Lenovo has introduced three new Idea PCs with Intel technology that will begin shipping in early 2011.
Hello, youth market! The IdeaPad Y460p and IdeaPad Y560p pair high-performance processors – from the Second Generation Intel Core family, up to the Core i7 -with multimedia features. Perfect, says Lenovo, “for young adults who seek the ultimate multimedia experience for watching movies, listening to music and playing games.”
These 14- and 15.6-inch laptops have 16:9 widescreens and come with up to 750GB hard drives, up to 8GB DDR3 (double-data rate 3) 1333 memory and Lenovo RapidDrive – a feature that combines 32GB SSD and DHH capacity to “speed up” system performance.
Gamers and movie watchers may appreciated the JBL speakers with Dolby Home Theater, and a button called the OneKey Theater, which enhances the sound and boosts the image quality (and presumably does a number on the battery – a good reason to save it for special viewing occasions).
The IdeaPads run Windows 7, are designed for one-handed opening, feature graphic etching on their metal cases and offer a choice of a metallic gray or white interior. OneKey Rescue, for power management and data recovery, and VeriFace face-recognition security software are also included.
In a Dec. 9 statement, Dion Weisler, Lenovo vice president of business operations, describes them as “ideal for those looking for a superior and easy multimedia experience.”
For those wanting a more “thorough” PC experience with the “very best in aesthetics,” Lenovo is also launching the IdeaCentre K330 desktop. Here you’ll get up to an Intel Core i7 processor with Turbo Boost Technology 2.0, 16GB of DDR3 memory, twin RAID-0 (redundant array of independent disks) configured hard disk drives and up to 4TB of HDD storage.
Super-simplifying power modes, the K330 comes with a Power Control Switch for three options of fan and CPU speed – Turbo Red, for high speed and performance, Auto Blue for regulation operation and Cool Green for energy-saving mode.
Also focused on entertainment, the K330 can come with an integrated DVD or Blu-ray Disc drive, optional TV Tuner and HD graphics support, as well as support for full HD 1920 by 1080 resolution and DirectX 11 graphics.
A Lenovo Dynamic Brightness System automatically adjusts the brightness of the screen, according to the ambient light, and if you’re prone to sitting with your nose nudging the screen, a Lenovo Eye Distance System plays the role of a nagging mother, encouraging you to back up before you really need glasses.
Another thoughtful gesture – the K330 features a tool-free CUP design, for quick and easy upgrades and repairs.
At Lenovo.com, the IdeaPad Y460p and Y560p will be available in January starting at $849, with the IdeaCentre K330 arriving later but still in early 2011 at a starting price of $699.
The worldwide PC market grew 6.7 percent during the third quarter, up from the quarter before. Worldwide shipments totaled 88.1 million units, according to research firm iSuppli, which attributed the growth predominantly to corporate desktop refreshes. While the second quarter was “terrible” for the PC market, iSuppli believes the market is gradually recovering.