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Here’s a breakdown of the shorter-term service offerings, which thanks to a single SIM card in the laptop, is available in the U.S., UK, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Austria, Belgium, Denmark and the Netherlands: 30 minutes (up to 30 MB of data) for $1.95 and one day (up to 200 MB of data) for $8.95. Lenovo also offers a full month of service — available with either a 2 GB or 6 GB data limit — with prices varying by region. The Lenovo Mobile Access dashboard software explains the terms and pricing at the point of purchase on a ThinkPad.

I think the idea is brilliant because while many rely on Wi-Fi hotspots for mobile connectivity, there’s always the chance that Wi-Fi isn’t there when you need it. Having a mobile broadband MiFi or USB dongle alleviates that risk, but can often come with a lengthy contract or high, per-month charges for a bucket of data. And sometimes you only need a sip of data, not a bucketful. I wouldn’t expect many ThinkPad owners to go for the monthly plans as the prices for no-contract data is likely to be less expensive with a carrier. A 30-minute or day pass, though? What a great option for enterprise workers and consumers on the go.

Lenovo’s new service is powered by Macheen, an Austin, Texas startup we featured last year, which jointly announced the Lenovo news. The young company is thinking outside the box as traditional data plans came from a time where many had a single device and broadband was considered a service similar to voice: Buy a bunch, whether you use it all or not. In a blog post today, Macheen points out the difference today and where the market for broadband is headed: “Connectivity is going from “one-size-fits-all” and “off-the-rack,” to constantly connected devices with tailored access for any device, any application and any user.”

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The Lenovo ThinkPad Edge is a good compromise between the enterprise focused ThinkPad line and the consumer market. The ThinkPad Edge 14 has a bright 14-inch screen at 1366×768 resolution that is easy on the eyes for all day use. In the video I give a tour around the notebook and show how solid a performer it is at normal tasks.

The line is comprised of the L412 and L512, with 14 and 15-inch screens respectively. The major features of the ThinkPad L models:

• 16:9 HD antiglare displays on the 14-inch L412 and 15-inch L512
• Choices of Intel integrated or ATI Mobility Radeon graphics
• 3G/4G wireless connectivity options with Gobi 2000 module support for AT&T, Sprint and Verizon
• Multitouch touchpads
• Up to 8 hours of battery life
• Expansion with 4 USB ports/1 powered, combo eSATA/USB port, support for DisplayPort and VGA

In addition to the recycled material used in construction of the new laptops, Lenovo offers a 3-year warranty on the batteries to keep them out of landfills. The packaging used with the ThinkPad L is 100% recyclable in keeping with the green theme (for those interested in green tech, check out our GreenNet 2010 conference this month). The new ThinkPads will be available in the middle of May.

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The 14-inch version of the Edge is a nice size that is comfortable to use while remaining highly portable. The notebook is nice and thin and while a bit heavy at 5 pounds it is still easy to carry in a gear bag. The evaluation model has the black matte finish on the lid, a huge improvement over the glossy version that it a fingerprint magnet.

The 14-inch screen provides ample room for a large base on the Edge, which allows Lenovo to add some welcome touches to the design. The keyboard is one of the best notebook keyboards I have used, and it has lots of room around it to make it comfortable to use for extended periods. Most welcome is the over-sized trackpad which supports multitouch. I find larger trackpads to be easier to use, especially when using two fingers to scroll up and down the screen. The Edge has a red ThinkPad trackstick like all ThinkPads, along with 3 buttons below the space bar.

There are nice consumer touches that add functionality. The ThinkPad logo on the lid and the inside beneath the keyboard both have the “i” dotted with a red LED that indicates power status and standby mode. All ports and slot for peripherals are located on the sides and front of the notebook toward the front, making everything easily accessible whether the lid is open or closed.

The 2 MP webcam is above the screen, centered as is most convenient. It is optimized for use in low lighting conditions, so Skype video calls always provide good video quality.

The display on the Edge 14 is very vivid and easy to use all day. The resolution is 1366×768 and everything is nice and big for extended viewing. I wish it was slightly higher resolution, but it’s not a deal breaker by any means. It’s still a good size for taking advantage of the Windows 7 Aero drag features, such as tiling two windows side by side. This unit has a highly glossy screen which I happen to like, but if you’re one of those who don’t like them you should avoid it.

The keyboard is simply wonderful to use; every time I use the Edge for a while and then go to another notebook I realize just how good this one really is to use. I can type as fast or faster on this keyboard than on any other, and that’s saying a lot given how many keyboards I use. It is slightly sunken from the surrounding border, making it the same level as the base while still having good key travel. I love this keyboard.

The optical drive is very convenient to have for installing software. It is a very thin DVD recordable drive that pops out of the right side of the notebook. It is a fast dual layer drive.

What sets the ThinkPad Edge apart from other consumer notebooks is the ThinkPad features Lenovo includes on them. The ThinkVantage suite of system tools is top-notch for keeping the system running smoothly and staying protected.

