Lenovo 3000 V100 Specs

Tough to find much info on the forthcoming Lenovo 3000 v100 laptop, but here's what I've tracked down from a number of sites. Generally, a kick-butt machine for just over $1500! Only surprises: no gigabit NIC, no trackpoint (little red nub for mousing...I love it!), doesn't look as thin as it is.

Cost: $1650
Size (W x H x D): 12" x 8.9" x 1.25"
Weight: 4.1
Battery life: 4.5 hours
OS: XP
Processor: 2.0GHz Intel Core Duo
Memory: 1GB
Hard disk: 100GB 5400rpm
Optical drive: DVD±RW (dual-layer), internal!
Display type: 12.1"
Resolution: 1200 x 800
Graphics card: Intel GMA 950
Video memory: ?? (assume: 64MB, shared)
Others: Intel or Lenovo 802.11a/b/g, Bluetooth, 10/100 NIC, 5-in-1 Card Reader, 3 USB 2.0, FireWire, VGA, ExpressCard/34, 1.3 Mega Pixel Camera, Modem, Touchpad
Service & support: 1 year

Links I used to assemble this info:

• Sneek peak on Lenovo's site
• MSN Review
• Laptop Logic Notes
• Walt Mossberg's Review in the WSJ (subscription)

Start coveting mid-June...

 

For the same money, I'd rather have an X.

 

There's not much to say in terms of specs that isn't already available on the web, I've attached the spec sheet Lenovo gave me. I also saw this machine in person a few times. If you have specific questions, let me know.

 

But you can't get an X60 with these specs at even close to this price.

The V100 is nice. I got to see one and play with the built in camera and it works great. The V100 is fairly light, no cover latch...which I actually like...and the glossy widescreen looks really good. It has no eraser head, which is a bummer, but everything else about it was very likeable.

 

If you can sacrifice the optical drive. That's the deal-killer with most of these ultraportables for me (and believe me, I wish I could...but for now, the reality is that I like to be able to rip a CD at a friend's house and watch a DVD on the plane).

 

Actually I do: does it really feel like a 4-pounder cuz it looks like a 5-pounder?? This may seem like a silly question, but some lappies feel heavier/lighter than they are.

Thanks!

 

Looks to be the Lenovo I've been waiting for... a well balanced ultraportable with multi media functions and optical drive. The lack of optical drive keeps me from getting an x series. A friend made up a good point about not having an optical drive. What happens if you need to reboot your notebook from a start up disc...hmmm. Good pt. There will always be a time when i will wish I had an optical drive. Riiping cd's on the go I just purcased is also a plus. I can't wait for the first review of this.

Thanks for the posts.

 

You certainly can get an X with an external optical for $1650.

 

The V100 looks indeed very interesting. Depending on what you do, I usually find that I don't need optical drive.

The only time I need the optical drive is when I want to watch a movie, burn DVD's or install a program which I can use an external Optical drive. Personally I'd rather save 1 pound and have an external drive.

I haven't tried the V100 yet but I can't wait to compare the glossy V100 screen to the X60s screen.

 

What x model and external drive do you reccommend to fit the bill?

Thanks.

 

I would say it is a personal preference. I have one with mine becasue the ThinkPad Mashita DVD burners are so junky. Having an external drive doesn't bother me much. I don't burn a lot while on the road. I could see where if you are using it on an airplane or in a car the externalness of it would be a pain.

 

Hmmmm, thanks for the thoughts. I'm really starting to reconsider weather or not I need the optical given the extra pound and thickness. I've got a little time to decide, during which time I'll monitor my laptop use. Thanks ZaZ!

 

I couldn't agree more.

 

One option, if you want to watch movies, would be to rip the discs to your hard drive then watch them later when desired. You wouldn't need the optical drive then and hard drives consume less power.

 

From the pics I've seen i can't imagnie the fingerprint reader being right next to the trackpad NOT getting in the way. Much nicer having it off to the side.

