14 DAY TRIAL // Those that have been keeping a close eye on the latest developments in the IT industry know that the PC market is preparing for a new milestone, as the Redmond, Washington-based Microsoft is gearing up to officially roll out its next-generation operating system, the much-anticipated Windows 7. Among the many features that this new OS is going to bring, one stands out to underline the future of personal computing, namely that of the support Windows 7 is going to provide to the multitouch user interface. On that note, a number of PC vendors is getting ready for the said launch, updating the product portfolios with supporting products.
That is also the case with Lenovo, which has just announced that two of its ThinkPad portable computer systems will now provide users with support for the much-anticipated feature. The two systems, the ThinkPad X200 convertible and the T400s laptop, have also been featured with new processor models, boasting an increased speed and performance. In addition, the company is also introducing its new SimpleTap technology, which is, basically, an application that allows users to take full advantage of the multitouch interface, available on the two portable PCs.
“We see now as the right time for multitouch screens on PCs,” Sam Dusi, vice president, worldwide ThinkPad product marketing, Lenovo, said. “With touch screens increasingly becoming part of more devices we use routinely and continued improvement of the technology including the integration of touch in the upcoming Windows 7 operating system, the environment for making touch part of our Tablet PC and ThinkPad T400s laptop experience couldn't be better. We've also extended the touch experience with SimpleTap to make frequent hardware-based functions touch-enabled and simple.”
There are a few differences, in terms of the multitouch experience provided by the two systems, with the X200 said to support two fingers, while the T400 is capable of recognizing four-finger gestures. In addition, the SimpleTap application comes to enable users with a full multitouch experience on their Lenovo ThinkPad PCs.
As far as pricing and availability go, the ThinkPad T400s is said to begin at US$1,999, while the multitouch-enabled X200 is priced at a starting US$1,729, with a US$1,779 tag for an optional outdoor screen.