ThinkStations Are First Fruits of IBM Purchase

Lenovo Group – the world’s third-biggest personal computer maker – has unveiled its first new Think-branded products since buying the PC subsidiary unit of ‘big blue’ IBM in 2005.

China’s top computer maker announced two products, the ThinkStation S10 and the ThinkStation D10, both aimed at professionals in industries such as oil and gas exploration, computer-aided design and digital content creation.

The ThinkStations run on chips from Intel Corporation and will be available in January through Lenovo’s business partners and on its website.

“This is Lenovo stepping out from under IBM’s umbrella and trying to establish an identity of their own,” said Enderle Group principal analyst Rob Enderle.

He said workstations for business clients were also key for IBM, which used to market the hugely popular ThinkPad laptops before selling the line to Lenovo as it struggled with tough competition.

Lenovo said the National Basketball Association (NBA) and car racing team AT&T Williams Formula One are evaluating the new PCs, the first of an ongoing ThinkStation lineup.

Tom Tobul, Lenovo’s emerging products director, said he expects emerging markets to account for much of the 50 per cent unit growth analysts are forecasting for the workstation market in the next five years.

“Given our presence in China and India we believe we can capture our fair share in emerging markets,” Mr Tobul said. Lenovo’s quarterly earnings have nearly tripled.

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