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Lenovo Constant Connect brings BlackBerry email to ThinkPads automatically
After two years in development, Lenovo Constant Connect is finally here. A groundbreaking new tie-up between Lenovo and RIM has led to the creation of a $150 54mm ExpressCard -- which slots into any ThinkPad from around Summer '08 onward -- and automatically pulls down any email sent to your BlackBerry via Bluetooth, even if the laptop is completely powered down. The idea here is to always have your most recent inbox available within eight seconds of opening your machine, and thanks to the card's dedicated Bluetooth radio and 500MB of inbuilt storage, it can pull down and send out emails so long as the card and your 'Berry are within 30 feet or so from one another. Aside from needing an ExpressCard slot, you'll also need a handset with OS 4.2 or higher. It's designed to work with Exchange, Outlook, POP and Gmail, with Lotus Notes support coming in 2H 2009; as for availability, the card will be available through Lenovo and its partners in early Q2 here in America, while those elsewhere in the world will have to wait until the latter half of the year. Full release and demo video is after the break.
Laptop display comparison awards top marks to Lenovo
It's not exactly the most extensive round-up, but photographers looking for suggestions on a laptop to pair up with their DSLR would do well to check out Rob Galgraith's latest comparison, which takes a look at the late-2008 MacBook Pro, the Dell Mini 9, and a pair of Lenovos (the W700 and T60). Not so surprisingly, he didn't have too much positive to say about the MacBook's switch to a glossy-only display, but other than that, he found that it mostly held up against its predecessor. It apparently wasn't able to match up against the two Lenovo offerings, however, which came in at number one and two in both color accuracy and viewing angle tests. The W700, in particular, proved to have color accuracy "on par with a fine desktop display," a feat enabled in no small part by its built-in calibrator. He was also especially impressed by the Dell Mini 9, which actually beat out the MacBook in terms of color accuracy, but fell a bit short in viewing angle tests. The fact that it also fits nicely in a DSLR bag certainly doesn't hurt things either. Hit up the link below for the complete breakdown.[Via thegadgetsite]
Viral Lenovo W700ds ad is physically difficult to watch
Hey, Lenovo: thanks for the $8-an-hour "cameraman," $10-an-hour "actress," and Oscar-caliber "plot," but the dual displays, digitizer, and RAID array are the real porn here. Of course, the suggestive music ripped off an 90s vintage Playboy DVD doesn't hurt -- mildly NSFW footage after the break.[Via CNET, thanks Kunai]
Lenovo ThinkPad W700ds hands-on
We've seen so much of the Lenovo ThinkPad W700ds already that our first time getting hands on the machine felt strangely familiar. The slide-out screen felt sturdy, and it's capable of swiveling 30 degrees forward and any steps in between. The tablet isn't going to replace a Wacom anytime soon, but it'll get the job done in a pinch. The laptop itself is rather bulky, but what do you expect when you're packing this much power? Check out the gallery below for pics.%Gallery-40772%Update: Added video after the break.
Lenovo's ThinkPad W700ds now really official: starts at $3,663
It's sort of tough to say that Lenovo's ThinkPad W700ds is not yet official, but if you've been scouring the web for a legitimate press release from the outfit, here's your sign. The dual screen beast is at long last being confirmed by Lenovo, offering up workstation performance along with a 17-inch primary display and a 10-inch secondary slide-out panel. Details about exact configurations are scant, but we are told that prospective buyers will be able to equip theirs with high-end Intel CPUs, optional RAID HDD / SSD setups, NVIDIA Quadro FX graphics, up to 8GB of DDR3 RAM, dual-link DVI / Display Port / VGA support, a 7-in-1 card reader, five USB ports, WiFi, optional WiMAX, a smartcard reader and a dual thermal solution to keep it from melting your legs and / or desk. Reportedly, the machine will be available today starting at $3,663, but as of now, it's still nowhere to be found on the firm's US website.
