CES….A game changing moment for Lenovo

Jay McBain, Director of Small and Medium Business

January 18, 2010

There are key moments that define companies.

The buzz leading up to Consumer Electronics Show 2010 was about the world leading PC Companies not being on the show floor. It was reminiscent of the old COMDEX shows that ran from 1979 to 2003. If you remember, that show grew too large after admitting the general public and major sponsors dropped out forcing the cancellation of the 2004 show. The final nail in the coffin is when they limited the press engagement to only a handful of the top periodicals, effectively censoring new products and innovation.

With the convergence of consumer electronics and computing early in the new millennium, the CES show took over the spotlight in 2004 for major product announcements and became the platform for companies to establish themselves as innovation leaders.

Lenovo decided to rent out a high-end restaurant in the Venetian hotel, just steps away from the conference. This allowed customers, partners and the press exclusive access without the crowds and mayhem of the CES trade show floor. It was the right decision. From blogger nights, to heavily attended press releases, Lenovo generated more buzz than most other companies in the industry.

Lenovo became the star of the show for two reasons: 1) Announcing several new innovative product categories, and 2) Establishing what the post-Legend, post-IBM, company would look like.

1. The introduction of the first Smartbook (Skylight) and Hybrid Notebook (IdeaPad U1) were groundbreaking for several reasons. Breaking away from the traditional PC desktop and notebook design, technology, and usage is important as individuals and companies start to view computers as ubiquitous in their everyday lives. With the rise of all-day mobility, pervasive connectivity and cloud based applications, users will be looking for devices that better integrate with how they want to access and consume information. We need to stop thinking about one device that will do everything, and start thinking about the 20 or so devices that are optimized based on where you are and what you are doing. Lenovo has established itself as an innovator looking at these different usage scenarios. The introduction of the new ThinkPad X100e and ThinkPad Edge are further examples of where businesses may optimize their user experience either by a companion device, or a thin and light alternative. Finally, the array of new all-in-one desktops, including the ThinkCentre A70z, show that even the traditional 30 year-old desktop world is innovating. With power and space savings, these new devices could become your base unit paired with a companion X100e for mobility.

2. Lenovo also introduced a dozen other IdeaPad and IdeaCentre designs including 3D gaming, and an innovative phone for the Chinese market. The buzz following the show, including 8 “best in shows”, have firmly established Lenovo as a design leader both in Commercial and Consumer technology.

What does this mean for the channel?

Lenovo has been known for decades for building durable, manageable and secure business class PCs. With the emergence of cloud computing, all-day battery life and connectivity, Lenovo is creating devices that take advantage of this new world.

For example, most channel partners have been asked by customers about the Netbook phenomenon and their business application (or lack thereof). With the announcement of the ThinkPad X100e, Lenovo has created an ultraportable device with a more usable screen, keyboard, higher build quality and ThinkVantage technologies to satisfy strict business requirements.

The pace of technology change on the hardware side will not let up. Channel partners can trust Lenovo to be researching the business relevance of these technologies, and developing hardware, software and services that lower costs, drive productivity and optimize profitability.

Lifestreaming meets the PC

Jay McBain, Director, Small and Medium Business, Lenovo Americas

November 3, 2009

The PC has played a very important role over the past 30 years in ushering in new and interesting changes to the way people communicate. When Web 1.0 hit mainstream in the mid-90’s, people became accustomed to writing email, instant messaging, and for some, buying things electronically. With Web 2.0, these technologies were enhanced with social networking tools such as Facebook, YouTube, Twitter and blogging widening the aperture of digital life.

One of the interesting concepts coming in Web 3.0 will be something called “lifestreaming”. The term was coined by Eric Freeman and David Gelernter at Yale University in the mid-90’s. It is basically a time-ordered stream of documents and electronic media that functions as a diary of your life.

Personally, I have been using Quicken (or its predecessors), scanning all of my papers, and categorizing all of my digital pictures since I was in elementary school. It has become a huge directory tree of tens of thousands of documents sorted by year and month, chronicling my life day by day. The ability to look back and find where and when I spent money, including scanned receipts, and digital pictures allows me to triangulate every day of my life, both personally as well as professionally.

Perhaps a negative effect is that I have become a “go to” guy for finding old documents. It goes something like: “Hey Jay, remember that Gartner study from 1994 on total cost of ownership?” As the years have passed, I have added different technologies to the stream. For example, voicemails, instant messages, Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn information is now included.

