Showing posts with label Lenovo. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Lenovo. Show all posts

Sunday, March 16, 2014

Tablet wars: Apple iPad Air vs Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 vs Lenovo Ideapad A10

The market is flooded with slates that are vying for your attention and your moolah. We list some of the best devices from the last six months to help you find one that's right for you...
Most tablets today handle basic tasks of web browsing, HD video playback and gaming. In this highly competitive market, price is not the only deciding factor. Tablet makers are now differentiating their offerings by way of design, software customization, proprietary tech, pre-loaded services, and more.





Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 (2014 Edition) 

Best for artists and designers who want a tablet with a superb stylus and 3G support


The Note 10.1 is the best tablet we have seen with stylus support. Its S Pen works accurately on its touchscreen, allowing users to annotate images, and even scribble notes in the fully-functional office suite Polaris Office 5. Its Full HD WQXGA (2560x1600px) display is a blessing and a curse. Websites and documents are displayed crisply. But there aren't any Android apps designed to scale to such a high-res display.

Even Full HD videos fall short. The new Note comes with software like Autodesk Sketchbook, which works wonderfully for designers, digital sketch artists and even architects. Besides, this slate makes optimum use of its 10-inch display with its multi-window feature that lets you work across two apps simultaneously in a split screen. When it comes to multimedia, Full HD movies pose no issues to its octa-core processor. The Note 10.1 boasts of loud stereo speakers and also comes with excellent support for a wide range of audio-video file formats. Its built-in IR blaster and pre-installed Peel app work well together as a universal remote control for your TV and set-top box. The tablet is packed with useful proprietary apps like Action Memos (notes), S Voice (voice-based assistant), S Translator (translation), and Knox (data security). Given the screen size and processing muscle, the Note 10.1 still boasts of an impressive eight hours of continous video playback.

Specs: 10.1-inch Super Clear LCD (2560x1600px) touchscreen | Octa-core (1.9GHz quad-core + 1.3GHz quadcore ) processor | 3GB RAM | 32GB (internal), microSD up to 64GB | 8MP rear cam, 2MP front cam | 3G, Wi-Fi , Bluetooth, A-GPS | 8,220mAh battery | Android 4.3 (Jelly Bean)





Lenovo Ideapad A10 
Best for those who want a physical keyboard for office productivity 

The Lenovo IdeaPad A10 is the only Android device on test with a physical keyboard. On the downside, it is best used only in horizontal mode. Its keys feel sturdy and responsive, and also include shortcuts for volume, brightness, browser, orientation lock, and settings. At 1kg, the IdeaPad A10 outweighs the other tabs here, but it is still light enough to be carried around in one hand - and works well as an alternative to a netbook or laptop for basic productivity tasks and web browsing.

Besides, it is also equipped with two full-sized USB ports, a micro-HDMI connector and a touchpad. Disappointingly, the A10 does not support 3G USB data dongles or SIMs. Given its form factor, the A10 is better suited for casual games like Candy Crush Saga and Bejeweled. Intensive 3D games and high-quality Full HD videos stutter intermittently. The built-in stereo speakers lack clarity, but are loud enough to be used in a smallish room. The VGA front camera produced grainy images so don't expect quality video chats. In tests, it gave us an impressive six-hours of video playback on a single charge.

Specs: 10.1-inch HD (1366x768px) touchscreen | 1.6GHz quad-core processor | 1GB RAM | VGA front cam | 16GB (internal), microSD up to 64GB | (2x)USB2.0, micro-USB , micro-HDMI | Wi-Fi , Bluetooth | 4400mAh battery | Android 4.2 (Jelly Bean)


Apple iPad Air

Best for those who are willing to spend that extra bit for a premium tablet with best-in-class apps

The new iPad Air is a lightweight slate that sports a brushed-metal , aluminium build. And like older versions, this one also sports a single-button interface, making it simple to use. Besides, its intuitive iOS7 operating system is backed by a store that's filled with almost four lakh apps (games, education, productivity and services) that are optimised for the tablet. The Air's crisp display is one of the finest we've seen, making it ideal for movies, reading and games.

