Events

Pure adds three new flavours to their Sensia 200D Connect range

Andrew Edney

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Sep 1, 2012

Pure adds three new flavours to their Sensia 200D Connect range

Back in July we introduced you to the new Sensia 200D Connect from Pure, and this week at IFA they introduced some new colours.

In addition to black and white, Sensia 200D Connect is now available in a series of on-trend colourways:

Mango

or Lime Green

and finally in Burnt Orange (just don’t call it red).

Sensia 200D Connect is available now at just £249.99 (SRP) from all good retailers. For more information, visit www.pure.com

We have been using one for a little while and will be publishing our review shortly so watch this space.

Have you used on? Let us know what you think of it by leaving a comment below.

Apple iPad Mini cases outed at IFA 2012

News

Andrew Edney

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Sep 1, 2012

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With talk of Apple announcing an iPad Mini this month, it wasn’t surprising to already see vendors here at IFA 2012 showing off iPad Mini cases!

Obviously these are not Apple approved products, and just because there are cases here on display doesn’t actually mean that Apple will indeed launch the iPad Mini, but it certainly adds fuel to the rumour mill!

Would you buy an iPad mini? Let us know your thoughts by leaving a comment below.

IFA 2012: HP Unveils Innovative Multitouch Hybrid PC and Ultrabooks

Jim McCarthy

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Sep 1, 2012

2

HP unveiled three new laptops and ultrabook units. Read on for details!

HP unveiled three new laptop/ultrabook models this week. Here are the details:

BRACKNELL, August 30, 2012 — HP today announced three consumer notebooks featuring multitouch displays, including a uniquely designed hybrid PC that gives people more choice in how they access information.

The HP ENVY x2 is a powerful and ultrathin hybrid PC with the advantages of two devices in one.

As a notebook that doubles as a tablet, the HP ENVY x2 has a detachable screen that becomes a full tablet when separated from the keyboard via a seamless magnetic latch. Customers no longer have to choose between a product that lets them create rich content and another that lets them enjoy entertainment on the go—they can have both in one device.

The HP Spectre^XT TouchSmart Ultrabook™ and HP ENVY TouchSmart Ultrabook™ 4 bring the intuitive power of touch to ultramobile PCs.

“Consumers want the flexibility to move between creating rich documents and losing themselves in a great movie,” said Louis Perrin, director, Personal Computer Consumer Division, HP EMEA. “With the HP ENVY x2, customers can have it all, and the touch experience on these three new notebooks brings out the best of Windows 8.”

These notebook PCs are the first HP products announced with Microsoft® Windows® 8; additional notebooks, desktops and tablets will be announced later in 2012.

HP ENVY x2—the right device for the right time, every time

The HP ENVY x2 solves the “Do I bring my notebook or tablet?” dilemma. Consumers get the power of a notebook and the freedom of a tablet in one stylish, lightweight device.

Featuring a sleek aluminum finish and an innovative hinge with magnets that smoothly guide the tablet into place, the HP ENVY x2 weighs 1.4 kg.⁽¹⁾ When separated, the tablet portion weighs just 0.71 kg.

Customers can interact directly with the optimized Windows 8 touch interface on the HP ENVY x2’s vivid 29.4 cm (11.6”) HD⁽²⁾ touch display. Ultrawide viewing angles and a bright, 400-nit In-Plane Switching (IPS) panel provide a superb visual experience indoors and outdoors, while an HD webcam on the front and an 8-megapixel camera on the back capture high-quality photos and video. The HP ENVY x2 boasts up to 14 hours battery life with an intelligent charging mechanism.

The HP ENVY x2 also features Beats Audio^TM for the best-sounding, richest audio experience available on a PC. An optional stylus offers added creativity, giving customers the freedom to write, draw and navigate with added accuracy.

The HP ENVY x2 also makes sharing and staying connected with friends and family a breeze. A new HP Connected Photo⁽³⁾ application seamlessly syncs photos across multiple devices and offers basic editing options and instant-sharing capabilities for social networks. The HP ENVY x2 uses solid-state memory for improved reliability and faster startup times. Near Field Communication (NFC) technology lets users share content, including photos, contacts and URLs, with a simple tap.

