Lenovo has released a second configuration of their IdeaPad S12 netbook with NVIDIA Ion chipset, this one with a boost in specs.
Just last week we brought you news that Lenovo had finally released their IdeaPad S12 12-inch netbook with the NVIDIA Ion chipset. While that first model featured boosted specs over a standard netbook with Windows 7 Home Premium, 2GB RAM, 250GB hard drive, and Bluetooth, this new model builds on that even more.
The IdeaPad S12 model 295954U is upgraded to 3GB RAM and a 320GB hard drive over the other NVIDIA Ion model, with a $50 price bump to $649.
Unfortunately this new model isn’t eligible for a discount just yet, but you can still get the lower spec’d model for $579.
We’ve been waiting a long time for this, but Lenovo’s IdeaPad S12 is finally available for purchase with the NVIDIA Ion chipset.
The IdeaPad S12 model 29595FU is the only S12 loaded with Windows 7 Home Premium (32-bit) and since its not bound by the WinXP licensing, it can be sold with 2GB RAM. You also get a larger 250GB (vs 160GB) hard drive and Bluetooth, which none of the other S12 models have.
All of these new features, along with NVIDIA’s slick Ion platform, will run you $599 and it should ship within 11 days or so. It is even on sale $20 off, see how to get the deal below.
What about you? How appealing is the NVIDIA Ion chipset to you? Do the gaming capabilities matter on a 12-inch netbook? What about the forthcoming Flash acceleration coming from Adobe next year?
How to get the deal
Choose the accessory & warranty options for your IdeaPad S12 (29595FU, column on far right)
Apply coupon in shopping cart with no spaces before/after: USP11THINLGT
Lenovo’s 12-inch netbook, the IdeaPad S12, will finally be available with the NVIDIA Ion chipset on October 22nd in Japan according to reports.
A post on PC Watch, a Japanese news site, apparently indicates the arrival of the S12 with Ion goodies as the same date of Microsoft’s official Windows 7 launch. NVIDIA Ion will add HD video playback capability to the S12, something a regular Atom or VIA Nano powered netbook couldn’t touch. It should even play a good variety of games, including the pretty recent Call of Duty 4 as indicated by the HP Mini 311.
It will also add an HDMI output, although unfortunately the Atom chip probably still won’t be able to handle HD Flash video like Hulu or YouTube. You’ll have to wait until sometime in 2010, when Adobe adds NVIDIA GPU acceleration support for Flash and every NVIDIA Ion PC gets an instant leg-up on its competitors. You may not realize it, but Flash animations eat a lot of your CPU and just having this update should give your system a decent performance boost.
Back in May when Lenovo announced the IdeaPad S12, a $499 target price was indicated for the NVIDIA Ion version, although this could go up to $550 according to current rumors. Other netbooks with the NVIDIA Ion platform are the HP Mini 311 and Samsung N510.
In my review of the Lenovo IdeaPad S12 12-inch netbook, I doted on the S12 for offering a solid keyboard, good key placement, and competitive features at a good price. I also noted that one of the best things the S12 has going for it is the choice between an Intel Atom and VIA Nano platform, with NVIDIA Ion coming soon.
The VIA Nano platform offers better performance with a small hit in battery life and a bit of a price drop. Right now Lenovo is taking $20 off instantly, but also has a limited stackable $50 coupon that brings the price of a VIA Nano based IdeaPad S12 to $379 with free shipping. Check out the specs and details on how to get the deal below
VIA Nano ULV 2250 1.3GHz; 1GB DDR2; VIA Chrome9 HC3
12.1″ WXGA; 160GB HDD; 6-cell battery; 802.11b/g; XP Home
In honor of my review of the Lenovo IdeaPad S12, I thought I would share a deal around the 12-inch netbook.
Both the Intel Atom and VIA Nano versions of this machine are on sale, although the deal on the Atom one expires TODAY. Remember that the VIA Nano processor and graphics chipset should noticeably increase performance to a more usable level, but you will take a penalty in battery life.
The Atom-based S12 is available in black or white at $449 after a $50 instant discount. If you want the more powerful VIA Nano version, Lenovo is taking $20 off instantly and adding a $50 coupon on top to bring the price down to $379. Details on how to get the deal below
Lenovo’s IdeaPad S12 netbook was launched back in May with plans for an NVIDIA Ion version available towards the end of Q3. Those plans have been delayed in anticipation of the Windows 7 launch in October.
