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While I personally prefer the ThinkPad motif, Lenovo seems to be a company of options and is leaving the door open to additional stylistic approaches reviving its NEC Corporation joint venture for 2020.
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NEC Personal Computers, Ltd., a joint venture company of Lenovo and NEC Corporation, announces that its newest LAVIE devices are available in the United States, ahead of CES 2020. The three products address a broad range of user requirements – from ultimate portability for on-the-go professionals to integrated sound systems for families looking to entertain in their homes.
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All three new additions combine the latest innovations in human-computer interaction with Japanese minimalist design and craftsmanship.
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Of the three newest options, two are more conventional laptop designs dubbed LAVIE VEGA and LAVIE Pro Mobile with a third being a beguiling (AIO) straightforwardly titled the LAVIE Home All-in-One.
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LAVIE Pro Mobile
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Starting at $1,599.99 Available: March 2020
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The LAVIE Pro Mobile touts portability and combines a super lightweight chassis at 1.85lbs and an extended 15-hour battery life wrapped up in “racing car grade carbon” and exclusive light-weight aerospace magnesium-lithium material. The 13.3-inch laptop will be rolled out in Bordeaux color similar to the original Surface Laptop and start at $1,599.99 in March 2020.
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LAVIE VEGA
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Starting at $2,099.99 Available: March 2020
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NEC’s other laptop offering, the LAVIE VEGA, looks to be more of the workhorse device with its 15.6-inch 4K OLED display and co-designed YAMAHA sound array.
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Aside from the display size and custom-built sound system, the VEGA offers another exclusive touch beyond its Pro Mobile brethren in its Gorilla Glass 6 back cover powered by LAVIE’s new Smart Light technology. The lid lights up a LAVIE logo similar to an Apple logo by also doubles as a smart speaker supporting Microsoft’s Cortana with modern Standby.
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Even when your laptop is closed and on sleep mode, the far-field mic can pick up voice commands and activate Microsoft’s Cortana to kick-start apps.
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LAVIE Home All-In-One
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Starting at $1,799.99
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Lastly, LAVIE is bringing a certain pizzaz to the AIO market with a relatively unique tent-like design and speakers embedded in the display.
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The Crystal Sound Display developed by LG Display, a technology leader in TV displays, generates a clear and better-directed sound by vibrating the display.
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The high-performance, noiseless immersive display, and voice-operated control also offer the option to use Intel’s Wake On Voice function to control the PC, even when Windows system is shut down.
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As with most Lenovo offerings this year, the LAVIE lineup will be powered by 10th gen Intel U Processors and 4 array far-field mic for enhanced voice control and promotion of either Amazon’s Alexa digital assistant or Microsoft’s relatively defunct Cortana service.
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As an NEC collaboration, the two companies plan to announce their Japanese rollout of these devices later this year.
\n\nFurther reading: Cortana, Gorilla Glass, LAVIE, Lenovo, Microsoft, NEC, Pro Mobile, VEGA