Interop: Lenovo Unveils Earth-Friendly Monitors

PC maker Lenovo unveiled a series of monitors that the company said can help users save big bucks on energy costs.

The new ThinkVision L1700p, L1940 Wide, L1940p Wide, L2240p Wide, L2440p Wide, and L2440x Wide monitors feature environmentally friendly technologies that cut energy use by 30% to 60%, compared with Lenovo's previous monitors, the company said Wednesday.

The flagship ThinkVision L2440x Wide offers a low-halogen display that employs white LED backlight technology, requiring just 29 watts to operate. It's also mercury and arsenic free, making it environmentally safer for office use and disposal.

"We are committed to offering users environmentally responsible technologies," Lenovo VP Tom Shell said in a statement. The ThinkVision L2240p Wide, L2440p Wide, and L2440x Wide models are shipped in packaging that is 65% recycled and is, in turn, 100% recyclable, Lenovo said.

The new ThinkVision line offers contrast ratios of up to 1000:1, 5-millisecond response times, and resolutions up to 1,920 by 1,200. Some models include four high-speed USB ports and a DisplayPort. The monitors will become officially available Friday. Prices range from $240 for the ThinkVision L1700p to $750 for the ThinkVision L2440x Wide.

Lenovo, a longtime player in the Chinese PC market, made a splash internationally when it acquired IBM's PC business in May 2005 for $1.25 billion. Earlier this week, the company announced that it's entering the global server market. Under the plan, Lenovo is rolling out several Intel-based ThinkServer models aimed at the small- and midsize-business market.