SINCE switching its branding from IBM to Lenovo, the now-Chinese-owned PC maker has strived to establish its own identity.
The newer Lenovo laptops are slowly moving away from the IBM-cast of old. Looking at the IdeaPad U110 notebook's red exterior with an etched surface, one would not have thought that it is a Lenovo. Yet, it is indeed.
From the new keyboard design, with touch-sensitive buttons across the top, to the 11-inch frameless screen, this Lenovo seeks to be different.
The technical specs (Intel Core 2 Duo 1.6GHz processor) are respectable, although it does seem a wee bit slower than the older X61.
But there are newer features like Lenovo's VeriFace Face Recognition, which makes it easy for users to log in without having to remember passwords, by making one's face the password. It even records the faces of others who try to use the laptop. And there is the Dolby Home Theatre audio which brings audiophile-like sound to the notebook.
This is one iteration in Lenovo's drive to cater to a more trendy and spec-conscious market. Expect more to come shortly. Look out, especially, for the ThinkPad X200.
