Lenovo is stepping into the consumer PC market with a pre-CES announcement yesterday about its new line of “Idea” notebook and desktop PCs. These models will consist of a variety of consumer-oriented IdeaPad notebooks and IdeaCentre desktops. You can expect to see some of these models hitting retail outlets in the next few months.

Lenovo seems to be coming out of the gate first with its IdeaPad notebooks. Three models will initially fill in this line up - the 17-inch widescreen IdeaPad Y710, the 15.4-inch widescreen IdeaPad Y510 and the ultraportable 11-inch widescreen ideaPad U110. Features which will be integrated across the line, according to Lenovo, include face recognition for logging into the notebook, enhanced multimedia experiences and a “distinctive look and design.”

The Y710 will include features like a hot swap hard drive, Intel Centrino technology, Blu-ray DVD reader and five speakers including a subwoofer. The Y510 is slated as well for Centrino technology, a battery life indicator and integrated camera. The U110, meanwhile, will weigh just 2.3 pounds, measure just 0.7 inches deep and offer optional solid state flash drives.

Lenovo IdeaPads