDRAM, and an up to 4TB HDD. It also boasts an integrated DVD drive / writer, two 2 watt integrated stereo speakers, optional Bluetooth, and 802.11b/g/n WiFi. And finally, the C205 all-in-one has up to an AMD dual-core E-350 CPU, an 18.5-inch, 16:9 widescreen display, an array of graphics options including AMD Radeon HD 6310 Series, up to 8GB of DDR3 RAM, and an up to 500GB HDD. All of these will be available in June of 2011, with the IdeaCEntre A320, the B520 and the B320 starting at $699, while the Lenovo C205 will start at $449.99. The full press release is after the break. %Gallery-112369%
Lenovo launches IdeaPad Y460p and Y560p laptops, IdeaCentre K330 desktop
Lenovo's just announced two new laptops and a desktop, the IdeaPad Y460p, Y560p, and the IdeaCentre K330. First up, the Idea Pad Y460p and Y560p are 14- and 15.6-inches with 16:9 widescreen displays, and come with a range of processors up to the Intel Core i7, an up to 750 GB hard drive, and up to 8GB of DDR3 memory. The laptops also feature JBL speakers and Dolby Home Theater. The IdeaCentre K330 also features up to a Core i7 CPU, up to 16GB of DDR3 SDRAM, twin RAID0-configured hard disk drives, and up to 4TB of HDD storage, and DIrectX-11 graphics. It also has a host of optional add-ons, including an integrated DVD or Blu-ray player, TV tuner, and HD graphics support. The IdeaPads will be available on January 11, 2011 with an $849 starting price, while the IdeaCentre will start at $699 and should be available in early 2011. The full press release and another shot is after the break.
Lenovo's multitouch IdeaCentre B305 all-in-one now shipping
Looking for something a bit more basic (and less expensive) than Lenovo's A300 series of all-in-one PCs? Then you might want to consider the company's IdeaCentre B305, which is now finally shipping after making its debut back in May. It'll set you back just $699, which will get you a 21.5-inch, 1920 x 1080 multitouch display, a 2.7GHz AMD Athlon II X2 235e AM3 processor, 2GB of RAM, a 320GB hard drive, and a DVD burner, among other standard fare -- higher-end configurations are also available, of course, and top out at $949.
Lenovo IdeaCentre A310 slips into something a little more Corefortable
We never felt like the thing holding the IdeaCentre A300 back was its CPU, but that hasn't stopped Lenovo from tacking an extra 10 onto the product number and a modern Core i3-350M inside. The 2.26GHz chip is a dual-core mobile affair, built on Intel's famed 32nm process, and offers an integrated 45nm graphics processor just for kicks as well. For this newfound privilege, Japanese buyers will be expected to pony up ¥109,000 ($1,243) when the A310 becomes available on July 17. Bear in mind that includes a bundled external DVD rewriter, the lack of which was one of our bigger disappointments with this otherwise gorgeous 21.5-inch all-in-one family -- now if Lenovo could only offer a version with a matte screen, we might even care enough to buy one.
Lenovo IdeaCentre A300 and Multimedia Keyboard review
Lenovo seems to have developed a clear two-pronged strategy: for business, it leans on the knowhow and tradition it purchased from IBM with the demure Think line, and for the consumer end, it's developed its own, oftentimes flamboyant, Idea range of computers. Prime example of the latter is the IdeaCentre A300, which features an edge-to-edge glass screen, chrome accenting aplenty, and an unhealthily thin profile. As such, it's one of the more unashamed grabs for the hearts and minds of desktop aesthetes, so we had to bring it in for a test drive and see what we could see. Lenovo also sent us one of its diminutive Multimedia Keyboard remotes to have a play around with. Follow the break for our review of both.%Gallery-95775%%Gallery-95777%
Lenovo IdeaCentre Q150 upgrades to Atom D510, keeps NVIDIA Ion, 1080p playback, and ultraslim look
The world might be all abuzz about Ion 2 already, but we reckon we can still make room for an NVIDIA Ion nettop that measures a malnourished 21mm in width and offers full 1080p video playback. The successor to Lenovo's IdeaCentre Q110, the Q150 is built around a pair of Intel Atom options -- the single-core D410 or dual-core D510, both running at 1.6GHz -- and will come with Windows 7 Home (Basic or Premium) preloaded, built-in WiFi, a quartet of USB 2.0 ports, and an HDMI output should you pick up the Ion option. The wireless Multimedia Remote with Keyboard is also optional, but Lenovo seems to rightly expect you to want one in order to match the stylishness of the machine. The starting price for this little beaut is listed at $249, with availability by the end of June, but expect to pay quite a bit more for the fully outfitted option above. One more intimate pic of the Q150 awaits after the break.
