ThinkCentre Edge

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The ThinkCentre Edge is Lenovo’s line of desktop computers for home offices and small businesses. The series includes both towers and All-in-Ones (AIOs) and is designed to save up to 70% of desk space compared with traditional towers. This was the first time Lenovo used the Edge brand outside the ThinkPad lineup.

The first model, Edge 91z All-in-One, was announced on May 16, 2011. It features an Infinity Glass design and was created with a focus on a refined look. The Edge 91z AIO shares serviceability and mounting features with Lenovo’s ThinkCentre M Series AIOs and uses second-generation Intel Core i desktop CPUs with Lenovo Enhanced Experience 2.0. It offers a true 1080p display and an optional DVD writer, along with a clean software package that includes ThinkVantage utilities.

Lenovo launched four Edge models in 2011: the Edge 91z AIO, the Edge 91 desktop (a small form factor tower), the Edge 71z AIO, and the Edge 71 desktop (a small form factor tower). The Edge 71z AIO is noted for its glossy black appearance, a 20-inch display, options up to Intel Core i5, up to 1TB of hard drive storage or a 160GB SSD, an optional DisplayPort, and support for dual independent displays, all backed by ThinkVantage software like Rescue and Recovery, Power Manager, and System Update.

PCMag described the Edge 91z AIO as a solid, reasonably priced option that could rival an iMac in design. It is about 2.5 inches thick, with a simple front and two detachable feet that provide space for storing a keyboard. The AIO’s display is 1080p, and while it lacks certain features such as eSATA, USB 3.0, and HDMI-in, its preinstalled software is useful and uncluttered.

In performance terms, the Edge 91z AIO offered comparable overall specs to the Apple iMac 21.5-inch (Thunderbolt). The iMac was slightly faster on 3D tasks and everyday tasks, while the Edge 91z performed a bit better on multimedia workloads. Both machines used similar widescreen displays, AMD graphics, Intel Core processors, and about 1TB of storage, and both could function as external monitors for laptops.