Lenovo’s been busy adding new models for sale lately, and today brings us the monstrous ThinkPad W701 and W701ds mobile workstations. These 17-inch uber-ThinkPads start $2599 for the “plain jane” W701 or $3299 for the transforming W701ds dual screen model. Announced back in January at CES 2010, they are finally available for purchase today!

All W701 configurations come standard with quad core Core i7 processors, NVIDIA Quadro FX 2800M 1GB graphics, 2GB RAM, DVD burner and Windows 7 Professional 64-bit. Unfortunately the plain 45% color gamut WXGA+ LCD is standard, but the must-have WUXGA 100% color gamut, RGB LED backlit display is only $175 extra. While the $3299 starting price for the W701ds may seem high, it includes the upgraded display out of the box, helping take a bit of the edge off that sticker shock.

For those who need serious graphics horsepower, the juicy NVIDIA Quadro FX 3800M 128-core card takes an extra $470 out of your pocket, or nearly 20% of the base price of the W701! The integrated color calibrator and digitizer panel built into the palm rest are a more reasonable $150 option.

Internal RAID is a no-cost configuration, you just have to pay for the cost of the additional hard drive and they will configure it to run right out of the box. Those with deep pockets can get dual 128GB SSDs in a RAID configuration for $790!

Finally, photographers will appreciate the $10 option that trades the 54mm ExpressCard slot for a CompactFlash slot that transfers data through the PCIe bus. This should provide decent performance, unlike the first generation solution implemented on early W700 models.

If you want to check out some more detailed specs on the W701 and W701ds, hit up Lenovo’s PSREF page and download the latest “ThinkPad Notebooks” PDF.

Click here to configure your ThinkPad W701 or W701ds

Lenovo has announced another new netbook with the IdeaPad S10-3s. It is pretty much identical to the current IdeaPad S10-3 model except the S10-3s has the option for an Atom N470 processor, SSDs and higher resolution 1280 x 720 display on the hardware side and a few tweaks on the cosmetic side of things – rounder curves on the lid and newly designed buttons on the screen bezel (round instead of square). We’re back to 100% glossy here and it looks cheaper than the S10-3 (check photos from my IdeaPad S10-3 review).

Lenovo IdeaPad S10-3s Specs

• 10.1” 1024 x 600 or 1280 x 720 display
• Intel Atom N450 or N470 processor
• 1 / 2 GB RAM
• 160 / 250 / 320 GB HDD
• 16 / 32GB SSD
• Dolby Headphone
• APS protection
• 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi
• Bluetooth
• WWAN / 3G
• Windows 7 Starter
• Quick Start (Instant On OS)
• 3 or 6-Cell Battery
• 2.76 pounds (6-cell battery)

The IdeaPad S10-3s will start shipping in mid-April with prices starting at $379.99. It’ll be available in black, white or “spring flowers”.

Press shots below:

Source: Engadget, Liliputing

We ran through the seven mainstream iPad alternatives a few weeks ago. You should know the list anyway.  They include the usual suspects of the ModBook, Notion Ink Adam, HP Slate and Dell Streak along with a few others. But there are a bunch more portables either currently available or coming out real soon that could also have made that list. Consider the following seven computers alternatives to the standard iPad alternatives.

Spring Design Alex Ebook Reader

While the Alex is really an ereader first, it’s still capable of a lot more with Android running on a 3.5-inch color LCD under the 6-inch e-ink display. Since it’s Android, everything works as it should so it can browse the web, send emails, and access the Android Marketplace via Wi-Fi or 3G. But the real magic is that the two screens can be linked so that content on the small screen can be pushed up for easier viewing on the large screen. It also handles book navigation and selection. Think of it as a suped-up Nook and instead of B&N, there’s a partnership with Boarders but any ebook standard will work. Available in either black or white at $399 and the company is taking pre-orders right now with an expected shipping date of April 14.

