Report: Moto X (2015) will come in a gold color option
Gold…once the standard on which the USD was based, the consummate color is now content to live out its silver years as a paint pallet for smartphones. Recent years have seen everyone from Samsung, LG, HTC and countless others embrace it. Now it seems, Lenovo’s Motorola is quite interested as a new leak out of China shows liberal use on the soon-to-be announced Moto X (2015):
As can be seen in the above picture, the (presumably) aluminum frame construction of the phone is gold colored, not unlike that which was found on a variant of last year’s Moto 360. The color also extends to the housing of the camera and infamous “Moto dimple” adding an extra touch of class that looks quite nice on this white-backed phone. With a gold option, Moto Maker will presumably bring the frame color range up to three, with a dark grey and light silver rounding out the trio, provided history repeats itself.
It will be interesting to see just how Motorola designates the Gold frame, if only for the fact that Moto Maker has yet to give shoppers an option to select their desires color. On the contrary, choosing a black front nets the dark frame, and a white front results in the lighter variant. Will Motorola finally give customers the ability to manually chose between the different options? Will it be limited to a choice for only the white bezel? It remains to be seen, though we suspect that – especially in China where gold color options do quite well – it will quickly sell out and incur a wait.
My own personal Moto X (2014) looks particularly nice with the light bamboo rear and contrasting dark frame. What kind of interesting combos will result from this year’s collection?
Expected to be announced on July 28 at a press event, the Moto X is rumored to have a 5.2 inch QHD AMOLED display, Snapdragon 808 SoC, 4GB of RAM, 32 or 64GB of on-board storage, a 16-megapixel clear pixel rear camera and 5-megapixel front camera (with flash). It will purportedly ship with Android 5.1.1, contain a 3280 mAh battery, and once again have front-firing stereo speakers. Given that Samsung is the most likely supplier of the display, it will be of particular interest to see how it fares in comparison to the Galaxy S6 should both be QHD.
Interested in the gold color option? Planning to buy the Moto X (2015)? Leave a comment below and be sure to let us know!
Next-gen Moto X leaks hint at a big screen and a front flash
Motorola just can’t keep its next-generation smartphones under wraps, apparently. Both Peru Android and Google+ user Paul Faz have posted photos that reportedly show the third-generation Moto X in considerably greater detail than earlier leaks. For a start, this is a beast of a device — while it’s unclear just how big that display is, Faz pegs it at 5.5 inches. In other words, Motorola might be headed into LG G4 territory with a big screen in a relatively compact body. Also, the shots support rumors that Motorola would join the likes of HTC by including a front camera flash for those nighttime selfies. It’s not totally certain that you’ll see this device at Motorola’s July 28th event, but it’s at least plausible.
Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, Lenovo
Via: Droid-Life
Here’s your clearest look yet at the next Moto G
If there was any doubt left that Motorola will unveil a new Moto G at its July 28th event, Swiss retailer Digitec just removed it. The store has posted listings for a “3rd gen” Moto G that offers the clearest look yet at what this budget smartphone will likely deliver. Besides a fresher design, it could be far more potent than its predecessor — Digitec claims that the new G touts a 5-inch 1080p display, 2GB of RAM, LTE and a 1.7GHz quad-core chip (likely the 64-bit Snapdragon 610). If it weren’t for the 8GB of expandable storage, this could easily pass for a mid-range phone. You probably won’t have to pay mid-range prices, though, since the G tentatively costs $245 off-contract in Switzerland. We’d still take the listings with a grain of salt, since retailers occasionally botch specs. If they’re accurate, though, they suggest that you’re in for a treat if you want an affordable, near-stock Android phone this summer.
Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile, Lenovo
Via: Giga.de (translated)
Source: Digitec (translated 1), (2)
Latest report shows market gains for Huawei this year
Market research firm TrendForce has just published its latest findings for the smartphone market in 2015. The results show gains for the booming home grown Chinese brands, while some of the big international brands have seen their shipment forecasts cut.
Looking at the big picture first, TrendForce has revised its entire forecast for 2015 shipment growth, down from 11.6 percent to just 8.2 percent. Apparently, a negative global economic outlook and falling demand are responsible, and looks to be hitting the premium brands the most.