IFA 2012: Samsung Announces New Smart TV’s

Jim McCarthy

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Aug 31, 2012

0

Samsung announced two new smart TV’s, both OLED based and with the ability to be controlled with gestures. Read on for details.

Samsung announced two new smart TV’s, both OLED based and with the ability to be controlled with gestures. Here is what they announced:

SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS DISPLAYS NEXT-GENERATION SMART TV TECHNOLOGY AT IFA 2012

Worldwide TV leader showcases OLED TV delivering, new consumer experiences with Smart Content and Smart Interaction

Berlin, Germany – 30^th August, 2012 – Today at IFA 2012, Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., a global leader in digital media and digital convergence technologies, showcased its much-anticipated 55-inch ES9500 OLED TV, featuring unrivalled picture quality, luxurious design and the new Samsung Multi View function. Also on show was the premium 75-inch LED ES9000 Smart TV with rose-gold bezel and the latest Smart Content. The Samsung Smart Hub demoed Angry Birds, played for the first time on Samsung Smart TV using Gesture Control.

Samsung’s IFA exhibit contains the “World’s Biggest OLED Experience”, comprising of twenty 55-inch OLED TVs, nine of which are suspended from the ceiling and rotate to create a captivating visual effect. This demonstration highlights OLED’s incredibly vivid picture quality and thin design. Visitors can experience first hand the superb OLED technologies, such as Samsung Multi View and crosstalk free OLED 3D, and glimpse the new OLED logo, an icon for the TV’s ability to reproduce intense, true-to-life colours and varying degrees of blacks.

Seven Years of Industry Leadership and Innovation

For the seventh consecutive year, Samsung championed its unrivalled leadership in Europe and worldwide by maintaining its leading position in the TV industry. This year, Samsung’s popularity was evident with the company’s Smart TV revenue holding 42.9 percent market share during the first half in Europe, while its 3D TV revenue held 44.7 percent market share. Samsung’s overall flat-panel TV revenue, including LCD and plasma TVs, represented 35 percent market share in Europe leading to the position as the No.1 TV maker worldwide for seven years running.

ES9500 OLED TV with Samsung Multi View

The long-anticipated Samsung ES9500 OLED TV, unveiled in Europe for the first time, marks the beginning of a new era in the TV industry. The 55-inch ES9500 OLED TV delivers ultimate picture quality through enhanced contrast ratio, richer colours and faster response time.

The ES9500’s self-emitting sub-pixels can individually reproduce life-like colours, creating a more immersive experience that draws the viewer into the action on the screen. OLED technology is also able to differentiate between varying degrees of blacks, enabling its contrast ratio to deliver unparalleled detail in shadows, shapes and subtle colours even in the darkest of scenes.

With no need for a separate light source, the ES9500 offers a fast response time, eliminating motion blur. That incredible speed translates into action scenes and sports games that are amazingly life-like and 3D experiences with virtually no crosstalk.

The ES9500’s minimalist design features a super-slim bezel, thin screen and distinctive back. The set gets thinner toward the edges of the metallic frame, and the small camera embedded in the bezel disappears when not in use, adding a further touch of elegance. Wires and connections can be neatly tucked away in the TV’s centre stand.

Samsung’s OLED TV supports the new Samsung Multi View, thanks to the TV’s high processing speeds and innovative wireless sound system. This feature allows two people to watch two different shows at the same time on the same full screen—with the ability to hear each programme separately using Samsung Multi View 3D glasses with integrated earphones. With Samsung Multi View, there are no restrictions on the type of content users watch, so the possibilities are endless.

75-inch LED ES9000 Smart TV

Samsung’s 75-inch LED ES9000 Smart TV combines the best in design and performance to deliver a view unlike any other. Created with consumer demand for larger TVs and a more engaging viewing experience in mind, the ES9000’s design is so thin and unobtrusive, it allows users to become fully immersed in the stunning picture quality. Featuring a luxurious rose-gold finish 7.9mm frame and hidden push-up camera, the ES9000 offers the essence of sophistication and premium design along with the best of Samsung’s Smart TV features.

Both Samsung’s OLED TV and 75-inch LED ES9000 Smart TV also support Smart Interaction, Smart Content and Smart Evolution—features that were introduced to Samsung’s future-proofed, flagship Smart TVs early this year.

