NetbookTech

Lenovo introduces several new enhancements to their IdeaPad S10 netbook today including new Quick Start capability, facial recognition software, and easy access to Lenovo’s social networking community.

Lenovo is adding a new Quick Start feature to the IdeaPad S10 which allows users the ability to access a number of frequently used applications including a web browser, music player, photo viewer, instant messaging tools, and Skype.

To help users easily log into their netbook, Lenovo is now bundling VeriFace facial recognition software with the S10 – allowing users to log into their system simply by using their webcam and face. Existing S10 owners can download VeriFace from the Lenovo website now.

Finally for consumers new to social networking, Lenovo introduces a new pre-loaded tool called “LenovoSocial” allowing users to easily connect to an online resource portal helping them to navigate and participate in social networking communities.

Those of you wanting an upgrade to their 3 cell battery on their IdeaPad S9/S10 can now rejoice (sorta). Lenovo is now selling the 6 cell battery on their U.S. website in black or white. Now why do I say sorta? The 6 cell battery is being sold for a mere (I jest) $129.95. Yes.. that’s right. $129.95. That’s 37 percent the cost of the low end $349 S10 model. Not exactly cheap is it? Lenovo’s gotta make money somehow right?

The white 6 cell battery can be purchased here (part number 51J0399).

The black 6 cell battery can be purchased here (part number 45K1275).

If you want the 3 cell battery in white, you can get it here (part number 51J0398).

Via Lenovo Blogs

It appears the Lenovo IdeaPad S9 netbook is finally hitting the U.S. shores – thanks to the folks over at CompGeeks (geeks.com). The S9 is essentially the younger brother of the IdeaPad S10 – featuring as you’ve probably guessed by now, a smaller display at 8.9 inches. However, there are other significant changes in the S9 when compared to the larger S10 netbook.

The netbook uses the same Intel Atom processor running at 1.6GHz. It comes with the same base of 512MB of RAM but instead of a large capacity notebook hard drive, the S9 favors a smaller 4GB SSD (SLC kind). The system also forgoes Windows XP for Linpus Linux Lite. Other features on the system include:

• Intel GMA 950 graphics
• 4 in 1 media card reader
• 10/100 Ethernet
• 802.11 b/g Wi-Fi
• 0.3 megapixel webcam
• 8.9 inch WSVGA display
• 80 key keyboard with two button touchpad
• ExpressCard/34 slot
• Measures 0.9~1.1 x 9.8 x 7.2 inches and weighs 2.43 lbs

Thanks to Liliputing for catching the other interesting observation. The S9 is essentially the same form factor as the S10 except with a smaller display. Make sense – when you look at many 8.9 inch netbooks, they are essentially using a form factor that could easily house a 10 inch display – they just choose not to. Makes sense from an economic standpoint to have one common housing.

So now, the real question is – is the S9 worth it? Geeks.com has it for $344.99 – which is just a few dollars below the base price for the S10 which has a larger display and larger storage. If the form factors are the same, is it really worth it for you to opt for a smaller display? 

Oh yeah – Buy.com is also selling the S9 – except at $359.46. The funny thing is – it’s actually acting as a proxy to guess who? Geeks.com. You’re better off buying it directly from Geeks.com while you still can.

[Via jkOnTheRun, Liliputing]

Let the netbook price cut begin. Lenovo has lowered the price for the IdeaPad S10 across the board. Here’s what you need to know. The base S10 models featuring the Intel Atom processor, a 10.2 inch display, 512MB of RAM, 80GB HDD, Wi-Fi, and a 3 cell battery come in prices ranging from $349 to $359. The $349 models are in black and white. The $359 models are in red, blue, and pink.

The high end S10 models feature similar specs except they have 1GB fof RAM and a 160GB HDD. Black and white colors for these models cost $399 while pink, blue, and red colored models cost $409.

Now if they would only offer a 6 cell battery.

The good folks at LaptopMag have published a comprehensive head to head comparison of five 10 inch netbook systems – the Samsung NC10, the MSI Wind U100, the Lenovo IdeaPad S10, the HP Mini 1000, and the ASUS Eee PC 1000H. Comparisons were made across performance, Wi-Fi, design, screen, connectivity, keyboard/trackpad, battery life and value.

Wondering who won at the end? Well the publication chose the Samsung NC10 as the overall 10 inch netbook winner stating:

“Of these five netbooks, the Samsung NC10 came out on top in six categories–Design, Screen, Keyboard, Trackpad, Battery, Value–and got decent scores in every other area, earning its place as the best 10-inch netbook we’ve seen so far.”

Very cool – congrats Samsung – you’re late to the party but you’re rocking!

