Lenovo kicks off lightweight ThinkPad L series
updated 12:00 am EDT, Tue April 20, 2010
ThinkPad L412, L512 launch new line
Lenovo marked the rare start to a new ThinkPad line early this morning with the launch of the 14-inch L412 and 15-inch L512. Both are designed for longevity first with as much as eight hours of battery life on a single pack and US military-grade resistance to moisture and shock. They should also be relatively light, with the base model coming in at 5.1 pounds using a six-cell battery and the larger model at 5.7.
Either is comparatively green as well, being made of as much as 30 percent recycled material and 40 percent better power draw than previous ThinkPads.
The series will start as low as $649 and has a wide range of scalability, running from as little as a 1.86GHz Celeron and Intel graphics to a 2.53GHz Core i5 and a dedicated Mobility Radeon HD 5145. Most of Lenovo's usual upgrade options are intact, including up to 8GB of RAM, a 320GB hard drive, 3G and WiMAX. Shipments start in mid-May.
