Lenovo has launched its $399 mini-notebook IdeaPad S10, joining the fun ride started by the EEE PC.

The IdeaPad S10 will start shipping in October.

In a press release, Lenovo describes the IdeaPad S10:

The 10.2-inch screen IdeaPad S10 netbook comes in flavors of classic white and bold black as well as a glossy ruby red. For a comfortable, more natural computing experience, Lenovo designed the keyboard to be 85 percent of the size of a full-function notebook PC’s keyboard, and an energy-efficient LED backlit display helps provide longer battery life than traditional displays.

For easy connection to the Internet, the IdeaPad S10 netbook includes WiFi and also has an Express Card slot so users can enable the IdeaPad S10 for optional high speed mobile broadband(2) connectivity. To optimize the social networking experience, the IdeaPad S10 comes with tools such as a built-in web camera for video messaging, and its two USB ports and a 4-in-1 multicard reader make connecting other devices and transferring photos, music and videos simple. The IdeaPad S10 netbook comes equipped with Microsoft Windows XP.

Using the Intel(R) Atom(TM) processor, the IdeaPad S10 netbook provides basic notebook functionality as a user’s secondary PC. Lenovo offers the IdeaPad S10 in two configurations, with one having 512 MB of memory and an 80 GB hard drive and the second configuration having 1 GB of memory and a 160 GB hard drive. The processing performance and storage make the IdeaPad S10 ideal for accommodating a variety of data, from a user’s digital music inventory to a student’s homework assignments and more. Lenovo engineered the IdeaPad S10 netbook to reduce the heat emitted on key contact areas such as the bottom of the PC, the palm rest and the keyboard. Additionally, Lenovo’s OneKey(TM) Rescue System(3)helps users recover data at the touch of a button should a system error or virus occur.

Jack Schofield of Guardian UK thinks it looks like Acer’s Aspire One.

Photo courtesy of CNet UK.