Advantages over the iPad

• USB power charging
• User-replaceable battery
• Longer battery life with only the e-ink screen

Disadvantages

• Smaller screens
• Less storage

enTourage eDGe dualbook

One look at this thing and you can tell it’s something different. Two screens, combined with a hinge that also holds a speaker. It’s really not just an ereader with an Android netbook bolted on, either. It’s so much more and truly shows what the future of computer could hold for everyday joes, but more so for academia. Oh, and unlike the similar Microsoft Courier concept, this thing is real and available for $499 right now. Read our review here.

Advantages over the iPad

• More touchscreen real estate
• SD card slot
• 2 USB ports
• User-replaceable battery

Disadvantages

• No 3G
• Less storage

WePad

The WePad may be the most complete alternative to the iPad with Linux at the core and access to the Android Marketplace. It’s reportable going to be less expensive, as well, when it first its German retailers in the coming months.

Advantages over the iPad

• Webcam
• 2 USB ports
• WePad App Store + Android Marketplace
• Multitasking
• Works with all ebook formats
• Larger screen
• Flash support

Disadvantages

• None we can see

Lenovo Skylight Smartbook

Yes, it’s a netbook but give the Skylight a chance before scrolling down to the next iPad alternative. 10 hour battery life, 2 lbs weight, and a bright 10-inch screen are pretty standard noondays. But then throw in a 3G wireless into a thin and sleek package powered by a custom web interface and you have one tasty treat.

Advantages over the iPad

• Full keyboard
• USB ports
• SD card slot

Disadvantages

• Unproven OS (that’s a biggie)
• No touchscreen

Lenovo IdeaPad U1 Hybrid

It’s a tablet! No, it’s a netbook! No, it’s both! An Intel CULV processor handles Windows 7 while in netbook mode and an ARM CPU takes care of the Skylight OS when the tablet is all by itself. It packs 3G, 128GB SSD all in a design that’s truly the best of both worlds. The U1 Hybrid slated for a summer 2010 release. See it in action here.

Advantages over the iPad

• Windows 7
• Two-in-One design
• USB port
• SD card slot
• Larger screen

Disadvantages

• No access to the App Store
• It will probably be more expensive

ExoPC

It looks like an iPad, costs the same as an iPad, has similar tech specs as the iPad, but it isn’t made by Apple. The ExoPC might be the absolute best iPad alternative for Apple haters as long as they feel comfortable owning an obvious iPad clone. The ExoPC is supposed to be released sometime this spring.

Advantages over the iPad

• SD card slot
• User-replaceable battery
• Supports Flash and Silverlight
• Wireless and wired networking
• Windows 7
• 3 USB ports

Disadvantages

• No access to the App Store
• Shorter battery life at 4 hours

Your smartphone

And finally, your smartphone should really be considered an iPad alternative. Think about what the iPad can do and then compare it against your current phone. It could be a Palm Pre, Droid, HD2, or even iPhone. You can surf the web on these phones, edit photos, read sheet music, play electronic instruments, read comics, watch TV shows, play racing games and the list goes on and on and on. Sure, the iPad has that massive screen to further exploit those apps, but most of the functions are the same.

The hallowed Think branding finally spread out to the land of AIOs earlier this year and we just had to wrap our paws around some of that signature matte black plastic to see what’s what. The ThinkCentre A70z represents Lenovo’s most direct assault on the eco-conscious office manager’s checkbook, coming as it does with minimal packaging, built out of recycled and recyclable materials, and significant energy savings relative to orthodox desktops. In our time with it, we found the A70z to be a well built and capable little rig, but the question you most probably want answered is whether the premium branding we associate with the tank-like ThinkPads can be trusted to deliver a similar superiority in hardware and construction in the all-in-one arena. Click past the break for the answer.

