Lenovo IdeaPad U260 may compete with MacBook Air

Lenovo has slipped out details of a new IdeaPad that may provide the first early Windows parallel to the new MacBook Air. The U260 has an unusual in-between, 12.5-inch display and will be almost as thin and light as its Apple counterparts, weighing in at 3.04 pounds and with a design 0.71 inches thick at its deepest point. Performance is potentially faster with an ultra low-voltage Core i3 or i5, but the decision will likely relegate the design to Intel's integrated video versus the Air's usually faster GeForce 320M.

The ultraportable should be slower in storage as it would rely on a 320GB rotating hard drive, but a minimum 4GB of RAM is poised to offset some of the differences in storage speed. Lenovo's design doesn't taper as sharply and has room for Ethernet, HDMI and VGA along with two USB ports, although it only has a four-cell battery and could run for less time than Apple's notebooks.

Lenovo is aiming for a more upscale design with an aluminum-magnesium alloy and metallic colors. The decision along with the minimum performance may put the price closer to the $1,000 mark. No details have emerged of when the U260 will be ready, though the presence of official shots suggests a relatively near term release. [via ThinkPads]

By Electronista Staff