
Lenovo also announced several additions to its consumer IdeaPad notebook line, including its first 16-inch widescreen model. All three Y series models share a new design, a black case with a subtle hexagonal pattern and copper trim that looks similar to Gateway’s P series. More important, they are thinner and lighter than the current IdeaPad laptops.
Lenovo says the 16-inch IdeaPad Y650–at one-inch thick at its thinnest point and weighing 5.6 pounds–is the thinnest and lightest in its class. Competitors such as the , and (16.4-inch display) are all thicker and heavier. The other two new models are the IdeaPad Y550, with a 15.6-inch display, and the IdeaPad Y450, with a 14-inch display. All of them are geared toward home theater with 16:9 glossy widescreen displays, the “latest generation Nvidia GFX graphics,” surround-sound speakers (the Y650 has JBL speakers) and a OneKey Theater utility for adjusting the display and audio settings. The IdeaPad Y450 and Y550 will both start at $829, and the Y650 will start at a t $1,199. All three will be available in March. Around the same time, Lenovo will update its S10 netbook by adding instant-on, the VeriFace facial recognition technology already found in IdeaPads, and a new LenovoSocial utility for using social networking sites. The 10.2-inch model will start at $349.
Finally, Lenovo announced it was getting into the all-in-one game, an area where there are now many contenders (HP, Dell, Gateway) but relatively few winners not including the successful Apple iMac. Based on a 21.5-inch “frameless” display, the IdeaCentre A series has a thick base that tapers to about an inch thick at the top. Like the IdeaPad laptops, the A series is geared toward home entertainment with full HD resolution (1,920 by 1,080 pixels), integrated sub-woofer and Dolby Home Theatre audio, TV tuner and optional Blu-ray player. It also has an optional, Wii-like remote that works as a game controller, Skype handset, Vista Media Center remote and wireless “air mouse” all rolled into one. The IdeaCentre A600 will be available beginning in April starting at $999.