The IdeaPad laptops were announced in January 2008.[1] The first three models in the product line were the Y710, the Y510, and the U110. Some of the features that defined these first three models were widescreens, VeriFace facial recognition, frameless screens, touch controls, and Dolby speaker systems.[1][2]
The IdeaPad design marked a deviation from the business-oriented ThinkPad laptops, towards a more consumer-oriented look and feel.[3] Among these changes were a glossy screen and the absence of the traditional ThinkPad TrackPoint.[4]
On September 21, 2016, Lenovo confirmed that their Yoga series is not meant to be compatible with Linux operating systems, that they know it is impossible to install Linux on some models, and that it is not supported.[5] This came in the wake of media coverage of problems that users were having while trying to install Ubuntu on several Yoga models, including the 900 ISK2, 900 ISK For Business, 900S, and 710, which were traced back to Lenovo intentionally disabling and removing support for the AHCI storage mode for the device's solid-state drive in the computer's BIOS, in favor of a RAID mode that is only supported by Windows 10drivers that come with the system. (This is also noted to make creation of Windows installation media more difficult than it normally is, as the process requires extracting a storage driver and loading it during the Windows installation process, or else the installer will not see the SSD.)[6][7][8][9]
As of February 2020, the Lenovo IdeaPad S940 is the world's cheapest 4K laptop. This IdeaPad notebook, made of aluminium, is the world's first laptop to feature a curved Contour Display.[10]
The Lenovo IdeaPad Flex is a dual-mode laptop line by Lenovo; Unlike the Lenovo IdeaPad Yoga line of devices the keyboard does not bend back entirely to allow use as a tablet, it's only a dual-mode laptop (except some models).[11]
Gaming series (2020–current)
IdeaPad Gaming 3 was announced in April, 2020.[12]
The first laptops in the IdeaPad Y Series line were showcased in CES 2008.[1]
These were the IdeaPad Y710 and Y510 laptops, with 17-inch and 15-inch screens, respectively.[13] The Y series is a line of ordinary laptops with gaming-oriented appearance – a marked difference from ThinkPads.[3]
The Lenovo IdeaPad Yoga 11 is a hybrid laptop/tablet Windows RT based computer released in late 2012. The Yoga 11 and Yoga 13 computers both get their names from their unique design that enables the devices to rotate their screen backwards to become tablet devices.
The Yoga 11's small amount of RAM is sufficient due to the reduced memory requirements of Windows RT applications. The Yoga 11 was sold with solid-state drives in 32 GB and 64 GB capacities. The Yoga 11 runs the Windows RT operating system. Microsoft Office 2013 ships pre-installed.[14] Like all Windows RT devices, the Yoga 11 cannot run software designed for earlier versions of Windows, only apps designed for the new Metro interface are compatible.[15]
The IdeaPad Yoga 11S is a compact ultralight hybrid notebook/tablet computer which released in 2013. Like the Yoga 13 and the Yoga 11 the Yoga 11S gets its name from its ability to take on various form factors due to its screen being mounted on a special two-way hinge. The Yoga 11S runs the full version of Microsoft's Windows 8 operating system.[16]
Like other models in the IdeaPad Yoga line, the Yoga 11S has a convertible form factor. Its screen can flip into a range of positions that allow it to serve as a regular laptop and tablet device as well as being able to function in "tent mode" and "stand mode."[16] Like the Yoga 11, the 11S was available in silver and clementine orange.[17] The Yoga 11S can be configured with Intel's "Ivy Bridge" Core i7 processor, support up to a 256 GB SSD, and can hold 8 GB of RAM. The Yoga 11S has an 11.6" display with available options for resolutions of 1366×768 pixels and 1600×900 pixels.[16]
IdeaPad Yoga Tablet
The IdeaPad Yoga Tablet is an Android tablet with a multi-mode device with a rear kickstand designed to allow it to be placed upright for viewing videos and other media or tilted for easier text entry.[18]
The first laptop in Lenovo's netbook IdeaPad S Series was scheduled for launch in September 2008 but was delayed, with an estimated release date of November .[19] Ultimately, the laptop was released in September in China, but in October in the United States.[20][21]
^ ab"Lenovo IdeaPad Hands-On Roundup". 27 January 2022. For starters, the design of the IdeaPads marks a significant change for Lenovo. Unlike the "all business" classic ThinkPad line that Lenovo inherited from IBM, the IdeaPads have a sleek, refined look with a very consumer-focused feel.
^"Lenovo IdeaPad Hands-On Roundup". 27 January 2022. The glossy screens feature a flush-mount bezel which makes the transition from LCD to keyboard look incredibly smooth. Speaking of keyboards, the keyboards on both the Y510 and the Y710 have a distinctive "ThinkPad feel" when typing ... despite the loss of the iconic red trackpoint in the middle of the keyboard.
^"IdeaPad S10 Release delayed". Archived from the original on 2008-09-15. It seems that the Lenovo IdeaPad S10′s release date has possibly been delayed by two months. Customers that pre-ordered the S10 were expecting it to be released on 9 September. However, some buyers have been tracking the status of their order and have noticed that the status was not updating throughout the day. In fact, the order status for pre-orders wasn't updated by Lenovo until a day after the due release date. The status then showed an expected release date of November 18th.
^"Lenovo IdeaPad S10 Review". 27 January 2022. With so many manufacturers scrambling to create their own "netbooks" it was only a matter of time before Lenovo came to the table with their own value-priced IdeaPad S10.