Lenovo launches entry level ThinkPads for business

Lenovo's ThinkPad L412 is one of the first releases from the new L Series

Lenovo has designed a new series of ThinkPads aimed at businesses, government and education users.

The L Series is built around Intel's Core i3 and i5 processors, and uses integrated graphics controllers or ATI cards for the display.

The ThinkPads have been designed to be long-wearing, and meet eight military specifications for shock resistance and dust-proofing

The first two models in the series, the L412 and L512, come with 14in and 15in screens respectively, optional 3G connections and echo cancellation for VoIP built in. Both units cost less than $700 (£455) in their base specification.

"Today, more than ever before, customers are looking to get more out of their PC technology," said Dilip Bhatia, executive director of ThinkPad product marketing at Lenovo.

"We designed the new L Series to give users the most important features for being productive, such as cutting-edge processing performance, long battery life and a VoIP-optimised design without sacrificing the reliability and durability ThinkPad is known for."