Lenovo, one of the world's leading computer system vendors, is expected to unveil a new 12-inch netbook as part of the company's IdeaPad lineup. According to details made available by Digitimes, the upcoming netbook, suggestively dubbed IdeaPad S20, will boast Intel's latest Atom processor combined with the GN40 chipset and will be powered by a Windows XP operating system.

If such a system is to materialize in an upcoming product, Lenovo will become the third major netbook vendor to enable Intel's Atom N280 processor on a new portable computer system, as part of the maker's netbook portfolio. In addition, given the system's physical dimensions, the IdeaPad S20 will likely compete with Dell's Atom-powered Inspiron Mini 12. According to the sources cited by Digitimes, Lenovo is planning to better compete in the netbook market segment by providing a product that will avoid the 10-inch segment, where competition is fierce.

 

Interestingly enough, it looks like Lenovo will have to pay an extra US$10 for Intel's processor, as the system it plans to provide breaks Intel's restrictions regarding the netbook form factor. According to the Santa Clara, California-based leading chip maker, any computer system equipped with a screen size higher than 10 inches should be marketed as a netbook.

 

As mentioned above, the IdeaPad S20 netbook will be designed on Intel's new GN40 chipset and the system will be offered with a Windows XP operating system. Price-wise, users should expect a cost of around US$586, higher than that of ASUS's 10-inch Eee PC 1004DN, which will be priced at around US$379, while Acer's Atom N280-based netbook is available for approximately US$497.

 

Unfortunately, we have no details as to the date Lenovo will be officially introducing the device, but that's likely to happen later this year.