As for the international names, Samsung is said to be experiencing mixed fortunes. Quarter on quarter growth for total shipments is expected to hit an impressive 26.8 percent, due in no small part to the launch of the Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge. However, annual shipment forecasts have been lowered to 45 million units this year, due to increased competition in the low-end market and a mark down in expected yearly demand for Samsung’s latest flagship.
The LG G4 is experiencing a similar slump below initial expectations, which TrendForce attributes to a lack of a hardware improvement over the G3. As a result, annual shipments may just grow by only 8 percent, suggesting that the company will miss its sales target. However, the company’s shipments are still up year-on-year.
It’s not all been bad news for Android OEMs though. Chinese manufacturers continue to show strong signs of growth. Huawei and Xiaomi have now taken a place in the global top 5.
Huawei has become the China’s number one smartphone brand this year as well, with an estimated annual shipment growth of nearly 40 percent. The company is expected to be the first Chinese company to sell 100 million phones in 2015.
Xiaomi has shipped 34 million units so far this year and has also continued to see its global market share grow. Although it is looking unlikely that the company will hit its 100 million units target. OPPO and VIVO could also see their sales grow by 30 percent or more this year, thanks to their more unique product positioning.
However, Lenovo has fallen out of the top five this year to sixth place, with shipments expected to decline by around 25 percent this year. It is possible that we may begin to see some consolidation in the Chinese market, as competition continues to drive prices down.
With the year half way through, the trends from last year look set to continue. Strong competition in the Chinese market is still resulting in high demand, while some of the more expensive manufacturers are still struggling to differentiate their products from their previous generations.
Moto X ’15 and Moto G ’15 leaked in the wild
There is yet more supposed leaks of the upcoming Moto X 2015 and Moto G 2015. This time, they were spotted in Brazil and Mexico, where photos of each device were taken.
First up is the Moto X 2015. There’s only one photo and of the back, no less, which appears to have the Kevlar Motorola is known for using in its other flagships, like the Droid Turbo and Droid Razr Maxx. Phandroid noticed a small hole at the bottom, which suggests that the back could be removable and replaceable.
Lastly, we have three photos of the Moto G 2015, one of the back, another of the top, and one more of the front of the alleged device. It appears to be made of plastic on the sides with textured finish on the back. The phone’s front shows a screenshot of it running Android 5.1.1.
Whether these devices are genuine remains to be seen. However, there are plenty of rumors of either device. Some of these include a sport version of the Moto X and leaked press renders and images. Still, Motorola does have an event on July 28th, and Lenovo’s CEO hinted the new Moto G would be released this month. In no more than two weeks, we’ll know exactly what the company plans to unveil.
The post Moto X ’15 and Moto G ’15 leaked in the wild appeared first on AndroidGuys.
Moto X ’15 and Moto G ’15 leaked in the wild
There is yet more supposed leaks of the upcoming Moto X 2015 and Moto G 2015. This time, they were spotted in Brazil and Mexico, where photos of each device were taken.
First up is the Moto X 2015. There’s only one photo and of the back, no less, which appears to have the Kevlar Motorola is known for using in its other flagships, like the Droid Turbo and Droid Razr Maxx. Phandroid noticed a small hole at the bottom, which suggests that the back could be removable and replaceable.
Lastly, we have three photos of the Moto G 2015, one of the back, another of the top, and one more of the front of the alleged device. It appears to be made of plastic on the sides with textured finish on the back. The phone’s front shows a screenshot of it running Android 5.1.1.
Whether these devices are genuine remains to be seen. However, there are plenty of rumors of either device. Some of these include a sport version of the Moto X and leaked press renders and images. Still, Motorola does have an event on July 28th, and Lenovo’s CEO hinted the new Moto G would be released this month. In no more than two weeks, we’ll know exactly what the company plans to unveil.
The post Moto X ’15 and Moto G ’15 leaked in the wild appeared first on AndroidGuys.
Join us for Engadget Live in Boston this Friday!
We’re kicking off our Engadget Live series this Friday, July 17th in one of our favorite cities; Boston! At 7PM, we’re taking over the Royale Nightclub on Tremont Street where we’ll bring together gadget lovers and awesome tech brands. Sound good? First, grab your free tickets and then read on to find out what you can expect at our fun, free event.
You’ll get to sit inside a 2016 Ford Escape and experience the new SYNC 3 system in the car or in standalone screens set up around the venue. Ford’s SYNC 3 is equipped with voice-activated technology and a fresh interface.