ThinkCentre A70z review

Setup and configuration

There’s a mock infomercial from Lenovo floating about on the interwebs that claims the A70z can be taken “from box to boot” in under three minutes. While we couldn’t reach quite such a velocity in our unboxing, it is undeniable that setting up this all-in-one is a cinch. With so few accessories and paperwork to deal with, it’s simply a matter of whipping out the machine, strapping the provided batteries into the keyboard and mouse, plugging in the power cable, and hitting the “on” button. The only snag we ran into was that we couldn’t find the minuscule wireless receiver for the input peripherals, whose position wasn’t well documented. It was tucked away in a compartment inside the mouse, which gets a plus for neatness and storage, but a minus for the unintuitive placement. Aside from that minor issue, the setup here is comparable to that of a laptop or a phone — gone are the days of wrestling with a jungle of wiring behind and under your desk just to get everything hooked up.

Hardware and construction

Both visual and physical inspections revealed no flaws in the A70z. No untoward noises, no poorly molded plastic, no dead pixels. It inspires confidence that it’ll last for quite a long time and does not seem to have any structural frailties. Compatible with standard VESA wall mounts and featuring a Kensington lock on the back, it offers us hints of its business-friendly orientation. The copper heatsink up top is well positioned — it allows heat from the CPU to escape straight out of the top of the case without warming up other components unnecessarily. Another good use of metal is in the kickstand at the back, though that probably should also have extended to the machine’s carry handle, which is unfortunately all plastic. That’s not to say it’s flimsy, just that it doesn’t feel as reassuring as it perhaps ought to do. Still, this is as portable a desktop computer as you can ask for, and it’s certainly light enough to transport with ease.

Software and performance

The software on this baby is Windows 7, the Professional 32-bit variety. Should you truly need any more enlightenment on the topic of this OS, hit up our review right here, but suffice it to say it’s everything you’d expect from a machine sporting Microsoft’s latest and greatest.

Wrap-up

If it hasn’t emerged already, the theme of our experience with the A70z was a singular one of competency. It did what we expected it to do, it contained no nasty surprises, but it also didn’t bowl us over with anything particularly special. The unit we reviewed is on sale now for around $797 in the US or £611 in the UK, which is a fair bit more than you’d need to spend if you put all the components together yourself.

see the whole review with video at engadget.com

It’s that time of year again and we’ve got a wide array of coupons for Lenovo laptops. 5% off applies to most ThinkPads, while the SL Series get 10% and the last generation X200 Tablet & W700 get a decent 15% off. Every IdeaPad gets 15% off, including all the budget priced netbooks! If desktops are more your speed, the IdeaCentre lineup also gets 15% off.

Being a St. Patrick’s Day Sale, this deal will end on March 17th. Clearly the best deals are on the already discounted last generation ThinkPads: the X200 Tablet and monster workstation W700.

Hit the jump to check out the base configs and starting prices for the sale models!

ThinkPad T Series starting at $873 after 5% coupon

• ThinkPad T410 starting at $873 | Read our ThinkPad T410 First Impressions or posts about the T410
• ThinkPad T410s starting at $1329 | Read our ThinkPad T400s Review or posts about the T410s
• ThinkPad T510 starting at $892 | Read posts about the ThinkPad T510

ThinkPad W Series starting at $1519, with 5-15% coupons

• ThinkPad W510 starting at $1519 after 5% coupon | Read posts about the W510
• ThinkPad W700 starting at $1699 after 15% coupon

ThinkPad X Series starting at $426, with 5-20% coupons

• ThinkPad X100e starting at $426 after 5% coupon | Read posts about the ThinkPad X100e
• ThinkPad X200 Tablet starting at $1252 after 15% coupon | Read our ThinkPad X200 Tablet Review

Click here to browse Lenovo’s St. Patrick’s Day Sale

ThinkPad Edge starting at $550 after 5% coupon

• ThinkPad Edge 13 AMD starting at $550 | Read posts about the ThinkPad Edge
• ThinkPad Edge 13 Intel starting at $759