The World’s First Motion-Controlled Angry Birds Experience for Smart TV

Building on a heritage of killer Apps with the most robust Smart Content in the industry, Samsung is the first to bring Angry Birds, one of the world’s most loved games, to Samsung Smart TV with Gesture Control. Consumers can play the game like never before with Smart Interaction, using natural hand gestures to control the game and activate the unique skills of each bird on a bigger screen, creating an experience that is more fun compared to the mobile version of the game.

Samsung Smart TV brings family members together to enjoy a unique shared experience on a large screen with superior picture quality, while Smart Interaction technology adds a new level of interaction to Angry Birds that truly immerses each player in the game. Angry Birds is just one great example of the new experiences made possible by Smart Content, which gives consumers the power to use television with the same ease, flexibility and seamless connectivity shared by all other Samsung devices. To date, Samsung’s 2,000 Smart Content apps worldwide—nearly 1,000 of which are available in Europe—have been downloaded more than 45 million times.

Samsung also introduced a Samsung Smart TV with Google TV at IFA 2012, expanding the premium content and services available through Samsung Apps. Samsung Smart TV with Google TV will enhance the Smart TV experience for consumers seeking more options and seamless connectivity.

Samsung Smart TVs also feature Smart Evolution, which eases purchasing concerns by providing easy access to future technologies using the Samsung Smart Evolution kit. The European Image and Sound Association (EISA) recently awarded Samsung’s ES8000 series top accolades as the “European Future Proof TV” for making it remarkably simple for consumers to make their TVs “smarter” year to year.

Google TV integrated into the TV, the ability to control the TV with motion and gestures, and OLED technology in an attractive package make this line of TV’s really interesting!

Here is a product picture; this is a smart-looking TV set.

A Closer look at the Dell XPS 10 Windows 8 device

Andrew Edney

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Aug 31, 2012

0

A Closer look at the Dell XPS 10 Windows 8 device

Yesterday at IFA, Dell announced three new XPS computers – one of those one the Dell XPS 10, and although we were not allowed any hands-on time with it, we got to see it a little more!

It’s a small laptop:

And the screen can be removed and used as a very thin slate:

Here is the XPS 10 behind glass!

No specifics yet on pricing, but Dell are claiming some really great battery life figures, so we look forward to being able to test one out for ourselves very soon.

What do you think of the Dell XPS 10? Let us know by leaving a comment below.

My Movies for Windows Media Center 4.04 build 2 released

Andrew Edney

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Aug 31, 2012

1

My Movies for Windows Media Center 4.04 build 2 released

Brian has just released My Movies for Windows Media Center version 4.04 build 2.

Here is the change log for 4.04 build 2:

Added: Option to embed meta-data into MP4 files.
Added: Third path for Media Player Home Classic.

Change: Include of debug files in Collection Management.

Fix: The export package for iPad failed with an error.
Fix: RS-232 changers failed as an attempt to fix another issue broke it.
Fix: There was an issue with the back cover on the exported package for iPhone and iPad.
Fix: Neutral language was option that could be selected when editing TV Series, which was not the intention.
Fix: Poster images in the image rating control was not centered correct.
Fix: Discs were not always sorted correct.
Fix: Installer version could crash on the copy disc guide in Windows Media Center.

Download My Movies 4.04 build 2 now Check out our review of My Movies for Windows Home Server 2011 2.0 Pre Release 7

Hands-on with the Dell XPS One 27 at IFA 2012

Andrew Edney

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Aug 31, 2012

0

Hands-on with the Dell XPS One 27 at IFA 2012

Yesterday at IFA, Dell announced three new XPS computers – one of those one the Dell XPS One 27, and after the press conference we got some hands-on with one.

Here is the XPS One 27 in all it’s glory.

Here are some close up shots, including some of the ports on the One 27.

Moving the screen into a different position was simple.

I really liked the Dell XPS One 27, the green is amazing quality – you can literally stand at the other side of the room and still see it clearly.

The touch element was very responsive too!

No word yet on pricing, so watch this space.

And we hope to have one for review soon.

What do you think of the of Dell XPS One 27? Let us know by leaving a comment below.

