Lenovo-branded computers to be sold outside its home base of China.

[kach22i]

Lenovo Unveils Lenovo-Branded Computers
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060223/ap_on_hi_te/lenovo_going_global;_ylt=Ag51HDGURqeea67bjsKAKsMjt BAF;_ylu=X3oDMTA5aHJvMDdwBHNlYwN5bmNhdA--

By MAY WONG, AP Technology Writer Thu Feb 23, 12:48 AM ET

SAN JOSE, Calif. - Stepping up competition in the PC industry, Lenovo Group Ltd., the world's third largest computer maker, is introducing its first Lenovo-branded computers to be sold outside its home base of China.

The new products — low-priced desktops and notebooks targeted at small businesses and consumers — will mark Lenovo's first brand foray in the United States and other countries since completing its purchase of IBM Corp.'s ailing PC business in May 2005.

The products will be unveiled at press conferences Thursday in 10 cities worldwide, including New York, Paris, and Turin, Italy, where Lenovo has been a major sponsor of the Olympics to help it expand its brand recognition beyond China.

"This is our coming-out party: The Olympics got our name out in front of the world, and these will be the brand name products we'll be introducing with that," said Jeff Dudash, a Lenovo spokesman.

With its new 3000 series of computers, Lenovo is precisely trying to return to the same target markets from which IBM previously exited to focus on selling its ThinkPad products to the higher-margin corporate sector.

There will be two lines of desktop computers, starting at $350 while a new laptop line will start at $599. The products will be available immediately from Lenovo's Web site and through its business partners. Dudash refused to identify any, but analysts say they will likely include retailers.

If Lenovo succeeds with such a major expansion, it could truly become a worldwide brand, just like IBM, said analyst Rob Enderle of The Enderle Group.

"It's an incredibly powerful move for a Chinese company to do," Enderle said. "But if you want to become something more, to be the next IBM, you need to be recognized worldwide and you need to get back in front of consumers and in retail."

The Lenovo C series of notebooks will be silver — not IBM's traditional black — weigh 6.2 pounds, and have built-in WiFi, a 3-in-1 card reader and other multimedia features. Veering from IBM's reliance on Intel Corp. chips, Lenovo's desktop computers will offer chips from both Intel and Advanced Micro Devices Inc.

With its IBM acquisition, Lenovo last year ascended to rank behind No. 1 Dell Inc. and No. 2 Hewlett-Packard Co. in worldwide PC market share, according to research firm IDC.

In the fourth quarter of 2005, Lenovo had a 7.2 percent market share, compared to Dell's 17.2 percent and HP's 15.7 percent, according to IDC.

I'm going to guess that they will be built in China, IT supported in India and sold in the USA - like everything else these days.

[widebody911]

Originally posted by kach22i
I'm going to guess that they will be built in China, IT supported in India and sold in the USA - like everything else these days.

Namast�, all your job are belong to us, xie xie ni.

[jkarolyi]

>starting at $350 while a new laptop line will start at $599

And this is bad how? It will allow the lower-middle and even the poor to afford a computer, bringing them into the digital age and giving them access to new opportunities. Make the same thing in the USA and it would cost 2-3 times as much.

Do you think computers should only be affordable for the wealthy elite? That's not very liberal of you, Kach.

Welcome to the global economy.

[GDSOB]

Dell & others has been selling at those prices for quite a while, so they aren't establishing any new price points. Bought a cheap Insprion laptop last year for $599 - made in China.

[kach22i]

Question:

Will this be a turning point in the operating system wars?

I looked up "Lenovo Linux" on Google........................

Sample-1:
http://www.epinions.com/PC_Laptops--reviews--14387_linux--prices--ibm_lenovo

Sample-2:
http://www.epinions.com/pr-IBM_ThinkPad_T21_2647_2647L7U_PC_Notebook/display_~full_specs
IBM Lenovo ThinkPad T21 2647 (2647L7U) PC Notebook
Operating System Linux

Linux is what they will be using in China, but I don't see in the article I posted anything about MS or Linux.

Are all of the the current IBM/Lenovo line up operating on a Linux system or is that a special option?

[Joeaksa]

Will be interesting to watch. The old IBM laptops were hard to beat...

[kach22i]

Originally posted by Joeaksa
Will be interesting to watch. The old IBM laptops were hard to beat...

From what I read they were a version of Unix/Linix (Wilkpedia).

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/english/doc/2005-03/24/content_427686.htm

Lenovo last year adopted Linux and partnered with IBM, which may be the world's biggest supporter of Linux, and Microsoft's arch enemy.

http://it.asia1.com.sg/newsdaily/news001_20050930.html

Giving consumers a choice of operating systems is behind Lenovo's move to offer Linux.

[campbellcj]

Originally posted by Joeaksa
Will be interesting to watch. The old IBM laptops were hard to beat...

I just (as in a few days ago) received a top-line ThinkPad Z60m from Lenovo. It took a (VERY) long while to arrive after order placed but other than that I am so far highly impressed.

IIRC, IBM used to do most of the design/engineering work here and then source components globally and have them assembled also globally but oftentimes in Mexico. Lenovo has shifted final assembly to China and is actually shipping product direct to the US from there, which I do not recall IBM (or Dell/HP/Sun etc) doing previously.

[kach22i]

Dell to ax 1,700
http://news.com.com/2100-1001-252658.html

Most of the new layoffs will be in administrative, marketing and product-support areas and are part of an overall cost-cutting initiative, according to Dell. The layoffs will not affect international operations or the company's significant operation in Tennessee.

Dell has laid off about 150 people in China too, they are losing what market share they have to others.