I believe that PC technology will be the key enabler to lifestreaming.

For example:

1. Recording day to day life: Lenovo PC’s are the only Microsoft certified unified communication PC’s on the market today, including:

a. Stereo digital high-definition speakers with 10 band equalization and dynamic range compression improve sound to audiophile levels

b. Digital array microphone technology including the placement on either side of the camera providing for a more natural environment producing balanced sound input

c. High definition light adaptive camera’s including digital zoom and HD LED displays improving the visual size and quality

d. Tools allowing switching between MIC, headphones and speakers seamlessly.

2. Staying securely connected everywhere and anywhere with Wide Area networking (3G cellular integration), WiMax, WLAN 802.11, and Bluetooth. Importantly, this is enabled by Lenovo’s Access Connections tool allowing seamless and secure connections from location to location.

3. Bullet proof security. Can you imagine streaming your entire life and having that stolen? This takes the risk of identity theft to the next level. Windows 7 has improved security from previous versions and Lenovo has enhanced it with:

a. Fully encrypted hard drives – managed from a separate security chip that can’t be hacked.

b. Biometric fingerprint reader ensuring secure access to the machine – no risk of lost or hacked passwords.

c. “Poison pill” technology allowing the user to disable a ThinkPad with a simple SMS text message – even if the unit is turned off!

d. Secure data backup options such as Rescue and Recovery tool, Online Data Backup as well as a password protected, secure external drive.

4. Data protection. Lenovo offers several hardware and software advantages protecting the data on the hard drive from physical damage or failures from viruses or operating system. From a revolutionary “air bag” system that senses when a PC will be dropped to an innovative packaging of the hard disk inside the machine, to specially designed rubber feet that absorb impact, ThinkPad products are designed to protect the lifestream.

5. Data migration. When it comes time to transition to a new PC down the road, Lenovo includes a migration utility for the lifestream, including all personality settings, and even offers a military grade data disposal tool before the PC is handed down, recycled, or hits a landfill.

Thus, from enablement of the lifestream, to managing it over time, right through to migrating to new technology, Lenovo has the tools available today for the technology of tomorrow.

Blending Mobility with Unified Communications….the final frontier?

Jay McBain, Director of Small and Medium Business, Lenovo

Jan 1, 2010

Listening to a group of Channel Partners with Unified Communication (UC) expertise today was fascinating. Questions ranged from when it will become ubiquitous in small and medium business to the industry players that are going to make it a reality.

As always, my thoughts turned to the hardware side of the equation. While there is general consensus that the amount of information will continue to grow exponentially, our ability to access and comprehend it will be highly reliant on the right devices being available at the right time and place. These devices will continue to evolve with a move towards more natural and relevant presence in our everyday environment. I write often about pervasive computing and our basic needs to communicate and keep up with the pace of change will be a key driver of the hardware evolution.

Nostalgia.

I remember buying my first PC webcam in the 90’s and having the grandparents see and talk to the grandkids was exciting at the time. I would be remiss if I didn’t dial it back further….including concepts dating back to 1878 (only 2 years after the phone was patented in the US) called the telephonoscope. It seems that every generation since then improved the technology including quality of audio and video. It also morphed from a personal communication device, which society has never been truly ready for, to a business device. Videoconferencing dates back to the 1930’s but was analog and very expensive. With improvements to bandwidth, including digital and public broadband have spawned dozens of low cost, low quality solutions such as Skype, MSN Messenger, etc.

Today, when most small businesses are presented with Videoconferencing, Telepresence, or other cost saving measures, many conjure up images of choppy, low quality grainy images with monotone audio cutting in and out and delayed by a few seconds. It is usually surprising to them when they demo today’s technology and the feeling that you are not only communicating effectively, but could be mistaken for being in the same room as the other individuals. The key hurdle is cost – high quality communication comes with hardware, software and services that, while cheaper than travel, seem beyond the budget resources.

Enter the PC.

PC’s have had a wonderful history of stepping into many different uses because of the decisions made by IBM and others in 1981. Keeping the product open, industry standard, and infinitely expandable, has allowed forward-looking entrepreneurs and companies to expand upon the basic idea and solve real business issues. Lenovo has had a long history of working with UC firms in bundling technologies and features to assist in communications and bring it mainstream. For example, a unique agreement with Avaya in May of 2007 to turn the PC into a “softphone”.

