Lenovo Expands ThinkPad Edge Lineup

Lenovo is expanding its line of laptop computers targeted at SMB customers with new models that feature larger screens and more powerful processors.

The PC maker showcased its line of new ThinkPad Edge machines during a promotion in New York City that included one of its testers, the Cupcake Stop – a mobile cupcake vendor that doles out fresh desserts on the streets of New York (think the Good Humor Man, but with cupcakes). Customers were treated to red velvet cupcakes adorned with the ThinkPad Edge logo during the promotion.

The idea behind promoting the ThinkPad Edge series with the Cupcake Stop was to highlight the hardware’s SMB capabilities, making it a truly mobile and versatile machine for a workforce that is hardly ever at a desk.

“The Cupcake Stop is truly a mobile business – Lev (Ekster, owner of the Cupcake Stop) moves from his car to the truck, to his car and back again, all the while working on selling cupcakes, redesigning his website, sending out alerts to his customers via Facebook and Twitter, so his ability to be connected is his No. 1 priority,” said Jay McBain, director of small and medium business at Lenovo.

The ThinkPad Edge line was officially introduced in January with a 13-inch model. Lenovo on Tuesday is filling out the line with a 14-inch and 15-inch model, both priced starting at $599. The machines come with Intel Core i5 and i3 Series or Celeron processors; VoIP features including high-resolution cameras and high-def LED screen; multimedia features including AMD discrete graphics, DVD/RW or Blu-Ray, VGA and HDMI out for watching high-def content and a 7-in-1 multicard reader; and wireless technology choices including 4G, 3G, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth.

In addition, ThinkPad Edge machines include Lenovo’s ThinkVantage Technologies productivity tools including Rescue and Recovery, which helps recover lost or corrupted files; Access Connections, which helps connect and manage Internet connections; and a biometrics fingerprint reader for increased security.

“When we asked SMB owners what they wanted [in a laptop], one piece of feedback we received was, ‘Don’t take your enterprise product and dumb it down to be an SMB product.’ So we built the ThinkPad Edge from the ground up, with the features such as extended battery life (The Cupcake Stop normally runs about 11 hours a day with constant use on one battery), the enhanced multimedia capabilities and wireless connectivity to accommodate the social networking,” McBain said. “This line has all of the consumer-like features that you may not find in our enterprise class products, but with the enterprise-class ThinkVantage Technologies. It’s really the best of both worlds."