Back at CES 2015 (and then on the streets of New York) we checked out Boosted Boards Dual+ electric skateboard and were quite impressed. Now it’s your turn, as the skateboard will be ready and waiting for you to try it out at Engadget Live Boston!
You’ll also have the opportunity to immerse yourself in the Black Hat Oculus Rift game, navigate an obstacle course with drones equipped with Panoptes Systems anti-collision tech, and try out Lenovo’s latest tablets — all while you enjoy drinks generously provided by Drizly!
Get your free tickets and we’ll see you this Friday. And while you’re there, be sure to share your pictures with the #EngadgetLive hashtag on Instagram and Twitter. Not in Boston? We’re also headed to Los Angeles on August 21st and Austin on October 16th.
Filed under: Announcements
Join us next week for #EngadgetLive Boston!
In just about one week, you can join your fellow gadget enthusiasts in Boston for our very first Engadget Live event of 2015! If you plan to be in town on Friday, July 17th at 7pm, grab your FREE ticket and join your fellow gadget enthusiasts at the Royale Nightclub at 279 Tremont Street in downtown Boston.
We’re also excited to announce that all of our Engadget Live events (including Los Angeles on August 21st and Austin on October 16th), will now be fueled by Ford and its SYNC 3 system!
SYNC 3 adds the next generation of voice-activated technology, with an easier to use design and fresh interface. If you come out to Engadget Live, you’ll get to sit inside a 2016 Ford Escape and experience the new SYNC 3 system in the car or in standalone screens set up around the venue.
You’ll also get to drink fabulously thanks to Drizly; try vaporized spirits from Vapshot; get hands-on with Lenovo’s slick hardware and check out Boosted Boards’ Dual+ electric skateboard. Be sure to get your free ticket on Eventbrite and RSVP on our Facebook Events page and when you’re at the event, share your pictures with the #EngadgetLive hashtag on Instagram and Twitter. We’ll see you there!
Filed under: Announcements, Lenovo
Join us next week for #EngadgetLive Boston!
In just about one week, you can join your fellow gadget enthusiasts in Boston for our very first Engadget Live event of 2015! If you plan to be in town on Friday, July 17th at 7pm, grab your FREE ticket and join your fellow gadget enthusiasts at the Royale Nightclub at 279 Tremont Street in downtown Boston.
We’re also excited to announce that all of our Engadget Live events (including Los Angeles on August 21st and Austin on October 16th), will now be fueled by Ford and its SYNC 3 system!
SYNC 3 adds the next generation of voice-activated technology, with an easier to use design and fresh interface. If you come out to Engadget Live, you’ll get to sit inside a 2016 Ford Escape and experience the new SYNC 3 system in the car or in standalone screens set up around the venue.
You’ll also get to drink fabulously thanks to Drizly; try vaporized spirits from Vapshot; get hands-on with Lenovo’s slick hardware and check out Boosted Boards’ Dual+ electric skateboard. Be sure to get your free ticket on Eventbrite and RSVP on our Facebook Events page and when you’re at the event, share your pictures with the #EngadgetLive hashtag on Instagram and Twitter. We’ll see you there!
Filed under: Announcements, Lenovo
Lenovo LaVie Z series review: super light, super compromised
The Lenovo LaVie Z series is a winner. Or at least it was before I tested one for this review. The HZ550, as it was originally called, captured our attention at CES for being the lightest-ever 13-inch laptop: just 1.7 pounds. Its sibling, the touchscreen HZ750, wasn’t much heavier at 2.04 pounds. In either case, Lenovo promised surprisingly robust performance, with the help of full-fledged Intel Core CPUs (i.e., not the sort of watered-down chips we typically see in thin-and-light machines). The combination of portability and processing clout was enough to win the LaVie series a Best of CES Award in the PC category, beating out some stiff competition. While I don’t regret my decision — the LaVie was, after all, one of the more memorable products we saw at CES — I don’t think you should actually spend $1,399-plus on it. Here’s why.
Hardware
Before I get into the nuts and bolts (or ports and slots, as it were), it’s worth talking a bit about the LaVie Z series’ history. These laptops are actually the product of a joint venture between Lenovo and Japanese PC maker NEC, which has been selling super thin laptops for years under the LaVie brand. The LaVie’s Japanese origins will actually be incredibly important once I get to the strange keyboard layout, but for now, suffice it to say that while the LaVie Z is a novelty here in America, NEC already knows a thing or two about building exceptionally thin-and-light machines.