ThinkPad SL Series starting at $449 after 10% coupon

• ThinkPad SL410 & SL510 starting at $449

Click here to browse Lenovo’s St. Patrick’s Day Sale

IdeaPad S Series netbooks starting at $313 after 15% coupon

• IdeaPad S10-3 Pine Trail netbook starting at $313 | Read posts about the S10-3
• IdeaPad S10-3t Pine Trail convertible tablet netbook starting at $466
• IdeaPad S12 netbook starting at $364 | Read our IdeaPad S12 review
• IdeaPad S12 netbook with NVIDIA Ion starting at $509 | Read posts about NVIDIA Ion

IdeaPad Y Series starting at $509 after 15% coupon

• IdeaPad Y450 starting at $509 | Read our IdeaPad Y450 review
• New IdeaPad Y460 starting at $764 | Read posts about the IdeaPad Y460
• IdeaPad Y550 starting at $568
• IdeaPad Y550p starting at $891

Click here to browse Lenovo’s St. Patrick’s Day Sale

IdeaPad U Series starting at $568 after 15% coupon

• IdeaPad U150 starting at $594
• IdeaPad U350 starting at $594
• IdeaPad U450p starting at $568
• IdeaPad U550 starting at $577

Lenovo G Series starting at $458

• G550 (Core 2 Duo 15.6-inch) starting at $458
• G450 (Core 2 Duo, 14-inch) starting at $483
• G560 (Core i3, 15.6-inch) starting at $594
• G460 (Core i3, 14-inch)  starting at $679
• G555 (AMD Turion dual core, 15.6-inch) starting at $568
• G455 (AMD Athlon dual core, 14-inch) starting at $551

Who says you have to pick between a netbook and the coming onslaught of standalone tablet devices? Okay maybe some (eh hem Apple), but Lenovo’s trying to have it both ways with the IdeaPad U1 and the S10-3t. In clamshell mode the S10-3t looks like any old 10-inch netbook, but swivel around its capacitive mulitouch display and it turns into that slate device you’ve been dreaming of. That’s not all: the S10-3t is one of the first netbooks (or netveritbles) that has the new Intel 1.83GHz Atom N470 processor. But can the S10-3t straddle both worlds and do it well? And perhaps more importantly, is it worth the premium $649 price tag? That’s the question we’ve been asking ourselves for the last few days, so hit the break for some answers in our full review.

Lenovo IdeaPad S10-3t review

Look and feel

There’s nothing too jaw-dropping about the S10-3t’s design, and we’d actually be totally fine with that if it didn’t have the glossiest black lid known to man. While the lid is inlaid with a subtle glitter tint and boxy pattern, you wouldn’t know it with all the smudgy fingerprints it collects. And though the plastic chassis feels solid enough, the lid did collect some scratches from being in our bag so you’ll want to pick up a case to keep the little guy clean and warm.

For a netbook the .79-inch S10-3t is actually rather trim, and it’s noticeably narrower than other 10-inch systems. While it’s obviously thicker than standalone tablets or e-readers like the Kindle DX, when equipped with its four-cell battery the 2.7-pound tablet was light enough to hold up in bed while reading. However, that eight-cell bulging battery version that we saw at CES looks like it would be incredibly uncomfortable to hold in arm.

One of the biggest benefits of the convertible form factor is having access to a full size, physical keyboard, but for a netbook we’re just not that impressed with the S10-3t’s layout and keys. The matte white keys are particularly bouncy and are more cramped than usual. Perhaps it’s the fact that we’ve gotten used to the chiclet keyboard layout, but our first draft of this review was ridden with typos.

As a result of the S10-3t’s narrower dimensions, its palmrest is thinner, which in turn means very limited touchpad real estate. The rectangular pad with its integrated mouse buttons is about the size of a USB stick, and provides an incredibly cramped navigation experience. While it doesn’t make up for all the backtracking our fingers had to do, we do like the feel of the raised dots on the pad itself. Are we totally crazy for thinking Lenovo should have grabbed a ThinkPad pointing stick and stuck it in the middle of the keyboard?

