NetbookTech

Hmm.. could there very well be a Lenovo ThinkPad netbook coming out shortly? A Whirlpool forum member from the land down under spotted several new systems being set up at his school. Here’s what he wrote:

“I saw yesterday at school some guys setting up a whole bunch of Lenovo Thinkpad Mini 10’s. Then I realised, I’ve never heard of it before. It certainly wasn’t an X100e, and had a very thick bezel around the screen (thicker than my X200T) and had a "Mini 10" logo on it (where the Thinkpad model numbers are). However, it also had island/chiclet keys and a trackpad/trackpoint combo. Looked quite nice overall.”

Given that other major PC vendors have already released business-oriented netbooks, it’s not far fetched to imagine Lenovo releasing a ThinkPad-branded netbook.

Just imagine the possibilities. Could a ThinkPad branded netbook feature the legendary ThinkPad keyboard? How about a netbook with both a touchpad AND a trackpoint? How about the incredible build quality of a ThinkPad found in a netbook form factor?

Sounds delicious.. let’s hope it’s real.

[Check it out via liliputing]

LaptopMag recently reviewed the thin-and-light, business-oriented Dell Vostro V13.  Based on the Adamo form factor, but hundreds of dollars cheaper, the Vostro V13 features:

• Intel Core 2 Duo SU7300 processor
• 4GB of RAM
• 500GB 7200RPM SATA HDD
• 13.3 inch 1366 x 768 resolution display
• Intel GMA 4500MHD graphics
• 802.11 a/g/n Wi-Fi
• Bluetooth 2.0
• Windows 7 Professional
• Ethernet
• Headphone and microphone ports
• USB/eSATA combo port, 2 USB ports, VGA port
• 5 in 1 card reader
• ExpressCard/34 slot

Here’s what LaptopMag thought of the thin-and-light:

“Dell has created another attractive notebook that is not only more expensive than its peers, but it comes up short in terms of endurance.”

Next up, Liliputing has a new review up of the $599 Lenovo IdeaPad S12 netbook featuring the NVIDIA ION platform. Specs include:

• Intel Atom N270 processor
• NVIDIA ION
• 2GB of RAM
• 250GB HDD
• 802.11 b/g Wi-Fi
• Bluetooth 2.1
• 6 cell 52Whr battery
• Windows 7 Home Premium

Here’s what they thought of the system:

“if you want a model that can reliably handle HD video, Flash video, and some 3D gaming, as well as pump out video to an HDTV via an HDMI port, the NVIDIA ION model is the way to go….

But with a starting price of around $599, I can’t think of many reasons to pick up the NVIDIA ION version of the IdeaPad S12 instead of a computer like the Lenovo IdeaPad U150 with an Intel CULV processor which offers better overall performance, even if it doesn’t score quite as highly on graphics benchmarks.”

CNET published a new review of the ASUS Eee PC1005PEB netbook here on their website. The 1005PEB can typically be found at Best Buy for a reasonable price of $329.99. Specs for this netbook include:

• Intel Atom N450 processor
• Intel NM10 Express Chipset
• 1GB of RAM
• 250GB SATA HDD
• 3 in 1 media card reader
• 10.1 inch 1024 x 600 resolution LED backlit display
• 0.3 megapixel webcam
• 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi
• Built-in stereo speakers
• 3 USB 2.0 ports
• 6 cell lithium ion battery
• Windows 7 Starter

Here’s the verdict:

“This retail version of the popular Eee PC Netbook, the 1005PEB, hits the required notes, and is a little less expensive than many other retail Netbooks (but more than some online models).”

