Lenovo's New All-In-One Desktop, IdeaPad Laptops

By Steve Seguin
published

Lenovo unveiled today three new IdeaPad laptops, along with its very first all-in-one desktop, the IdeaCenter A600. 

The new multimedia-centric IdeaCentre A600 features a frameless 21.5-inch display with 1920 x 1080 resolution, an Intel Core 2 Duo processor, an optional ATI Radeon graphics card, up to 4 GB of DDR3 memory and up to 1 TB of hard drive space. The system also includes WiFi, a 6-in-1 media card reader, a webcam with facial recognition technology, optional Blu-ray, optional hybrid TV tuner, an optional 4-in-1 remote controller and side-mounted USB and FireWire ports. The remote controller can be used as a VOIP handset, a media center/TV remote or as an “air mouse” that can be used to control the screen's cursor or to play games. The IdeaCenter A600 has a starting price of $999 and it will be available starting in April.

As for the new IdeaPad laptops, Lenovo expanded its Y-series line-up of laptops with the introduction of the 16-inch Y650, the 15.6-inch Y550 and the 14-inch Y450. All three of the new laptops feature glossy 16:9 aspect ratio displays and are configurable with up to 500 GB of hard drive storage space, up to 4 GB of DDR3 memory, optional Bluetooth and optional Nvidia-based graphics. The new laptops also include Lenovo's OneKey Theater software, Lenovo's Desktop Navigator software, Lenovo's VeriFace facial recognition software and a multi-touch touchpad that can be used for resizing images.

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Standing apart from the other two laptops though, the IdeaPad Y650 is equipped with a carbon fiber shell and it is claimed to be one of the thinnest and lightest 16-inch laptops, weighing in at just 5.6-pounds. The IdeaPad Y650 also comes with JBL speakers and an ambient light sensor that can automatically adjust the screen's brightness based on the surrounding light levels. The IdeaPad Y550 and Y450 on the other hand weighs in at 6.0-pounds and 4.6-pounds, respectively, and have a screen resolution of 1366 x 768.

The new laptops will be available beginning in March, with the IdeaPad Y650 starting at $1,199 and with the IdeaPad Y550 and Y450 starting at $829. Expect more product details to appear later on this week as we begin our hands-on coverage of CES 2009.

Steve Seguin
14 Comments Comment from the forums
  • frozenlead
    Yet another company stuck a laptop on the back of a monitor. Congrats.

    Is it just me, or do those notebooks resemble macs? Why does everyone find them so attractive? They're ugly!
    Reply
  • Tekkamanraiden
    Ah come on the utilitarian look is cool. If you're a humorless robot.
    Reply
  • Roland00
    Starting at $999 going to what price?
    Reply
  • falchard
    Lenevo is not a really good manufacturer. One thing you have to remember with them is you will probably have to deal with thier horrible customer support.
    Reply
  • vider
    I hope they will be better than Apple's MacPaper Laptops, falchard. You want to say that ever since IBM had more than 60% of their shares bought by Lenovo, their service and products became really horrible? I always liked the big giant and grew to think that the big giant is good at making laptops and PCs.
    Reply
  • Pei-chen
    It all depends on how much you paid for something. Thinkpad are well made because people are willing to pay more for it.
    Reply
  • I wouldn't call it 'frame-less' since obviously it does have a frame...
    I don't even know why you name it frameless... A frameless design is like the Panasonic Prototype of their OLED LCD screens. Basically one layer of class, with the oleds glued on the back.
    That's 'frameless'.
    Reply
  • *post above: class=glass
    Reply
  • chris312
    I figured laptops would start coming in 16:9 this year, but I wouldn't have guessed one of the first brands to adopt 16:9 would be Lenovo.

    If only there was a higher resolution option. The Sony Vaio Z is only 13.1 inches and it offers a 1600x900 option. 1080p on the Y650 would make it the ultimate lightweight portable media center IMO.
    Reply
  • E7130
    Most of these company's sample for Asus as far as laptop design.
    Reply