Lenovo has unveiled its first Android laptop. The Lenovo A10 brings Android 4.2, a 10.1-inch HD display with full keyboard, and a low $250 price tag.
Microsoft's Windows 8 hasn't caught on the way the company had likely hoped. It is now finding many of its licensees adopting Android for their tablets in place of Windows 8 and Windows RT. Lenovo, who is one of Microsoft's biggest PC partners, has decided to use Android instead of Windows in its upcoming A10 laptop. It also plans on offering the A10 at a fraction of the cost of Windows laptops, pricing the Android laptop at $250.
"With the recent explosive growth in Android-based, smart connected devices, customers are relying more on Android apps for both work and play. Why should they be required to switch and duplicate to use their laptop? Lenovo's A10 brings ultra-portability and dual-mode benefits to Android users at a reasonable price," said Bai Peng, vice president and general manager, notebook business unit, Lenovo Business Group. "Thin and light, with multiple modes and user-inspired innovations for an outstanding user experience ... the A10 is uniquely Lenovo."
The Lenovo A10 features a bright 10.1-inch HD display and runs Android 4.2 Jelly Bean with a Lenovo-customized user interface when it is used in "laptop mode." While in this mode, users will be presented with a special app launcher, a taskbar to show currently open applications, a status bar that will allow for quick access to its library and desktop, as well as a special file manager that will make locating files a breeze.
The A10 will use a 1.6GHz Rockchip CPU and 2GB of RAM to provide a snappy and fluid user interface. Lenovo is including 32GB of internal storage and a microSD expansion slot that will support up to 64GB microSD cards. The device will have built-in stereo speakers and an integrated 0.3-megapixel front-facing camera for video chat. Lenovo hasn't listed the size of the battery, but it did note that users will get up to 9 hours of video playback.
Lenovo hasn't given a specific release date, only saying it will be available "in the near future" with a $250 price tag.