Screen and tablet performance

Of course, the hope is that you should be able use the capacitive touchscreen to move around in Windows 7 Home Premium, and for the most part it’s a decent touch navigation experience. The 1024 x 600 resolution is actually ideal for the 10.1-inch display – desktop icons are large enough to select with a light finger tap, but getting at the smaller menus requires more than a few jabs at the screen. Lenovo does preload Bumptop, which creates a 3D desk-like view of your desktop, but honestly we find the whole interface rather frustrating and would have just preferred Lenovo put on its SimpleTap software for those larger touch controls to adjust the volume or view the remaining battery power.

Multitouch gestures were responsive; we got in the hang of sticking two fingers on the screen to scroll down the length of web pages or pinching to make text larger. As soon as you swing the display around using the S10-3t’s fairly sturdy, bidirectional hinge, Lenovo’s Natural Touch interface launches. The full screen finger-friendly carousel interface provides large shortcuts to Lenovo’s own photo, music and e-book software. We’re not sure why you’d choose this multimedia software over Microsoft’s Media Player and Photo Gallery, but the e-book software does open PDF or e-pub files and adds note taking and bookmark functions. Though it’s a nice piece of software, we preferred Amazon’s Kindle for PC app to access our collection of already-purchased titles.

While the touch reading experience was smooth and we enjoyed flicking through pages and pinching to zoom in on text, it was our experience reading the New York Times Reader while laying down that brought out the biggest issue with the screen – its viewing angles. Though the extra glossy screen contributes somewhat to the issues, we encountered major color distortion both horizontally and vertically, and at some angles we couldn’t even see what was on the screen. It was especially apparent when we tried to look at an Olympic photo gallery while lying in bed – we had to adjust ourselves and the tablet quite a bit to comfortably flick through the images. Why Lenovo had to use a cheap LCD on this device is beyond us – it craps up a perfectly enjoyable experience.

The device has an accelerometer, but we found it to be a bit flaky; we ended up using the button on the side of the screen more often than not to change the screen orientation, and even when we used this solution we got impatient with the typical five second adjustment period. Lastly, we should mention that Lenovo doesn’t include a stylus, so if you want to take advantage of Windows 7’s handwriting functionality you’re going to need to come up with one of your own or, you know, find a piece of meat.

Performance and battery life

We went into reviewing the S10-3t hoping it would be one of the faster netbooks we’ve ever used considering its new 1.83GHz Atom N470 processor and 2GB of RAM. However, those dreams quickly faded when we were met with the typical netbook performance. In fact, the N470 scored 1,348 on PCMark05, which is actually lower than the N450-powered HP Mini 210’s 1393. That’s sort of a letdown for us, but in typical usage — writing this review and surfing the web — performance seemed snappy. We did notice it taking a bit of time for certain apps within Lenovo’s NaturalTouch to open but we’re inclined to blame the slow 320GB hard drive or software for that. With no change made to the GMA 3150 graphics, the S10-3t was fine for playing standard def video, but couldn’t handle streaming a 720p music video without stuttering.

On our video rundown test the S10-3t’s four-cell battery lasted three hours and 12 minutes, but when we actually used the system to write this review and surf the Web we got close to four and a half hours of battery life. In our minds that’s not all that bad considering the battery fits flush with the system, but you can always go up to the chunky eight-cell for a couple more bucks.

Wrap-up

As both a netbook and a tablet the S10-3t leaves a bit more to be desired. Sure, we’re disappointed that the N470 processor doesn’t provide improved performance, but what’s even more aggravating is that $649 buys you a tiny trackpad, sluggish touchscreen software and terrible viewing angles. Maybe you can live with those shortcomings, but we’re personally holding out for a better netbook / tablet combo to come along.