Lenovo has launched its first multimedia 3D laptop with the release of its IdeaPad Y560d notebook.
The 3D laptop is designed for the high-end gaming market and users that seek high performance, gaming and multimedia capabilities said Chet Joshi, an account executive at Lenovo Canada.
The IdeaPad Y560d is a 15.6-inch slim form factor laptop that’s 3D enabled, providing its users with a 3D experience similar to what they’d get at home or in a movie theatre, he added.
“Right now the 3D notebook is still a niche market,” Joshi said. “But there are actually a lot of games that were developed in years past that are 3D-ready, and with 3D becoming popular with movies we think the market will exponentially explode. This provides instant gratification because users are viewing multimedia in 3D.”
For channel partners, even though 3D laptops serve a niche community, because the units are designed to be higher-end the margins are better, Joshi said. Partners can also see their revenues soar when they sell complementary accessories such as speakers, adapters, batteries and multimedia remote controls.
The notebook features a high-definition 16:9 widescreen display and comes with a pair of polarized glasses which are compatible with 3D movies and games. The average battery life for the unit is estimated to be about four to five hours, with the possibility of more, depending on how the notebook is used, Joshi said.
In addition, the laptop is built with TriDef 3-D technology, which enables users to view their standard 2D video and photos in a 3D format.
“TriDef takes standard movies and photos and converts them to make them 3D on the screen,” he said.
The notebook is also branded under the Lenovo Enhanced Experience label, which means it’s optimized for Microsoft Windows 7 and the company claims it also allows for quicker boot-up times and improved application performance. The unit is built with Intel’s Core i7 processor, featuring Intel Turbo Boost Technology, and also features a high-performance ATI Radeon HD5730 1GB graphics card. The unit comes with optional high-speed integrated 802.11n Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity capabilities, Joshi said.
When asked about other customer opportunities, Joshi said Lenovo recognizes that although the market is moving toward embracing 3D technology, there are still challenges when it comes to adoption rates with any new technology.
“When you have something extra like glasses, it limits the adoption rate in terms of who feels comfortable with the technology,” he said. “That’s why we’re starting with 3D on the gaming side and as the technology matures and as we develop it, we’ll look at other opportunities such as content editing, architectural design and model rendering and eventually move into the commercial and corporate space.”
As for the introduction of other screen sizes and form factors, Joshi said Lenovo will look at bringing out devices with larger displays, depending on the market need.
“We feel 15.6 inches is the optimal size and is the sweet-spot that makes the most sense for consumers,” he said. “We’ll also look at bringing out bigger screen sizes in the future.”
The Lenovo IdeaPad Y560d laptop is now available through Lenovo’s Web site and also through its distributors, which include Ingram Micro, Supercom, Synnex, Tech data, and their respective retail partners. The MSRP for the device starts at $1,299.99.
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