This tab has the best stereo speakers - clear audio with a hint of bass - when compared to the others tested here. Even though the tablet can play Full HD flicks effortlessly, out of the box it only supports MP4 and MOV files. So, you will first need to convert videos to a compatible format. Unlike the plug-and-play of Android, it is mandatory to use iTunes to update and sync content between your PC and the Air, and this can prove to be quite a cumbersome exercise. This Apple slate does not include a memory card slot, so you'll want to opt for greater storage if you want to store your movies and songs on it. Pictures taken with the rear camera are average, but good enough for sharing on the web. The HD front camera works well for video calling. You can either go with Apple's FaceTime app, which is very effective, but restricted to Apple users only - or you could opt for other video-calling apps, including Skype and Yahoo! Messenger available on the App Store. The battery on the Wi-Fi version gave us a commendable eight hours of video. If you opt for the 3G model, it would differ depending on usage.

Specs: 9.7-inch IPS (2048x1536px) touchscreen | 1.4GHz dual-core processor | 16/32/64/128GB (internal storage) | 5MP rear cam, 1.2MP front cam | Wi-Fi , Bluetooth | iOS 7


Saturday, February 8, 2014

Lenovo K900 smartphone with 2GHz processor launched for Rs. 32,999


Lenovo has launched its flagship Android smartphone, the K900 in the Indian market at a price point of Rs. 32,999.

The phone will be available at 3,000 Lenovo outlets starting July. Lenovo has also launched five other Android smartphones, namely A706, A390, P780, S820 and S920.

The Lenovo K900 was first showcased at CES earlier this year. The K900 packs in Intel's dual-core Clover Trail+ platform, specifically the Intel Atom Z2580 dual-core processor clocking in at 2GHz. The device features a full-HD(1080x1920 pixels) display, 2GB RAM and is expected to come with 16GB of internal storage. It has a 2500 mAh non-removable battery.

Amar Babu, Managing Director, Lenovo India, said," The journey for Lenovo smartphones in India that began last November, takes a whole new dimension witth the launch of 6 new power-packed mobile devices, which offer an excellent choice for smartphone buyers in India. Our retail footprint has grown considerably to 3000 retail stores, since we launched our first range of smartphones last year. We will continue to expand our reach in India."

The phablet comes with 13-megapixel rear camera with a new Sony Exmor BSI sensor and a 2-megapixel front camera. Lenovo equipped the K900's rear camera with an f1.8 focal length lens, making it the first smartphone to offer such a wide aperture on its camera. In addition to these improvements to the rear camera, the 2-megapixel front camera has also been widened to an 880 viewing angle, the widest available on a smartphone front camera for convenient self-portraits and video calls. It ships with Android 4.2 Jelly Bean.

At 6.9mm and a 162gms (that's still heavy), Lenovo claims the K900 is the thinnest phone in its class. Despite its slim profile, the smartphone is strong and sturdy unibody construction sporting a stainless steel and polycarbonate exterior.

Lenovo K900 key specifications
  • 5.5-inch 1080p IPS capacitive touch display

  • Intel Atom Z2580 2GHz dual-core processor (Clover Trail+)

  • 2GB RAM

  • 16GB internal storage

  • 13-megapixel camera with Sony's Exmor BSI sensor

  • 2-megapixel front camera

  • Android 4.2 Jelly Bean

Friday, February 7, 2014

Lenovo S5000 tablet with 7-inch HD display launched


lenovo-s5000-tablet-big.jpg


Lenovo kicked off its IFA 2013 event with the roll out of new products that also includes the new S5000 tablet.
The Lenovo S5000 tablet comes with a 7-inch display with 1280x800pixels resolution and 350nit brightness levels. It is powered by a 1.2GHz quad-core MediaTek 8389 processor. It sports a 5-megapixel rear camera and a 1.6-megapixel front-facing camera. The tablet runs Android 4.2 Jelly Bean.

The Lenovo S5000 tablet includes a USB on-the-go port for storage expansion or for charging other devices and is backed by a 3,450mAh battery that can deliver up to eight hours of Wi-Fi web browsing or up to six hours of HD video viewing. It measures about 7.9mm (sides) and weighs 246 grams. The company claims that the tablet is nearly one-fifth times lighter than other tablets. Connectivity options on the tablet include Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and 3G connectivity in select countries. There is 16GB of internal storage on the tablet.

Commenting on the launch, Wayne Chen, vice president and general manager, mobile business unit, Lenovo said, "With the S5000 tablet, these carefully crafted devices unleash a powerful blend of beautiful and smart technology to improve people's lives."