Several things have happened in the past few years that make a PC a more viable UC device:

1. Stereo digital high-definition speakers with 10 band equalization and dynamic range compression improve sound to audiophile levels

2. Digital array microphone technology including the placement on either side of the camera providing for a more natural environment producing balanced sound input.

3. High Definition light adaptive camera’s including digital zoom and HD LED displays improving the visual size and quality.

4. OC tools allowing switching between MIC, headphones and speakers seamlessly.

Working with industry leaders to optimize the technology has been the largest benefit. In fact, Microsoft recognized Lenovo earlier this year as the only PC Manufacturer to build to these new ultra-high quality standards and awarded a certification of “Optimized for Microsoft Office Communicator” to several products including the ThinkPad T400, T500, T400s and X301. This is a broad array of affordable Notebook products that enable business to deploy advanced communications on the same products they are rolling in for their everyday computing needs.

Now the interesting part….

If one of the major objections to UC and videoconferencing include cost and complexity, and now you have an affordable, certified Notebook (that you are buying anyway), a unique opportunity for Channel Partners arises to counter those objections.

Blending the Mobility message into UC is another huge opportunity. How many times are business people travelling and need to reach back to the team back home? Whether from a hotel room or a customer or suppliers boardroom, they can bring on the extended team with that 4 pound Notebook under their arm. With WWAN mobile broadband, WiMAX, or simply any 802.11 access point, the possibilities are endless where UC can be used. Again, high definition video and audio output, enabling communication anywhere in the world, without the need for additional expensive hardware.

Looking Ahead to 2010

Jay McBain, Director, Small and Medium Business, Lenovo Americas

December 15, 2009

This is the season for spending time with family, being thankful for our many blessings, and, of course, predicting what will come in the upcoming year. The technology world is always moving and key trends that are interesting one year become game changing the following year.

Looking ahead to 2010, I see 4 macro themes that will emerge as potential game changers for the entire industry, from hardware, software, to services:

1. Connectivity
The concept of having wireless access in select areas such as home, work and coffee shops will finally become a thing of the past. With WiMax deploying to dozens of cities providing everywhere access, to more affordable and easier to adopt 3G/4G type networks available by major carriers, consumers and businesses will likely begin thinking about converting their home network to a city or country wide solution. The next generation of devices will all be enabled with GPS technology as well, making location-based computing a reality. Imagine every picture being geo-tagged, localized advertising, and location relevant Google searches.

2. Pervasive Computing
With the ability to connect everywhere and anytime, users will demand a greater availability of use-specific devices to optimize to their lifestyle. Traditionally, people would use a computer at home or work, and then augment with a smart phone in-between the two. The Netbook gained popularity in 2009 as a companion device and several dozen more examples of computing form factors will be brought to market in 2010. Users will also demand today’s electronic devices grow in function to include wireless access and basic computing ability (think car radios, TVs, even refrigerators). It is conceivable that a person would have a dozen internet ready devices in the next few years.

3. Cloud Computing
Businesses and consumers are becoming more aware and comfortable with working and storing information out on the network. With Microsoft making major Office announcements, Google maturing its product offering, as well as countless others building capabilities, the traditional use of computing offline and storing locally will turn the corner. With technology accessible everywhere, whether on personal devices or publically available multi-touch kiosks, access to data and applications will be ubiquitous. The growth of connectivity and pervasive computing above will be a direct driver of cloud computing.

4. Communication
With significant changes in technology and internet access on the horizon, the very core of human interaction will continue to evolve. Looking back, from writing letters to phone to email to instant messaging to real-time “tweets”, communication has become faster, shorter and instantaneous. We have even seen major corporations such as Microsoft and Intel dump traditional phone landlines for VOIP through ThinkPads.
A new concept dubbed “nowism” will sweep into everyday life as instant communication around everyday activities such as listening to music, watching movies, visiting restaurants will be reviewed and reported in real-time. In 2009, it was well documented the positive or negative effect that text messaging can have on movies on their opening weekend. Looking forward, Services such as TripAdvisor, Midomi, imdb, and of course traditional social networking sites, will be instrumental in whether a product, brand, or even a company survives - all in real-time.

Lenovo is excited about these changes and will kick off at CES in Las Vegas a vision on what kind of devices and tools that will enable these macro trends.