As a longtime fan of the ThinkPad line, I have to admit to being more than a little curious about Lenovo's new ThinkCenter M70z just released in Japan. More than a little clunky-looking, this all-in-one desktop PC is marketed to Enterprise customers and runs Windows 7. With a multi-touch display, the M70z invites you to lay your hands all over it. Think of it as iMac's heftier, more promiscuous cousin.
Having been satisfied by an old reliable IBM ThinkPad for the better part of the last decade, I'm a little forgiving when it comes to the line's rough appearance. Lenovo's ThinkCenter looks like it's built to last too, with some guts under the hood.
The m70z can house up to 8 GB of DDR3 RAM and offers three different processor options: the 3.06GHz Intel Core i5-650, the 3.06GHz Intel Core i3-540, or the 2.8GHz Intel Pentium G6950. Hard drive options are average, at 250 or 320GB. It also includes a 2MP webcam and advanced VOIP features for video conferencing, which should appeal to some business customers.
Lenovo's shop page for the new all-in-one also emphasizes eco-friendly power efficiency, and advantages in security and maintenance. There's an external display port around back too, for output to a secondary screen.
Other specifications:
- Intel H57 Express Chipset
- gigabit ethernet & WiFi
- Slim DVD Super-Multi Drive
- 19-inch 1440×900 display
- Microsoft Windows 7 Professional OS (32bit)
- Fits in 470mm wide x 111mm deep x 396mm high space
If you have concerns that a touchscreen desktop might not be comfortable to operate, Lenovo has also made available a ThinkCenter arm extension so that you can adjust the height and tilt to something that feels right. It's priced at 8,984 yen, or about US$111.
The ThinkCenter M70z is currently listed at 109,200 yen, or US$1,355. No word on whether or not this desktop will be made available outside of Japan.