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10.1-inch ThinkPad X100e surfaces with Atom N450 processor
Well, here's a bit of an interesting development. While we've been seeing Lenovo's ThinkPad X100e out and about for a while now, it's always been with an AMD Neo processor and an 11.6-inch 1,366 x 768 display. According to a spec list that recently turned up on Lenovo's own site, however, it looks like the company may also have another version of the laptop in store that's even more netbook-like. That one not only includes a lower-res, 10.1-inch screen, but an Atom N450 processor as well -- something that had been rumored to be headed to Lenovo netbooks as far back as December. Unfortunately, there's no indication of pricing or availability, although it does seem a bit late in the game for this to simply be a slip-up of some sort.
ThinkPad W701 and W701ds specs emerge from a leaky faucet
Time to update you on another forthcoming update in the laptop world, this time concerning Lenovo's premier widescreen workstation range. Purported internal Lenovo slides from earlier this year show the new W701 and W701ds ThinkPads nonchalantly hanging out next to some pretty beefy spec sheets. The W701, which we saw passing through the FCC, is again listed alongside an Intel Extreme series CPU and a Wacom Digitizer, while its display quality has been upgraded all the way to 100 percent of the NTSC color gamut and 280 nits of brightness. Going stride for stride with it is the dual-screen W701ds, with both machines offering up to 16GB of RAM, SSD options up to a quarter of a terabyte, and Ultrabay expandability. DisplayLink ports and the like are just glazing on the cake, but we can't help noticing the frankly silly two-hour battery rating on the 701ds -- guess that CPU is going to live up to its Extreme name in every way imaginable. The announcement date listed for these machines is February 23, which is when we'll be better able to gauge the veracity of the specs before us.
ThinkPad X201's official maintenance manual reveals new models' specs
That X series refresh we've been waiting on from Lenovo seems to have become imminent as the company's website has published the latest version of its maintenance manual, which now includes the models X201, X201s, X201i and X201si. The X201 will come with Intel CPU options ranging all the way up to the 2.66GHz Core i7-620M -- a true powerhouse with 4MB of cache that is already available on T410 and T510 models -- while the slimmer X201s will plump for the lower-volted Core i7-640LM, clocked at a reputable 2.13GHz but also consuming 10W less power than its chunkier sibling. The X201i and X201si will likely prop up the pseudo-affordable part of Lenovo's range with Core i3-330M parts. And oh yes, touchpads are now an option -- not being excited about this upgrade, however, is not.
Lenovo educates us on the history of the tablet, has 'exciting products to announce this month'
Okay, Lenovo totally knows how to use Twitter. The company's press account has punched out a teasing little note, inviting us to keep a close eye on the near horizon with the expectation of exciting new products to come. We'll concede that aside from the leaked roadmaps, we have no real lead on where this might be heading, but if the video that accompanied the tweet is anything to go by, we can expect a device that (a) almost certainly has handwriting and touchscreen capabilities built in, (b) is extremely likely to sport the ThinkPad branding, and (c) may or may not have a physical keyboard. That is to say, we could just be looking at a quirky new approach to promoting the latest X-series tablet refresh (X201T anyone?), or maybe Lenovo is going way back to its roots and is about to shock and awe us with a ThinkPad slate. All we know for now is that the video is after the break and well worth watching.
Lenovo ThinkPad X201T convertible tablet hits the FCC, Australia
Well, we just saw a ThinkPad X201 Tablet turn up in a Lenovo roadmap earlier this week and, wouldn't you know it, something called the ThinkPad X201T has now also surfaced at the FCC. What's more, while the FCC isn't dishing out any details beyond the usual test reports, the convertible tablet has already turned up at Australian retailer TechBuy, which just so happens to have the complete specs for the device. Those include a 12.1-inch WXGA touchscreen, a Core i7-620LM processor, 4GB of RAM, a 320GB hard drive, a fingerprint scanner, and an 8-cell battery, to name a few features. A 12-inch, Core i7-based convertible ThinkPad? Yeah, that should turn a few heads. Still no indication of a release over here, unfortunately, but TechBuy is apparently taking orders right now for the local equivalent of $3,230.