And finally, Anandtech reviews the ASUS Eee PC 1001P netbook – calling it their “favorite netbook” so far. The 1001P is the latest addition to ASUS’s Seashell product lineup, eschewing the glossy finish of the 1005 series with a textured matte finish. Spec wise, the 1001P features:

• Intel Atom N450 processor
• Intel NM10 chipset
• 1GB of RAM
• Intel GMA 3150 graphics
• 10.1 inch LED Matte display
• 250GB 5400 RPM HDD
• Ethernet and 802.11 b/g Wi-Fi connectivity
• HD audio
• 6 cell 48Wh battery
• 3 USB 2.0 ports
• Media card reader
• Microphone/headphone jack
• VGA port
• 1.3 megapixel webcam
• Available in white, black, blue, and pink

Why is this Anandtech’s favorite netbook yet? Here’s why:

“A well built and attractively styled netbook with a great LCD, good battery life, no major design flaws, and few minor faults, but a netbook nonetheless, and as with so many other netbook reviews, the main takeaway remains. They’re the smallest, lightest, and cheapest portable computers that money can buy, but they’re also dog slow and not particularly enjoyable to use.”

The folks at LaptopMag have published two new netbook reviews on their site – one for the Lenovo IdeaPad S10-3t and one for the Samsung N210.

The Lenovo IdeaPad S10-3t is a convertible netbook with the following specs:

• Intel Atom N470 processor clocked at 1.83GHz
• Intel GMA 3150 graphics
• 2GB of RAM
• 250GB 5400RPM SATA HDD
• 10.1 inch 1024 x 600 resolution display
• 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi
• Bluetooth 2.1 connectivity
• Windows 7 Home Premium 64 bit
• Ethernet
• Headphone/Microphone
• VGA port
• 2 USB ports
• 6 in 1 media card reader

A convertible netbook seems like a wonderful idea – except when you consider the Atom-processor really isn’t up to snuff with touch-operations. Here’s the verdict from LaptopMag:

”The S10-3t does some things right. It’s fairly light for a convertible, offers accurate touch input, and it has a comfortable keyboard. And, provided you get the 8-cell battery, you’ll see 7 hours of unplugged computing time. However, this machines’ sluggish performance and weak wireless range hold it back. If you want a netbook with touch capability, the S10-3t is worth considering, but this netvertible didn’t quite live up to our expectations.”

Read more of the review here.

Meanwhile, the Samsung N210 is the latest addition to Samsung’s fine lineup of netbook systems. The N210 is a Pinetrail enabled netbook featuring a unique scratch-resistant finish and instant-on capability with a widget-based user interface. Specs to the N210 include:

• Intel Atom N450 processor
• 1 – 2 GB of RAM
• 250GB 5400RPM SATA HDD
• 10.1 inch 1024 x 600 resolution display
• Intel GMA 3150 graphics
• 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi
• Windows 7 Starter
• Ethernet
• Headphone and microphone port
• VGA port
• 3 USB ports
• 3 in 1 media card reader

What’s the verdict?

“The Samsung N210 offers solid overall performance, close to 7 hours of battery life, and an attractive design. We also like the matte screen and loud speakers. However, this machine faces stiff competition from the ASUS Eee PC 1001P, which costs $80 less and lasts nearly 90 minutes longer on a charge. And the $399 Toshiba mini NB305 offers a better touchpad/mouse button combo and longer endurance for not much more money. The N210 is good, but it’s not the best.”

$379 is a tough sell when you consider the competition is either cheaper or offering better battery life. Come on Samsung – get back into the ballgame here. Read more of the review here.

The Wall Street Journal has published a review of the new Lenovo S10-3t netbook here on their website. With a starting price of $549, the S10-3t is certainly a pricey netbook – except it’s no ordinary netbook. The system is actually a convertible netbook which means you can rotate the screen and fold it onto itself, transforming the unit into a slate-oriented tablet PC.

Spec wise, the S10-3t features the new Intel Atom N450 processor, Windows 7 Starter Edition, Intel GMA 3150 graphics, 1GB of RAM, a 10.1 inch LED Glare and multi-touch enabled display, 160GB 5400RPM HDD, 4 cell lithium-ion battery, and Wi-Fi support.

