Why You Can Trust CNET New IdeaPad laptops from Lenovo drop below $200
Mainstream systems upgrade to Intel's new Skylake chips, but also offer entry level options.
- Author of the award-winning, NY Times-reviewed nonfiction book The Tetris Effect; Longtime consumer technology expert for CBS Mornings
Lenovo is best known for its corporate ThinkPad computers, but some of our favorite Lenovo PCs have always come from the IdeaPad line, aimed at mainstream audiences. The IdeaPad systems, from laptops to hybrids, often have sharp-looking designs and excellent hardware options, plus some very reasonable prices.
The IdeaPad line is getting a major overhaul with the launch of Intel's latest sixth-generation Core i-series Sklylake processors, from upscale slim midsize laptops to very inexpensive ultraportable systems.
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Lenovo's wide range of new IdeaPad laptops.
The naming can get a bit confusing, but there's a midrange IdeaPad 300 and a slightly nicer IdeaPad 500. On top of that, there are thinner, more upscale 300S and 500S variations. Both lines come in a variety of sizes, but not all models include all sizes. The IdeaPad 300 comes in 14-, 15- or 17-inch versions, while the 300S is an 11.6-inch system. The IdeaPad 500 has 14-inch or 15-inch models, while the 500S is 15-inch only. Most are available with the latest Intel sixth-generation core i-series CPUs, with some AMD models sprinkled in there.
All of these mainstream IdeaPad laptops will be available in the US in October, with starting prices ranging from $249 to $599, and even higher-end configurations should rarely come close to $1,000. International prices and release dates have yet to be announced.
A new all-in-one desktop, combining a 24-inch or 27-inch 4K display, Intel RealSense camera and new Skylake-generation CPUs will be called the IdeaCentre AIO 700, and start at $1,099 in the US in October.
The Chromebook version of the IdeaPad 100S
Potentially more interesting are the IdeaPad 100S and IdeaPad 100S Chromebook. The IdeaPad 100S runs an Intel Atom processor and Windows 10, and has an 11.6-inch display. It will cost $189 in the US, making it comparable with popular entry-level laptops such as the HP Stream 11. A 14-inch version of the 100S has a Celeron processor and will cost $259 in the US.
The IdeaPad 100S Chromebook looks and feels very similar to the Windows version, but runs an Intel Pentium processor under Google's Chrome OS. With 16GB of onboard storage, it will cost $179 in the US. All three 100S models have 1,366x768-pixel-resolution screens and will be available in the US in October, with international price and release dates to be announced.