Lenovo Rolls Out New Consumer PCs

Computer maker Lenovo is taking aim at consumers, launching a bevy of new systems meant to be easy on consumers’ pocketbooks. The new batch is led by the new IdeaPad Z-series multimedia notebooks and IdeaPad U-series ultraportable netbooks, but the company is continuing its push into the consumer desktop space with new all-in-ones, nettops, and desktop systems as well.

First up, the new IdeaPad Z-series notebooks, featuring either 13.3-inch a 15.6-inch 1,366 by 768-pixel displays and slim designs with those chiclet keyboards that kids these days seem to love. The systems will support up to 8 GB of RAM, sport 250 to 640 GB hard drives (or 320 or 500 GB hard drives running at 7,200 rpm), a tray-in “Rambo” drive (DVD±RW or optional Blu-ray), 802.11g/n/ or a/g/n Wi-Fi, optional Bluetooth, 100Base-T Ethernet, three USB 2.0 ports, and eSATA port, a 5-in-1 media card reader, and both HDMI and VGA video output—plus a 1.3 megapixel webcam. The Z360 and Z560 will be available with Intel Core-series processors and Nvidia graphics, while the Z565 will sport
AMD processors (ranging from AMD V-series single-core up to AMD Phenom Quad-Cores) and ATI Mobility Radeon HD4200 integrated graphics or Mobility Radeon HD 5470 graphics (with up to 1 GB of video RAM). Pricing will start at $649 when they reach retailers at the beginning of June.

Folks looking for something smaller can look at the Lenovo Ideapad U-series, which will sport three new models (the U160, U460, and U460s)—and just because they’re ultraportables that are one inch thick and weigh just 3.8 pounds doesn’t mean they don’t pack punch: Lenovo will be offering the U460 and U460s will Intel Core i7 processors, with the U460 bearing a standard voltage version that might eat batteries for lunch but definitely crunches the numbers. The U series also feature an ambient light sensor, integrated WI-Fi and Bluetooth, and a textured aluminum top. Pricing will start at $699, with availability in early June.

Next, Lenovo is expanding its all-in-one lineup with the IdeaCentre A700 and B305 all-in-one PCs: both will feature full touchscreen displays for interacting directly with objects on screen, with the A700 offering Surface Acoustic Wave (SAW) technology, adapted from the medical world and which Lenovo touts as the more reliable and responsive touchscreen tech available. The A700 features a 23-inch display, Intel Core i7 processor, and support for up to 8 GB of RAM and 2 TB of storage: Lenovo is also shipping a 3-in-1 mouse that can serve as a remove and a controller for motion-driven games. The A700 will support DirectX 11 graphics, and sports an HDMI output for connecting up to a bigger display. The B305 is built around an AMD Athlon Quad-Core CPU and sports a 21.5-inch display with support for DirectX 11 graphics. Both all-in-ones have a 5-in-1 media card reader, and side- and rear-accessible USB ports, along with 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi. The B305 will be available in the beginning of June for prices starting at $699; the A700 will follow at the end of June for prices starting at $999.

Along with the all-in-ones, Lenovo is also serving up its first slim-tower desktop: the H320 is about half the size of a standard desktop computer but can be equipped with the latest Intel Core processors and up to 8 GB of RAM; it will also sport Lenovo’s “Eye Distance” technology to let users know if they’re too close to the screen. Expect it at the end of June for prices starting at $549.

Finally, Lenovo is also offering up a new IdeaCentre Q150 nettop PC: just 6.7 inches high, 0.82 inches wide and designed to slide right into entertainment centers and hook up to any available television or monitor. The Q150 will be available with optional Nvidia Ion graphics with 512 MB of video memory (along with a multimedia remote and mini-keyboard): expect it to land at the end of June for prices starting around $249.