Lenovo adds touch to IdeaCentre A700 and B305 all-in-ones, vies for your desktop dollars with H320
While keeping the overdesigned aesthetic of their IdeaCentre brandmates, the new A700 and B305 (above) all-in-ones from Lenovo are moving things forward with optional touchscreens and freshened up spec sheets. The A700 offers the full range of Intel's Core 2010 laptop CPUs, but tops things off with the slightly older 45nm Core i7-820QM, which gives you four cores operating at a somewhat pedestrian 1.73GHz default speed that can be cranked up to 3.06GHz when circumstances demand it. Other specs include a 1080p 23-inch display, built-in 802.11a/b/g/n wireless, and a side-mounted Blu-ray drive. If you're feeling extravagant, you can even cram in 8GB of DDR3 RAM, but don't expect to be paying the $999 entry price for that package when these become available at the end of June. The B305 gives AMD fans something to admire, with Athlon II X4 processors, Radeon HD 5450 graphics -- great for multimedia, but forget about 3D gaming -- up to 4GB of DDR3 RAM, and up to a 21.5-inch display stretching to 1,920 x 1,080. Built-in wireless and a DVD-RW drive are again present, along with up to a terabyte of storage (2TB on the A700, that showoff) should you opt to tread beyond the $699 entry price. The B305 will be purchasable next month, as will be the H320 old schooler. Starting out at $549, this small form factor pc offers Intel's 32nm desktop parts, with the finest of the bunch being the 2.8GHz Core i7-860. Radeon HD 5570, up to 8GB of memory, a terabyte of storage, Blu-ray, and wireless options fill out its vital statistics, though you'll have to buy your own monitor. Full PR after the break. %Gallery-92697%
Lenovo IdeaCentre A300 and C310 hands-on
Given some of the more compact portables we've seen, world's thinnest all-in-one desktop is certainly debatable, but the curves on the Lenovo IdeaCentre A300 do give it an air of grace, as does the swivel. Throw in a clear screen and it's promising, but countering those kind words? Lots and lots of fingerprint-friendly gloss. We also got some time with the C310, which takes the traditional IdeaCentre all-in-one design and spruces it up a bit with a brown finish -- it's otherwise what you've come to expect, for better or for worse. Enough chit-chat, on with the photos! %Gallery-82174% %Gallery-82198%
Lenovo busts out IdeaCentre A300, IdeaPad S10-3t and plenty of other solid Ideas
Lenovo already treated us to a slew of new ThinkPad machines, and now it's time for the Idea line to get its due. Up first, we've got the IdeaCentre A300, which is hailed as the industry's thinnest all-in-one desktop. Measuring just 18.5mm deep, the 21.5-inch machine sports a 1080p LED panel, Core 2 Duo CPU, WiFi and a bundled Bluetooth keyboard / mouse. The IdeaPad S10-3t (shown above) is the industry's first multitouch capacitive netbook tablet, with Lenovo trumpeting the device's ability to easily recognize fingertip input and plow through chores with an Atom N470 CPU and a 320GB hard drive. Moving right along, the 14-inch Y460 and 15.6-inch Y560 offer up respectable multimedia performance on a budget, while the 20-inch Lenovo C310 goes down as the company's first multitouch all-in-one desktop. The Core i7-equipped IdeaCentre K320 caters to the gamers, and the G460 / G560 lappies are slated to suit those "mainstream" users who just need something basic to handle... well, the basics. Pricing, availability and detailed specifications await you just beyond the break.%Gallery-80873%
Lenovo IdeaCentre B500 review
We managed to get some nice hands-on time with the Lenovo IdeaCentre B500 while chilling out in Hong Kong, and we're glad to say that up close this all-in-one desktop wasn't too far off the renderings we saw in October. Fans of Transformers might dig those angular corners and brushed metal effect, but we lack the expertise to tell if it'd be an Autobot or a Decepticon. Actually, we do, but we're far too humble to say it out loud. Click on if you're digging a deeper look. %Gallery-81184%
