Lenovo unveils 15-inch Ultrabooks, affordable B-Series all-in-ones, and more

Lenovo used IFA 2012 in Berlin to unveil the IdeaPad U510 Ultrabook, B-Series all-in-ones, and more, like a pair of new Y-Series notebooks that can have a second GPU added after purchase.

Lenovo followed up yesterday’s announcement of IdeaTab tablets and an IdeaPad S-Series laptop by revealing the rest of its consumer lineup today. This includes a new Ultrabook, along with major redesigns of two laptops and two all-in-one PCs.

Let’s start with the new. Lenovo is joining the 15-inch Ultrabook party its IdeaPad U510, a plus-size version of its existing U310 and U410 Ultrabooks. At 21mm thick, it is just within the limits of the specification, but it will still prove more portable than the average 15.6-inch competitor. This new option is available with typical Ultrabook hardware including Intel third-generation Core processors and solid-state hard drives. An optical drive is standard, and Blu-ray is optional. You’ll have to shell out $679 for a U510 — not much more than the U310 we recently tested.

Next up are the Y400 and Y500, both of which have been given a bit more than the typical redesign. These portable powerhouses will include an UltraBay feature, which lets users swap in an Nvidia GT 655M GPU. There’s already one GT 655M in the laptop, so the addition turns the Y-Series into a dual-GPU gaming rig. Other UltraBay options include a second hard drive, or an additional cooling fan. All Y-Series laptops are going to ship with third-gen Intel Core processors and JBL Speakers with Dolby Home Theater surround. Prices for these models start at $649, though we expect the price for a dual-GPU variant to be much higher.

Last among the laptops are the Z400 and 500, Lenovo’s $549 mainstream option. The company is slimming the line down by 25 percent and adding a soft-touch exterior coat available in blue, chocolate, pink or white. All Z-Series laptops will continue to ship with standard-voltage Intel Core processors and will have an Nvidia discrete graphics option.

The revisions in the IdeaCentre brand focus on the company’s all-in-one computers. One is the A520, a smaller version of the A720 we recently reviewed. It offers the same stylish design and 1080p resolution, but reduces the display to 23 inches and the price of entry to $999. These changes address some complaints we had about the A720, which will still be available.

Even more affordable is the B-Series, a 21.5- or 23-inch all-in-one targeted at, well, everyone. These PCs will have a buffet of Intel Core and AMD processor options and will even include a choice between Intel integrated graphics or AMD and Nvidia discrete graphics. These all-in-ones can be enjoyed with a 10-point multi-touch display and offer support for 3D vision. Pricing starts at $599 for the 21.5-inch version and $699 for the 23-inch model.

The U510 and Z500 will be available in September, followed by the Y-Series, B-Series and A520 in October. The Z400, last to join the party, will appear in November.