I am getting 4.5 – 5 hours on a charge using the 6-cell standard battery. The notebook comes with the ThinkPad Power Manager which is one of the best available for controlling how power is used to best advantage. I am confident that run time can be extended with very aggressive use of the power settings using the manager.

I really like this notebook. If I was in the market for a new notebook I would give the ThinkPad Edge serious consideration. The 14-inch model as reviewed is currently $649 with the following configuration:

• CPU: Intel Core i3,  2.13 GHz
• Memory: 2 GB
• Storage: 250GB (5,400 rpm)
• Display: 14-inch (glossy), 1366×768 resolution
• Camera: low-light capable, 2 megapixel
• Optical drive: DVD recordable (dual layer)
• Battery: 6-cell
• Communications: 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi
• Ports: 3-USB 2.0, VGA out, HDMI, USB/eSATA, ExpressCard, LAN, 7-in-1 card reader slot, audio in/out combo jack
• OS: Microsoft Windows 7 Professional
• Dimensions: 13.5 x 9.17 x 1.29 inches; 5.1 lbs.

Lenovo also has both a 13-inch and a 15-inch model in the ThinkPad Edge line. I have previously reviewed the 13-inch ThinkPad Edge.

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I have already evaluated the smallest member of the ThinkPad Edge line, and found the 13-inch model to be a nice portable notebook. I was excited to recently hear that Lenovo was expanding the consumer ThinkPad line to include models for those who prefer larger screens (14 and 15-inches). They wasted no time in sending the 14-inch model for me to give a whirl.

The ThinkPad Edge line combines many of the features that have made the ThinkPad line a favorite with businesses, with other features that appeal to consumers. The result is a thin form factor with excellent consumer appeal.

The evaluation unit is configured as follows:

• CPU: Intel Core i3,  2.13 GHz
• Memory: 2 GB
• Storage: 250GB (5,400 rpm)
• Display: 14-inch (glossy), 1366×768 resolution
• Camera: low-light capable, 2 megapixel
• Optical drive: DVD recordable (dual layer)
• Battery: 6-cell
• Communications: 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi
• Ports: 3-USB 2.0, VGA out, HDMI, USB/eSATA, ExpressCard, LAN, 7-in-1 card reader slot, audio in/out combo jack
• OS: Microsoft Windows 7 Professional
• Dimensions: 13.5 x 9.17 x 1.29 inches; 5.1 lbs.

The ThinkPad Edge 14″ notebook comes in red and black; the evaluation unit is matte black with silver trim. It includes both the ThinkPad red trackstick and a multitouch trackpad for versatility. The keyboard consists of chiclet keys and is a typical spill-resistant ThinkPad model. The ThinkPad Edge starts at $599 and is $699 as configured here.

My quick impressions so far: I love the oversized trackpad. The screen is too glossy for my tastes, and I usually don’t mind them.

I have been surprised at the level of interest that has been expressed since I’ve been covering the ThinkPad X100e. This budget ultraportable has captured the attention of quite a few, due no doubt to the reputation of the ThinkPad line. The 11.6-inch high-res screen is a nice touch for an ultra-portable, and the ThinkPad attention to detail is present throughout the design.

In the video you’ll get a walk around the X100e, showing just how small and light this notebook is. I discuss my thoughts on the inclusion of an AMD Neo processor instead of a more typical Intel offering, and what my findings have been due to that design choice. You also get a look at the performance of that processor.

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Taken with iPhone 3G

It’s a beautiful day that called for heading out and working in the local coffee shop. I’ve been here about an hour working on the ThinkPad X100e laptop. I’m getting a lot of questions about the X100e, and it makes sense to do a brief Q&A session to shed further light on this small ThinkPad.

What is the battery life of the X100e? I have been watching battery life closely, due to concerns about the power consumption of the AMD Neo processor Lenovo is using in the X100e. I am working on battery power presently, and have the power management set to the “Maximum Runtime” setting. ThinkPads have outstanding power management as a rule and I have not customized it on the X100e. I did crank up the screen brightness just a tad, as the coffee shop has all of the blinds open and it’s incredibly bright in here. That will negatively impact the battery life, even at the  Maximum Runtime setting. Based on the length of time I have been working and the current battery percentage, I estimate I can work another four hours. The Windows 7 power meter concurs as it currently estimates 3:55 remaining. I suspect that Lenovo has tweaked the BIOS or other system operation, as this is longer than early reports from other reviewers have indicated. This run time concurs with what I have experienced both yesterday and today.

How good is the performance? My working experience pegs the X100e between Atom-based netbooks and fast notebooks. It is not a screamer, but things happen faster than on a netbook. There is very little lag during operation, and I don’t find myself wishing it was faster.

Does it play HD video? This one is not easy to answer. I find SD video of any kind will play fine, even in full screen mode. I have successfully watched HD video on Hulu, although it gets choppy in full screen mode. The Flash video here on our site is choppy in HD even in a small window. YouTube high quality video plays fine both windowed and in full screen mode. I guess technically the high quality videos of each of these sources are not necessarily true HD.

