New ThinkPads Run Up to 11 Hours with Extended Battery

Embedded Wireless WAN Enables Network Connection on the Road

Dubai, UAE, 21th March 2006 -- Lenovo today introduced two new ThinkPad models that bring a new level of performance and portability to the world's most recognizable notebook brand, extending the battery life of its notebook computers to up to 11 hours.  

Designed around Intel Centrino Duo mobile technology, the ThinkPad X60 Series and ThinkPad T60 Series help business users move away from the office, connecting remotely with embedded wireless wide area network (WWAN) antennas and operating without a power cord.  ThinkPad X60 Series and T60 Series draw less power than previous X and T models for extended battery life - improving battery performance in some models by as much as 37 percent.

Intel dual-core processors improve productivity and multitasking versus previous processors, allowing users to run multiple high-performance applications - such as medical or engineering software, virus scan or system backups - that might otherwise paralyze the PC.

Portability with a Punch

Select models of upcoming ThinkPad T60 Series and X60 Series will feature integrated high speed wireless support for leading 3G service provider VerizonWireless in the U.S.  Models supporting the VerizonWireless BroadbandAccess network are planned to be available in the first-half of this year. Notebooks featuring integrated wireless wide area network (WWAN) antennas enable users to connect to high-speed broadband networks without separately purchased PC cards.

The ThinkPad was the first non-rugged notebook ever to integrate a 3G WWAN antenna for Verizon Wireless Broadband Access, which averages download speeds between 400-700 kilobytes per second (kbps). (1)

In order to help simplify the connectivity process, ThinkVantage Access Connections 4.1 helps mobile users set up and automatically switch from one available network connection to the next, helping reduce costly help desk calls for assistance in changing IP settings, defining default printers or accessing a wireless network.(2) In addition to facilitating wireless peer-to-peer networking, Access Connections 4.1 supports wired, WLAN and WWAN connectivity.

All models feature a hardware switch to manually disable the system's wireless antenna.

"Our customers want systems that are easy to use and allow them to be productive in any location - whether that's in the office, at home, in an airport or at a hotel," said Imtiaz Ghani , general manager, Lenovo Middle East, Egypt and Pakistan.  "These new ThinkPad notebooks merge one of Lenovo's hallmarks - productivity technology - in new thin and light designs to give users improved performance in whatever environment they work." 

Fresh Out of the Box 24/7

Lenovo's new System Rejuvenation technology -- part of Rescue and Recovery -- gets rid of the accumulated waste on the hard drive that hampers system performance and makes a system run slow.  By cleaning out unused and unnecessary files and getting rid of spyware and hardware, Rescue and Recovery can improve system performance and help a PC run faster.

Performance and Portability in One

With the new Intel Centrino Duo mobile technology, including the Intel Core duo processor and the Intel Mobile 945 Express Chipset, the ThinkPad X60 Series offers increased performance with 667 MHz front side bus and 667 MHz DDR2 SDRAM.  With a 37 percent power-use reduction from earlier platforms used in X Series models, the ThinkPad X60s features the longest standard battery life of any ThinkPad, allowing for up to 11 hours of computing.(3)

The ThinkPad T60 measures an inch thin with a travel weight of 4.8 lbs(4), giving it newfound power and performance in a thin-and-light form factor.  For mobile workers, the ThinkPad T60 Series includes a more durable system design, coupling the ThinkPad Roll Cage - an inner armor chassis - with its airbag-like Active Protection System and ThinkPad shock-mounted hard drive.(5) 

One Million Fingerprints and Counting

Combining Lenovo's hardware- and software-based security solution and integrated fingerprint reader, select models of the ThinkPad X60 Series and T60 Series are the most secure PCs available today(6).  ThinkPads with integrated fingerprint readers make security simple, enabling users to access password-protected personal and financial information, web sites, documents and e-mail with a swipe of their finger while helping to protecting data from unauthorized access. The integrated fingerprint reader is part of a broad set of security tools offered by Lenovo on select systems that include Client Security Solution 6.0 software and an embedded security chip.  In December, Lenovo sold its 1,000,000th ThinkPad with integrated fingerprint reader, making the company the largest provide of biometric-enabled PCs in the world.

-Ends-

About Lenovo
Lenovo (HKSE: 992)(ADR: LNVGY) is the world's most innovative personal computing company, with a business model built on innovation, operational excellence, customer satisfaction and a focus on investment in emerging markets. Formed by Lenovo Group's acquisition of the former IBM Personal Computing Division, the company develops, manufactures and markets reliable, high-quality, secure, and easy-to-use technology products and services worldwide. Lenovo has major research centers in Yamato, Japan; Beijing, Shanghai and Shenzhen, China; and Raleigh, North Carolina. For more information about Lenovo, visit www.lenovo.com/meep.  

Notes
(1) Verizon Wireless Service Speed: Speed averages 400-700 kbps based on network tests with 5 MB FTP data files, without compression. Speed declines with distance from cell site and is limited to 1.54 Mbps at certain cell sites with backhaul limitations. Number of users on the Verizon Wireless data network may also affect maximum possible speed. Average upload speeds expected to be between 60-80 Kbps. Actual speeds and coverage may vary.

(2) Network availability and security will vary by network provider; additional connection charges may apply

(3) When combining the standard 8-cell high-capacity battery with the optional X60 Extended Life battery.

(4) Weight includes standard battery and may vary due to vendor components, manufacturing process and options.

(5) Available on select models.

(6) ThinkPad notebooks with ThinkVantage Client Security Solution and integrated fingerprint reader (available on select models only) can be configured to build in an extra layer of protection for your passwords and documents.  No one offers stronger security as a standard feature.

© Press Release 2006