eWEEK content and product recommendations are editorially independent. We may make money when you click on links to our partners. Learn More.
Computer maker Lenovo has announced the ThinkCentre A63 desktop, featuring Lenovo’s Enhanced Experience for Windows 7 for improved boot-up time and choice of the latest AMD Sempron, Athlon II and Phenom II processors.
The ThinkCentre A63, aimed at small to medium-size businesses (SMBs), starts at $329 and will be available in mid-January, the company said.
The A63 comes equipped with a choice of AMD’s latest 45nm processors and Direct X10 integrated graphics for supporting high-end 3D applications. The desktop supports dual independent displays for an expanded work area, and it also supports up to a 500GB hard disk drive and 1,333MHz DDR3 memory, along with eight USB ports. It is GreenGuard-certified, meaning it has been tested for as many as 2,000 different chemical emissions.
An optional high-resolution Webcam and preloaded Skype application make the desktop an ideal voice over IP (VOIP) center, claims Lenovo, noting that VOIP conferences can help save time and travel expenses by allowing users, especially small businesses, to participate in business meetings without leaving the office. Using the Lenovo Hard Disk Drive Retention tool as part of Lenovo warranty services, users can now keep their hard drives after retiring their PCs to ensure sensitive business data remains with them. Users with a home office or those without a business server can purchase Lenovo’s Online Backup service for secure, encrypted and offsite storage for their data.
“We know that PCs are the technology backbone for SMBs to run their businesses,” said Dilip Bhatia, executive director of ThinkCentre marketing for Lenovo. “The new ThinkCentre A63 desktop delivers on the three -P’s’ that businesses need in today’s fast-paced, cost-conscious environment: power, peace of mind and price.”
Lenovo also offers a variety of warranty options for the ThinkCentre A63 desktop as well as a ThinkPlus Priority Support enhanced service plan. Priority Support features 24/7 priority call routing to advanced technical support for issues with Lenovo hardware and preloaded software applications. ThinkPlus Priority Support helps reduce the amount of time IT staffs spend troubleshooting PC problems because they get instant access to the right level of support on the first call, the company said.
Lenovo has also engineered a ThinkVantage Toolbox for ThinkCentre PCs running Windows 7, which comes included in the cost of the PC. This combination of PC health, security and support tools helps customers avoid IT costs and lost productivity associated with individual PC usage. For example, the new ThinkVantage Toolbox will notify ThinkCentre A63 users of any PC problems and offers solutions to quickly repair the PC before components fail or data is lost.