Lenovo introduces slimmer netbook model

Netbooks are known as slimmer, smaller versions of notebooks, but at least one major PC maker plans on making the popular devices even slimmer and lighter. 

Lenovo has introduced a new netbook, the IdeaPad S10-2, which will be less than an inch thick while weighing just two pounds.  The netbook has a 10.1-inch display, has a keyboard 90 percent the same size as a regular keyboard, and has a large touchpad.

On the hardware side, the Lenovo IdeaPad S10-2 is an Intel Atom N270-powered device with 1GB internal memory, 160GB HDD, 3G wireless, with a built-in 1.3-megapixel camera.  The netbook uses the Microsoft Windows XP Home edition, not a Linux OS.

Lenovo hopes to have the S10-2 available prior to the end of May, and will be shipped to retailers before the end of June.  Lenovo said pricing starts at $349.

As companies such as Lenovo, Acer, Asus, Dell, and Hewlett-Packard (HP) continue to compete for the growing netbook market, they’re all looking for new ways to attract new consumers.  Lenovo hopes offering a slimmer, more attractive netbook will help convince consumers who aren’t interested in netbooks to look into the smaller, more portable devices.

Originally seen as smaller but slower than regular-sized notebooks, manufacturers have been able to increase the power of devices so they’re able to handle a wider variety of functions.