Lenovo IdeaPad U1 Smartbook

Lenovo sent us an exhaustive list yesterday of their new PC offerings in time for CES but they omitted this one which I liked the most — a hybrid tablet and touchscreen netbook in one called the IdeaPad U1.

Maybe it’s because this product is not ready for prime time yet but I really liked the implementation.

I guess they’re just showing it off to people at the moment but should be able to ship it by June this year.

Live images courtesy of Gizmodo.

The netbook part runs an Intel Core 2 Duo SU4100 1.3GHz with Windows 7 but if you take off the screen and use the tablet alone, it’s powered by a Qualcomm ARM Snapdragon processor (same CPU in HTC HD2 and Nexus One phones) so it’s basically a smartphone in a netbook (thus the term smartbook).

The IdeaPad U1 has a an nice 11.6″ display (1366×768 resolution), WiFi 802. 11b/g/n, 3G for the tablet with maximum 4GB of RAM (512MB for the tablet). The estimated retail price — $999PHP 58,627INR 84,665EUR 951CNY 7,271. I know it’s a tad bit expensive but you’re getting two pretty devices here so let’s call it split even at $499PHP 29,284INR 42,290EUR 475CNY 3,632 each.

Abe Olandres

Abe is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of YugaTech with over 20 years of experience in the technology industry. He is one of the pioneers of blogging in the country and considered by many as the Father of Tech Blogging in the Philippines. He is also a technology consultant, a tech columnist with several national publications, resource speaker and mentor/advisor to several start-up companies.

https://www.yugatech.com

15 Comments

Doanne says:

15 years ago

Wow, I like the concept. But it looks like it’ll be pretty expensive. :)
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regsh says:

15 years ago

a pioneering technology for the start of the year 2010….thumbs-up to Lenovo!
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sylv3rblade says:

15 years ago

$999 ouch! I’d take gladly take Freecom’s $200 smartbook then.
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guyrony says:

15 years ago

The Concept is nice, the price is a tad on the expensive side but the hybrid idea is a novelty worth waiting. Hope that it lives up to its expectations
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Reel Advice says:

15 years ago

amazing! i think my jaws just dropped!
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laptoplover says:

15 years ago

galing talaga ng concept na to. sobrang creative.
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raldy says:

15 years ago

wow yan ang next na bibilhin kong laptop
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jerb says:

15 years ago

I think the final product would be heavier than those typical netbooks.
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Andew Mercado says:

15 years ago

I wish they will sell it separate form factor as an option. For example, Tablet only (US$499) and Netbook + tablet (US$999). lol
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Reel Advice says:

15 years ago

Just another thought, maybe this could be a preview of what Steve Jobs has up for grabs with the heavily rumored Apple Tablet
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Jaypee says:

15 years ago

I really like the concept on this device and I see other manufacturers adopting it unless Lenovo has already patented it. $999 is not bad considering that you’ll get 2 devices in 1 package. Nevertheless, its always wise to wait for a few months before getting one as the price would’ve dropped by then.
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Jhay says:

15 years ago

What happens if the one of the devices gets lost, stolen or broken?

This is the peril of having 2-in-1 devices. :P

Though it’s a clever concept by Lenovo.
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amsi says:

15 years ago

i saw this on tv last saturday… really cool gadget, meron na ba ito dito sa pinas? have you reviewed it na yuga? as in actually used it?
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csseyah says:

14 years ago

wow, two in one combo :) paganda ng paganda ang nangyayari sa tablet.. pwede kaya kahit ung tablet muna saka na yung para sa netbook?
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