So what does the WSJ think of the system?

“At $549 it’s a little pricier than your average netbook. Some might be willing to pay the extra bucks for the touch screen, which made navigating and using the small computer much easier than some regular laptops. But until the processor gets a little faster, I’m holding out for the iPad.”

Of course the sluggishness reported by the author shouldn’t come as too much of a surprise given that we are talking about the Atom processor. However, one statement did stand out – “For the most part, the netbook was all of these things for me, but it was slower than I would have liked”.

We couldn’t help but wonder what exactly the author was expecting from the S10-3t? What was the baseline he was comparing against? Was it an iPod touch? An iPad? Another netbook? A high-end tablet PC? A Core i5 system. We’re just wondering.

In any case, we probably wouldn’t have recommended the S10-3t simply due to the price of the system. At $549, it’s a fairly expensive proposition given what you get, which aside from a touch-screen, isn’t much more than a standard $300+ dollar netbook.

[Check it out via liliputing]

BTW, has anyone noticed that Lenovo has begun selling their new ThinkPad X100e thin-and-light notebook systems? Announced back at the beginning of January, the X100e features:

• 1.6 GHz AMD Athlon Neo single-core MV-40 processor
• ATO Radeon HD 3200 graphics
• Sub-3 pound weight
• 11.6 inch HD display
• ISO full-sized spill-resistant keyboard
• TrackPoint and multi-touch enabled touchpad
• Low-light sensitivity webcam
• 3 USB ports (1 powered)
• 4 in 1 media card reader
• HD audio
• 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi
• Gigabit Ethernet
• Optional Bluetooth and WWAN
• 1 to 2GB of RAM
• 160GB or 250GB 5400RPM HDD
• 6 cell Lithium Ion battery

Prices for the X100e start at $584 (although it’s on sale now with a starting price of $449). You can save 5% more with the eCoupon code USPTHINKSALE which ends on March 3rd. The high end system (currently on sale for $649) comes with 2GB of RAM, a 250GB HDD, and integrated mobile broadband provided by the Gobi 2000 chipset.

[Check it out]

Lenovo introduced the new ThinkPad X201 notebook today, calling the system the “industry’s fastest ultraportable laptop”. What makes the X201 different from other thin-and-light systems is the use of normal voltage Intel Core processors vs the ubiquitous ultra-low-voltage processors commonly found on competing systems.

While exact specs are still scarce at this time, we do know the X201 will feature Intel Core i7-620M processors clocked at 2.66GHz. Amazingly enough, the X201 is capable of achieving up to 11 hours of battery life with the 9 cell battery.

If you want something a bit smaller than the X201, you might be interested in the new ThinkPad X201s – the thinnest and lightest ThinkPad yet. The X201s weighs at under 2.5 pounds and achieves 12 hours of battery life with a 9 cell battery.

Both models will be available beginning in March with starting prices for the X201 at $1199 and the X201s at $1599.

Read more about other new Lenovo Think-branded products over at Krunker.com.

[Check it out via Krunker.com]

Yeah it’s been awhile since we ran a “Netbook Deals of the Day” posting – mostly because the holiday season was over and the transition to the new Pine Trail platform was upon us. However, with Valentine’s Day right around the corner, several e-tailers are running netbook deals that you might be interested in, so without further ado, let’s check out them deals!

In the thin-and-light category, Newegg is selling the Toshiba Satellite T135-S1305 notebook for a mere $549.99 ($150 dollars off the original price of $699.99). Specs for this thin-and-light include an Intel Pentium SU4100 ULV processor clocked at 1.3GHz, a 13.3 inch 1366 x 768 resolution display, 3GB of RAM, Intel GMA 4500MHD graphics, Windows 7 Home Premium 32 bit, 320GB HDD, 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR, built-in stereo speakers, and full-sized keyboard. The notebook measures 12.7" x 8.78" x 0.87-1.35" and weighs a reasonable 3.88lbs. The Pentium SU4100 will provide 2-2.5x more processing power than your typical Atom N270 processor so this is certainly a notebook to consider if you want a bit more oomph in your everyday needs.

