Lenovo is still very much focused on the Consumer Electronics Show. The company lined up a number of product announcements for early January including some major changes to their IdeaPad lineup, updated ThinkPads, and a brand new ThinkPad series. Of course these products have been leaked time and again so the announcements are mainly for the benefit of the mainstream media and investors. Gadget geeks have known pretty much what to expect for days, if not weeks or, in some cases, months.
ThinkPad Edge
Edge is a new ThinkPad subbrand, along the lines of the small-business “SL” series. It’s going to ship in a 13-inch widescreen, a 14-inch wide, and a 15-inch wide and it will still mainly be focused on the SMB market, but there will be lots of appeal for consumers as well. The stated goal is to match the ThinkPad reliability with a bit of style.
There is an all new design identity, based around more modern, user-friendly ideas. This is the first ThinkPad with a color option. Repeat–you can get these in “heatwave red”. Gloss black will be available, as will matte black for traditionalists. Edge will feature the new island-style keyboard design with a simplified layout (bigger keys, no angles on the keys, but with the same feel as before… don’t worry it’s said to be focus group approved). A silver band will wrapped around the sides of each unit, as a distinctive feature.
Regarding the design Lenovo’s release has this to say:
The ThinkPad Edge Series laptops reflect a new progressive and strikingly clean appearancewhile retaining ThinkPad durability and reliability. For example, the laptops include spill-resistantkeyboards and value-added ThinkVantage Technologies like the Active Protection System andRescue and Recovery.The ThinkPad Edge Series laptops reflect a new progressive and strikingly clean appearance while retaining ThinkPad durability and reliability. For example, the laptops include spill-resistant keyboards and value-added ThinkVantage Technologies like the Active Protection System and Rescue and Recovery.
More big news, Edge will be the first ThinkPad to use AMD processors, low-voltage Athlon Neo processors to be exact (Intel processor will be an option for models models as well). Along with this Lenovo will be taking part in AMD’s Vision program, which means a whole new palmrest badge. This also means big box retail availability for some models.
Back to that keyboard, Lenovo is calling it the “contemporary keyboard” though that term isn’t going to stick around for long. It uses a chiclet-style design that drops the embedded numberpad and changes up the F keys (they now have one-finger access and rarely used commands like System Request have been dropped). Large models will have illuminated keyboards.
•ThinkPad Edge 13 – $549
•ThinkPad Edge 14 – Landing 2Q 2010, no pricing information yet. This will be sold at Best Buy.
•ThinkPad Edge 15 – Landing 2Q 2010, no pricing information yet.
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