Includes a convertible Yoga branded Chromebook, toughened for use in schools
Lenovo has this week introduced a pair of new Chromebooks aimed at the education customer. The 11e series Chromebook will be available in two form factors; a traditional clamshell laptop and in its convertible Yoga form. Since Lenovo is aiming the 11e series – also available with Windows 8.1 – at schools, they’re toughened up to deal with the added stress – and inevitable drops – that they’re likely to be subjected to.
The regular 11e comes with an 11.6-inch HD LED display, while the 11e Yoga will have an IPS touchscreen panel with wider viewing angles for when you’re using it in convertible mode. We’re told to expect around 8 hours battery life from each model, which is perfect for getting someone through the school day. Both will be available to purchase from this spring, with pricing starting at $349. The full press release, including details of the Windows 8.1 variants is right after the break.
ORLANDO, FLand RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, NC –January 29, 2014: Lenovo (HKSE: 992) (ADR: LNVGY) today announced at the Florida Education Technology Conference (FETC), the ThinkPad 11e series of laptops, designed specifically for education and ruggedized for classroom performance. Thin and light, these purpose-built devices offer education administrators the durability necessary to succeed in the hands of K-12 students and the flexibility to meet the increasingly changing needs of their technology demands. The ThinkPad 11e series is available in two form factors: traditional laptop or Lenovo’s innovative Yoga multimode form with four unique positions: laptop, tablet, tent and stand. The ThinkPad Yoga 11e devices offer students a system that can adapt to their needs based on the application or the content they are working with.
The ThinkPad 11e series provides students, educators and administrators with an intuitive, easy-to-manage rugged device. Sometimes kids drop their laptops. Sometimes kids throw their backpacks with their laptops in them. Features like rubber bumpers, reinforced ports, and stronger hinges are included to protect the system from the hustle and bustle of the classroom. The 11.6-inch HD LED antiglare screen on the traditional laptop provides a clear display in any environment. The ThinkPad Yoga 11e devices have an IPS wide viewing angle touchscreen displays. Each device is powered by an Intel® processor – fast boot times mean that classes can begin quickly without delay, and all day-long battery life allow students to breeze through classes without switching to alternative power. Top cover LEDs indicate wireless connectivity, laptop power or sleep mode to help teachers ensure consistent student activity.
“We have a proven track record of designing laptops and tablets built to last in education environments. With the new ThinkPad 11e devices, we’re raising the bar with new form factors,” said Jerry Paradise, executive director of product marketing, ThinkPad Product Group, Lenovo. “I’m very excited that Lenovo is able to offer a device that’s not only rugged enough for the classroom but also flexible enough to adapt to the many ways technology can be incorporated into the overall learning experience.”
The ThinkPad Yoga 11e and the ThinkPad 11e offer an excellent Windows experience in education.
With optional applications like LanSchool and webNetwork, these devices become excellent solutions for IT administrators by adding simple, reliable classroom management and access to files and applications from any device. Intel® Education Software helps students develop 21st century skills through rich, interactive applications and is also optionally available for these devices. On the ThinkPad Yoga 11e, Yoga Modes in Lenovo Settings recognizes when the user switches modes and allows apps to adapt for the best experience.
The ThinkPad Yoga 11e Chromebook and the ThinkPad 11e Chromebook make it possible for any school district with an internet connection to deploy a 1:1 computing program. These laptops are fast, simple, secure, always up-to-date and offer more than eight hours of battery life – ideal for the classroom. They are also easy to manage – ideal for administrators.
Customization options are also available to meet the unique needs of schools so students and educators can easily manage their devices, including asset tagging, BIOS modifications, laser engraving and custom imaging. Color options include Graphite Black or Silver.
“In CDW-G’s work helping K-12 customers adapt technology to support new requirements like Common Core and digital curriculum, we see many schools struggle with choosing the right device for students to carry,” said Julie Smith, vice president for K-12 education, CDW-G. “Lenovo’s new ThinkPad 11e devices will help make that decision easier as they enable students to use them in various ways and can eliminate the need to carry multiple devices.”
Pricing and Availability The ThinkPad 11e series of devices will be available this spring from Lenovo business partners and on www.lenovo.com. Pricing for the ThinkPad Yoga 11e and ThinkPad 11e models starts at $449. Pricing for the ThinkPad Yoga 11e Chromebook and ThinkPad 11e Chromebook models starts at $349.