Lenovo T410 gets unboxed, handled, reviewed
Ready for some hot ThinkPad action? Lenovo's shipping out its new ThinkPad T410, and like clockwork an unboxing video has arrived. (This is the Core i5 T410, not the brand-new Core i3 T410i -- confused? Yeah.) Changes to the venerable T400 formula are minor, apart from the new Core 2010 processors inside -- the trackpad is the same nice dimpled multitouch unit we fell in love with on the T400s, a powered USB port for charging other devices, a DisplayPort instead of DVI, and... a modem port? You just keep on being crazy, Lenny. Don't you ever change. Check it on video after the break. Update: Laptop has a review up -- as you'd expect, it fared quite well.
Lenovo names T410i, T410si, and T510i ThinkPads in honor of Core i3-330M inside
Hey everybody, new ThinkPads! Lenovo seems hellbent on crushing its reputation for pricey hardware -- while presumably maintaining the related renown for rugged reliability -- and today it's snuck out a set of new i-appended variants of its flagship T series laptops. The T410i, T410si and T510i come equipped with the budget-friendly Core i3-330M CPU from Intel, which runs at 2.13GHz, alongside otherwise typical specs. Memory goes from 2GB to 8GB of DDR3, two megapixel webcams come as standard, and fingerprint sensors can be tacked on as well. Even more friendly to businesses on a shoestring is the option for Windows XP pre-installations on the T410i and T510i. Prices are not yet available, but the whole trio should be coming out by the end of this month, so not long to wait now. [Thanks, Peter]
Lenovo X201 Tablet, W701 and new L series revealed by ThinkPad roadmap slide (updated)
Our crack team over at Engadget Chinese has managed to snag the above roadmap slide for Lenovo's mobile computer division. We've seen earlier versions of the same slide -- when the Edge and T410 / T510 were freshly added -- but the very latest iteration contains a sprinkling of even newer machines. Most intriguing will be the L400 and L500, which are set to replace the former "corporate mainstream" mainstay R series, which incites the more hopeful among us to believe that perhaps a new chassis design is on the cards too. No less notable are the new X201 models, though we might surmise by the mild numerical change that they'll just be upgraded to low-voltage Arrandale CPUs and left well enough alone. For more info on the likely specs of the W701, you should check out our breakdown of its FCC appearance right here. Update: In light of the X201 discovery, we've combed through our CES 2010 imagery and found a photo of an X200 with a touchpad, which was a curious thing to see when Lenovo has never sold such a creation. Our suspicion is that the X200 on display was in fact an early showing of the touchpad-enabled X201 that is soon to come. Browse past the break for the evidence.
Lenovo ThinkPad T410s, T510 and W510 now sniffing for your wallets
Lenovo's just reminded us that there's still a world outside CES -- their recently-announced ThinkPad T410s, T510 and W510 are now available for on-line ordering. If you're up for some of that Core i5 / i7 action, prices start from $1,389, $999 and $1,599 respectively, but hey, save some money for the rest of 2010, OK? Your dog needs it.
ThinkPad X100e does the video unboxing thing in glorious white
Deep down, we all sort of knew that the day would come when a ThinkPad would finally feature more color than its signature keyboard highlights -- and the company obliged such trepidations with not one but two new color-loving 'Pads announced here at CES. One of them, the "definitely not a netbook" X100e, has already found itself being candidly photographed while making its way out of a retail box. Featuring a comprehensive gallery of angles of the new machine -- which include some comparison shots making the X200 look bulky -- the read link should provide plenty for the ThinkPad loyalist that wants to be in the know. If you want it quick and dirty though, video of the unboxing awaits just past the break. [Thanks, xleung]
Lenovo ThinkPad X100e hands-on impressions
You won't find Lenovo calling the $499 ThinkPad X100e a netbook, but at first glance you can't avoid thinking that's exactly what it is. From the outside it looks like a shrunken ThinkPad T series, though its matte lid is available in both traditional black and red. Yes, you heard it: a ThinkPad in red. The 11.6 inch screen gives it a wider body than most 10 inchers, yet Lenovo has managed to fit the same gratifying, chiclet keyboard as the ThinkPad Edge 13. And even despite the limited deck real estate there's a good old red pointing stick and a nice sized touchpad. So, why not just call it a netbook? Well, that'd be because it has stronger performance parts than the typical Intel Atom CPU. Instead it's one of the first ThinkPads to have AMD processor options, including single and dual core Althon Neo and dual core Turion processors. In our brief hands-on we couldn't gauge much on performance or battery life (though it does have a protruding six-cell on the back), but in the meantime you will have to feast your eyes on the gallery below and hold tight for our full review. %Gallery-81391%
