14 DAY TRIAL // Earlier this month, we got word of a new Lenovo ThinkPad system that was previously rumored to be released in the early days of next year. Said to be part of the company's new wave of netbook systems, the ThinkPad X100e was reportedly built on AMD's Athlon Neo platform, offering an alternative to the Intel Atom-based netbooks available on the market. It now appears that new details on the unit's specifications have surfaced the Internet. Apparently, the new ThinkPad won't be categorized as a netbook, but rather as an entry-level ultraportable that will be available at netbook price points.
Slated for release just ahead of the upcoming Consumer Electronics Show, the ThinkPad X100e will sport an 11.6-inch display, as opposed to previous rumors that pointed to a 12.1-inch display. The 1366 x 768 resolution is powered by the system's built-in MV40 and RS780 chipset. Additional features include a Athlon Neo processor that can be coupled with up to 4GB of RAM and a 500GB hard drive.
The unit will be available with a choice of a 3-cell or a 6-cell battery pack, making the machine 1.35 of 1.5kg heavy, according to record reports. There's also Bluetooth and a UMTS module and the distinctive ThinkPad keyboard, trackpad, and trackpoint, which are among the most appreciated features of Lenovo's ThinkPad series of portable computer systems.
Apparently, the machine will be available in a variety of color choices, including black, red, or white. Unfortunately, the exact release date of the ultraportable isn't yet known, but taking into account previous rumors, the machine might just make an appearance at CES, which takes place in Las Vegas, Nevada, January 7-10. Pricing details are still unknown, but as stated above, the unit should become available for something close to netbook pricing.