Lenovo Group today confirmed the launch of its series of low-cost PCs, taking aim at the $400 billion market for U.S. small and medium businesses now dominated by Dell and Hewlett-Packard. The company had become the world's third-largest PC maker, behind Dell and HP.
The company is positioning the new computers as a stylish "smart choice" compared to its classic "black tuxedo" ThinkPad line, executives said in a press conference in New York Friday.
Lenovo will attempt to shoulder aside those companies with its Lenovo 3000 product family, featuring a $349 desktop PC and a $599 laptop. Both series launch with Internet sales Friday.
The new line includes the C series of notebook PCs running on Intel processors and the J series of desktops running on either Intel or Advanced Micro Devices processors.
The J100 and J105 desktop PCs offer Serial ATA drive support, six USB 2.0 ports, and front-side audio. The difference is that the J100 runs on either the Intel Celeron D or Pentium 4 processor, while the J105 uses an AMD Sempron or Athlon chip. Prices start at $349 for a J105 outfitted with Windows XP Home and the low-end Sempron chip, and at $499 for a J100 equipped with Windows XP Pro and the high-end Pentium 4.
The C100 notebook runs on the user's choice of an Intel Pentium M or Celeron M processor, with certain models offering the Centrino mobile platform. Either way, the 6.2-pound computer offers 802.11 wireless LAN, Bluetooth, and ethernet connectivity, a multicard reader for digital pictures, and four USB ports all in a 1.3-inch-thick package. Prices start at $599.
Prices for the C series range from around £493 to £1022 including VAT in UK and $599 to $999 in the US. The desktop J series are priced from around £306 including VAT over here and $349 in the US.
Lenovo executives shared their road map for future releases of laptops in the 3000 series. Today's C100 offers a 15-inch regular-format display screen. By the end of March, the N100 will have a choice of 14.1- and 15.4-inch wide screens, and by the second quarter of 2006, the V100 will have a 12-inch wide screen.
In 2005, Lenovo's PC worldwide shipments reached 13.93m units from 4.32m units in 2004, an increase of 123 per cent year on year. Lenovo finished the year with a market share of 6.4 per cent. Dell ended the year with 17.2 per cent of the market, while HP's share was 14.7 per cent.
The company is positioning the new computers as a stylish "smart choice" compared to its classic "black tuxedo" ThinkPad line, executives said in a press conference in New York Friday.
Lenovo will attempt to shoulder aside those companies with its Lenovo 3000 product family, featuring a $349 desktop PC and a $599 laptop. Both series launch with Internet sales Friday.
The new line includes the C series of notebook PCs running on Intel processors and the J series of desktops running on either Intel or Advanced Micro Devices processors.
The J100 and J105 desktop PCs offer Serial ATA drive support, six USB 2.0 ports, and front-side audio. The difference is that the J100 runs on either the Intel Celeron D or Pentium 4 processor, while the J105 uses an AMD Sempron or Athlon chip. Prices start at $349 for a J105 outfitted with Windows XP Home and the low-end Sempron chip, and at $499 for a J100 equipped with Windows XP Pro and the high-end Pentium 4.
The C100 notebook runs on the user's choice of an Intel Pentium M or Celeron M processor, with certain models offering the Centrino mobile platform. Either way, the 6.2-pound computer offers 802.11 wireless LAN, Bluetooth, and ethernet connectivity, a multicard reader for digital pictures, and four USB ports all in a 1.3-inch-thick package. Prices start at $599.
Prices for the C series range from around £493 to £1022 including VAT in UK and $599 to $999 in the US. The desktop J series are priced from around £306 including VAT over here and $349 in the US.
Lenovo executives shared their road map for future releases of laptops in the 3000 series. Today's C100 offers a 15-inch regular-format display screen. By the end of March, the N100 will have a choice of 14.1- and 15.4-inch wide screens, and by the second quarter of 2006, the V100 will have a 12-inch wide screen.
In 2005, Lenovo's PC worldwide shipments reached 13.93m units from 4.32m units in 2004, an increase of 123 per cent year on year. Lenovo finished the year with a market share of 6.4 per cent. Dell ended the year with 17.2 per cent of the market, while HP's share was 14.7 per cent.
