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Lenovo has introduced a number of new PCs in multiple form factors, including notebooks, all-in-one PCs, a nettop and slim desktop towers. Geared toward consumers, the PCs run Microsoft Windows 7 and feature processor and graphics options from Advanced Micro Devices, Nvidia and Intel.
The newest members of the Lenovo IdeaPad Z series are the Z360, Z560 and Z565 multimedia-rich notebooks. The first two are available with Intel Core processors and Nvidia GeForce graphics, while the Z656 can be configured with AMD Phenom II processors and integrated ATI Mobility Radeon graphics.
Models with 13.3- and 15.6-inch screens offer 16:9 high-definition, widescreen displays, optional Blu-ray Disc drives, Dolby Advanced Audio and a OneKey Theater II button for optimizing audio-visual settings with a quick press. Each, however, gets a chiclet keyboard and a “modern hairline” cover panel design.
The Z series will arrive in the beginning of June and start at $649.
New U series IdeaPads – the U160, U460 and U460s – are ultra-portables said to boast clean designs and measure less than an inch thick. The U160 weighs just 2.9 pounds, while the U460 and 460s are a still-light 3.8 pounds.
The U460 model features a standard-volt processor, while the U160 and U460s offer ultra-low voltage processors for longer battery life and lower power consumption. All three come with integrated WiFi and Bluetooth connectivity, plus ambient light sensors, Lenovo’s Active Protection System and data recovery tools.
For a look at Lenovo’s new consumer PCs, please click here.
The U series will start at $699 and also arrive in the beginning of June. Next up are two new AIOs, the IdeaCentre A700 and B305. The A700 features a 23-inch full HD widescreen, processor choices up to the Intel Core i7 with Intel Turbo Boost Technology, HDMI in/out support and an aluminum body that’s 0.8 inches at its thinnest point and 2.5 inches at its thickest. It can be configured with up to 8GB of DDR3 memory and up to 2TB of storage.
The IdeaCentre B305, also meant for family entertainment and gaming, pairs a 21.5-inch widescreen with processor options up to an AMD Athlon II X Quad-Core, full-HD resolution video playback and DirectX 11 graphics.
IdeaCentre A and B series PCs, including select A700 and B305 configurations, now also feature touch screen capabilities, with Lenovo’s NaturalTouch suite of touch-enabled applications.
“The A700 is the world’s first PC to utilize Surface Acoustic Wave (SAW) touch screen technology, as used in certain medical applications, for the most reliable and responsive touch experience,” Lenovo said in a May 11 announcement.
The A and B series models also include five-in-one media card readers, side- and rear-mounted USB ports, 802.11 b/g/n WiFi and Lenovo software for data rescue.
Also new is the H320, Lenovo’s first slim tower desktop. Said to be approximately half the size of the average desktop, it offers up to 8GB of memory and considerate features such as Lenovo Dynamic Brightness – which lets a user know when the screen is too bright and so unhealthy for the eyes.
The A700 and B305 will be available in the beginning of June, with the H320 following in late June. They’ll start at $999, $699 and $549, respectively.
Last but not least, Lenovo will also debut the IdeaCentre Q150 ultra-thin nettop, for “tricking out your living room entertainment center,” per Lenovo. The nettop measures 0.82 inches wide by 6.7 inches high, can be equipped with a Nvidia ION 512MB graphics processor and can potentially be mounted behind a TV or monitor and used with an optional remote with a trackball mouse and mini keyboard, for sending e-mails or browsing the Web while playing video.
Also at the end of June, the Q150 nettop will start at $249.
“Lenovo’s consumer business recently achieved 89 percent year-over-year growth,” said Dion Weisler, Lenovo vice president of business operations, in a statement. “The latest additions to the Idea portfolio demonstrate Lenovo’s commitment to leading the consumer market with stylish, feature-packed PCs that make computing more fun for all.”
Lenovo finished fourth in worldwide PC market share during the first quarter of 2010, shipping 7 million units, for an overall year-on-year growth of 59.2 percent, according to an April 14 report from Gartner.