Lenovo intros Atom-based IdeaPad netbook

Lenovo this morning contributed its share to the rapidly growing netbook field with a new IdeaPad model. The S10 shares the same 10-inch screen and 1.6GHz Atom processor as larger rivals like the MSI Wind but promises a unique design with a multi-touch trackpad, front-mounted speakers, and a keyboard at 85 percent of full size and thus comfortable enough to type on for long periods. A 1.3-megapixel camera is built into the lid. Bluetooth and an ExpressCard slot are also rare additions for connections to wireless keyboards, 3G modems, and similar peripherals.

Expansion options include a six-cell battery that runs for a full six hours as well as the option of up to 2GB of memory.

Prices are pushed down chiefly by using traditional notebook hard drives rather than flash or ultra-portable hard drives. A base S10 ships at $400 with an 80GB hard drive as well as 512MB of memory and a three-cell, three-hour battery; moving to a $450 edition doubles both the hard drive space and RAM. All American models will at first ship with Windows XP, though foreign versions and a potential US update will come with a simplified Linux variant. Deliveries begin on September 28th at retail shops.