Lenovo IdeaPad S12 with Nvidia Ion Chipset [First Ion Based Netbook Launched]

Back in April we reported that the first notebooks to utilise Nvidia’s Ion chipset, which essentially serves to marry Intel’s Atom N270 CPU with Nvidia’s 9400M GPU, were just around the corner and, as promised, we have the first outing of a Ion based notebook in the form of the Lenovo IdeaPad S12.

The Lenovo IdeaPad S12 comes with a 12.1″ WXGA (1280 x 800 resolution) display, the aforementioned Antel Atom N270 processor with GMA 850 graphics, up to 1GB of 533MHz RAM, up to a 320GB hard disk (and a 100% full sized keyboard whilst, in terms of connectivity, you’re looking at 10/100 Ethernet, Wi-Fi (b/g/n) and Bluetooth and 3x USB, 1x Expresscard, a 4-in-1 card reader, VGA-out, RJA45 and that all important HDMI. We say ‘all important’ as one of the key aspects of the Nvidia Ion chipset is its ability to decode 1080p HD video as well as boasting hardware based h.264 acceleration.

“We’ve heard from consumers loud and clear about the need for affordable and extremely portable computing devices, and we’ve responded by introducing our third netbook with a completely new form factor, making mini-computing more usable and redefining value in today’s market,” said Dion Weisler, vice president, Business Operations, Idea Product Group, Lenovo, who introduced the Ion based Lenovo IdeaPad S12. “We are pioneering new territory in the developing netbook arena by being the first vendor to give customers high quality video and entertainment capabilities in a netbook with optional Nvidia Ion graphics.”

The Lenovo IdeaPad S12 notebook, which comes with either a 3-cell battery offering up to 3 hours endurance or a 6-cell battery offering up to 6 hours, is set to release from July from around $450, however, we should advise that the initial units will come sans Ion. So, with that in mind, if you’re specifically drawn to the S12 because of Ion you need to hold out till late summer – Lenovo have not specified an exact date as yet – whilst also factoring in an additional $50 premium for the privilege of availing yourself of the Ion based S12.

[via Press]