Lenovo IdeaPad S12 has Nvidia Ion Inside

Techtree News Staff, May 26, 2009 1027 hrs IST

Is the first netbook based on the Nvidia ION platform

Lenovo has introduced the first Nvidia Ion platform based IdeaPad S12 netbook. Lenovo IdeaPad S12 features Intel Atom processor and promises a battery life of up to six hours on a six cell battery. The price of the S12 starts at $450 (Rs. 21,500 appox.) and it will be available in late July. The S12 succeeds the IdeaPad S10 model that we've reviewed five months back.

Lenovo IdeaPad S12 is the first 12-inch WXGA (1280x800) display bearing netbook in the IdeaPad series. The S12 comes equipped with 1.6GHz Intel Atom N270 processor with Intel integrated GMA 950 paired with Nvidia ION. Up to 1GB DDR2 533MHz memory can be used, while up to 320GB HDD can be used for storage.

The S12, which is the first netbook based on the Nvidia ION platform, has a 12-inch screen but still won't be able to display full HD since it offers 1280x800 pixel resolution. Also, the difference between 720p video and 1080p video would hardly be noticeable. However, one can always play full HD content by using the HDMI port on the S12. For better connectivity S12 supports WiFi (802.11b/g/n) and Bluetooth.

Other features include ExpressCard Slot for bringing 3G to S12, Ethernet port, three USB ports, 4-in-1 card reader and VGA port. IdeaPad S12 runs Windows XP SP3 and offers up to six hours of battery life with a 6-cell battery pack.

Time and again we've been mentioning about the thin undefined line between entry-level notebooks and 12-inch netbooks. We hope it gets defined in the near future.

TAG KEYWORDS

USER COMMENTS

Thin line division will vanish overtime, and then netbooks may be termed as low cost notebooks. The netbook definition has been changing continuosly and the only constant was the display size, which got first broken by Acer with 11.6 inch screen and now with lenovo flaunting a 12 inch screen. The other rumour which is doing the rounds pertains to the support of windows 7 on netbooks. It is rumoured that Microsoft will support windows 7.0 only on netbooks with a display size up to 10.1 inches ! Netbooks having a display size higher than 10.1inches may not get the lower licensing rates for windows 7.

by rajeev bajpai, delhi, on May 27, 2009 04:35 PM, Report abuse Reply

As fas as I know, Lenovo IdeaPad S12 will feature a VIA Nano CPU not the Intel Atom. Please conform it !! However an Intel bsed Lenovo IdeaPad S12 is supposed to be launched by Aug 2009. First VIA Nano then Intel..

by Binod, Bangalore, on May 27, 2009 02:28 PM, Report abuse Reply

I hope it will not get defined because it is in interest of customer to have wide range of choices without any artificial dividing.. In other words I do not care what you guys say, I like the specs of S12 as they are...

by Anonymous, Jk, on May 27, 2009 06:20 AM, Report abuse Reply

Does this mean I can use latest version of Photoshop with this netbook??

by Martin, Bangalore, on May 26, 2009 02:37 PM, Report abuse Reply