IFA 2012: Dell Announces New XPS Computers

Jim McCarthy

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Aug 31, 2012

1

IFA 2012: Dell Announces New XPS Computers

Dell announced three new additions to their XPS line: a tablet, an ultrabook/tablet duo and an all-in-one. Read on for details.

Dell announced three new XPS computers: a tablet, an ultrabook/tablet duo and an all-in-one. Here is the announcement:

BERLIN, Aug. 30, 2012 – Today at the Internationale Funkausstellung Berlin (IFA) conference, Dell unveiled three powerful additions to its industry-leading XPS brand of computers. Joining the award-winning XPS 13 Ultrabook, and the XPS 14 and XPS 15 laptops, the new XPS computers enable both consumer and business customers to do more with their technology – from multimedia, entertainment and creation to full business productivity to transition seamlessly from home to office.

The new products include the XPS 10, a 10-inch tablet built to support WindowsRT; the XPS Duo 12 convertible that combines two devices in one, a powerful Ultrabook plus full featured tablet; and XPS One 27 all-in-one PC, which offers a stunning Wide Quad HD display, and will soon be available with touch functionality. The XPS brand has a distinguished heritage of delivering the latest technology and thoughtful design for performance and craftsmanship without compromise. Each product in the XPS portfolio is tailored for very specific customer needs, and the new products unveiled today are designed to take advantage of emerging software and technology, with the same XPS brand attributes that customers expect from Dell.

In today’s always-on, constantly-connected world, people want one device that enables them to combine their personal and professional lives. As a result, the technology industry is undergoing an unprecedented change from the home to the workforce, giving rise to the Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) movement. From tablets to notebooks to the desktop, Dell is answering the call and today unveiled an expanded XPS portfolio that will help users and businesses successfully navigate this new landscape. Dell’s new XPS solutions have both the performance and design desired by consumers, and the security and manageability features required by businesses.

“The XPS 10, XPS Duo 12 and XPS One 27 represent the culmination of a deep understanding of the ‘Bring Your Own Device’ movement and insights gained from both our consumer and business customers,” said Sam Burd, global vice president, PC product group at Dell. “The new set of products Dell unveiled today represents a milestone in our design and approach to user experience. Our vision for our XPS line of computers is not just about the device or technology, it’s about achieving the perfect balance of amazing design, end user productivity and IT enablement.”

Dell XPS 10: Combining Productivity, Mobility and Long Battery Life

The Dell XPS 10 embodies the intersection between work and play with intuitive touch capability, long battery life and mobile keyboard dock for enhanced content creation and business productivity.

Dell’s ability to provide end-to-end technology solutions using ARM processor architecture and the WindowsRT operating system means businesses can be assured that they will be able to manage and secure the XPS 10 on their networks.

XPS Duo 12: Two Devices in One Package – Powerful Ultrabook Plus Full Featured Tablet

Dell tapped its heritage of offering unique and innovative solutions to create the XPS Duo 12. The product features a novel and elegant flip hinge touchscreen display designed to take advantage of the upcoming operating system advances for touch interaction. The result is two products in one, providing the full functionality of an ultraportable laptop with keyboard plus the convenience of a tablet.

The innovative flip hinge design can easily transition from laptop to tablet to laptop and features a Full HD screen that provides 97 percent more pixels than a standard HD display. The result is an exceptionally crisp reading, photo and video viewing experience. The XPS Duo 12 features thoughtful design, attractive aesthetics, and is crafted from premium materials such as machined aluminium and carbon fibre, as well as Corning Gorilla Glass for durability.

XPS One 27: Delivering Nearly Twice the Pixel Density of Any Other 27-inch AIO PC

As All-In-One (AIO) computers continue to see wider adoption for their big screen and clean design, Dell is continuing to evolve its All-In-One offering to take advantage of new software advances.

The award-winning XPS One 27 AIO is designed for creative professionals who require advanced technology including a crisp, super high resolution display and performance graphics for multimedia creation and entertainment. The gorgeous, space-saving design features a vibrant, 27-inch Wide Quad HD Display, providing one of the best experiences in an all-in-one today. The XPS One 27 is not just for work, but also for entertainment with its Infinity Premium speakers and Waves MaxxAudio 4 audio technology that delivers deep, rich sound, complete with an expanded stereo field.

