BIOS: Technology Means Business

Lenovo, the world’s third largest computer maker, is launching low-priced desktops and laptops aimed at small businesses. Lenovo is one of China’s leading brands and purchased IBM’s PC unit in May 05.

To help small businesses worldwide maximise productivity without increasing costs, Lenovo has introduced the Lenovo 3000. The first Lenovo-branded PCs are designed to reduce IT expenses with features like virus recovery and automatic updates.

These tools are designed to let small business owners concentrate on their operations, rather than their IT. The new Lenovo 3000 line includes new laptop PCs, such as the Lenovo C Series, and new desktop PCs, like the Lenovo J Series.

‘The new Lenovo 3000 product family embodies a distinct entrepreneurial persona by combining the most successful components of enterprise level, ThinkPad-inspired technologies with the latest Lenovo innovations to create PCs users can depend on,’ said Deepak Advani, senior vice president and chief marketing officer, Lenovo. ‘Lenovo will offer the new PCs as the smart choice for today’s most savvy entrepreneurs, priced to fit the budgets and computing needs of even the smallest firms.’

The Lenovo 3000 PCs feature a unique suite of easy-to-use Lenovo Care productivity tools that promise to help make owning and operating a PC a worry-free experience for small business and individual users. With Lenovo Care tools, PC maintenance and service guesswork is replaced by autonomic tools to help make PCs more self-reliant.
For example, instead of manually locating and applying critical system updates, the Lenovo 3000 PC identifies and updates its own Lenovo software to take that arduous task off of the user. In addition, Lenovo Care tools can help users streamline maintenance tasks to keep PCs running like new.

There’s also a one-button system recovery to help you diagnose, get help, and recover systems from catastrophic software failures caused by today’s viruses and malware. Automatic updates download and install critical updates on a user-configured schedule to help keep the system operating at peak performance, and there’s easy connectivity tools for simple wired or wireless set up for home office, office and leisure connections.

The Lenovo C100 laptops are designed for mobile small-business professionals who want worry-free, yet relatively powerful PCs that offer wireless connectivity, built-in service tools and multimedia features. The new C100 combines a sleek silver exterior with solid performance for the value- and service-conscious professional.

Weighing in at 2.8kg, the new C100 offers complete connectivity features on select models, such as integrated 802.11a/b/g wireless LAN, Bluetooth (select models) and 10/100 Ethernet and modem. Multimedia capabilities include stereo speakers with an integrated microphone for playing and recording audio and an integrated combo or DVD recordable drive. At 33mm thin, the C100 also incorporates a 3-in-1 multi-card reader for downloading digital pictures, four USB ports, FireWire and S-Video slots.

The C Series includes an Intel 915 GM Chipset with choice of either Pentium M or Celeron M processors. Select models also feature Intel Centrino mobile technology. Mobile users will benefit from an 8-cell lithium ion battery offering up to five hours of battery life and Lenovo’s industry-leading keyboard.

The Lenovo J100 and J105 desktop PCs are designed for small business customers and consumers who want a reliable, easy-to-use PC featuring modern design silhouettes. The J Series desktops feature a colour-contrasting front bezel, curvilinear design components, custom designed side-access air ventilation and several optional accessories, such as the ThinkVision USB SoundBar and ThinkPlus Preferred Pro USB Fingerprint Keyboard.

In addition, for the first time, Lenovo is offering worldwide customers a choice of Intel or AMD configurations. The Lenovo J100 features a SiS 661 Chipset with choice of either Pentium 4 or Celeron D processors. The Lenovo J105 features an AMD Socket 754 board with either AMD Sempron or Athlon processors. Both the Lenovo J100 and J105 are equipped with serial ATA drive support, 6 USB 2.0 ports and front side audio.

The Lenovo J Series desktops come in a variety of pre-configured models. All Lenovo 3000 PCs feature a standard 1-year limited warranty. The Lenovo J Series and C Series are available now. Prices for the J105 and J100 start at $349 (£199) and $499 (£285), respectively. Prices for the C100 start at $599 (£342). Financing is available through IBM Global Financing for approved customers. Lenovo 3000 products will mostly be sold through Lenovo business partners and directly via its Web site.

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