Does it get too hot? I find it is warmer than Atom-based netbooks, but not alarmingly so. It’s certainly not too hot.

Please leave any other questions you may have about the X100e here in the comments. This is obviously a very popular notebook, given the constant pinging  with various questions. I’ll answer anything I can so just ask away.

The X100e is infringing on netbook territory given the 11.6-inch screen and relatively low starting price of $449. It firmly leaves the netbook in the dust through stellar performance and with the beautiful, 1366×768 high-res screen.  Throw in a trackstick and multitouch trackpad on top of the full ThinkPad build quality and you leave the netbook world far behind.

The evaluation unit supplied by Lenovo is configured as follows:

• CPU: AMD Athlon Neo MV-40, 1.6 GHz
• Memory: 2 GB (4 GB max.)
• Storage: 320 GB (5,400 rpm)
• Display: 11.6-inch, 1366×768 resolution
• Camera: low-light capable, 0.3 megapixel
• Graphics: ATI Radeon HD3200 integrated, maximum external resolution 2048×1536
• Battery: 6-cell, rated at 5 hour
• Communications: 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi; Bluetooth 2.1; 3G optional (not on the evaluation unit)
• Ports: 3-USB 2.0 (one powered), VGA out, LAN, 4-in-1 card reader slot, audio in/out combo jack
• OS: Microsoft Windows 7 Professional
• Dimensions: 11.1 x 8.2 x 0.6 – 1.2 inch; 3.3 lbs.

In an effort to keep the X100e price down, Lenovo went with the AMD Neo processor. After using the notebook for over three hours, I am pleased with the system performance using this processor. It is faster than any netbook I have used, and as fast as many “full” notebooks. The only question I have about the AMD processor is how it will affect the battery life. Lenovo rates the 6-cell battery at 5 hours, but after 2 hours heavy use with good power management I only used 20% of the battery. This may be the one case where the OEM battery estimation is actually conservative.

The X100e has no optical drive, because there is no room for one. The keyboard is typical ThinkPad, and that’s to die for. It is also spill-resistant, a nice value. The touchpad is very pleasant to use, and even though I prefer tracksticks, I find myself switching half and half between the two input methods. The touchpad accepts multitouch gestures, making it very useful. Both the touchpad and the trackstick have two mouse buttons each.

It’s too early to make an in-depth evaluation, but I have yet to find anything I don’t like about the ThinkPad X100e. It is as portable as can be, yet provides a complete mobile computing experience. When you realize it is a full ThinkPad, with the build quality that comes with that — you understand the value of the X100e.

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1. Viliv S5. We’ll start out with the smallest slate on the list. The 5-inch S5 with its near pocketable form can be just the ticket for something to take along when space is a concern. It runs full Windows and the screen resolution is as high as most netbooks (1024×600) even though the screen is so small. It’s a real computer too, not a watered-down gadget by any means. The touchscreen works wonderfully, and it can even handle inking in a pinch if you’re careful where you put your hand.

2. Viliv X70. Now we move up in size a little to the 7-inch slate. The X70 has a touchscreen that is the same resolution as the smaller S5, so things are easier to see. Surfing the web on the X70 is a joy, with the full web available due to the Windows platform. Like every other slate on this list, the X70 does indeed do Flash. It will fit in most any gear bag, and is easy to use in the hands as a slate should be.

3. Viliv S7. Now we move into territory the iPad can only dream about, as the S7 is a full convertible. You don’t put the top down on this baby, but you can lift the slate up to expose a full QWERTY keyboard. No onscreen keyboard to frustrate you — you’re too much of a power user. The S7 has the same 7-inch screen as the X70, but adds that keyboard and a full trackpad for full power use. Don’t fret, it can still function as a full slate when put in that configuration. Amazingly, the Viliv folks added the keyboard to the 7-inch slate in a package that is thinner and lighter than the X70.

4. Viliv S10 Blade. If you’re the type for whom a namby-pamby little screen just won’t do, the S10 steps up the game with its 10-inch high resolution screen. That big (1366×768) display adds full 3-point multitouch to the mix, turning it into a full featured tablet. Swivel the screen around and you expose a keyboard that supports full touch typing;  you’ll be off to the races getting stuff done.  To top things off, the S10 (like the S7 and X70) has a webcam, unlike that iPad thing. You’ll be video calling like crazy, getting things done no matter where you might be. Or maybe you’ll be on Chatroulette, it’s your call.

5. ThinkPad x200t. This is the cream of the tablet crop, the device for those who need everything. The x200t is a convertible notebook with a 12-inch multitouch screen, that also has full inking support to tap into the full Tablet PC technology in Windows. Need to get data into your computer? Consider the many options on the x200t: handwriting, typing on a real keyboard, typing on a virtual keyboard (slate mode) or simply by speaking the text. No compromises, no excuses. Just getting work done, no matter what. The way you want to do it.