Lenovo is launching 4 new portable notebooks and convertibles aimed at education. The Lenovo ThinkPad 11e line of devices feature rubber bumpers and rugged cases, 11.6 inch touchscreen displays, and Intel processors.

All 4 models will launch this spring with prices expected to start at $349 for two models featuring Google Chrome OS software and $449 for the Windows models.

lenovo thinkpad 11e

Here’s a quick run-down of the new devices:

  • Lenovo ThinkPad 11e
  • Lenovo ThinkPad Yoga 11e
  • Lenovo ThinkPad 11e Chromebook
  • Lenovo ThinkPad Yoga 11e Chromebook

The Yoga models are 2-in-1 tablet/notebook hybrids. Open the lid and you can start typing away as if you were using a laptop. Push the lid back 360 degrees so that it’s opposite the keyboard, and you can hold these devices like tablets.

That kind of makes the Yoga 11e Chromebook the first Chrome OS tablet — although it won’t be the first touchscreen Chrome OS device. Acer and Google already offer Chromebooks with touchscreen displays.

Lenovo says the ThinkPad 11e devices will get “all-day” battery life, with the Chromebookrunning for “more than 8 hours.”

Schools will be able to choose from black or silver models, and the computers can be customized with optional features such as custom engraving or BIOS modification

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22 replies on “Lenovo launches ThinkPad 11e notebooks, convertibles, Chromebooks for education”

  1. so we cannot detach the keyboard?? ouch… this is not hybrid , just a notebook that can be lid back 360 degress

  2. Wish it was a bit cheaper. I like Lenovo computers. My family has tons of them (fantastic quality of computers). I wish this hit the $249-299 price range.

  3. I love the yoga format. Chromebook yogas could be big hits in schools I think as switching between tablet and laptop mode makes it very versatile (reading, drawing, writing, …)

    1. I agree, however there are 2 things that would make it even better:
      1) Ability to detach from keyboard and use as tablet-only, especially with dual cameras to allow for digital video/photography
      2) An active digitizer, like the Thinkpad Tablet 2 has. Without a Wacom stylus like that, writing and drawing doesn’t work nearly as well on a capacitive touch-screen…

      You can see examples of how useful the above features are in my 1:1 paperless classroom: http://www.PaperlessMojo.com

      What I would like to see is something like the Acer W510 (tablet that docks into a keyboard — not bluetooth, but physical connection), but with active digitizer and better processor (perhaps Bay Trail?), and maybe some ruggedizing like this 11 series

  4. It looks furiously like my X60, on which i’m typing now. I can’t break this machine, but i have to because it’s a bit slow now.

    1. Don’t! You think dropping a Nokia 3310 will cause a tsunami? Try an IBM X60!

    2. The picture in the article is of the Thinkpad x131e, the previous generation model. Ubergizmo has an image of what may be the new model, and it does not have any buttons nor the Trackpoint (unfortunately).

  5. Wondering if these are going to be quad Atoms. An 11″ Yoga with Win8 and an Atom would be an attractive alternative to the spendier Yogas.

    1. $449 is right in our schools price range for a cheap and rugged computer. We initially looked at the Lenovo X140e. In fact, it is a little on the cheap side price wise. In schools you have to have durability. Consumer laptops are just not meant to be opened and closed 5-10 times a day and sooner rather than later the extra torque will cause damage to the system board.

    2. Ya, it’s too much especially since I doubt these are actually more rugged than notebooks from other OEMs. The ThinkPad quality has gone very far down.

      1. The Thinkpad education laptops are very rugged compared to the competition. They have a lot of well thought out features for the education market, based on research. Strengthened ports, for example m

        1. They should apply that to their main ThinkPad line then. The ruggedness of the T and X series ThinkPads have gone down hill. Lenovo doesn’t provide the MIL-STD test results when asked. IBM used to give these results. Saying something passes MIL-STD doesn’t mean anything unless they provide the actual tests and results.

          1. The education Thinkpads aren’t Mil-Spec. The ruggedness is specific to the classroom environment. So they’re thick, with reinforced ports because students are hard on the ports, and the hinges are strong and the fan is dustless. Things like that. Which is smart. Different device deployments should reflect different builds.

    3. Price isn’t everything. I’d rather have a Chromebook at that range. And I’m no fanboy. I like Windows 8.1 and I’m a long-time Mac user. If you gave me that Dell, I’d just turn around and sell it on ebay, but I’d keep the Thinkpad Chromebook.

    4. sri_tech, a few points regarding that Dell you posted as comparison. First, $299 is the discounted price, retail on that model is still $349. The Yoga 11e also has a higher quality IPS screen, and like all the current Chromebooks will most likely come with a SSD drive.

      And quite a number of schools (including mine) purchased the previous generation Thinkpad x131e Chromebook for students, even though that model retailed for $429.

      This will be a ~very~ attractive 1:1 device for schools.

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