Lenovo is previewing a new type of hybrid PC at the Consumer Electronics Show this week featuring laptop and tablet capabilities. Called the IdeaPad U1, the hybrid device has a base that functions as a laptop and a detachable screen that doubles as a multi-touch slate tablet. Moreover, each component has its own dedicated processor and operating system.
Lenovo also unveiled two new netbooks this week, including the company’s first netbook to offer tablet capabilities. Though Lenovo previously entered the netbook market in the fourth quarter with its IdeaPad S10, the company hopes to differentiate its offerings from those of netbook market leaders ASUS and Acer.
Netbooks accounted for around 15 percent of worldwide notebook shipments in 2009, according to iSuppli. “When you consider that netbooks were not on sale at the beginning of 2007, the segment has grown hugely in a very short space of time,” noted Matthew Wilkins, a principal analyst at the research firm. So having a strong presence in netbooks “allows an OEM to capitalize on the growth this segment has achieved,” he said.
Two PCs In One Package
Featuring a footprint about the size of a sheet of notebook paper and tipping the scale at 3.8 pounds, the IdeaPad U1 sports an 11.6-inch LED screen and Microsoft’s Windows 7 operating system. In addition, the U1 comes with a video camera, two stereo speakers, and an integrated microphone featuring echo cancellation.
The notebook and tablet are designed to work in tandem as a clamshell laptop that harnesses the computing resources of both devices. When operating as a combined unit, the two microprocessors become synchronized to work as a single unit.
Lenovo hybrid switch technology enables the processors in the notebook and tablet to toggle back and forth. Additionally, users can be surfing the web in laptop mode…