YouTube user LinuxJB has posted a video of what may be a prototype of the upcoming low cost ultraportable laptop from Lenovo. He says he shot the video at a electronics holiday preview show in New York a few weeks ago.
Since DigiTimes reported that Lenovo just picked an OEM a few days ago, I’m going to assume this is an early prototype and that the final product could look a bit different. But I like what I see. The computers in the video come in multiple colors, look small and super-thin, and don’t look anything like your typical Lenovo computer. They’re not black, and they don’t have a standard touchpad and no pointer in the middle of the keyboard.
According to previous reports, the Lenovo laptops will come in 8.9 inch and 10.1 inch varieties, have a 160GB hard drive, and cost between $400 and $600. They could be available as soon as September.
[via jkkmobile]
Windows version only (No Linux option) is as much as irritating as hell, you know.
Yep, same here. If Linux is not an option, then it’s not even worth considering.
meanwhile i, like most people, won’t buy it if linux is the only option. i could also use the hard drive. i’m disappointed in the dell, and now very interested in the lenovo.
Yuh huh. Most people are happy if they can install XP after the fact. Most people would rather take Linux than Vista. Especially if it knocks the price down and they can install XP they already own if they so chose or whatever they want.
What the hell happened to low cost netbooks?
$299 is the price you pay for a Wii or some small appliance. Most families spend on some things in that price range.
My wife saw how much her brother paid for his HP Mininote and said no. We have enough computers in the house (we dont throw them out, we just put Linux on them and have the kids use them) and she refuses to shell that price.
Half of that price like the Dell E and she’s willing to listen.
While I think it would be better if Lenovo ditched the hard drive in favour of solid state, and i’m not interested in buying one of things if Linux in some form isn’t an option, I do think $400 is not unreasonable for an ultra-small portable if it packs decent features, excellent battery life, and most important a DECENT KEYBOARD. the HP Mininote was outright eliminated as an option for me despite its nice keyboard because of its ridiculously high price and that it comes with Vista (I will not willingly allow myself to bump up Microsofts Vista numbers that it quotes to the media and its shareholders by even one instance)
The Dell E is apparently missing the function keys altogether (F1-F12) so unless a miracle happens between now and its release date, I’m not sold on it. The rest have crappy keyboards and touchpads. Which as someone who wants to write a screenplay about a time travelling dinosaur rapper while on the go, is a necessity.
Still a lot of companies seem to be jumping on the bandwagon, eventually someone will create what I want (its not that hard)