New ThinkPad Edge E420s laptop from Lenovo

The new ThinkPad Edge E420s laptop, designed to meet the performance, portability, and style needs of entrepreneurs running small and medium sized businesses, will be available in South Africa from 4th July 2011.

Introducing a number of new features, the ThinkPad Edge E420s is a practical example of how Lenovo puts into the hands of achievers technology that enables them to more easily reach their goals, tying in with Lenovo’s new For Those Who Do brand campaign.

Part of Lenovo’s range of machines targeted at the SMB segment, the ThinkPad Edge E420s elevates business computing to the next level through sophisticated designs, cutting-edge technologies, and extra features such as Lenovo Enhanced Experience 2.0.

Lenovo South Africa country manager, Henry Ferreira, says that, as the driving force in all economies, SMBs represent the ‘doers’ of the world who create new markets, create new products and services, and embody a new sense of technology as an integral part of the way they get things done.

“It’s no surprise, therefore, that IDC ranks the SMB laptop market as the world’s largest and fastest growing commercial segment, set to grow by nearly 20% annually from 2011-2015. Specifically, growth of PC sales in the SMB segment in emerging markets, excluding Latin America, over the next 4 to 5 years will be twice that of mature markets.

“But SMB professionals don’t want just any personal technology. They want performance matched with design and the technological flexibility to accomplish business goals while keeping their chosen lifestyles intact. So, we designed the new ThinkPad Edge E420s laptop to give users high performance coupled with premium design.”

According to Ferreira, with the ThinkPad Edge E420s, small details make a big difference. An infinity screen provides TV-quality viewing. A matte finish is soft to the touch, but real metal accents project a “cosmopolitan image”.

“The laptop is more than just good looks, however. It’s a business performance powerhouse, featuring increased performance and integrated graphics via 2nd generation Intel® Core processor technology, Lenovo’s Enhanced Experience 2.0 for rapid boot up, and a range of wireless connectivity technologies.”

Testifying to Lenovo’s innovation legacy, the company’s ThinkPad laptops have been ranked #1 in Technology Business Research’s Corporate IT Buying Behavior and Customer Satisfaction Study for six consecutive reporting periods. These rankings result from solid performance across hardware reliability/quality, ease of doing business, repair time, and phone support.”

Eye-Catching Design

Quite thin at just one inch and light at 1.8 kg, with a  modern and clean appearance, the 14-inch ThinkPad Edge E420s is designed to turn heads.

The spill-resistant ThinkPad keyboard is recognised for providing the same comfortable typing experience as ThinkPad classic laptops. For SMBs with media requirements, the ThinkPad Edge E420s has a hidden, slim, slot-loading DVD player/burner.

Work Hard & Play Hard

To power both data-crunching, multitasking business activities and fun, personal entertainment, the ThinkPad Edge E420s offers choices of 2nd generation Intel Core i3, i5 or i7 processors.

In addition to the Dolby Home Theatre audio, there’s an HDMI port enabling movies or videos to be watched either on a PC monitor or flat-screen TV.

Premium capabilities that save time and money

Lenovo Enhanced Experience 2.0 for Windows 7, only available on Lenovo products, plays a role in productivity. On select models equipped with Rapid Drive technology, which takes advantage of a solid-state drive (SSD), the ThinkPad Edge E420s boot time is reduced by by 30 percent. Lenovo has also optimised the preload, drivers, and BIOS for speedy start up.

The ThinkPad Edge E420s also features all of the latest wireless connectivity technologies – WiFi, optional mobile broadband, and 4G/WiMAX4 – and comes equipped with Lenovo’s enhanced video conferencing technologies, including a high-definition web camera, noise-cancelling keyboard software, and high performance microphones and speakers.

Pricing and Availability

The ThinkPad Edge E420s will be available beginning in July through www.lenovo.com and business partners. Models begin at approximately R8999-00 and R7599-00 respectively.