Lenovo rolls out PCs with Windows 7 OS

Bangalore: Coinciding with the global launch of Windows 7 by software giant Microsoft, leading computer maker Lenovo Thursday rolled out in the Indian market a new range of Think and Idea-branded PCs running on the new operating system. "We are also introducing two new ThinkPad laptops with Windows 7 OS for the small-to-medium businesses (SMB) work. We are certifying Windows 7 PCs under the enhanced experience programme," Lenovo said in a statement released here. With Windows 7, Lenovo computers and laptops will provide enhanced digital entertainment and personal productivity for consumers, SMB and large enterprise customers. "Our engineers have been working with Microsoft for three years to jointly create a PC experience that is better, faster, more stable and secure," Lenovo chief operating officer Rory Read said. Powered by Intel Core2Duo processors, Lenovo PCs and laptops offer a host of applications with 3G connectivity, WiFi (wireless fidelity), Ethernet and Bluetooth access. "We have increased the resolution of cameras, added a microphone mute button and improved the digital microphone for clearer sounding conversations," Read said. Global IT research and advisory firm Gartner, however, said Windows 7 launch would have minimal impact on PC shipments growth in the next two quarters as lower spending on technology following global recession would have a cascading effect on its sales. "Though the PC industry fared marginally better than expected in the third quarter (July-September) of this calendar year (2009) with 81 million units sold worldwide, a 0.5 percent increase year-on-year, inventory adjustments around the Windows 7 launch could artificially affect shipment volumes during the fourth quarter," Gartner principal analyst Mikako Kitagawa said in a statement. A recent study by the advisory firm has shown that release of operating systems do not drive the PC market. "Window 7 adoption is not expected to ramp up until late 2010 though there could be a renewed interest in hardware upgrades from consumers and small business during the holiday season," Kitagawa noted. After three consecutive quarters of year-on-year shipment declines, PC shipments in the U.S. totalled 17.8 million units in third quarter, a 3.9 percent increase from the same quarter of last year.