Lenovo pushes new smartbook as netbook alternative

From InfoWorld: Lenovo on Tuesday made a splash in the mobile market with the launch of its first smartbook, a mini-laptop that the company says combines the best features of netbooks and smartphones, albeit without telephone functions.

The lightweight device weighs 1.95 pounds (0.88 kilograms) and resembles a netbook, with a 10.6-inch screen and compact keyboard.

The low-cost device is designed for customers who want Internet on the go without PC functionality, said Ninis Samuel, marketing director at Lenovo.

Powered by Qualcomm's Arm-based Snapdragon processor, the device offers 10 hours of battery life and includes integrated 3G mobile broadband and Wi-Fi connectivity.

Lenovo is one of the early PC makers to offer Arm-based mini-laptops, which have been called "smartbooks" by some chip makers. Smartbooks could fill a big void for consumers who need the simplicity of smartphone usage in a PC-like device, Samuel said.

"To match that demand and growth, the consumers want innovative devices that can connect to the Internet and multimedia on the go," Samuel said. The device is expected to be on display at the Consumer Electronics Show, which will be held in Las Vegas from Jan. 7 to 10.

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