The other notable Newegg.com deal is for the ASUS Eee PC Seashell 1005HA-PU1X-BK Crystal Black 10.1" WSVGA Netbook – priced at $319.99 ($30 dollars off the original price of $349.99). This netbook features the Intel Atom N280 processor (it’s a pre-Pine Trail netbook), a 10.1 inch LED-backlit display, 1GB of RAM, a built-in 1.3 megapixel webcam, Ethernet, 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi, built-in speakers, media card reader, and a 6 cell battery for approximately 10+ hours of battery life.

Let’s move over to Geeks.com, a great place to find new and refurbished units.

We’ve never heard of the company, but Geeks is offering the PeeCee Mini M02 Atom N270-based netbook for a low price of $259.99. This system (which is almost gone) features:

• Intel Atom N270 processor
• Windows XP Home Edition
• 1GB of RAM
• 160GB SATA HDD
• Intel GMA950 graphics
• Built-in 1.3 megapixel webcam
• Ethernet and 802.11 b/g Wi-Fi
• 10.2 inch widescreen LCD display
• Built-in 3 in 1 card reader
• Measures 10.35 x 7.24 x 1.36 inches and weighs 2.78 pounds

Should you buy it? If you’re not sure of the brand then you might want to reconsider.. but if you have cash to blow and you’re adventurous, then why not check it out!

Fans of the original MSI Wind U100 will definitely want to check out the current deals over at Geeks.com where the company is offering 3 cell versions for a mere $279.99. They have them in pink, white, and black. The specs are:

• Intel Atom N270 processor
• 1GB of RAM
• 160GB SATA HDD
• Intel GMA 950 graphics
• Ethernet and 802.11 b/g Wi-Fi
• 1.3 megapixel webcam
• 10 inch WSVGA display
• Windows XP Home Edition
• Media card reader

If you’re a fan of convertible notebooks, then check out the Geeks.com deal on the ASUS Eee PC T91 here on their website. The 8.9 inch system features the Intel Atom Z520 processor, 1GB of RAM, a 16GB solid state drive, Ethernet, 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 2.1, 0.3 megapixel webcam, and Windows XP. Perhaps even funnier is the comparison chart that Geeks put up on the site comparing the T91 against the newly announced Apple iPad. Here are snippets from the chart (keep in mind, I’m merely copying what THEY put up. I am stating this myself so don’t go flaming me for this!):

Heh.. the sad thing is – yes the T91 supports Adobe Flash thanks to Windows XP.. but can the Atom Z520 handle HD flash video.. uhh.. don’t think so.

Alright, the final “deals” come from Dell where they’re currently offering the Dell Mini 10 and 10v at low starting prices. In fact, starting prices for both the Mini 10 and the 10v come in at $279. The Mini 10 has the updated Pine Trail platform while the Mini 10v is using the older Atom platform featuring the Atom N270 processor. Both systems feature similar specs as well as a small 3 cell battery. Want a 6 cell battery for that Mini 10?  You can get one for $299 which still isn’t a bad price. Finally, Dell is also offering a Mini 10 model with a built-in GPS for a price of $399.

OK, our final vendor of the day is PC Mall where they’re offering the Lenovo IdeaPad U350 thin-and-light notebook for a mere $469.99. OK the check out price is actually a tad-bit higher at $519.99 (the actual price is $569.99 minus an instant rebate of $50 dollars and then a mail-in rebate of $50 dollars. Yes, we hate mail-in rebates too). The U350 features an Intel Pentium SU4100 processor, a 13.3 inch LED backlit display, 3GB of RAM, 320GB HDD, Windows 7 Home Premium, 802.11 b/g Wi-Fi, a 4 cell battery, and an HDMI port.

