Lenovo announced its second generation Classmate+ laptops in both traditional clamshell and convertible laptop form factors based on the Intel Learning Series. These new laptops offer students, teachers and IT administrators more ruggedness with new durability features like greater spill resistance, affordability, battery life up to 10 hours and enhanced usability with Intel Learning Series software suite for using the e-reader, web camera and digital writing features. "The latest Classmate laptops equipped with Intel Atom processor technology up the level of computing power and performance for students without sacrificing long battery life" "As the world's #1 PC maker in education, we're committed to enhancing learning via our platform of PC solutions designed for students," said Michael Schmedlen, director, worldwide education, Lenovo. "By joining with Intel to create the new Lenovo Classmate+ Clamshell and Classmate+ Convertible laptops, we're demonstrating how mobile computing fits into any learning environment, no matter the location or budget." Designed to handle the rough treatment students on-the-go can inflict upon technology, the laptops are even more rugged than the previous Lenovo Classmate+ laptop. They feature a keyboard with enhanced water resistance, a tougher corner design, reinforced steel hinge and strengthened DC jack. They come with a 10.1-inch anti-glare screen with touch capability on the convertible as well as optional high-brightness or high-definition on both or a capacitive touch screen with a pen on the convertible.
The laptops are equipped with the tools students need to do basic work and learning - an Intel Atom N2600 processor, up to 2 GB DDR3 memory and up to 320 GB hard drive or up to 32 GB solid state drive storage. With a 6-cell battery, students can use the laptops all day - up to 10 hours. The laptops feature three USB ports, VGA and an optional HDMI port for transferring data and displaying standard and high definition video to a monitor or TV. They also come with a web camera in resolutions up to 2 megapixels. While the Classmate+ laptops come in a standard Grey color, customs colors are available with a minimum quantity order. "The latest Classmate laptops equipped with Intel Atom processor technology up the level of computing power and performance for students without sacrificing long battery life," said Dr. Wayne Grant, EMPG's Director of Research and Planning at Intel Corporation. "We are thrilled that Lenovo will be expanding their presence in our Intel Learning Series Alliance and that schools around the world can take advantage of this purpose-built technology for 1:1 e-learning." Additionally, the Lenovo Classmate+ Convertible has an exclusive rotating hinge strengthened and designed to last tens of thousands of cycles. It also has a built-in hardware button to make scrolling through ebooks simple and an optional Trusted Platform Module to protect data like passwords and digital certificates from external software attacks and physical theft. As part of the Intel Learning Series the Classmate PCs offer an enhanced student experience, increased ruggedness and up to 10 hours of battery life. Intel's Intel Learning Series thus far has had more than 6 million Intel-powered classmate PCs shipped globally since its launch in 2007. More than 500 members in 70 countries are developing applications, peripherals and services optimized for the Learning Series. The Lenovo Classmate+ laptop and Convertible laptop will be available starting in January to qualified education and government customers through Lenovo sales representatives and business partners. The price of the Lenovo Classmate+ laptop and Convertible laptop will vary in each market based on regional taxes, tariffs and configuration options.