The tablet comes in two variants - Wi-Fi and 3G. The Lenovo S5000 tablet is expected to be rolled out in Q4 2013. However, the company has not revealed any pricing details for the tablet.


Other Android tablets unveiled at IFA 2013 include the Asus MeMo Pad 8 and MeMo Pad 10. The Taiwanese maker also refreshed its Fonepad 7 tablet that now comes with voice calling support.


Earlier, Toshiba which is usually more active in the laptop segment also launched a new tablet, the Toshiba Encore based on Windows.


Lenovo S5000 key specifications

  • 7-inch display with 1280x800 pixels resolution


  • 1.2GHz quad-core Media Tek 8389 processor


  • 5-megapixel rear camera


  • 1.6-megapixel front-facing camera


  • 246 grams


  • 16GB of internal storage


  • 3450mAh battery


  • Android 4.2 Jelly Bean

IBM, Lenovo Deal Is All About Winning

Selling the x86 line to Lenovo makes perfect business sense for IBM, Lenovo and their respective customers and business partners. Lenovo has a proven record, experience in high volume x86 desktop hardware, and a long history of working with IBM. Customers and business partners can be confident that Lenovo has a very high probability of succeeding with the x86 server businesses.

Lenovo Group's US$2.3 billion deal to purchase IBM's low-end, commodity x86 Server portfolios, related resources and operations is an all-around win for everyone involved.

The sale of the IBM x86 servers has been rumored for well over a year, as Big Blue grappled with continuing pressure on its low-margin x86 servers.

In its most recently completed fourth quarter, IBM's revenue dropped 5.5 percent to $27.7 billion. Slumping hardware sales was the chief culprit for the revenue miss. IBM's x86 server sales declined by 16 percent in the fourth fiscal quarter alone, following seven straight quarterly revenue declines.

Under the terms of the agreement, Lenovo will purchase the following:

  • IBM's System x servers;
  • BladeCenter and Flex System blade servers and switches;
  • x86-based Flex integrated infrastructure systems;
  • NeXtScale and iDataPlex servers and associated software; and
  • IBM's blade networking and maintenance operations.


Additionally, Lenovo gets all of the development, sales and marketing, finance, legal, integrated supply chain, operations, IT, manufacturing, and service and support (maintenance) operations associated with the aforementioned assets.

Also as part of the deal, Adalio Sanchez, general manager for System x and Pure Systems in the IBM Systems and Technology Group, will move to Lenovo and assume the same role there.

Approximately 7,500 IBM employees worldwide -- including those based at major locations such as Raleigh, N.C.; Shanghai and Shenzhen, China; and Taipei, Taiwan -- will be offered employment at Lenovo. Since Lenovo's U.S. headquarters in North Carolina is close by IBM's Raleigh offices, it should be an easy transition for the majority of Big Blue workers.

Digging Deeper Into the Deal

IBM will by no means abandon its high-end server business. Following are additional important provisions of the deal:


  • IBM will retain its enterprise systems portfolio, including System z mainframes, Power Systems, Storage Systems and Power-based Flex servers, as well as the PureApplication, PureData and SAP Hana appliances;
  • IBM and Lenovo will enter into a broad-based strategic collaboration;
  • Lenovo will become IBM's preferred supplier of x86 server technology;
  • Lenovo will license, manufacture and resell IBM Storwize and tape storage technologies, the General Parallel File System, the SmartCloud Entry, elements of the x86 system software portfolios, and the Platform Computing portfolio;
  • Integrated systems software components will move to Lenovo;
  • Higher-level management tools like System Director and Flex Systems Manager will remain with IBM and be licensed by Lenovo;
  • IBM and Lenovo will work together on patches to IBM software required by Lenovo; and
  • Until the transaction is completed, the two companies will continue to operate independently.

The acquisition is expected to close later in 2014, pending regulatory approval. Once the transaction is complete, Lenovo will assume related customer service and maintenance operations. IBM will continue to provide maintenance delivery on Lenovo's behalf for an extended period of time, so customers should see few or no changes in their maintenance support.

Both the IBM and Lenovo executives enthusiastically applauded the deal.

