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Lenovo is updating its IdeaPad S10 netbook line with three new features: Quick Start, facial recognition, and Lenovo Social, a social networking tool.

Quick Start is Lenovo’s answer to the ExpressGate software that Asus loads onto most of its motherboards (although not most Eee PC netbook models to date). The software gives a computer “instant on” capabilities by booting a stripped down Linux-based operating system with just a few programs allowing you to access a web browser, Skype, and photo and music applications without waiting for a full OS to boot. We’d already heard that Lenovo would be offering the software on its IdeaPad S10E netbook (which I believe is intended primarily for educational markets), but now it looks like the whole line of netbooks will get Quick Start.

The S10 line is also getting a facial recognition application that works as a security feature.

Finally, Lenovo is adding a tool called Lenovo Social, which seems to be a link to a web portal that offers access to Lenovo forums, blogs, and basic information about accessing social media sites like Facebook, MySpace, and Flickr. Lenovo Social seems to be geared towards people who have never heard of Twitter, and may never have heard of Facebook or Wikipedia either, if any people like that actually still exist.

The new facial recognition and Quick Start features will be available in March. No word on whether you’ll be able to add the software to existing netbooks or if you’ll need to pick up a new Lenovo IdeaPad S10 in March to use the new features.

via jkOnTheRun and Laptop Magazine