Lenovo launches own-brand notebooks and desktops
Published: 24 Feb 2006
Lenovo, China's leading computer maker, didn't buy IBM's computer business eight months ago just to maintain the status quo -- although it did retain the ThinkPad and ThinkCentre notebook and desktop brands. Whereas the 'Think'-branded products sell mainly into the corporate market, Lenovo's new 3000-series notebooks and desktops are targeted at the small-business segment, with low-end to mid-range configurations and competitive price tags. You won't find fancy dual-core CPUs, wide-screen LCDs or other high-end features in these systems.
Notebooks
The C100 notebook range starts at £420 (ex. VAT), which will get you a 15in. 1,024 by 768 resolution screen in a 2.8kg system powered by a 1.5GHz Celeron M CPU and a modest array of other features (256MB RAM, 40GB hard drive, DVD-ROM/CD-RW combo, 802.11a/b/g and Bluetooth). At the top end of the range, for £870 (ex. VAT), you get a 2GHz Pentium M processor, 1GB of RAM, a 100GB hard drive and a dual layer DVD rewriter (plus 802.11a/b/g and Bluetooth).
Desktops
The Intel-based J100 and AMD-based J105 desktops come in fixed configurations and start at £260 and £280 (ex. VAT without monitor) respectively. CPUs begin with AMD Sempron and Intel Celeron D, rising to low-end AMD Athlon 64 and Pentium 4 chips in the higher-specified models. There are two case designs -- tower or small desktop.
Support
All systems come with a set of security and reliability tools in a package called Lenovo Care. This is designed to evoke the image of the ThinkVantage technologies offered in their ThinkCentre and ThinkPad forebears, but with a decidedly less corporate edge to them and an emphasis on ease of use and 'worry free' computing.
We are keen to get our hands on these systems and start benchmarking. Stay tuned for the full reviews. In the meantime, you'll find more detailed first impressions in the previews linked to below.
Related articles
Lenovo 3000 J100 and J105: a first look
Preview Lenovo's 3000-series desktops are the first PCs it can truly call its own. These small-business systems offer an affordable, flexible set of configurations with an attractive design and added business features. [24 Feb 2006]
Lenovo 3000 C100: a first look
Preview Lenovo makes a splash in the mainstream notebook category with the Lenovo 3000 C100, a compelling combination of ThinkPad-quality features and mid-range specifications. [24 Feb 2006]
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