Lenovo unveiled new ThinkPad models today that are among the first
notebooks based on Intel’s new dual-core processor for notebooks. Codenamed
Napa, the processor now goes by the brand name Centrino Duo.
The new ThinkPad T60 and X60, which also offer embedded wireless wide area network
(WWAN) antennas and several incremental design improvements, are being
previewed at the Consumer Electronics Show this week in Las Vegas, with availability
slated for February.
“We’re the only ones out there with integrated wireless WAN, and it’s a
nice differentiator for us,” Bill Iori, ThinkPad Segment Manager, told
internetnews.com.
Select models of the upcoming ThinkPad T60 Series and X60 Series will feature integrated high-speed wireless support for 3G service provider Verizon Wireless, and, as reported earlier by internetnews.com, Cingular’s BroadbandConnect. In the United States, models supporting the Verizon Wireless BroadbandAccess network are planned to be available in the first-half of this year. Notebooks featuring integrated WWAN antennas enable users to connect to high-speed broadband networks without separately purchased PC cards.
“Lenovo continues to offer enterprise customers consistency in quality
and design,” Roger Kay, president of Endpoint Technologies Associates, told
internetnews.com. “They are a bit early with the broadband, wide area
network access, but it’s going to be a really big thing, and I think they are
smart to demonstrate their innovation and forward thinking.”
While there isn’t a lot of software yet that takes huge advantage of
dual-core processing, Kay said there is definite utility. “I know for myself
many times I have to kill virus scan because it’s slowing down my other
programs. Dual core processing lets those kind of applications run in the
background the way they’re supposed to without hurting performance,” he said.
The ThinkPad T60 is in the thin and light class of notebooks, measuring
one inch in thickness, with a travel weight (i.e., sans extra battery) of 4.8 lbs.
Priced starting at $2049, the T60 series includes what Lenovo said is a more
durable system design, coupling the ThinkPad Roll Cage — an inner armor
chassis — with its airbag-like Active Protection System and ThinkPad
shock-mounted hard drive.
The ThinkPad X60 series has a 37 percent power-use reduction from earlier
platforms used in X Series models. The ThinkPad X60 offers up to 11 hours
of battery life, which Lenovo said is the longest standard battery life of
any ThinkPad to date. Prices for the X60 models start at $1899.
An optional integrated fingerprint reader is available as an extra level of security. Last month Lenovo announced it sold
its 1 millionth ThinkPad with the integrated fingerprint reader, which sells
for a $50 premium on most models. Lenovo said it’s the
largest provider of biometric-enabled PCs in the world.
