Lenovo’s ThinkPad comes complete with stylus. (Photo courtesy Lenovo)
Better late to the tablet game than never, Lenovo announced three new tablet offerings Wednesday, officially unveiling designs and specs on the products for the first time.
The IdeaPad K1 and ThinkPad tablets are set to debut in August, with the IdeaPad P1 to arrive at an unspecified date later in the year. The K1 and the ThinkPad will run Android Honeycomb 3.1, while the P1 will run Windows 7.
What may be even more exciting is that all three tablets will run Netflix, the first of any Android Honeycomb-powered tablets to do so. Although a handful of Android phones are able to run Netflix’s Android app, Apple’s iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch are all able to run the streaming movie service. It’s a big deal that Lenovo’s tablets will finally offer another solution to Netflix users who don’t necessarily want to go with Apple.
The real star hardware is found in the ThinkPad, Lenovo’s business-oriented Android tablet (pictured above). It comes with an optional stylus pen, but unlike the exorbitantly priced HTC Flyer’s stylus — which cost a whopping 80 bucks to purchase with the Flyer — the ThinkPad’s stylus will cost less than half that when bought with the tablet, a modest $30.
It’s got some of the usual accoutrements found in Android tablets — dual-core processor, front and back-facing cameras — but also includes a number of uncommon connectivity options. HDMI output, USB 2.0 port, micro USB port, SIM card slot, 3-in-1 memory card reader — with this kind of connectivity, it’s like we’re looking at the back of a PC tower rather than a tablet. There’s also a dock connector to hook the tablet up to both a charging station or the optional $100 folio, which acts as both a carrying case and a keyboard.
The ThinkPad will first launch in Wi-Fi only versions, but at an unspecified date shortly after a 3G version will go on sale. The carrier for the 3G version is yet to be named.
The IdeaPad K1 is more run of the mill, touting a list of specs similar to other tablets already on the market. (Photo courtesy Lenovo)
The K1 doesn’t look much different from most Android tablets currently available for purchase. It sports a dual-core 1-GHz Nvidia Tegra 2 processor backed by a full gig of RAM, and it comes with a 10.1-inch display — all of which is identical to Samsung’s Galaxy Tab 10.1, which was released far before the K1 will come out. And like Toshiba’s recently launched Thrive tablet, the tablet’s back casing comes in multiple colors.
The one big draw — you’ll be able to buy a 32 GB version for $500, the same as a 16 GB iPad 2.
Lenovo’s IdeaPad P1 rounds out the threesome as a Windows 7-powered tablet. (Photo courtesy Lenovo)
Last but not entirely forgotten, the P1 touts a 1.5-GHz Intel processor, can support up to 2 GB of DDR2 memory, and will come in both Wi-Fi and 3G versions upon its eventual release. Like the ThinkPad, you can also purchase the P1 with an optional stylus.
The 32 GB IdeaPad K1 will be available for preorder online for $500 beginning today, with a release set for August. The 16 GB ThinkPad will also be available for pre-order online today for $530 with the optional stylus, and $500 without. It’s also set to drop come August. Finally, the P1 hasn’t got any availability or pricing information outside of a “fourth quarter” release time frame.
