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        Lenovo netbook converts to multi-touch tablet

        Jonathan Angel | Date: Dec 23, 2009 | Comments: 1


        Lenovo reportedly plans to introduce two "Pineview" netbooks, one of them convertible into a multi-touch tablet. Using Intel's recently announced, 1.66GHz Atom N450, the IdeaPad S10-3 and IdeaPad S10-3t will feature optional GPS receivers and 3G cellular connectivity, say Federal Communications Commission (FCC) filings and the DigitechQQ.com website.

        One of the two new IdeaPads was already outed by the FCC in November, when it was depicted on the Commission's website as part of the certification process for an Intel Mini PCI Express network adapter. Identified then with the code name FL5-B3, the device will actually be sold as the IdeaPad S10-3, according to DigitechQQ.com. (The name makes sense, since Lenovo's first netbook was the IdeaPad S10, followed up later by the IdeaPad S10-2.)


        The front (left) and back (right) of Lenovo's "FL5-B3" (IdeaPad S10-3)
        Source: Federal Communications Commission
        (Click to enlarge)

        According to the sticker revealed by the FCC photos, the IdeaPad S10-3 will feature a 1.66GHz Atom N450 processor, a 10.1-inch, 1024 x 600 pixel display, 2GB of RAM, and a 250GB hard disk drive. At the time of its unmasking, the Lenovo device was the first netbook to sport the new CPU, but similar products have now been announced by Dell (a refreshed Inspiron Mini 10), Fujitsu (the LifeBook NM10), and MSI (the Wind U130/U135).

        Meanwhile, Lenovo is also planning to release an IdeaPad S10-3t, featuring the same basic ingredients as the IdeaPad S10-3, but adding a pivoting screen that turns the device into a multi-touch tablet, according to DigitechQQ.com. Both IdeaPads will offer optional GPS receivers and 3G cellular modems, the site adds.

        FCC documents confirm the IdeaPad S10-3t's name, but unfortunately only picture it from the rear, via an image (below) that appears to have been stretched horizontally.


        Lenovo's IdeaPad S10-3t
        Source: Federal Communications Commission

        A ThinkPad netbook, too

        What with the IdeaPad S10-3t and its new tablet version, Lenovo fans will be soon spoiled for choice, since the company also will soon release a netbook in its more enterprise-oriented ThinkPad line, according to previous reports. The ThinkPad ThinkPad X100e will include a 11.6-inch display, an AMD Athlon MV-40 processor, up to 4GB of RAM and 320GB of disk storage, plus both touchpad and TrackPoint pointing device.

        Lenovo had reportedly feared that a ThinkPad netbook would take sales from its existing ThinkPad X series, which typically sells for at least $1000. Observers were skeptical, therefore, when the image below appeared in November on the Chinese website Zol.com.cn, showing a netbook combining typical ThinkPad elements with a flashy white case.


        Lenovo's ThinkPad X100e
        Source: Zol.com.cn

        Later, the accuracy of the above photo was been confirmed by what appeared to be official Lenovo slides, obtained and placed on the web by writer Sascha Pallenberg of Netbooknews.de. According to the slides, several of which are shown below, the ThinkPad X100e will have an 11.6-inch screen with 1366 x 768 pixel resolution, include both a touchpad and TrackPoint pointing device (right), and is touted for its "legendary ThinkPad keyboard feel." The keyboard is said to be both full-size and spill-resistant, the documents add.



        Lenovo's ThinkPad X100e
        (Click either image to enlarge)

        Like the IdeaPad S10-3 and IdeaPad S10-3t, the ThinkPad X100e will run Windows 7, sources say. As if that weren't enough, Lenovo is apparentlyplanning a "smartbook" (right) thatwill be built around Qualcomm's Snapdragon chipset and will run Linux, as we have previously reported.

        Ironically, IBM, which later sold its ThinkPad line to Lenovo, releasedone of the first netbook/smartbook-like devices more than ten years ago,the WorkPad Z50. Pictured below with a Dell Inspiron Mini 9 netbook at its left for a sizecomparison, the Z50 ran Windows CE 2.11 using a 131MHz MIPS CPU, had16MB of RAM and 16MB of flash storage, and sported a 640 x 480 display.

        IBM's WorkPad Z50 is shown at right, with Dell's Inspiron Mini 9 atleft for size comparison
        (Click to enlarge)

        The 2.6-pound Z50 boasted the ability to run on standard AA batteries,or standard and extended rechargeable battery packs that offeredruntimes of eight and 16 hours, respectively. With an ample keyboard andsignature TrackPoint pointing device, the portable was alsosurprisingly full-featured, with a CompactFlash slot, PCMCIA slot,33.6Kbps modem, and a serial port.

        Further information

        To see the FCC documents disclosing Lenovo's IdeaPad S10-3 (FL5-B3), go here.To see the FCC documents disclosing the IdeaPad S10-3t, go here. To see the DigitechQQ.com story referencing both, go here.

        To see the Netbooknews.de item on the ThinkPad X100e referenced in this story, see here. To see larger versions of the slides, see Pallenberg's Flickr page, here.
         
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