Lenovo's ThinkPad W700ds photographed and reviewed
Though a few lucky souls have already wrapped their paws around Lenovo's completely unorthodox W700ds, the dual-screened machine has yet to undergo a proper review... until now. Laptop Mag found the rig to be expectedly dominant in all the right areas, with a ridiculous graphics performance and a stunning display. Yeah, display. As in, singular. The main 17-inch panel was nothing short of stupendous, though the pull-out 10.6-inch LCD was said to be "significantly duller and dimmer." Additionally, the vertical orientation wasn't well suited for much of anything outside of sidebar applications (chat boxes, Photoshop toolbars, etc.), but you probably knew that already, didn't you? All told, the W700ds wasn't deemed the best value in the world with an anticipated price point of around $5,000, but those with highly specialized needs might just pay the premium to make their dreams come true.
Lenovo W700ds struts its stuff on film
We'll freely admit that Lenovo's ThinkPad W700ds is, shall we say... intriguing. So sure, we're a little envious that GottaBeMobile's gotten their hands on one, but they've kindly shared what they know with the rest of the world. The model they've got boasts a 2.53GHz Intel Core 2 Extreme CPU, 4 GB of RAM, and NVIDIA Quadro FX3700M graphics. As for those displays, the primary is a 17-inch WUXGA with a 1920 x 1200, and the secondary panel is a 10.6-inch WXGA with a 768 x 1200 resolution. It all looks mighty interesting to us, but you're going to want to check the video after the break to see for yourself.
Lenovo's ThinkPad W700ds shows its second screen on video
Mmm, dual screens. Lenovo's almost too-good-to-be-true W700ds got pretty darn official last night, and now we're being treated to the unit's first widely available video. The unit in the vid -- which is hosted up just beyond the break -- looks like it's straight out of pre-production, and the slight wobble in the pull-out panel doesn't instill the greatest amount of confidence in us. Still, we're hoping Lenovo tightens a few screws before it hits the market for real, and given the history of the rock solid ThinkPad line, we fully anticipate that happening.
Lenovo ThinkPad W700ds dual-screen laptop details and pics unearthed
We caught wind of this dual-screened ThinkPad last week, but now we've got some more details to get your mouths watering -- and your wallets running for cover. The W700ds comes with your choice of Intel Core 2 Quad processors and combined with the NVIDIA Quadro FX 3700M GPU. RAM maxes out at 8GB and you can stuff a total of 960GB of SSD / HDD storage into this bad boy. The primary 17-inch screen is supposedly the brightest on the market, and if there wasn't already enough to make you drool, it packs an integrated WACOM digitizer as well (like its single-screened sister, the W700). However, this 11 pound package starts at $3,600, so you'd better be ready to break out the piggy bank come January when this beast is set to ship. Don't pout though, it probably wouldn't have fit under the tree anyway. Check out two more pics after the break.[Thanks, Brian K]Read - Lenovo to release ThinkPad laptop with 2 LCD screensRead - Lenovo Mobile Workstation Now Offers Dual-Screen Display
ThinkPad W700 surfaces with secondary 10.6-inch LCD
digg_url = 'http://digg.com/hardware/ThinkPad_W700_surfaces_with_secondary_10_6_inch_LCD'; Not that we haven't seen laptops with multiple screens before, but this is a ThinkPad, people. You know, an all-business, totally not flashy ThinkPad. Hidden deep within a Lenovo Asia-Pacific hardware announcement is something we'd swear was a prank if it were hosted anywhere other than IBM.com, but it looks like the dual-screen W700 is for real. Reportedly, the machine will feature a 17-inch WUXGA (1,920 x 1,200) primary display along with a 10.6-inch WXGA (1,280 x 768) secondary panel. Think SideShow, just jacked up on whatever Clemens and McGwire were using. The rest of the specifications are swell but expected, but the tidbits we're really reaching for (price and availability, naturally) are nowhere to be found. Can you say "want."?[Via NotebookReview]
Mystery ThinkPad keyboard pops up on Lenovo's Flickr page
While we may not know exactly what item we're looking at in the photo above, we do know that we like it. This hot peripheral showed up on Lenovo's photostream without any explanation, and from the image it seems pretty much like a keyboard-lover's dream; it looks to be wireless, psychotically thin, and boasts an integrated trackpad and numpad. If you've been itching to find a stylish companion to that ThinkPad USB Portable Secure HD, this may just be the keyboard for you. As expected, no info on pricing or availability, but we'll definitely keep our eyes out for more as it becomes available.Update: Damn, it looks like this is just a super-hot pic of a new rev of Lenovo's already-released wired UltraNav keyboard -- as our astute commenters have pointed out, it's probably on Flickr because it was posted on Lenovo's Design Matters blog today. That's not to say we wouldn't take a wireless version of this bad boy in a heartbeat -- feel free to rock us, Lenovo.