Maybe the optical gets in the way now?

 

Funny, just a couple nights ago I was telling my girlfriend the same thing. Of course, you give up running out the door, grabbing Netflix. But, ah...the joy of something that light while commuting! Small trade-off.

No chance that the X60 will come in higher rez anytime soon, is there?

 

Yeah I just pulled the trigger on an x 60s because I thought about what I really do most ofthe time and an external disc drive is really not a problem. I wont use it much day to day. but having a 3.5 lb laptop with broadband all the time and 6-8 hr batt life just sounds perfect

 

Where did you buy it from, Snoggin? I don't see many deals out there for the X series. Did you get the DVD base??

 

thanks for the collection of articles. i will be looking closely at the lowered-priced configurations, the $1099 price point looks interesting, but i'm not sure what it's missing besides memory, hd space and a slower-clocked cpu.

 

I got an epp deal which made it very attractiveand I didnt get the docking base. I just got a usb cd/dvd combo which I can bring if I need to load software or want to watch a movie. Maybe a bit of a pain on a plane if i have to use the external drive but I dont fly much. I think I'm going to love it

 

Hmm, I wonder if 4.5 hours battery life is with the 6-cell--I hope that's realistic and not an upper-end estimate.

 

Here it is:

http://www.pc.ibm.com/us/notebooks/3000/v-series/design.html

Curious - on their front page if you put the mouse over the Lenovo 3000 V series, they state "starting at $1199":

http://www.lenovo.com/us/en/

But the base system configuration seems to be $1599.Admittedly that has 1G RAM, a 100GB, 5400rpm Serial ATA, Win XP Professional, and DVD recordable dual layer. But I wonder how it is possible to configure a more basic system. Maybe have to wait a few hours/days.

 

that's weird. i went to the customize screen and there are no 'downgrade' options either?

yeah i guess we'll have to wait for either a change in the details page, or a change in that front page blurb

and it looks like the lenovo canada site isn't fully updated either. the V series page is there, but when you click on 'buy now', you get "There is no product available in this category at this time. Please contact a Lenovo representative for more information."

*waits*

 

Yeah, there isn't much in the way of customizing the system. $1599, love it or leave it. My guess is that they'll soon offer an $1199 version with a lesser cpu, ram, hd.

I'll anxiously await a review on this one!

 

Abaxter already posted a review on this one.
http://www.notebookreview.com/default.asp?newsID=2968&review=V100

There are six different models now listed starting from $1,099

 

Looks like Lenovo has updated their site. Six models offered $1099 - $1649.

http://www-131.ibm.com/webapp/wcs/s...-840&langId=-1&categoryId=4611686018425057760

 

http://reviews.digitaltrends.com/review3646.html

I just finished a review for Digital Trends of the V100. Basically, the keyboard is excellent. I got an NMB with the test unit and it was measurably faster than the Z60t ALPS keyboard I had earlier. Fairly well built, some rattles over the DVD bay, but the extended battery fits *perfectly* (unlike the Z60t which rattles). The fingerprint scanner is a different design and I found it a bit more finicky.

 

Great review, Alan. Thanks. Any comments on exactly how much better this keyboard is than the Sony SZ's? I'll be a student and keyboard/size are most important, so I'm considering this, the SZ, and the X60 right now (and praying for an ultraportable MacBook Pro in the next couple months...fat chance).

 

I though the SZ keyboard was pretty good, but I haven't done an objective test like I have with the lenovo V100. My impressions are that the Lenovo V100 is a bit better.

Besides an 12" Macbook Pro, you have to wonder if we'll see a 12" ThinkPad with integrated optical. In some ways the V100 is better built than the Z60t (the battery being the main one).

 

Mike, personally I find Sony SZ keyboard weird, Lenovo keyboard definitely beat SZ hands down.

Excellent review, Alan. How about comparing V100 with the Dell XPS M1210?