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        Lenovo netbooks have slimmer size, price

        Jonathan Angel | Date: May 12, 2009 | Comments: 1


        Lenovo has announced a revamp of its mini-laptop that is slightly thinner and lighter, and includes an enlarged keyboard. The IdeaPad S10-2 netbook includes a 10.1-inch screen, 1GB of memory, a 160GB hard disk drive, a six-cell battery, and built-in Dolby Headphone technology, the company says.



        (Click here for a larger view of Lenovo's IdeaPad S10-2)

        Rumors have recently suggested that Lenovo might be planning to add an enterprise-oriented, ThinkPad netbook to its product line, but the company's new IdeaPad S10-2 is, instead, a refresh of its original netbook, the IdeaPad S10. Apparently exemplifying a belief that consumers are more interested in lower prices than faster operating speeds, the cautiously named S10-2 makes its debut offering a lower price than similarly configured S10 models did, but using the same 1.6GHz Intel Atom N270 processor and 945GSE chipset.

        Compared to the S10, which measured 9.8 x 7.2 x 1.08 inches and weighed 2.4 pounds with a three-cell battery, the S10-2 is said to be 0.15 inch thinner, and to have a starting weight that's 0.44 pounds lighter. Yet, adds Lenovo, all models come with a six-cell battery, for battery life of up to six hours. The netbook is also said to sport a keyboard that's now 89 percent of full size and has an enlarged right shift key.

        According to Lenovo, the S10-2 comes with a patterned cover that is available in black, white, pink (it looks like purple in the photo at the top of our story), and gray, and features both a 1.3 megapixel webcam and Dolby Headphone technology, delivering virtual 5:1 surround sound. Compared to the S10, it has an extra USB port, for a new total of three, but the S10's ExpressCard slot has been dropped. While such a slot might have made the S10-2 compatible with third-party cellular modems, Lenovo says it will offer one S10-2 configuration with an Ericsson 3G modem for an extra $50.


        Lenovo's Linux-based QuickStart operating environment
        (Click either to enlarge)

        The S10-2 comes with 1GB of DDR2 RAM and a 160GB hard disk drive loaded with Windows XP Home. While no Linux versions of the netbook are listed, the device permits users to boot into Lenovo's "QuickStart" operating environment (above), a lightweight Linux variant that's a version of DeviceVM's Splashtop product. QuickStart is touted as letting users "listen to music, view photos, send instant messages, or even make Skype calls without waiting for their operating system to boot." According to Lenovo, the S10-2 also includes VeriFace software, a supplement to password security that's capable of unlocking the netbook via facial scans.

        Features and specifications listed by Lenovo for the IdeaPad S10-2 include:
        • Processor -- 1.6GHz Atom N270
        • Memory -- 1GB of DDR2 memory (no details about expansion provided)
        • Display -- 10.1-inch LED-backlit display with 1024 x 600 resolution
        • Camera -- 1.3 megapixel
        • Storage -- 160GB hard disk drive
        • Networking -- 10/100 Ethernet port
        • Wireless:
          • LAN -- 802.11b/g
          • WAN -- Ericsson 3G cellular modem (optional)
        • Other I/O:
          • 3 x USB 2.0
          • 1 x VGA
          • Microphone input
          • Headphone output
        • Expansion -- 4-in-1 card reader
        • Battery life -- Up to six hours with six-cell battery
        • Dimensions -- n/s, but said to be 0.15 inches thinner than S10, which measured 9.8 x 7.2 x 1.08
        • Weight -- n/s, but "0.44 pounds lighter than S10"
        Availability

        According to Lenovo, the S10-2 will be available at the end of this month for approximately $350, or $400 with a 3G cellular modem.


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