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Lenovo ThinkPad T430u ultrabook and ThinkPad Edge S430 hands-on

Lenovo ThinkPad T430u ultrabook and ThinkPad Edge S430 hands-on

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Gallery Photo: Lenovo ThinkPad T430u hands-on
Gallery Photo: Lenovo ThinkPad T430u hands-on

Lenovo just hasn't been able to stop announcing laptops here at CES 2012, but amongst them all, the ThinkPad T430u ultrabook and ThinkPad Edge S430 have stuck out. Both laptops won't be available until the spring when Intel's Ivy Bridge processors are available, but Lenovo did bring two early prototypes to the show.

The T430u is really liked a slimmed down X1. It's got a very classic ThinkPad look, with the same comfortable chiclet keyboard that's on the X1. The early samples Lenovo was showing weren't working very well — we had to plug in an external mouse to navigate the desktop — but they did seem fairly well-built. The screen resolution (1366 x 768), the wide upper screen bezel, and lack of a keyboard backlight were quite a let down, though Lenovo says they will be adding a Thinklight to the top of the bezel.

The Edge S340 is nowhere near as thin and light as the T430u, and that's exactly why it doesn't take the ultrabook moniker. Still, the presence of optical drive makes the thicker base more forgivable, and I'm a big fan of the brown aluminum palmrest. The Edge S340 was working much better than the T430u on display; the large ClickPad seemed really responsive. I also was able to confirm that Thunderbolt port, though, I didn't get to test out the speeds. I'm looking forward to actually reviewing these laptops when they are much closer to coming to market, but in the meantime, check out the short video of them below.

Lenovo ThinkPad T430u ultrabook and Edge S430 hands-on

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