Lenovo and Nvidia have teamed up to add advanced graphics capabilities — including the playback of high-definition 1080p video and Blu-ray discs — to the China-based PC maker’s latest mini-laptop.
Through the addition of Nvidia’s energy-efficient Ion graphics technology, the Lenovo IdeaPad S12 will be the first netbook to harness enough graphics horsepower to fully support high-definition PC games, many of which will not run on today’s low-cost small PCs, noted Nvidia Senior Vice President Jeff Fisher.
“The Lenovo IdeaPad S12 with Nvidia Ion graphics is a game-changer for the industry,” Fisher said. “It’s a powerful testament to what a small PC can do if it’s optimized with Ion.”
Performance Boost
Less than one inch thick and tipping the scales at three pounds, Lenovo’s latest netbook sports a full-sized keyboard and a 12-inch screen. The IdeaPad S12 also offers up to six hours of operating time off a single charge when the buyer chooses the optional six-cell battery instead of the standard three-cell unit.
“We’ve heard from consumers loud and clear about the need for affordable and extremely portable computing devices,” said Lenovo Vice President Dion Weisler. “And we’ve responded by introducing our third netbook with a completely new form factor, making mini-computing more usable and redefining value in today’s market.”
The IdeaPad S12 will offer Wi-Fi connectivity and includes an ExpressCard slot that will give users the ability to add 3G connectivity if required.
The machine can either be equipped with Intel’s Atom microprocessor and companion graphics technology or an Intel Atom processor capable of running in tandem with Nvidia’s Ion technology. The Nvidia system is capable of transforming small, low-power PCs into computing systems capable of achieving up to a tenfold graphics performance boost in comparison with other machines, said Nvidia Notebook GPU General Manager Rene Haas.
“Nvidia Ion graphics help…