Lenovo ThinkPads to freeze when texted, deter thieves from getting the goods
We've seen some pretty sophisticated laptop security measures out here in the volatile civilian world, but Lenovo's taking things all top secret with its new Constant Secure Remote Disable feature. Slated to hit select ThinkPads in Q1 2009, the Phoenix Technologies, um, technology enables specially equipped notebooks to become utterly worthless if stolen -- so long as the owner remembers to text in the emergency code, that is. You see, with the Remote Disable function, proper owners can send an SMS to their missing WWAN-enabled machine in order to make it inoperable; the lappie then sends a message back to confirm that it's currently irritating the daylights out of a wannabe data thief. 'Course, said thief can track you down and implement all manners of torture to get you to reactivate it, but we suppose that's the risk you take with that sort of lifestyle. Full release after the break.
Lenovo's ThinkPad USB Portable Secure hard drive will make you look, feel more important than you are
This anonymous, yet nefarious looking device -- Lenovo's ThinkPad USB Portable Secure Hard Drive -- has a passcode system that uses a physical keypad (see photo), which should be handy for you always on-the-go, James Bond types. In fact, the tiny unit (3 x 5-inches), which is designed to pair up with ThinkPad laptops, can have up to 10 unique user IDs, and an admin account, enabling the whole family to be in on the encrypting-action. We hear the "Vault" (as they like to call it) will be available by month's end, and that the 160GB model will be $180, while the 320GB will run $219. All we need to do now is find some data worth protecting...[Via I4U News]
AT&T, Lenovo and Ericsson team up for cheaper 3G laptops
Lenovo first announced a 3G add-on from AT&T and Ericsson for some of its laptops a few months ago, but it's now out there tooting its mobile broadband horn once again, and saying that the three companies are now making the option even cheaper and more widely available. According to Lenovo, the built-in 3G option is now available in all three of its SL series ThinkPads, as well as every single model in its T and X series and, what's more, it's also now $150 cheaper than before, or about the same price as an equivalent non-3G-equipped laptop. Of course, you will have to sign up for AT&T's DataConnect service, but the carrier is at least throwing in 30 days of free service to help ease you in.
Lenovo ThinkPad X200s reviewed: it's worth the splurge
If the X200t is just too convertible-y for you, and the standard X200 just doesn't last long enough for your 18-hour plane rides, the X200s won't do you any good either. If you only need 10-hours of juice, however, this unit is just about perfect. The ultraportable does give up some raw horsepower in order to deliver such stunning life, but true road warriors will certainly make the sacrifice. Critics over at Laptop Mag were duly impressed with just about everything the pricey X200s was packing, noting that the keyboard was "excellent," the design was sturdy and the screen was clean and crisp. Additionally, they found that the power decrease wasn't too noticeable in real-world use, though they did lament the omission of a WWAN module (agreed!) and webcam. Bottom line? These folks found it well "worth the splurge," though we'd recommend giving the full spill a read if you're seriously on the fence.