"The divestiture [of the x86 server line] allows IBM to focus on system and software innovations ... such as cognitive computing, Big Data and cloud," said Steve Mills, IBM senior vice president and group executive of the Software & Systems Group.

The acquisition of IBM's x86 server portfolio will enable Lenovo to increase its current 2 percent niche market in servers by sevenfold to 14 percent, noted Peter Hortensius, senior vice president at Lenovo and president of its Think Business Group.

To accomplish that goal and "generate costs synergy," Hortensius said, Lenovo will need to move most of the manufacturing from IBM's existing facility in Virginia to Asia, while keeping some R&D in the U.S.

The Takeaway

Lenovo's acquisition of IBM's low-end, commodity x86 server portfolios is a tactical and long- term strategic win not only for IBM and Lenovo, but also for their respective business partners, customers, and the 7,500 IBMers who will make the move to Lenovo.

IBM and Lenovo have had a long, productive working relationship. Lenovo in 2005 bought IBM's PC business, including the popular ThinkPad brand, for $1.7 billion; by 2012, Lenovo had surpassed all rivals to become the world's top PC vendor.

IBM is following the money and the market trends. IBM's server business is the world's second-largest, with a 22.9 percent share of the $12.3 billion market in the third quarter of 2013, according to Gartner.

In fact, IBM's System z Enterprise mainframe and high-end server market share and demand remain strong and solid. Overall, IBM mainframes have in excess of 90 percent market share in that segment.

The sale of the struggling x86 server line frees IBM to focus on what it does best: enterprise products and services -- most notably, cloud computing and services, and Big Data Analytics via its soon-to-be-expanded Cloud Computing group and its newly formed Watson Business Unit.

No company has broader, deeper enterprise and services portfolio than Big Blue. IBM's sale of its x86 Server business for $2.3 billion pays for its investment earlier this month of $1 billion in the new Watson BU headquartered in New York City, as well as the $1.2 billion it's investing in expanding its Cloud Computing portfolio in 40 global data centers in 15 countries on five continents.

Is the $2.3 billion sale much less than IBM's rumored $6.5 billion asking price for the x86 servers last summer? Probably. It was IBM's decision to sell the x86 commodity server portfolio and associated services and make a swift, clean exit. The alternative was to retain the x86 server line and let it continue to bleed revenue and drain resources.

IBM is simultaneously shedding unprofitable products and thereby effectively funding its expansion into leading-edge and emerging market segments.

Selling the x86 line to Lenovo is an intuitive and obvious move that makes perfect business sense for IBM, Lenovo and their respective customers and business partners. Lenovo has a proven record, experience in high volume x86 desktop hardware, and a long history of working with IBM. Customers and business partners can be confident that Lenovo has a very high probability of succeeding with the x86 server businesses just as it has with IBM PCs.

Finally, there is the human element. The IBM/Lenovo x86 agreement also positively impacts 7,500 Big Blue employees globally. They can transition to Lenovo, which also has offices in Raleigh, N.C., so few, if any, will have to move.

The IBM/Lenovo deal opens the door wider for IBM to expand its footprint in China and the Pacific Rim.

In Conclusion

To sum up, IBM's sale of its x86 business to Lenovo is the best possible outcome for all concerned.

Both companies must still execute once the transaction gets the necessary regulatory approval and closes. However, based on past history, the likelihood of success is high.

IBM will be able to forge ahead unhindered in its quest for continued innovation in enterprise systems and in the highly competitive cloud computing arena.

Wednesday, February 5, 2014

Lenovo K900


Key Features:

2 GHz Dual Core Processor

Wi-Fi Enabled

2 MP Secondary Camera

5.5-inch LCD Capacitive Touchscreen

Full HD Recording

16 GB Internal Memory

Android v4.2 (Jelly Bean) OS

13 MP Primary Camera

Tuesday, February 4, 2014

Longest Battery Life Laptop: Lenovo ThinkPad X240


Lenovo ThinkPad X240 have an 18-hour flight to Asia coming up? No problem, if you've got the 12.5-inch Lenovo ThinkPad X240. With its extended battery, this 3.6-pound business system lasts more than 20 hours on a charge -- the longest of any laptop on the market. With an optional 1080p touch screen, responsive keyboard, accurate TrackPoint pointing stick and speedy performance, the ThinkPad X240 helps you make the most of all those minutes.

Starting Price: $860

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