Lenovo targets SMB sector with its latest ThinkPad Edge offering style and affordability

Dubai, UAE - 2 March 2010: Lenovo Middle East, Egypt and Pakistan (MEEP) announced today the launch of the  new ThinkPad laptop series in the region, which is designed to push ThinkPad design and innovation to the edge. Simply called "ThinkPad Edge," the 13, 14 and 15 inch models are designed specifically for small to medium sized business (SMB) customers. The new laptops are designed with style and affordability in mind for today's budget-conscious customers. For example, they include new rich and vibrant color choices and a new contemporary keyboard.

Recent international research by global management consultancy A.T. Kearney illustrates the crucial role Small and Medium Enterprises play in the successful development of sustainable domestic economies. According to their latest reports SMEs may contribute to the local GCC economies with additional GDP of USD 100 billion and up to 2 million jobs in the coming years. The Planning and Economy Department in Abu Dhabi highlighted how SMBs constitute 94 percent of the total projects in the UAE, followed by 92 per cent in Bahrain, Oman and Qatar, 78 per cent in Kuwait and 75 per cent in KSA.

"The SMB sector has grown a lot in the last period and has been getting wide attention from governments all over the world due to its role in developing the economy," said Ali Al-Amine, acting general manager, Lenovo MEEP. "The new ThinkPad Edge is an enhanced version to the ThinkPad line as it offers the same robustness and efficiency users are used to from ThinkPad machines but with a new sleek design and various colours which distinguish it from the traditional look of ThinkPads."

Al-Amine added: "We are committed to strengthen the performance of SMBs in the region by providing them with the latest smart, reliable and cost effective technology. We see great potentials in the segment and good demands on the new ThinkPad Edge."

"Small to medium business customers tell us they want PCs with bold yet professional designs, uncompromising durability and reliability with the latest technologies that meets their budgets," said Fran O'Sullivan, senior vice president, Think Product Group, Lenovo. "Our answer is the new ThinkPad Edge family of laptops. They deliver stunning technology and powerful performance at an unprecedented value."

Sophisticated and Simple Design

The ThinkPad Edge Series laptops reflect a new progressive and strikingly clean appearance while retaining ThinkPad durability and reliability. For example, the laptops include spill-resistant keyboards and value-added ThinkVantage Technologies like the Active Protection System and Rescue and Recovery.

However, the new laptops blend expressive design and ease of use in several new ways:

  • Contemporary Keyboard - A new contemporary keyboard gives the laptop a clean and inviting look. Uniform black keys and removal of the embedded number pad also help create a modern design. The Function keys have even been re-designed so that users only need to use one finger to access multimedia functions and more. Other rarely used keys like System Request have been removed.

  • Expanded Touchpad - A large multitouch touchpad provides an oversized landing pad for fingers to pinch, zoom and scroll.

  • Expressive, Colorful Palette - Midnight Black in either gloss or soft finishes remain the traditional color for business, but for those who want to make a statement, ThinkPad Edge laptops come in Heatwave Red too. Additionally, a sleek silver band frames the exterior of the laptop.

SMB Performance Gets New Edge

SMBs "are a 24 x 7 business," and their PC technology reflects their personal brand. Lenovo designed the ThinkPad Edge Series specifically to give these customers stylish and eye-catching designs with high performance, reliability and the latest technologies including:

  • Great performance with choices of Intel Core 2 Duo ultra low voltage and standard dual core processors1

  • Optimized for Windows 7 under Lenovo's Enhanced Experience program

  • Long battery life of over eight hours2

  • Wireless connectivity technologies including WiFi and optional Bluetooth,  3G and WiMAX3

  • Crisp and clear voice over Internet protocol with Skype™ software, high definition speakers, high resolution, low light sensitivity cameras and microphone and camera mute keys

  • Commitment to green technology. The laptops carry a Gold rating from the Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool and meet Energy Star 5.0. The Edge laptops' packaging contains no foam and uses many materials which are derived from 100 percent recycled content, such as thermoplastic, sugarcane or sorghum

Total Service and Support

Lenovo also offers a full suite of flexible service and support solutions for the new ThinkPad Edge Series.  Lenovo-branded services give customers and business partners a single source solution that helps minimize risks and increases protection and productivity.

These services include:

  • ThinkPad Protection to protect from unexpected repair costs in case of accidents or spills

  • Priority Support for 24/7 tech-to-tech support

  • Hard Disk Drive Retention that lets customer keep their failed or damaged hard drive to ensure data remains safely in their hands.

 

Click here to watch a video introduction to the ThinkPad Edge laptops.

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About Lenovo
Lenovo (HKSE: 992) (ADR: LNVGY) is dedicated to building exceptionally engineered personal computers. Lenovo's business model is built on innovation, operational efficiency and customer satisfaction as well as 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 see www.lenovo.com.

1Available on 13 inch ThinkPad Edge models.

2Select models including the ThinkPad Edge 13 inch with Intel SU7300 and 6-cell battery and ThinkPad Edge 14 and 15 inch with 9-cell battery.

3WWAN/WiMAX Service Providers: Requires separate agreement with select third party service provider, and is subject to credit approval and applicable service agreement/terms, rate plan and coverage maps of the provider. Service is available in select metropolitan markets, not available in all areas. Service provider, not Lenovo, is solely responsible for service. Lenovo customers may be contacted after purchase to activate service. Special credit and tenure restrictions and additional charges may apply to international roaming. A network connection, third-party software, additional hardware, and/or subscription to a third-party service may be required for certain solutions/applications. Additional restrictions apply.

© Press Release 2010