Lenovo to Launch Android Tablet, LePad, in 2011

By Jane McEntegart
published

Lenovo has confirmed that it will begin shipping its Android-powered LePad tablet in Q1.

We first heard about Lenovo's tablet plans back in July. The company said it had started work on an Android tablet called the LePad, which it hoped would complement the company's LePhone smartphone (LePhone is China only for now).

Back then we were told the tablet was scheduled for a Q4 2010 launch, but the device's release was pushed back when COO Rory Read said Lenovo was waiting for Honeycomb before launching a tablet in the U.S. market. Honeycomb, a version of the Android OS optimized for tablets, is not expected to hit before the end of 2010 so we were left with a launch date of "sometime in 2011."

Now, Lenovo is narrowing things down a bit. Chief Executive Yang Yuanqing on Friady told the Wall Street Journal that the LePad would come to the U.S. at the beginning of 2011. More specifically, those of you eager for a Honeycomb tablet can expect the LePad to hit shelves sometime before the end of March 2011.

Yang didn't elaborate on pricing or specs, but did mention that China would also be getting the LePad at the beginning of the year.

Source: Wall Street Journal

Jane McEntegart
24 Comments Comment from the forums
  • xantek24
    we have the same work schedule Jane... ;)
    Reply
  • xantek24
    anyway, down to business, i have a ?, what is it with these tablets all of the sudden? I don't speak only for my self but you can't carry a tablet or the "IPad" with you all the time. Based on my observations, people rather have an all-in-one solution which is a smartphone...."i might as well use my phone for documents" is what i get all the time.
    Reply
  • belardo
    WOW! I wet my pants!
    Reply
  • drakefyre
    Why can't these companies show just a little bit of creativity? What's with the pad nonsense? Make up your own name people, imitation is just another form of flattery. These types of naming schemes just make Apple look good and other companies look like they are playing catch up, which they sort of are, but they shouldn't be so obvious about it.

    I totally forgot about Lenovo's ThinkPad line when writing this, which makes this rant almost absolutely foolish as the pad bit is definitely not being copied from Apple.
    Reply
  • ZaKa
    LePad... I'm picturing people wearing berets and eating french baguettes using a LePad!

    Je blagues, c'est géniales!
    Reply
  • belardo
    Kind of sounds like a womans feminine product...
    Reply
  • feeddagoat
    Samaung galaxy pad can handle calls texts and data but the blurring of the line between phone and notebook continues. Personally I like a phone to call and text on and have data for tethering a laptop since wifi hotspots are insanely priced. Tables do interest me since they're smaller and lighter than a laptop and easier to browse on than a phone when you need to fill time. Tho I like to program or do uni work while out and about so a netbook is handy in that area if not a bit bulky. In my eyes the HTC desire HD or dell streak is the best between phone and tablet. Ok for portable media and browsing. If I was to get a new laptop it would be towards the £600 bracket for light gaming/portable desktop since most of my internet and media needs are handled by a phone. The tablet tho has its worth. I imagine someone with a dumb phone would find a use for one while out and about but then again a good laptop can make it redundant. I guess its an alternative to a netbook or a cool new toy. Apps on a bigger screen and hopefully more powerful hardware with optimised software, yes please! I think I rambled a bit there
    Reply
  • millerm84
    I'm not thrilled about the name, and I love lenovo products so a tablet from them is a product I would look into. But I don't understand why not go for a more marketable name, in China Lepad may sell big, but in the States if it sounds like a french tampon its not going to be a hit. Then again I thought the same thing when I heard iPad and look where that got me.
    Reply
  • tayb
    The name is worse than the iPad. This sounds like a french iPad. Can't we get anything more original?
    Reply
  • mj4358
    BelardoKind of sounds like a womans feminine product... Hmmmm....where have we heard that statement before?
    Reply