A day later and the DigiTimes has a very interesting article that suggests Lenovo’s new machines could become some of the first to utilize nVidia’s Ion platform. This information comes via reports in the Chinese-language Commercial Times.

What this would mean is that the netbooks (and notebooks) would still use Intel’s Atom technology but would combined it with the nVidia GeForce 9400M for improved graphics.

Powered by an Atom N280, the specification again breaches Intel’s restrictions for netbooks that limit panel sizes to 10-inches, though it doesn’t seem to be stopping companies.

The consequences for this breach are that Lenovo will lose out on preferential pricing for the N280 and having to buy at Intel’s official price, about 10% more than they would usually be quoted.

The idea behind the 12-inch IdeaPad S20 is that by being one of the few monster-sized netbooks it will avoid getting lost in the 10-inch netbook war and help Lenovo’s sales in the genre.

The S20 will have Windows XP loaded into it and is expected to carry a starting price of around $586.

The only announcement on the netbook side is some small updates to the IdeaPad S10 netbook that adds to it rather than alters it, a smart move that follows the old “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” line of thinking after the positive response to the model.

From March, the S10 will get a new software package called LenovoSocial that will, according to the official press release, be a “resource portal that will help them navigate the vast options for participating in social networking.”

Another new feature will be the Lenovo Quick Start, a quick-launch function that will allow users to access frequently used applications such as their favorite web browser, music player, chat program, and Skype. And the final new addition is Lenovo’s VeriFace facial recognition technology for easy log-in (as long as it works properly).

Running the Linpus Linux Lite operating system, the S9 comes packed with an 1.6GHz Intel Atom N270 processor, 512MB of RAM, a 4GB solid state drive (SSD). Other inclusions are Bluetooth and 802.11 b/g wireless connectivity, an Ethernet LAN, two USB ports, and an ExpressCard slot. You can grab the S9 for $344.99 at Geeks.com or $359.49 at Buy.com.

Source: Laptoping

The S10e has been shipping with a 3-cell battery that obviously limits battery life, but the account now confirms that it is shipping with a 6-cell battery, which further improves an already popular netbook. There is no word yet on whether the battery upgraded S10 will hit US shores.

QuickStart allows the user to do essential things such as surfing the ‘net, video conferencing, using multimedia, or using the built in webcam without fully booting up the OS, which can be a lengthy procedure at times (especially if you’re using Vista). Another difference is what OS buyers can choose, with Windows XP Home being joined by XP Pro and Novell SLED 10 Linux on the options list.

Prices for these updated netbooks will start from £299 (US$460) and will be available very shortly, the end of this month.

Slashgear also has another interesting story, not exactly netbook-specific, but with possible implications for the future. Lenovo is about to implement a new feature to its notebooks that would allow you to send a text message and lock the entire thing down, if it is stolen or if you somehow lose it. The computer would be inaccessible until you retrieved it and entered a preset password. Sounds very handy and something all notebooks and netbooks could use in future if it goes according to plan.