Lenovo IdeaPad S20 – 12-inch Netbook?

Lenovo IdeaPad S10 We’ll file this one under rumors for now, but it brings up some interesting issues. DigiTimes is reporting that Lenovo will be launching the Lenovo IdeaPad S20, a 12-inch netbook (probably 12.1″).

It’ll be based on Intel’s new Atom N280 (1.66GHz, with a faster FSB than the N270) as well as the new Intel GN40 chipset. The interesting issues that it raises are that it mentions Lenovo will have to buy the N280 at a slightly higher price than the competition as a result of the S20 being larger than 10-inches. Intel and Microsoft have both had certain restrictions on the hardware in this category, although Microsoft has loosened their restrictions up quite a bit when it comes to allowing for Windows XP Home.

DigiTimes sources report that Lenovo is going to roll out the S20 to boost its netbook sales, since the 10-inch market is very competitive right now.

A price of NT$20,000 (US$586) is mentioned (this is with Windows XP).

In my opinion, if they are going to go up to 12″, they might as well add another $100 or so to the price and throw in a ThinkPad keyboard and trackpoint. There has to be a market for that.

Read: DigiTimes