Lenovo announced two new netbooks today – the IdeaPad S10-3t and S10-3 (above) – both of which feature Intel’s new Pine Trail platform. The S10-3t also happens to be the industry’s first multitouch capacitive convertible netbook tablet built with Lenovo’s NaturalTouch responsive fingertip touch-screen technology as opposed to pressure touch technology resulting in an “optimal netbook user touch experience.”

The IdeaPad S10-3t has a 10.1 inch display which can swivel 180 degrees and folded over, transforming the netbook into a multi-touch enabled tablet system.

Both the S10-3t and the S10-3 come with the newly announced Intel Atom N470 processor (which is clocked at 1.86Ghz vs the 1.66GHz clock speed of the previously announced N450 processor of the Pine Trail platform), 320GB HDD, built-in stereo speakers, Dolby headphone audio, and Quick Start 2.0 instant-on functionality which provides users a quick means to access applications and the web in a few seconds without needing to boot-up Windows. Also notice the S10-3 has a new island-style keyboard which I love!

As for pricing and availability, the S10-3t will start at $499.99 while the S10-3 starts at $349.99. Both netbooks will be available starting this month.

Here are additional pics of the S10-3:

and pictures of the S10-3t convertible tablet netbook

Lenovo announced the world’s first Qualcomm Snapdragon-based smartbook today in the form of the Lenovo Skylight. Featuring a 1GHz Snapdragon processor, the Skylight is super light, super thin, supports 3G connectivity, and offers 10+ hours of battery life with practically instant resume-on capabilities.

Here are pictures of the Skylight from the outside. As you can see, it’s super thin and weighs less than 2 pounds.

Open up the Skylight and you’ll find a beautiful 10 inch display as well as a full-sized keyboard.

The internals of the Skylight include the 1GHz Snapdragon chipset, 20GB of standard flash, Wi-Fi connectivity, and support for 3G connectivity (via AT&T DataConnect mobile broadband).

There’s no solid state drive on the inside but that’s ok because you can add additional capacity through USB-based Lenovo flash drives (shown above as the thing that’s sticking out of the Skylight) as well as external flash media through a slot.

The Skylight runs a Linux-based OS complete with a custom user interface featuring “live web gadgets.” Users will be able to check Google Gmail, update Facebook status, view YouTube videos, and browse the Internet. The system comes with more than 18 pre-loaded web gadgets with more expected. Oh and yes – it supports 720p video playback (they showed the unit playing back a Star Trek MPEG-4 trailer).

The Lenovo Skylight will be coming out in April for an unsubsidized price of $499 at www.lenovo.com. AT&T will also sell the Skylight with a new two-year AT&T DataConnect mobile broadband plan as well as Data Connect Pass pay-as-you-go plans.

Stay tuned for more info on the Skylight as CES 2010 progresses.

Lenovo gets into the thin-and-light groove with today’s announcement of the new ThinkPad X100e. This ultra-portable is a combination of firsts for the company. It’s the first professional-grade ultra-portable from Lenovo below $500 dollars. It’s also the first Lenovo ThinkPad notebook featuring AMD processors.

The ThinkPad X100e features the following:

• Choice of AMD Athlon Neo single/dual-core processors as well as AMD Turion dual-core processors
• Windows 7 Professional
• Lenovo ThinkVantage technologies – combination of h/w and s/w tools to help customers deploy, manage, and maintain systems
• 11.6 inch HD display
• ISO full-sized keyboard with enlarged keys and removal of rarely used keys like System Request and the embedded number pad
• Multi-touch touchpad and trackpoint (oh yeah! I love trackpoints)
• Weighs under 3 pounds
• 802.11m Wi-Fi
• Optional Bluetooth
• Optional 3G

Colors include Heatwave red and Midnight Black with models available starting tomorrow at www.lenovo.com. Prices will start at $449. No word on battery life thus far.