Lenovo launches Z60 line

China-based Lenovo, the world’s third largest personal computer company having acquired IBM’s Personal Computing Division earlier this year, launched last week its new line of Z60 notebooks and E Series desktop computers.

The ThinkPad Z60 is the first wide-screen multimedia ThinkPad notebook designed for mobile and small business users who rely on their notebooks for both work and life demands.

In addition to the classic black ThinkPad design, the new Z60 is available in a special edition brushed titanium cover, which gives it a sleek new look and improved scratch-resistance.

The ThinkPad Z60m’s 15.4-inch display, which offers wider viewing angles than before, offers 30 percent more data space than a 15-inch XGA. It retails for P91,195.

The slimmer ThinkPad Z60t, on the other hand, is just over an inch thick and weighs only 4.2 pounds, making it the thinnest and lightest wide-screen notebook in its class.

The Z60t, which retails for P93,695, boasts 25 percent more data space than a standard 14-inch XGA screen, which is the equivalent of four spreadsheet columns, thus offering a convenient solution to business users who often work with multiple applications simultaneously.

Several innovative multimedia features – including hot keys to control application functions and ports to easily upload digital images and video – make the Z60 optimal for presentations, multimedia and DVD movies.

One of the innovative new features of the Z60 is its new inner armor chassis – a ThinkPad "roll cage" inspired by racing cars – that can reduce stress on internal components when the notebook is dropped.

The components, including the hard disk drive, are mounted in a one-piece magnesium cage that forms a protective shell.

Combined with Lenovo’s Active Protection System, a ThinkVantage technology, the ThinkPad roll cage provides a strong defense against costly hard disk damage.

New Windows, multimedia and application keys enhance the legendary full-sized ThinkPad keyboard.

Lenovo, meanwhile, strategically placed the large stereo speakers on either side of the keyboard for superior sound quality and volume.

Adding to the multimedia capabilities is an array of ports for nearly every peripheral, including three USB 2.0 ports and S-Video, VGA and IEEE1394 connectivity. The Z60m also boasts a 3-1 media card reader.

On the desktop PC side, Lenovo unveiled its new ThinkCentre E Series line, which offers new levels of ease and affordability for small business users, thanks to its starting price of P28,995.

The Lenovo E Series desktops would help small companies eliminate the hassle of complex configurations or cumbersome technology solutions that require the support of IT personnel.

Through the Think Express program, the ThinkCentre E50 tower and small desktop PCs are available to meet quick delivery requirements using focused inventory management.

Models in the Think Express program also include select ThinkVantage Technologies to help improve business productivity throughout the ownership experience.

With Rescue and Recovery preloaded on ThinkCentre E50 desktops, users can diagnose, get help, and recover from a crash without the need of IT personnel, even if the operating system will not boot.

Users can even employ an extra layer of support using Rescue and Recovery by pre-configuring automatic external backups to a server or external storage.