The LaVie Z (once called the HZ550) and the convertible LaVie 360 (formerly the HZ750) are virtually indistinguishable with their lids closed. Both are made of a magnesium-lithium composite that’s so lightweight, it could easily be mistaken for plastic. That’s partly because of its nondescript black finish, but also because the build quality is about on par with what I’d expect from a plastic machine. Pick it up by the palm rest, for instance, and you’ll notice a good deal of flexing and bending. For what it’s worth, at least, the hinge is sturdy, particularly on the convertible model where smooth, controlled movements are of the essence. That said, by no means do I think lightweight machines have to feel this flimsy; the new two-pound MacBook and its aluminum enclosure are proof that you can build a featherweight machine that still feels solid.
Whatever the LaVie Z lacks in style or rock-solidness, these were all compromises made for the sake of keeping the weight down. And these machines are indeed very lightweight. The touchscreen Z 360 weighs 2.04 pounds, as promised, while the non-touch Z is slightly heavier than originally announced: 1.87 pounds instead of 1.72. Even so, both are significantly lighter than their competitors. The 13-inch MacBook Air, for instance, comes in at 2.96 pounds, and that’s without a touchscreen; the LaVie Z beats it by more than a pound. As for the Z 360, it’s competing against touchscreen machines even like Lenovo’s own Yoga 3 Pro, which weighs 2.62 pounds — and has a lower-powered processor, to boot.
Lenovo didn’t skimp on screen resolution either: Both of the units I tested had Quad HD (2,560 x 1,440) 13.3-inch displays, the likes of which are quickly becoming standard on high-end notebooks. However, while the pixel count is everything you’d demand from a premium machine, the actual quality is a bit lacking in both cases. Though the Z 360’s touchscreen looks vibrant head-on, its colors start to lose their luster as soon as you dip the screen forward, as you might if you were working in a cramped coach seat. The non-touch Z, which has a matte-finish screen, is also prone to washout, although some customers will at least appreciate how glare-resistant that panel is, especially compared to the glossy display on the Z 360.
The selection of ports is nearly identical for the Z and touchscreen Z 360. On the left side, you’ll find a Kensington lock slot, along with the power connector. There you’ll also see the power button, along with a trio of indicator lights. Over on the right edge, meanwhile, are two USB 3.0 ports, along with a full-size HDMI socket, a full-size SD card reader and a headphone jack. The only difference is that the convertible Z 360 also has a volume rocker on the left side, for when the machine is in tablet mode.
Keyboard and trackpad
The LaVie’s Z keyboard makes me wonder if Lenovo initially wasn’t planning to release it in the States. Though the buttons do, at least, have English characters, the layout will seem completely unintuitive to American users: Almost every major key, including Caps Lock, Tab, Ctrl, Backspace and even the spacebar, has been shrunken down. In some cases, like with Ctrl and Backspace, the buttons aren’t much bigger than my thumbnail. It doesn’t help that the Backspace key is tucked off to the upper-right corner, with the lesser-used “FWD Space” button standing in between me and the rest of the keyboard. That meant my finger often landed where it wasn’t supposed to when all I was trying to do was correct a typo.
Indeed, you might have to correct typos fairly often: Because the keyboard is so flat (as is the case on most ultraportables), the buttons don’t offer much travel, which means key presses don’t always register unless you hit them very deliberately. To be fair, this is an issue with many other thin-and-light machines, although Lenovo, at least, is otherwise known for its relatively cushy keys — even on machines that don’t fall under the famous ThinkPad brand.
Fortunately, the touchpad on both machines works well, with precise single-finger tracking and controlled multitouch gestures like two-finger scrolling. This was a particular relief on the non-touch model, where I frequently had to, say, swipe in from the right to expose the Charms Bar. The touchpad is the only touch-sensitive input device on the classic version, so it’s a good thing it works as well as it does.
