For those uninitiated, Lenovo and NEC Personal Computers (NECP) are joint venture partners in Japan and have been since 2011. At CES 2015, the two companies introduced two new notebooks that redefine lightweight computing. The Lenovo LaVie Z HZ550 is the lightest 13-inch notebook in the world, weighing just 780g while the Lenovo LaVie Z HZ750 takes the title of the world’s lightest 13-inch convertible PC at just 925g.
Ultra thin, ultra light, ultra flexible
The LaVie Z is astonishingly light and also features the much-copied 360-degree hinge pioneered by Lenovo in its YOGA family of convertibles. Switch from Laptop mode to Tablet mode easily for ultimate flexibility.
The LaVie Z models aren’t just light of course. They are also incredibly thin, at just 16.9mm. Both use specialised magnesium-lithium (Mg-Li) body construction along with a forged magnesium-lithium forged back cover. The materials are 50% lighter than aluminum and as strong as heavier magnesium alloy materials.
The HZ750 also features a direct bonded touchscreen that uses film instead of glass.
The LaVie’s ultraportability may be deceiving as it’s powered by up to a 5th generation Intel Core i7 processor (on the HZ750), responsive 128GB SSD and Windows 8.1. It comes with a brilliant 13.3-inch optional WQHD touchscreen display.
Both products are Lenovo’s first NECP products made available outside Japan. LaVie takes advantage of Lenovo’s global “innovation triangle” — Lenovo’s R&D teams in China, US and Japan.
Pricing and availability
In the US, the new Lenovo LaVie Z HZ550 and HZ750 will be available beginning in May 2015, priced at US$1,299 (RM4,635) and US$1,499 (RM5,3480) respectively via www.lenovo.com.
In Japan, the new LaVie models will be available in spring.
