Lenovo kicks off smartbook category with Skylight
updated 07:10 am EST, Tue January 5, 2010
Lenovo Skylight uses Snapdragon, 3G
Lenovo this morning became the first company to release a computer in the newly coined smartbook category. The Skylight has the 10-inch screen of a netbook but uses a 1GHz Snapdragonprocessor that lets it defy a number of expectations compared to an Atom-based system. It not only gets about 10 hours of real-world use but is thinner than some smartphones, weighs less than 2 pounds and can play HD video, even when in a web browser.
Internet access is the central focus of the system, and so it only carries 20GB of built-in storage. In return, it has a heavily optimized Linux-based interface with "web gadgets" that jump directly to services like Amazon MP3, Facebook and YouTube. Skylight can use either AT&T-supplied 3G or Wi-Fi to get online and has 2GB of Internet storage.
Lenovo plans to ship its smartbook to the US in April. Its full, unsubsidized price will be $499, but it's hinted that AT&T may subsidize the price in exchange for signing a data plan contract.
Qualcomm is considered the creator of the smartbook category and has hoped to challenge both Intel as well as traditional smartphone vendors; it's also expected to directly challenge slate devices like the rumored Apple tablet. The platform typically relies on an ARM processor as well as Android or another Linux-related OS to run and ideally provides better performance and dimensions than a netbook without the accompanying bulk.
TAGS :
Amazon, computers, Linux, AT&T, networking, Android, Qualcomm, YouTube, Facebook, Lenovo, ARM, Snapdragon, Smartbook, Skylight
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Nov 2008
Something like this is starting to make sense
I could actually see myself using one of these. As long as they get away from those nasty Atom-powered crapbooks, I'll be happy. Since this smartbook can play 1080 HD that is very good. The price seems to be at a point where people will buy it and the company will also be able to make some money. I would likely buy an Apple tablet before this because of the content that I'm certain Apple would offer, but if content wasn't involved I could go either way. This HP has some nice hardware and if it runs Android I could live with that. As long as they're not trying to stick some bloated Windows 7 on it, then it should be good. Ten hours battery use would be perfect as long as it can get 6-8 hours of video watching. I hope HP is successful with this product.