Lenovo introduces new ThinkPad ultrabooks with hot swappable batteries
Lenovo has released a series of new ultrabooks in the ThinkPad series. These are five new ThinkPads with Intel Haswell processor feature (Intel Core processor of the fourth generation). Lenovo also provides some models with extra hot-swappable battery. They are all 20 percent slimmer than their predecessors and have bigger touchpad for improved ease of operation.
Most interesting news is the brand new Power Bridge technology, which in principle makes it possible to infinitely run on battery power. The models with this features are ThinkPad X240 (12.5″ ultrabook aimed at people on the go; 20.3 mm thick and weighs only 1.5 kg), T440 and T440s (aimed at business professionals). These models have an internal, non-removable 3-cell battery (23.5 Wh) which should provide around 3-4 hours of battery life. Lenovo delivers additional battery with it, so they actually put two batteries into its T-series: one large removable, and one small built-in battery. When the large one is removed, the small battery provides enough power to keep the laptop working for a few minutes. This is long enough to swap in a fresh battery, inserting it into a standard looking battery compartment on the bottom of the laptop.
The external batteries of this Power Bridge system come in two capacities of respectively 23.5 Wh and 72Wh (3-cell and 6-cell). They should provide a total battery life of up to 8 and 10 hours sequentially, Lenovo claims. The extra batteries are hot-swappable and can be removed and exchanged without the laptop needed to be restarted.
The three-cell unit adds less than half a pound of weight (0.4lbs) to the notebook and should double the runtime for an estimated 6-8 hours. The six-cell unit will add about three fourths of a pound (0.74lbs) to the laptop, but should provide over 10 hours of battery life. The two battery options let users decide how much battery life they will need and how much additional weight they will carry on trips.