Performance and battery life
| PCMark7 | 3DMark06 | 3DMark11 | ATTO (top disk speeds) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lenovo LaVie Z (2.4GHz Intel Core i7-5500U, Intel HD 5500) | 5,232 | 7,384 |
E2,001/ P1,122 / X310 |
555 MB/s (reads); 245 MB/s (writes) |
| Lenovo LaVie Z 360 (2.4GHz Intel Core i7-5500U, Intel HD 5500) | 5,125 | 6,918 |
E2,043 / P1,138 / X316 |
554 MB/s (reads); 247 MB/s (writes) |
| ASUS Transformer Book T300 Chi (1.2GHz Intel M-5Y71, Intel HD 5300) | 4,494 | 5,236 |
E1,362 / P737 / X214 |
487 MB/s (reads); 366 MB/s (writes) |
| HP Spectre x360 (2015, 2.2GHz Intel Core i5-5200U, Intel HD 5500) | 4,965 | 8,810 |
E1,667 / P932 / X265 |
555 MB/s (reads); 270 MB/s (writes) |
| Dell XPS 13 (2015, 2.2GHz Intel Core i5-5200U, Intel HD 5500) | 4,900 | 7,433 |
E2,114 / P1,199 / X330 |
515 MB/s (reads); 455 MB/s (writes) |
| Lenovo Yoga 3 Pro (1.1GHz Intel M-5Y70, Intel HD 5300) | 4,699 | 4,734 |
E1,076 / P595 / X175 |
554 MB/s (reads); 261 MB/s (writes) |
| Samsung ATIV Book 9 2014 Edition (1.6GHz Core i5-4200U, Intel HD 4400) | 4,835 | 5,947 |
E1,752 / P948 / X297 |
551 MB/s (reads); 141 MB/s (writes) |
| Microsoft Surface Pro 3 (1.9GHz Core i5-4300U, Intel HD 4400) | 5,024 | 5,053 |
E1,313 / P984 |
555 MB/s (reads); 252 MB/s (writes) |
| Samsung ATIV Book 9 Plus (1.6GHz Core i5-4200U, Intel HD 4400) | 4,973 | 5,611 |
E1,675 / P867 / X277 |
547 MB/s (reads); 508 MB/s (writes) |
| Acer Aspire S7-392 (1.6GHz Intel Core i5-4200U, Intel HD 4400) | 5,108 | 5,158 |
E1,724 / P952 / X298 |
975 MB/s (reads); 1.1 GB/s (writes) |
Both of the units I tested came with 2.4GHz Intel Core i7-5500U CPUs, along with integrated Intel HD 5500 graphics and 8GB of RAM. They also each had Samsung-made 256GB solid-state drives. The comparison I’m about to make might not be a fair one, seeing as how few of the ultraportables we test have Core i7 processors (though maybe that’s the point). Suffice to say, the full-voltage CPU here beats the pants off of Intel’s low-powered Core M chip and, to a lesser extent, Core i5 models. In PCMark7, for instance, I saw scores that were 200-300 points higher than Core i5, and 500-600 points higher than Core M.
The machine even saw a modest boost on graphics tests, despite having the same integrated Intel HD 5500 chipset as many of its competitors. In the newest version of 3DMark, the two laptops scored a combined average of 712 on the most difficult test, and an average of 2,644 on the “Sky Diver” benchmark for mid-range machines. Once we start running these tests on more Windows PCs, we’ll be in a better position to compare results across different systems.
One area where the LaVie Z series doesn’t enjoy an advantage is disk speeds. Though the Samsung-made solid-state drives used inside both machines reached impressive read speeds of about 555 MB/s, with writes topping out around 246 MB/s, we’ve seen just as good, if not faster, rates from competing machines. Likewise, the two LaVies’ startup times ranged from seven to nine seconds, which is also fast, but on par with other ultraportables.
|
Battery life |
|
|---|---|
| Lenovo LaVie Z | 7:32 |
| Lenovo LaVie Z 360 | 6:54 |
| MacBook Air (13-inch, 2013) | 12:51 |
| HP Spectre x360 | 11:34 |
| Apple MacBook Pro with Retina display (13-inch, 2015) | 11:23 |
| Apple MacBook Pro with Retina display (13-inch, late 2013) | 11:18 |
| Chromebook Pixel (2015) | 10:01 |
| Microsoft Surface 3 | 9:11 |
| Samsung ATIV Book 9 Plus | 8:44 |
| Apple MacBook (2015) | 7:47 |
| Dell XPS 13 (2015) | 7:36 |
| Lenovo Yoga 3 Pro | 7:36 |
| Acer Aspire S7-392 | 7:33 |
| Microsoft Surface Pro 3 | 7:08 |
| ASUS Transformer Book T300 Chi | 5:51 (Quad HD)/6:14 (Full HD) |
Lenovo claims up to seven hours of battery life for the LaVie series, which is about right for either model. With the touchscreen Z 360, I got six hours and 54 minutes of continuous HD video playback; on the non-touch model, the runtime stretched to around 7.5 hours. That’s not great compared to some heavier 13-inch machines like the MacBook Air, HP Spectre x360 and the newer Chromebook Pixel, but it’s on par with other super light machines like the 12-inch MacBook and the Yoga 3 Pro. Considering those last two machines use power-sipping Core M processors, you’d actually expect them to last longer, in theory. The LaVie Z, though, lasts about as long, except it’s also faster and weighs less. If it weren’t for that wacky keyboard, it might be a real winner.
