Lenovo Unveils Bevy of New Laptops Aimed at SMBs, Education

ThinkPad X1 Hybrid and T430u Ultrabook: Lenovo’s crown jewel, the X1 Hybrid, is a redevelopment of its super-thin X1 ThinkPad. But unlike its predecessor, the thin X1 Hybrid sports an Core i7 CPU, along with high-definition video and voice components and Gorilla Glass for durability. HDMI and wireless video are enabled, thanks to Intel’s Wireless Display technology, and Lenovo makes it sweeter with add-ons including integrated wireless broadband and fingerprint readers. But why call it a hybrid? It includes a custom Linux distribution with a Qualcomm mobile processor, allowing a user to boot into “Instant Media Mode” with basic web and media functions. Equally spotlight-worthy is Lenovo’s T430u ultrabook, built as a no-compromise business-class ultra-thin laptop, with SSD storage options, integrated Nvidia graphics and up to six hours of battery life.

ThinkPad Edge X130e: Built for speed and durability, this laptop comes outfitted with super-durable parts plus Intel’s ultra-low voltage CPUs or comparable AMD CPUs. Educational-focused features include Lenovo’s optimized 20-second boot times and rubber bumpers for “33 percent stronger corners,” in addition to extra-durable screen hinges, recessed and protected ports and 1.2mm-thick plastic designed to protect the screen. The X130e also comes with mobile GPUs that can handle a plethora of multimedia needs.

Small Business ThinkPad Edge Series: The ThinkPad S, E and B series are getting new members. The S430 is a high-end machine, equipped with a 14-inch screen and Thunderbolt technology and can be outfitted with up to 1TB of disk space and Intel’s Core series of processors. The E430 and E530 are 14-inch and 15-inch versions of Lenovo’s midrange laptop options, equipped with Intel Core CPUs or AMD’s APUs, if that’s more your style. Lenovo also has shrunk these devices down to the E130 and E330, which are 11-inch and 13-inch models designed to be more mobile and power-optimized. Lastly, the B-series is an all-around performer, with both Intel and AMD options, designed to be an entry-level workhorse. It includes USB 3.0 and HDMI out, but it’s less of a media-focused device than the S430.