The Right Approach for Today’s Hurdles

Many businesses are grappling with how to empower their users to work on the devices and technology they prefer while at the same time ensuring critical corporate information and content remains secure and protected. In recent research on the Evolving Workforce which surveyed more than 8,000 respondents worldwide, 60 percent of workers around the world would enjoy work more if they had a say in their workplace technology. As part of its unmatched end-to-end solutions, Dell XPS devices intersect the needs of consumer design preferences and powerful performance tools, while still helping to meet the needs of IT with business-friendly features.

“With the growing trend of BYOD, we’re seeing traditional corporate policies on personal computer and application usage, as well as data security being turned on their head. Customers are looking for alternative computing solutions that help employees be more productive,” said Aongus Hegarty, president, Dell EMEA. “By enabling flexible working practices and providing companies with the right tools, Dell is delivering this solution through a seamless, secure and manageable end user experience that provides connectivity anywhere, anytime—and access to work and life.”

Availability:

The Dell XPS 10, XPS Duo 12 and XPS One 27 will be available for sale when Windows 8 is available at the end of October. More details on pricing will be announced when available.

Here are the product images for the all-in-one and the ultrabook.

These are certainly interesting products, but I’d really like to see pricing, particularly on the RT tablet. We’ll keep you posted on developments.

IFA 2012: Lenovo Announces Ideatab Android Tablet Line

Jim McCarthy

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Aug 31, 2012

0

Lenovo announced a new Android-based tablet line called Ideatab. Read on for details.

Lenovo announced three new Android-based tablets: the Ideatab® S2110A, A2107A, and A2109A. These are Android tablets running Ice Cream Sandwich and are available in 7, 9 and 10” screen sizes. Here is the announcement:

Lenovo Announces Smarter, Slimmer Android Tablets at IFA

Latest Tablets Offer Optimized Multimedia Experiences at Attractive Price Points

IFA 2012, Berlin – August 30, 2012: Lenovo (HKSE: 992) (ADR: LNVGY) today announced that it has expanded its Ideatab® product line with the Ideatab S2110A, A2107A, and A2109A. Powered by the Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich) operating system, the new product lineup provides smarter, slimmer tablet designs with a variety of multimedia options at attractive price points.

“The newest line of Ideatab products provides an option for everyone who wants to keep all of their favorite books, songs and movies at their fingertips, no matter where they go,” said Liu Jun, senior vice president, and president, Mobile Internet and Digital Home business. “Whether consumers crave a pocket tablet with 3G connectivity or seek a premium entertainment tablet for games and graphics, Lenovo has it, and at every price point.”

Ideatab S2110A

The Ideatab S2110A is a premium entertainment tablet with an optional detachable keyboard dock to provide a true PC+ experience that moves easily between the tablet and PC worlds. At just 8.69mm and only 580g, it is one of the thinnest and lightest 10-inch tablets available today. The tablet’s IPS (In-Plane Switching) screen with 178-degree viewing angle and unique 10-point multi-touch display is ideal for two-player gaming, and a Micro-HDMI port enables full HD viewing of 1080p on an HDTV. When attached to the keyboard dock, the S2110A delivers double battery life for up to 20 hours of activity, as well as an SD card reader and USB ports to connect a thumb drive, external hard drive or mouse. The S2110A is also equipped with a 5Mp, auto-focusing rear-facing camera and an LED flash, in addition to a 1.3Mp front-facing camera, 1GB memory, WiFi connectivity, and a textured back cover that provides a more comfortable grip.

Ideatab A2107A, A2109A

The Ideatab A2107A and A2109A are affordable tablets that offer essential entertainment, social media, and productivity capabilities—all protected by the same metal alloy roll cage inspired by Lenovo ThinkPad products.

At seven inches—the same size as a standard book page—the A2107A display is designed for on-the-go reading, Web browsing and email. The A2107A also provides hassle-free entertainment with two speakers, a micro-SD card, Bluetooth 4.0, a built-in FM radio, 720p HD resolution, and up to ten hours of active use. This 3G model gives users anytime, anywhere information access and fast A-GPS capability.

