Lenovo Launches Quad Core Notebook PC

Lenovo unveiled on Tuesday a new workhorse laptop for data and graphics-intensive users who need the power and capabilities of a high-end desktop computer combined with the mobility of a notebook computer.

The ThinkPad W700 is a 17-inch notebook with a built-in digitizer and color calibrator, an industry first, and will incorporate new technologies including NVIDIA's Quadro FX mobile graphics card and Intel mobile quad-core processors.

Options on the W700 include dual-RAID configured hard drives, up to 8 GB of DDR3 memory, an array of wireless connectivity possibilities and a Blu-Ray DVD burner.

"Lenovo has engineered a new breed of mobile workstation with the ThinkPad W700," said Peter Hortensius, senior vice president, Notebook Business Unit, Lenovo, Research Triangle Park, N.C., in a statement.

"No other PC manufacturer has a mobile workstation that delivers the sheer power, performance and cutting-edge innovation that Lenovo has packed into the ThinkPad W700. The ThinkPad W700 mobile workstation flat out delivers the command performance our customers demand at the desk as well as in the field."

The W700 is at the other end of the spectrum from the latest slew of ultra-compact and ultra-mobile notebooks hitting the market with its 17-inch color display and high-end processing power. It has an optional 400-nit WUXGA display that is twice as bright as previous ThinkPads and has 50 percent greater color intensity. The W700 allso has the option of a solid state hard drive for storage and has WiFi and Bluetooth connectivity. WiMAX will be incorporated later in the year, according to Lenovo.

The ThinkPad W700 will be available early next month, with a 2 to 3 week ship time indicated on Lenovo's Web site. The product starts at $2,978, but choosing top-of-the-line options can bring it up over $5,000.