While some are undoubtably waiting for the netbook with some graphics gusto to make its appearance, Lenovo has decided to maximize their customers’ experience and wait for Windows 7 to be available preloaded on the machines. While there could be other developmental or supply issues preventing an earlier release, the move to wait makes sense. Windows 7 truly will provide the best user experience for the high end netbook and also allow Lenovo to equip the S12 with more RAM than their current license with Microsoft for Windows XP allows, improving the customer experience even further.
Currently there are two versions of the IdeaPad S12 netbook available: the standard Intel Atom platform and one based on the VIA Nano. The VIA Nano platform reportedly offers a strong amount of horsepower over the Atom, even playing 720p HD video and full-screen Flash video, while losing a bit of battery life. The forthcoming NVIDIA Ion equipped netbook will replace the wimpy Intel graphics on the Atom-based machine with NVIDIA’s Ion chipset, adding a whole new level of graphics capabilities with little loss in battery life.
In our previous posts about VIA’s Nano netbook platform, we knew from tests using desktop hardware that Nano should beat out Intel’s pokey, if power thrifty, Atom platform in the low-power notebook/desktop spaces. Lenovo made their 12-inch IdeaPad S12 netbooks available with the VIA Nano platform over a month ago and a review of the Nano-based model was finally able to slip out.
The crew over at CrunchGear got one and put it through some less scientific paces, but found that it handled HD 720p video decently and even played standard definition Hulu video in full screen, but the CPU-intensive Flash video was too much for even the Nano when played in high definition. Hopefully Broadcom’s HD Accelerator will get the promised Flash acceleration support sooner than later and we can all revel in high-def Hulu.
Hit the link below for the full review of the IdeaPad S12 with VIA Nano.
It may not be much, but this $20 coupon isn’t too bad considering the IdeaPad S12 netbook is brand spanking new. The Intel-based S12 models come with the usual 1GB DDR2 RAM, 160GB hard drive, WiFi, Windows XP Home, and a generous 6-cell battery. The $20 coupon brings the price down to $479 with free shipping, but only until July 26!
You can also choose an S12 model equipped with VIA’s Nano ULV CPU and graphics, which are a good bit more powerful than Intel’s Atom, but at the cost of battery life. You also save $50 over the Atom-based units, if you’re so inclined. Find the VIA-based model (295956U) here, although it is only available in black.
Specifications (295955U White or 295954U Black)
Atom N270 1.6GHz; 1GB DDR2; 12.1″ WXGA; 160GB Hard Drive
GMA 950 Graphics; 802.11b/g WiFi; XP Home SP3; 6-cell Battery
How to get the deal
Click here to choose your IdeaPad S12 model (Right 2 columns only, 295955U or 295954U)
Apply coupon code in the shopping cart (make sure no spaces before/after): USPBACKTOSCHOOL
Lenovo’s 12-inch IdeaPad S12 netbook announced back at the end of May and became available for purchase a couple weeks ago. For those who are a bit behind on news around the S12, Lenovo later made available a version of the S12 with the faster VIA Nano processor and we recently learned that Lenovo may have angered Intel, either by releasing a 12-inch laptop with the Atom processor or by choosing to offer NVIDIA’s Ion platform on the S12.
I came across a video of some hands-on time with the IdeaPad S12, filmed by the fellas over at netbooknews.de at a Taiwan computer show and wanted to share it with my dear readers. While first-hand accounts with the S12 are still fairly limited, we can tell from this video that it…is a 12-inch netbook. If you were looking for a netbook, but wanted a bigger screen, this may be the machine for you.
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In our previous posts about VIA’s Nano netbook platform, we knew from tests using desktop hardware that Nano should beat out Intel’s pokey, if power thrifty, Atom platform in the low-power notebook/desktop spaces. Lenovo made their 12-inch IdeaPad S12 netbooks available with the VIA Nano platform over a month ago and a review of the Nano-based model was finally able to slip out.
Lenovo IdeaCentre D400 1TB Intel Atom Windows Home Server (30131AU) on sale for $499 - $30 off - 
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