New Lenovo ThinkPads Sport Centrino Duo

Lenovo's new T60 and X60 ThinkPad portables are among to the first to feature Centrino Duo dual-core processors for notebooks.

Lenovo has taken the wraps off new ThinkPad notebooks which offer Intel’s Centrino Duo dual-core notebook processor, formerly known by its codename Napa. The new systems are expected to be available in February 2006.

The new T60 and X60 also offer embedded WWAN (wireless wide area network) antennas, making them the first notebook products with the integrated wireless WAN technology without a separate PC Card. However, they are a little early to the party: the T60 and X60 aren’t expected to be able to access high-speed data service for a while, although deals are being set up through both Verizon Wireless’s 3G data network and Cingular’s BroadbandConnect for mid-2006.

The ThinkPad T60 is designed for the road warrior, measuring just one inch thick and weighing just 4.8 pounds without a battery. The T60 incorporates the lauded ThinkPad Roll Cage (an interior shock-absorbing chassis) with an airbag-like Active Protection System and a shock-mounted hard drive.

The X60 is designed to use significantly less power than earlier X-series models (even with a dual-core processor), offering up to 11 hours of battery life.

Both models will be available in a variety of configurations, including an optional fingerprint reader for added security. (Just be careful with those paring knives and letter openers, folks!) But people (or, at least, IT folks) must like them: Lenovo says it has sold more tan 1 million ThinkPad with integrated fingerprint scanners.

Pricing for the ThinkPad T60 will start at $2049; X60 pricing will begin at $1899.