Lenovo ThinkPad Edge 13 review
Lenovo has always had a certain knack for producing some of the most reliable, ergonomic and slender ultraportables on the market (see ThinkPad X301 and ThinkPad X200). But they've always had one issue: prices that ring up at well over a grand. Where's the killer ThinkPad ultraportable for the rest of us been? Well hello, ThinkPad Edge 13 – a thin, light Intel ULV powered laptop with an entirely new design that starts at $549. Yes, $549. But at that price point and with some serious changes to some traditional elements can it live up to the ThinkPad quality that we've been accustomed to for years? And can it stand out in the overpopulated CULV-based laptop market? We spent a couple days putting a spec'd-up $899 model through our daily grind -- read on for our full review. %Gallery-81335%
Lenovo intros ThinkPad Edge, X100e ultraportable and other ThinkPad refreshes
It just wouldn't be a CES without a gaggle of new introductions from Lenovo, and while we knew good and well that most everything here was on the way thanks to a slip-up at Lenovo's site, it's always nice to get the official word. Kicking things off is the altogether sexy ThinkPad Edge, which will ship in 13-, 14- and 15-inch versions in order to suit the small business users in the crowd. It'll include a choice of AMD processors (Turion X2 or Athlon X2), optional 3G / 4G WWAN modules, a full suite of Lenovo's own ThinkVantage technologies and preloaded Skype. This machine also marks the first ever ThinkPad to arrive with a choice of color -- it'll ship in matte black, glossy black and heat-wave red. Moving on, there's the previously rumored X100e, which goes down as the company's first "entry-level ultraportable." Starting at under $500, the AMD-based (Athlon Neo or Turion) rig gets outfitted with Windows 7 Professional, an 11.6-inch display, full-size keyboard, multitouch trackpad, WiFi and optional Bluetooth / 3G. Rounding things off are four new introductions in the classic range: the T410s, T410, T510 and W510. The foursome will become the first in the ThinkPad family to offer the upcoming Intel dual-core CPUs and mobile Core i7, and if you're thirsty for the full specs lists on the bunch (along with videos of the X100e and Edge), head on past the break and open wide. %Gallery-80871%
Lenovo leaks ThinkPad Edge, X100e, T410s, W510, T510 and more ahead of CES
Hey Lenovo, your cards are showing. Just weeks after the FCC tipped us off on a new pair of netbooks that are all but definitely slated for a CES unveiling, Lenovo has no one but its web administrator(s) to blame for this one. A "New product showcase" portal over on the outfit's site has just revealed a half dozen new lappies that are slated to go on sale starting January 5th - 7th, with the ultra-sleek 13.3-inch ThinkPad Edge (pictured above) leading the way. Said rig boasts up to 7.8 hours of battery life, a dual-core CPU, Windows 7, Bluetooth and WiMAX options, integrated WWAN / GPS, WiFi, a spill-resistant keyboard, three USB ports, a 5-in-1 media card reader and an option for a red paint job. There's also a sub-3 pound ThinkPad X100e ultraportable with an 11.6-inch display, AMD processor and an only-available-overseas Arctic White color option. The T410, T410s, T510 and W510 are bringing up the rear, with their (admittedly brief) specification lists spelled out in the source links below. %Gallery-81326% [Thanks, Jake and Daniel]
Lenovo's ThinkPad doyen Arimasa Naitoh speaks about life, liberty and the T400s
First thing's first: the video beyond the break is certainly not up to our usually stellar standards. That said, the voice recording is clear enough, so you may consider it an audio presentation with the bonus of a shadowy figure making occasional hand gestures in time with what's being said (lighting also improves as you go along). Arimasa Naitoh is the man behind the ThinkPad line, having joined the product engineering team at IBM during the 1970s and shifting with the ThinkPad brand on to Lenovo in 2005. Currently the VP for Notebook Development and the head of the Yamato Development Labs, Naitoh-san was kind enough to do a presentation in London yesterday, in which he touched on the history of the fabled laptop line and was also not shy about trumpeting the key advantages of the latest T400s flagship model. So click past the break, turn your speakers up, and get educated by one of the true founding fathers of mobile computing as we know it today.