Lenovo adds integrated WiMAX capability in ThinkPad / IdeaPad families
It's a big day in Baltimore with the proper launch of Sprint's XOHM WiMAX network, and Lenovo's making sure it snags a bit of that limelight to announce this. Starting today, prospective customers can snatch up a ThinkPad SL300, SL500, X301 and T400 with integrated WiMAX capability, meaning that you can hop on the ultra-fast mobile internet highway in Baltimore and elsewhere if you're really lucky. Later this year, the laptop maker will be adding the option on its business-focused ThinkPad W500, W700, SL400 and X200 models as well as the consumer-minded IdeaPad Y530. There's no word on how much this capability adds to the cost of a machine, but WiMAX-enabled lappies can be had starting at $720 right now.
Lenovo's ThinkPad W700 gets reviewed, practicality gets questioned
You could tell from the specs sheet that Lenovo's ThinkPad W700 wasn't a common man's machine, and a review from the cats at Laptop Mag has all but confirmed that. Dubbed "a beast of a 17-inch [laptop]," this rig was marveled upon right from the get-go; after all, it's not everyday that you see a full-fledged digitizer built right into the palm rest, not to mention the integrated color calibrator. Unfortunately, such niceties weren't bundled in for free, as the review unit they had rocked a $3,802 price tag. Still, the design, build quality and performance were all stellar, but critics couldn't help but point out that this unique creature wouldn't be worthwhile for everyone. In fact, they praised Lenovo for "incorporated some truly innovative features," but they did confess that they weren't "entirely convinced of their practicality." Think long and hard before digging into your kids' college fund for this one, you hear?
Lenovo ThinkPad X200 tablet goes on sale
Anyone interested in Lenovo's ThinkPad X200 tablet is no doubt pretty well acquainted with it by now, and if you're sold on it you can now finally get your order in for one, though it'll apparently still take one or two weeks to actually ship. Contrary to what we had heard earlier, it looks like the base price starts at a slightly more reasonable $1,844, although you'll have to drop an additional $275 if you want a fancy MultiTouch + MultiView display, and the rest of the baseline specs are also expectedly lightweight. That's nothing an extra $1,000 or so in upgrades can't fix though -- hit up the link below to get configuring[Thanks, Micah]
Lenovo's ThinkPad X200t convertible tablet gets reviewed
It didn't take long for Lenovo's two-faced ThinkPad X200t to hit the test bench after coming over to US soil, and the critics over at Laptop Mag have mostly positive things to say about it. For starters, the convertible tablet maintains the "security, durability, and performance" that we've come to expect from Lenovo. The keyboard was deemed "excellent," the lightweight design was applauded, the display performed admirably and the performance was very satisfactory (or "snappy," as it were). The biggest knocks on the machine were the omission of an optical drive and the below average battery life; testers only squeezed out around 6 hours, which was far less than the company's claim of 10.3 hours. Still, at just north of two large, the X200 was seen as an excellent choice for those seeking a versatile business machine, particularly if you dig that stylus-on-screen action.
Lenovo X200t swivel tablet hands-on
We're torn. Lenovo kicks ass in the tablet space, and the X200t is no exception to that rule, but we were hoping for a little more "X200" and a little less traditional Lenovo tablet action. Compared to its straight-up X200 namesake, the X200t is mega heavy, due to a different battery, screen and internals. It's not that it's bad, it's just a letdown compared to the insanely great engineering that Lenovo poured into the X300 and X200. We're also a little miffed that Lenovo hasn't worked out a capacitive touch option yet, though they claim that the X200t's dual-purpose touchscreen has been improved, including a method for switching off touch automatically when the pen is in close proximity to the screen, to allow for some palm resting. They were just showing pen-only units this evening, so we didn't get to test that out. Everything else is traditional love-it-or-hate-it ThinkPad design, quality and touchpad-freeness.%Gallery-32247%
