Lenovo is taking the ThinkPad range in a fresh direction with the launch of its Z series widescreen laptops. The range is designed to fit equally well in the office and home environments, a departure from the strict business focus of IBM before the company sold its PC division to Lenovo earlier this year. The Z60t features a 14-inch display, while the Z60m is fitted with a 15.4-inch display.
In addition to classic black, the Z series is available with a scratch-resistant brushed titanium cover. The laptops also employ a ‘roll cage’ mechanism which houses internal components including the hard drive in a one-piece magnesium casing that acts as a protective shell. This safety feature is in addition to the Active Protection System which lifts the heads from the hard drive in the event of the laptop being dropped.
To give the Z series a multimedia edge, dedicated control keys are on the chassis. FireWire, external monitor, S-Video and three USB ports are also in place for connecting peripherals, with the Z60m sporting a 3-in-1 memory card reader.
The Z60t goes on sale immediately, while the Z60m hits shelves mid-October. Pricing for the UK was not announced, but starts at $1,099 for the Z60t and $799 for the Z60m in the US.