Lenovo ThinkPad Edge to bridge gap between IdeaPads and pro machines?
Dear Lenovo, thank you for being so loose-lipped about your forthcoming products, we most certainly appreciate it. Joining the now fully detailed X100e is a purported new line of entry-level ThinkPads -- dubbed the ThinkPad Edge. We've only got the one source and that image above as evidence, but the details appear to make sense in terms of Lenovo's overall lineup strategy. Set to fit in between the professional ThinkPads and more consumer-oriented IdeaPads, the Edge will start off with 13.3-inch units sporting a choice of low-voltage dual-core AMD or Intel processors, up to eight hours of battery life, and a robust 4GB of memory paired to 500GB of storage. The word is that we'll see the new machines make an appearance by CES 2010 at the latest, and we've got a purported spec sheet for your perusal after the break.
Lenovo's ThinkPad X100e gets detailed: AMD Neo-based, not a netbook
We've already gotten a few brief, mysterious glimpses of Lenovo's thin-and-light ThinkPad X100e (sometimes known as the X200e), but it looks like things are now starting to get a bit more real. Contrary to previous speculation, this one's not, it seems, a ThinkPad netbook, but an "entry ultraportable," which apparently means that it is small, thin and light just like a netbook, and has a "netbook-like price point" -- it's just... not a netbook. Less nebulous are the device's specs, which include an 11.6-inch, 1366 x 768 display, an AMD Athlon Neo processor, support for up to 4GB of RAM, up to a 320GB hard drive, optional 3G and GPS and, of particular note to some particular folks, a distinctly ThinkPad keyboard, trackpad and trackpoint. Still no indication of a release date just yet, but it looks like you will at least be able to get this one in your choice of black, red or white, despite its distinctly business-minded nature.
Lenovo ThinkPad W701 hints at Core i7 Extreme in FCC reveal
Lenovo can't be feeling too much warmth toward the FCC right now. After Intel and Wistron combined to remove any mystery from its next IdeaPad, here comes the latter with yet another filing revealing yet more tasty morsels of knowledge. Wistron's latest submission is for a "Notebook Computer with Wacom Digitizer," which immediately points us toward the high-end ThinkPad W series,with the W700 being the only Lenovo laptop to sport such an appendage so far. Reassuringly, the new model name appears to be W701 and we've spotted a 2GHz Intel CPU, 320GB Fujitsu HDD, and a Samsung-made 17-inch WUXGA (1920 x 1200) display in amongst the test specs. If your appetite hasn't been titillated already, the only contemporary mobile CPU from Intel that we know to run at a default speed of 2GHz is the quad-core Core i7-920XM, which comes with 8MB of L3 cache, 3.2GHz single-core max speed, 55W TDP, and a truly stratospheric price. We might have a Holiday Gift Guide candidate for 2010 already.
Lenovo T410s leaks out, features not one but two ThinkLights
Two Lenovo leaks in one day? Our cup runneth over. It feels like we just played with the T400s and the T400s touch just yesterday, but we did see some leaked slides forecasting a T410s for January back in June, so these images are basically right on schedule. Big changes include a couple more USB ports here and there, some cleaned-up design, and -- big news -- the addition of a second display-mounted ThinkLight keyboard light. That's simply decadence, friends. No word on specs, pricing or a release date, but we've got a feeling we'll be finding out more real soon. [Thanks, Adam]
Lenovo goes crazy, lets you switch Fn and Ctrl keys in BIOS
Some people, including certain Engadget editors, just can't live without a Ctrl key in the bottom left of their keyboard and a Delete key in the top right. Call it Windows shortcut addiction, but the miniscule adjustment of having to step one key inwards to do our thing totally messes with our mojo. Well, after slapping on some massive Delete and Esc buttons on its T400s, Lenovo is now taking care of the Ctrl freaks by offering up a BIOS option to switch that all-important key with the Fn button. Regrettably, current Lenovo owners won't be getting it as an update, but the Switch Mode will be available "in all future ThinkPad models," giving us yet more reason to be excited about that rumored X200e machine.