Lenovo IdeaPad S12 is the  first netbook with NVIDIA’s ion technology, which mean it will be capable to run the whole HD-playing and 3D game. For example, according to Nvidia, Spore, Call of Duty 4, Portal, and World of Warcraft will all be playable.

Just to refresh, Nvidia’s Ion platform is essentially Intel’s Atom processor combined with the decent Nvidia 9400m graphics unit. It aims to provide smooth 1080p video decoding, including accelerated h.264 playblack, Blu-ray playback and moderate gaming capabilities. It is the same technology that launched with the Acer’s Aspire Revo nettop and Zotac main board.

Since most of the existing netbooks can’t handle multimedia at 720p or higher and cannot run any of the latest 3D gaming titles, Lenovo IdeaPad S12 is truly a revolution. Check out all the specs and the gallery after the break…

Some of the specs including a 12 inches display with 1280 x 800 resolution, ability to play back 1080p content (only on an external screen via the HDMI output), 1GB of RAM, 160GB HDD, XP Home, a 4-in-one card reader and a 1.3 megapixel webcam.
Other notables: an Express Card slot 3G expandability, 3 USB 2.0 ports, a multitouch trackpad, HDMI port with the Ion model, a full-size keyboard, and Lenovo’s Quick Start, VeriFace, and OneKey Rescue System for making backups.

The Lenovo Ideapad S12 will be avalible on August, pricing starts at $499.

If you are interested, please read the following Lenovo’s official press release

Lenovo Energizes Mini-Computing with its First 12-Inch Netbook Debuts World’s First Netbook with NVIDIA’s ION Graphics Processor

RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, NC – May 25, 2009: Lenovo today announced the IdeaPad S12, the company’s first 12-inch netbook. The new netbook takes the best in connectivity, style and entertainment features in Lenovo’s other netbooks and brings users the next level in netbook computing with improved usability and performance. These enhancements include a 12.1-inch screen, a 100 percent full-size keyboard and new graphics options with the NVIDIA ION™ platform.

“We’ve heard from consumers loud and clear about the need for affordable and extremely portable computing devices, and we’ve responded by introducing our third netbook with a completely new form factor, making mini-computing more usable and redefining value in today’s market,” said Dion Weisler, vice president, Business Operations, Idea Product Group, Lenovo. “We are pioneering new territory in the developing netbook arena by being the first vendor to give customers high quality video and entertainment capabilities in a netbook with optional NVIDIA ION graphics.”

Elevating Power and Performance
Whether it’s looking at photos, playing music, emailing or cruising online, consumers want smaller and more portable PCs. The Lenovo IdeaPad S12 netbook is raising the bar for higher levels of netbook computing with choices of the Intel Atom processor with Intel integrated graphics or the Intel Atom processor with NVIDIA ION graphics. Also, for the first time on a netbook with NVIDIA’s ION graphics platform, users will be able to enjoy brilliant 1080p high definition video with silky smooth playback.
“NVIDIA ION graphics help deliver the same features found in premium PCs at lower price points and new form factors,” said Rene Haas, general manager, Notebook GPUs, NVIDIA. “With enhanced graphics, the Lenovo IdeaPad S12 netbook is perfect for watching movies, playing popular games like Spore, flipping through vacation pictures or enhancing family videos.”

The IdeaPad S12 netbook offers plenty of up and running time with up to six hours of battery life to support the mobile demands of netbook users1. Because netbook users need to stay connected wirelessly, the netbook comes with WiFi connectivity and ready for 3G with an ExpressCard slot to enable connectivity2. To hold the photos, music and videos users keep on their netbooks, the IdeaPad S12 netbook offers ample hard drive storage and memory with up to 160 GB of storage and 1 GB of memory. For peace of mind in case data becomes corrupted, Lenovo’s OneKey™ Rescue System can help recover user data or device settings.

Loaded with Style and Entertainment
In addition to the netbook’s sleek and sophisticated ring pattern design in black or white, users can make the netbook their one-stop entertainment device, starting from the moment they turn it on. Lenovo’s expanded VeriFace facial recognition technology makes logging in a snap by recognizing the user’s face. If users want “on demand” functionality, they can go into the Lenovo Quick Start environment and check email, browse the Internet and more without waiting for the full operating system to boot. They can also don any set of headphones and enjoy surround sound audio with Dolby Headphone technology. If opting to watch video on an external monitor, they can easily connect through the netbook’s VGA port or HDMI port on select models. They can also choose among several multimedia formats to upload through the 4-in-1 multicard reader.

An Improved Computing Experience
Lenovo designed the IdeaPad S12 netbook for consumers looking for a super thin, portable and affordable device that offered a familiar, computing experience. Lenovo enlarged the netbook’s WXGA screen from 10.1 inches to 12.1 inches for better viewing and made the keyboard 100 percent the size of a full-size laptop to make typing easier and less cramped. And when it comes to portability, by measuring less than an inch thick4, the netbook leads the industry for thinness compared to other 12-inch netbooks. The lightweight IdeaPad S12 netbook weighs in at just three pounds5.

Pricing and Availability
The IdeaPad S12 netbook will be available in June through business partners and www.lenovo.com. Pricing for models starts at $449. Models with the NVIDIA ION graphics will be available later this summer.

[via Hothardware]