The competition
The Dell XPS 13.
The LaVie Z might be the lightest 13-inch laptop on the market, while the LaVie Z 360 might be the lightest touchscreen 13-incher, but that, of course, doesn’t mean they’re competitors are heavy. Not by any means. If you can tolerate the burden of an extra pound (or less, even), you’ll find you have a few solid options. Not all of them are as fast as the LaVie Z — in fact, most aren’t — but many have better displays, and virtually all of them have superior keyboards.
To begin, you might consider Dell’s XPS 13 ($800 and up), which very nearly won the Best PC award at CES this year instead of the LaVie Z. Clocking in at 2.6 pounds for the lightest model, it lasted about as long in our standard battery test, except that was with a higher-res 3,200 x 1,800 touchscreen; I suspect the base model with a non-touch 1080p panel can go much longer. At the same time, it packs standard-voltage processors, similar to the LaVie Z, and its keyboard is way more comfortable to type on. I would recommend it over the Lenovo for just about everybody.
The 12-inch MacBook.
The new MacBook is another obvious competitor. At two pounds, it’s only slightly heavier than the LaVie Z, but its build quality is much sturdier, thanks to a unibody aluminum chassis. The keyboard, though flat, is easier to type on than the Z’s, and the Retina display offers wider viewing angles. That said, the choice here isn’t nearly as cut-and-dried as with the XPS 13. In exchange for better build quality, you get weaker performance and an enclosure that’s prone to overheating. Given the performance hit too, you’d at least expect the machine to be more energy efficient than its higher-powered rivals, but there doesn’t seem to be much a battery life advantage. Also, the new MacBook famously (notoriously?) includes just one port, a tiny USB Type-C socket that’s not yet compatible with many peripherals, at least not without an adapter. Taken on its own, I’m not sure it’s worth the $1,299 starting price — not unless you’re a loyal OS X user who puts display quality and portability above all else.
The Lenovo Yoga 3 Pro.
Many thin-and-light Windows laptops use the same low-powered Core M processor found in the new MacBook, and they present similar problems (namely, watered-down performance without a big gain in battery life). That said, these Windows models at least offer more ports than the MacBook, making them a generally more practical choice. These include Lenovo’s own Yoga 3 Pro convertible ($1,099 and up), which offers longer battery life than the similar LaVie Z 360, along with a comfier keyboard and a sharper display. Meanwhile, Samsung’s 12.2-inch ATIV Book 9 ($1,200-plus) weighs in at 2.09 pounds — nearly as light as the new MacBook and is rated for up to 10.5 hours of battery life, thanks in part to an aggressive battery-saving mode. I haven’t tested that one, though, so I can’t vouch for its performance.
Wrap-up
The LaVie Z was almost a great laptop, and will be — once Lenovo’s product team comes to its senses and re-releases the Z in the US with a keyboard layout optimized for American users. As it is, the company has achieved an impressively portable design, one that doesn’t compromise on speed or ports. Yes, the build quality doesn’t feel as sturdy as some rival machines, and the display, though usable, isn’t particularly vibrant. But both of these flaws would be tolerable if not for the fact that the US edition also suffers from a foreign keyboard layout. I can only assume that Lenovo and NEC settled for the Japanese setup because that’s what NEC knows, and because the two companies were under pressure to ship the laptop in time. But that won’t be an excuse next year and, indeed, I hope Lenovo tweaks the keyboard for American shoppers. If and when it does that, the LaVie Z will be a great notebook, maybe even one that raises the bar for the rest of the industry. Right now, though, it’s tough to recommend.
AIVAnet 