New IdeaPad laptops from Lenovo drop below $200

Lenovo is best known for its corporate ThinkPad computers, but some of our favorite Lenovo PCs have always come from the IdeaPad line, aimed at mainstream audiences. The IdeaPad systems, from laptops to hybrids, often have sharp-looking designs and excellent hardware options, plus some very reasonable prices. 

The IdeaPad line is getting a major overhaul with the launch of Intel's latest sixth-generation Core i-series Sklylake processors, from upscale slim midsize laptops to very inexpensive ultraportable systems.

The naming can get a bit confusing, but there's a midrange IdeaPad 300 and a slightly nicer IdeaPad 500. On top of that, there are thinner, more upscale 300S and 500S variations. Both lines come in a variety of sizes, but not all models include all sizes. The IdeaPad 300 comes in 14-, 15- or 17-inch versions, while the 300S is an 11.6-inch system. The IdeaPad 500 has 14-inch or 15-inch models, while the 500S is 15-inch only. Most are available with the latest Intel sixth-generation core i-series CPUs, with some AMD models sprinkled in there.

All of these mainstream IdeaPad laptops will be available in the US in October, with starting prices ranging from $249 to $599, and even higher-end configurations should rarely come close to $1,000. International prices and release dates have yet to be announced.

A new all-in-one desktop, combining a 24-inch or 27-inch 4K display, Intel RealSense camera and new Skylake-generation CPUs will be called the IdeaCentre AIO 700, and start at $1,099 in the US in October.