With a powerful quad-core NVIDIA Tegra 3 CPU and graphics card, the A2109A is an optimized entertainment tablet that features a 9-inch, four-point capacitive display with 1280×800 resolution, 1080p output via the tablet’s Micro-HDMI port, and two speakers with SRS TruMedia audio enhancement. At just 570g with a sleek metal shell backing, the A2109A also includes 1.3 megapixel front and 3 megapixel rear-facing cameras, dual microphones, GPS, a Micro USB port, and up to 16GB of storage with MicroSD card support up to 32GB.

Pricing and Availability

UK pricing and availability to be announced.

These look like really nice Android tablets. We’ll have to wait for pricing details as none were announced.

IFA 2012: Lenovo Announces New S Series Laptops

Jim McCarthy

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Aug 31, 2012

2

IFA 2012: Lenovo Announces New S Series Laptops

Lenovo announced three new thin S Series laptops at IFA 2012. Read on for details.

Lenovo announced three new thin S Series laptops at IFA 2012. All three run Windows 7 and can be upgraded to Windows 8, and sport AMD A8 or Intel Core i3 or i5 chips. Here is the Lenovo announcement:

Lenovo Ushers in New Affordable, Thin and Light S Series Laptops

Full-featured laptops feature ultraportable design with mainstream performance and price

RALEIGH, NC (August 30, 2012) – Lenovo (HKSE: 992) (ADR: LNVGY), the world’s second largest PC company, has expanded its ultraportable IdeaPad® product line with the IdeaPad S300, S400, and S405 laptops. These affordable thin and light laptops strike a balance between portability and performance for consumers who want more computing power than a netbook, long battery life and a lower price point.

Measuring just 21.9mm thin (less than one inch) and weighing 1.8kg (less than four lbs), the S Series features a sleek exterior design with a stylish metallic finish powered by either 3rd generation Intel® Core™ or AMD A-Series processors. The S Series laptops combine comfort, simplicity and responsiveness to give consumers an affordable PC with quality construction and solid performance.

“As a global leader in the PC market, Lenovo’s success rests on our ability to deliver consumer-centric innovations in products that deliver a blend of mobility, performance and price,” said Bai Peng, vice president and general manager, IdeaPad Business Unit, Lenovo. “Customers don’t just want a functional product, though; they also want one that speaks to their sense of style and individuality. The new Lenovo IdeaPad S Series laptops give everyday consumers exactly what they need by matching small size and light weight with the power needed for everything from Web browsing to productivity tasks, all in an affordable package.”

Powerful and intelligent

Equipped with the latest technology, the Lenovo IdeaPad S300 and S400 laptops are available with Intel’s 3rd generation Core™ i3 or i5 processors, while the IdeaPad S405 is powered by an AMD A8 quad-core APU processor. Up to 500GB hard disk storage capacity (up to 1TB HDD in the S405) offers plenty of space to store music, movies and documents, and an optional 32GB solid state drive on the S400 and S405 can help speed boot time and application responsiveness. In addition, intelligent energy management features not only increase time spent between charges—up to 5 hours—but also protect the long-term durability of the battery.

All of the new S Series laptops feature Windows 7 Home Professional and will be eligible for the Windows 8 Upgrade Offer. Designed for Windows 8, the updated S Series’ intelligent touchpad gives users a more controlled experience when scrolling and zooming, while the AccuType keyboard with individual rounded keys provides a platform for comfortable and accurate typing.

Users can also take advantage of innovative ease-of-use features such as Lenovo Quick Start “instant on” functionality to get online in seconds. Even data protection is made easy with Lenovo’s OneKey™ Rescue System, which offers an amazingly simple and quick way to back up and restore data, recover corrupted system files and run a complete virus scan.

Slim and stylish multimedia companion

Less than an inch at their thickest point and weighing under four pounds, Lenovo’s new consumer laptops feature a contemporary design with a tactile metallic finish available in a variety of colors including, crimson red, silver grey and cotton-candy pink. With up to a 14-inch HD widescreen display, HDMI output, stereo speakers and Dolby® Advanced Audio™ v2 certification, the new S Series laptops offer premium features for immersive entertainment and multimedia activities.

Pricing and Availability

The Lenovo IdeaPad S300, S400, and S405 are available now, with prices starting at £349.

Here are product pictures for these laptops:

These are nice-looking laptops!