Lenovo has announced UK pricing and availability of its new IdeaPad netbooks. And that’s netbooks, plural – Lenovo has added a second model for the UK.

We reported on the IdeaPad S10 yesterday, with its Intel Atom processor, 10.2in LED-backlit screen and 85% full-size keyboard, but it’ll be joined in the UK by the S9 with its 8.9in screen. We’re still waiting for confirmation of both models’ specifications, but we do know that Wi-Fi and Bluetooth are standard, as is an ExpressCard slot – something so far unseen on any netbook.

Models will be available with both Linux and Windows XP, with either a 4Gb SSD or 160Gb hard disk and up to 1Gb of RAM. The IdeaPad S9 will cost from £279 inc VAT; the IdeaPad S10 from £319 inc VAT, and both models will be available in the UK in October.

ExpressCard slot aside, the Lenovo IdeaPads don't seem to be bringing any new features to the netbook party, but we're hoping that at least some of the legendary ThinkPad build quality may be passed on. The IdeaPads aren't ThinkPads, of course, but the "OneKey Rescue System" does evoke the blue ThinkVantage button of the business brand.

Here's the Lenovo press release:

LENOVO DIVES INTO SUB-NOTEBOOK COMPUTING WITH FIRST CONSUMER “NETBOOKS”

IdeaPad S9 And S10 combine tiny technology, high fashion and extreme portability

Basingstoke, UK – August 4, 2008: Lenovo today announced it is entering the “netbook,” market with the new IdeaPad S9 and S10 netbooks. Lenovo designed the super-slim, super-small IdeaPads to complement a customer’s primary PC or as a first-time, introductory PC purchase. The IdeaPads allow users to do simple activities such as dive the Internet, check and write emails, listen to music and run basic applications. Approximately one inch thin with models weighing just over two pounds, the IdeaPad netbooks typify thin and light design.

 “IdeaPad netbooks are the latest in a string of recently announced Lenovo products, designed specifically for consumers worldwide and developed through our heritage of technological innovation and exceptional engineering,” said Liu Jun, senior vice president, Consumer Business Group, Lenovo. “As rapidly as the technology changes, today’s consumers are looking for mobile products that feature the best of basic computing functions in an extremely compact and affordable form, and Lenovo designed the IdeaPad netbooks for that purpose.”

Consumer demand for netbooks is growing rapidly around the world. IDC forecasts worldwide shipments of ultra-low cost notebooks rising from just 430,000 units in 2007 to 9.2 million in 2012.1

A Palette Full of Style, Colour and Convenience

The 8.9-inch screen IdeaPad S9 and 10.2-inch screen IdeaPad S10 netbooks come in glossy flavours of deep blue, pastel pink and ruby red as well as in classic white and bold black. For a comfortable, more natural computing experience, Lenovo designed the keyboard to be 85 percent of the size of a full-function notebook PC’s keyboard, and an energy-efficient LED backlit display helps provide longer battery life than traditional displays.

For easy connection to the Internet, the IdeaPad netbook's feature WiFi and optional Bluetooth connectivity and also have an Express Card slot so users can enable the netbook for optional high speed mobile broadband connectivity.2 Often used as a social networking device, the netbooks come with tools that optimise the experience such as a built-in web camera for video messaging, and its two USB ports and a 4-in-1 multicard reader make connecting other devices and transferring photos, music and videos simple. IdeaPad netbooks come equipped with either Microsoft Windows XP or Linux.

Using the Intel® Atom™ processor, the IdeaPad netbooks provide basic notebook functionality as a user’s secondary PC. The Lenovo netbooks offer up to 1GB of memory and either 160 GB of hard disk drive space or 4 GB of solid state drive storage, making them ideal for accommodating a variety of data, from a user’s digital music inventory to a student’s homework assignments and more. Lenovo engineered the netbooks to reduce the heat emitted on key contact areas such as the bottom of the PC, the palm rest and the keyboard. Additionally, Lenovo’s OneKey™ Rescue System on Microsoft Windows-based netbooks helps users recover data at the touch of a button should a system error or virus occur.

Pricing and Availability

The IdeaPad netbooks will be available in early October 2008. The IdeaPad S9 is available from – £279 inc.VAT and the IdeaPad S10 is available from – £319 inc.VAT.

[Lenovo]

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