ConsumerIT - For Europe's High Volume PC Retailers, Distributors & Builders

Lenovo announces an IdeaPad tablet with an alternative to Android, for customers who won't do Google-- the Windows 7 carrying IdeaPad Tablet P1.

Powering the Windows tablet is a 1.5Ghz Intel processor and a 10.1" 1280 x 800 capacitative touchscreen.

Providing storage is up to 2GB DDR2 memory, together with up to 64GB of SSD storage.

Connections come via Bluetooth, 3G, wifi, USB and Micro SD. It also carries a 2 megapixel camera on its front, while the touchscreen supports stylus input.

Lenovo says the battery provides 6 hours of usage.

The IdeaPad P1 should be available in Q4 2011, in either silver-gray or orange.

Go Lenovo Tablets

The EMEA PC market continues declining all through Q2 2011, as high inventory levels prevent stronger sell-in, according to IDC's WW Quarterly PC tracker.

W.Europe remains the most troubled, as cannibalisation from tablets and smartphones weaken customer demand-- and the slow stock depletion that goes with it.

The market fares better in CEE and MEA, with both regions going through "positive" overall market growth.

On a global basis, WW PC shipments increase by 2.6% Y-o-Y  in Q2 2011, falling short of IDC's earlier forecasts of 2.9% Y-o-Y growth-- representing what IDC describes as a "hangover" from 2010's growth (of over 20%), competition from other devices (smartphones and tablets, primarily) and generally still lackluster economic conditions.

When it comes to vendors, HP remains at the top, with 18.1% market share and 3% Y-o-Y growth-- with good growth in EMEA and other key emerging markets.

Following is Dell, with 2.8% growth and 12.9% market share, managing to slow declines in key markets when compared to Q1 2011. Meanwhile Lenovo beat Acer to the 3rd spot, thanks to its channel expansion into markets outside of its home Asia/Pacific.

At the 5th spot is Asis, growing by 6% and overtaking Toshiba-- with IDC saying its mainstream notebooks are doing very well in emerging markets.

Go IDC WW Quarterly PC Market Tracker

LaCie announces its latest Rugged HDD line additions-- the Rugged Mini, now with a smaller (by 40%, according to LaCie) and very orange Neil Poulton design.

Available in three different sizes-- 500GB, 1TB and 1.5TB-- the Rugged Mini is shock-, pressure-, and rain-resistant, while the aluminium casing can also withstand scratches.

All models carry USB 3.0 connections, as well as drive speeds of 7200 RPM and a software to handle backups and data security (with AES data encryption and password protection).

Go LaCie Rugged Mini

Will Microsoft unite all its takes on different devices-- smartphones, games consoles, TVs, PCs-- under a "single ecosystem" sharing core technologies in the name of "coherence and consistency"?

That's what This is My Next reports Andy Lees saying at his Microsoft Worldwide Partner Conference keynote.

Equally intriguing is sources saying Microsoft also considers "ditching the 'Windows' brand in favour of something new".

Reports suggest Microsoft's post-Windows 8 OS (to hit the market at around 2015/2016) will run on everything-- PCs, tablets, phones and the next XBox iteration.

Such a single ecosystem strategy makes sense-- both in that it onvolves tailoring technologies and UIs to the device in question, and as a solid Apple rival, whose iOS covers iPhones, iPods, iPads, Apple TVs and PCs.

Add to that a world without a Windows brand... now that's food for thought.

Go Microsoft Says It Will Have a "Single Ecosystem" (This is My Next)