Lenovo launches ThinkPad Edge for SMBs

Lenovo has launched its new ThinkPad Edge 15in notebook, designed with small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) in mind.

In a webcast this morning, Lenovo outlined the differences between the new notebook and the classic ThinkPad laptops, highlighting the Edge's simplicity of use compared to its counterpart's rich function and configurability.

Businesses will be able to enjoy up to eight hours of battery life with the Edge, along with the latest Intel Celeron processors and the Core i5 and i3 Series options. High-resolution cameras and an HD LED screen will appeal to SMBs hoping to leverage VoIP, while a choice of wireless technologies are also featured, including 3G and Wi-Fi.

The machines have two options for navigation: the trackpoint or the multi-gesture touchpad. Alain Raison, executive director of Think Products in Western Europe at Lenovo, was keen to point out during the webcast how on-screen manipulations could be carried out with two or more fingers on the touchpad.

Much focus has been placed on the aesthetics of the device, with select models coming with a backlit keyboard, while customers can choose from two colours including the seductively-named "heatwave red" and "midnight black".

The notebook features a spill-resistant keyboard, as demonstrated by Raison, who audaciously poured a glass of water over the keyboard, showing the impermeability of the hardware.

Lenovo also placed emphasis on the pricing of the ThinkPad Edge, which starts at around 474 excluding VAT, although this is subject to change.

Whether the cost and features, many of which can be found elsewhere, will help this Lenovo device stand out from the crowd is another question entirely. Look out for a review on IT PRO soon.