[Check it out]

As the popularity of netbooks increase, it’s no surprise that we’re seeing more and more netbook reviews appearing on the web. Case in point – NetworkWorld.com has published two new netbook reviews - one for the Acer Aspire One and the other for the Lenovo IdeaPad S10. Unfortunately the reviews are not exactly comprehensive (forget about performance numbers etc) as NetworkWorld gives very brief overviews of the systems. Guess you can’t have it all eh?

In any case, the first review is of the Acer Aspire One netbook which is certainly one of the best deals out there. It’s arguably the best bang for the buck when you consider what you get for around $350 dollars – an Intel Atom processor, a 8.9 inch display, 1GB of RAM, a 120GB HDD, and Windows XP Home. Unfortunately the Aspire One suffers from a nutty touchpad design and a somewhat loud internal cooling fan. Although the NetworkWorld review is a bit lacking in content, the site does give the Aspire One four stars and has this to say:

“The device is really meant for basic computing and Web functions – for heavy duty usage and applications I’d probably want a better, faster and slightly larger notebook. But this could be a very useful notebook to keep powered up and running in living areas in the house, for those times when you need to check a quick e-mail, sports score or other such Internet-enabled activity.”

When it comes to the Lenovo IdeaPad S10, the review is just slightly longer with NetworkWorld having this to say about the system.

“Honestly, I like this computer. Screen size aside, it’s a capable little machine, and it was fun to use. If you can deal with a small screen, and aren’t interested in playing too many extreme games, this is definitely worth a look.”

The tested system had your Atom processor, a 10 inch display, 1GB of RAM, a 160GB HDD, and Windows XP Home.

Having received the Windows 7 pre-beta last week at the Microsoft PDC, I decided to try the OS out on the Lenovo IdeaPad S10 netbook. Remember that Steven Sinofsky, Senior VP of the Windows and Windows Live Engineering Group, mentioned last week that they intended to make sure Windows 7 was usable on a netbook system. This makes complete sense since Microsoft would love to see Windows XP finally die. Well.. I wanted to see if the pre-beta build would in fact work well on the Lenovo S10. For those of you that missed the Windows 7 feature list announcement last week (and where the heck were you anyhow), check out our day 2 keynote coverage over at Krunker.com for additional info about the upcoming OS.

Read the rest of this entry »

Lenovo announced this week a new educational version of their popular IdeaPad S10 netbook called the S10e. The system is being marketed as an introductory mobile device for students between K-12 and as a secondary device for those of you in higher education. It’s basically the same as the consumer S10 netbook except with a few more choices. These include:

• Choice of either Microsoft Windows XP Home or SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop from Novell
• Choice of 4GB Solid State Drive or Hard Drives up to 160GB
• Several choices of memory sizes

Other standard features (same as the S10) include:

• Intel Atom processor
• Ethernet
• Wi-Fi
• Optional Bluetooth
• ExpressCard/34 slot
• Can be enabled for mobile broadband

The IdeaPad S10e netbook will be available starting at the end of November though Lenovo education sales and business partners.

[Check it out]

So I’m sitting at the PDC this morning, listening and watching Steven Sinofsky, Senior VP of the Windows and Windows Live Engineering Group, talk about Windows 7 and Windows Live.. when all of a sudden, he pulls out his new favorite little system – a black Lenovo IdeaPad S10. Yep.. there I was sitting down taking notes on a white S10 and he pulls out a black S10. Why you ask? Well he wanted to make a point and say that Windows 7 would run just fine on small systems like the S10. Well tonight, we’re going to go find out if that’s really possible!

If you want to read more about Windows 7 coverage at the PDC, check out my write-up over at Krunker.com

Lenovo’s popular IdeaPad S10 netbook is starting to make an appearance in European retailers with stock expected to become available in approximately two weeks. Unlike folks in the U.S., the Europeans have a few more choices to pick from when it comes to the S10 netbook. One website has several options listed including:

• Lenovo IdeaPad S10, 1536MB, 160GB, Linux, schwarz (40684JG) -  € 389
• Lenovo IdeaPad S10, 1536MB, 160GB, Linux, weiß (40684KG) -  € 389
• Lenovo IdeaPad S10, 1536MB, 160GB, Linux, rot (40684LG) - € 389
• Lenovo IdeaPad S10, 512MB, 4GB SSD, Linux, schwarz (406846G) - € 329
• Lenovo IdeaPad S10, 1024MB, 160GB, Windows XP Home, rot (40684YG) - € 399

Another big difference with these European models – they come with a six cell battery unlike the three cell ones found in the U.S.

[Check it out via Fudzilla]