Company history

1981:

IBM PCD introduces its first personal computer, the IBM PC.

1984:

IBM PCD introduces its first portable computer, the IBM Portable PC, weighing 30 pounds.

With an initial capital outlay of only RMB200,000, (US$25,000) Lenovo’s founding chairman Liu Chuanzhi, together with 10 like-minded colleagues, launches the New Technology Developer Inc. (the predecessor of the Legend Group) funded by the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

1986:

IBM PCD announces its first laptop computer, the PC Convertible, weighing 12 pounds.

1987:

IBM PCD announces the Personal System/2 personal computer.

Legend successfully rolls out the Legend Chinese-character card.

1988:

Legend’s Chinese-character card receives the highest National Science-Technology Progress Award in China.

Legend Hong Kong is established.

1989:

Beijing Legend Computer Group Co. is established.

1990:

The very first Legend PC is launched in the market. Legend changes its role from that of an agent for imported computer products into that of a producer and seller of its own branded computer products. Legend PCs are ratified and accepted by the China Torch Program.

1992:

IBM PCD introduces ThinkPad, the industry’s first notebook with a 10.4 inch color Thin Film Transistor (TFT) display and a TrackPoint (red ball) pointing device.

Legend pioneers the home PC concept and Legend 1 + 1 home PCs enter the Chinese marketplace.

1993:

Legend enters the Pentium era, producing China’s first "586" PC. Legend establishes 1+1 retail network.

1994:

IBM PCD introduces the industry’s first notebook with integrated CD-ROM, the ThinkPad 755CD.

Legend is listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. The Legend PC business division is formally established.

1995:

IBM PCD introduces the “butterfly” keyboard.

IBM PCD moves from Boca Raton, Florida, to Raleigh, North Carolina.

Legend introduces the first Legend-brand server.

1996:

Legend becomes the market share leader in China for the first time.

Legend introduces the first Legend brand laptop.

1997:

IBM PCD introduces the industry’s first notebook equipped with a DVD-ROM, the ThinkPad 770.

Legend signs an Intellectual Property agreement with Microsoft, the most valuable deal ever made in China at the time.

Legend launches the first multi-function laser printer.

1998:

IBM PCD introduces the industry’s first ThinkLight, a small light that illuminates the keyboard in low-light work environments, such as onboard an airplane.

The millionth Legend PC comes off the production line. Intel Chairman Andy Grove attends the ceremony, and takes the PC for Intel’s museum collection.

Legend establishes the first Legend Shop.

1999:

IBM PCD introduces the industry’s first mini-notebook, weighing under three pounds, with standard ports and a keyboard that is 95 percent of full-size.

IBM PCD announces its exit from the retail business.

IBM PCD introduces the industry’s first PC with an embedded security chip.

Legend becomes the top PC vendor in the Asia-Pacific region, and heads the Chinese national Top 100 Electronic Enterprises ranking.

Legend launches pioneering Internet PC, with its “one-touch-to-the-net” feature, which enables millions of Chinese PC users to easily access the Internet.

2000:

IBM PCD ships its 10-millionth ThinkPad notebook PC.

Legend becomes a constituent stock of the Hang Seng Index - HK.

Legend ranked in top 10 of world’s best-managed PC venders.

2001:

An IBM notebook with an embedded security chip becomes the industry’s first notebook to be certified by the Trusted Computing Platform Alliance, an industry body setting data security standards.

Legend successfully spins off Digital China Co. Ltd., which is separately listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange.

Legend appoints Yuanqing Yang as President and CEO.

Legend first introduces “digital home” concept and launches accessories-enabling PC.

2002:

IBM PCD introduces ImageUltra and Rapid Restore, the first automatic data recovery technologies of their kind.

IBM PCD announces desktop PC outsourcing pact with Sanmina-SCI.

Legend launches its first technological innovation convention, “Legend World 2002,” which opens up Legend’s “Technology Era”. Legend introduces its visionary concept for the future of technological development and applications, its Collaborating Applications project, as well as its strategies for implementing Collaborating Applications.

Legend’s supercomputer, the DeepComp 1800 makes its debut. It is China’s first computer with 1,000 GFLOP (floating point operations per second) and China’s fastest computer for civilian use, ranked 43rd in the Top 500 list of the world’s fastest computers.

The mobile handset joint venture announced, marking Legend’s formal entry into the mobile handset business.

2003:

IBM PCD introduces the industry’s first notebook with an extended battery life of up to 11 hours.

IBM PCD introduces its ThinkCentre desktop PC line.

IBM PCD introduces its Active Protection System, the industry’s first notebook with an airbag for hard drive and data protection in case the system is dropped.

IBM PCD ships its 20-millionth ThinkPad notebook PC.

Legend announces the birth of its new “Lenovo” logo to prepare for its expansion into the overseas market.

Based on the collaborative application technology, Lenovo initiates IGRS Working Group, in cooperation with a few large companies and the Chinese Ministry of the Information Industry, to promote the formation of the industrial standard.

Lenovo launches a Tech RoadShow 2003 nationwide to promote Lenovo’s innovation.

Lenovo successfully develops DeepComp 6800 in November 2003. It ranks 14th on the global list.

2004:

IBM PCD introduces the ThinkCentre ultra small desktop PC, no larger than a box of corn flakes.

IBM PCD introduces the first notebook with an integrated fingerprint reader.

IBM PCD ships its 100-millionth PC (counting both desktop and notebook computers).

Lenovo becomes an Olympic worldwide partner. It is the first Chinese company to become a computer technology equipment partner of the IOC.

Lenovo decides to develop the rural market by launching the “Yuanmeng” PC series designed for township home users.

Lenovo and IBM announce an agreement by which Lenovo will acquire IBM’s Personal Computing Division, its global PC (desktop and notebook computer) business. The acquisition forms a top-tier (third-largest) global PC leader.

2005:

Lenovo completes the acquisition of IBM's Personal Computing Division, making it a new international IT competitor and the third-largest personal computer company in the world.

Lenovo announces the closing of a US$350 million strategic investment by three leading private equity firms: Texas Pacific Group, General Atlantic LLC and Newbridge Capital LLC.

Lenovo establishes a new Innovation Center in Research Triangle Park, N.C., to enable customers, business partners, solution providers and independent software vendors to collaborate on new personal computing solutions.

Lenovo introduces the industry's thinnest, lightest and most secure Tablet PC, the ThinkPad X41 Tablet.

Lenovo introduces the first widescreen ThinkPad with embedded wireless WAN, the ThinkPad Z60, available for the first time with a titanium cover.

Lenovo becomes the world's largest provider of biometric-enabled PCs by selling its one-millionth PC with an integrated fingerprint reader.

William J. Amelio is appointed as CEO and President of Lenovo.

2006:

Lenovo introduces the first dual-core ThinkPad notebook PCs, improving productivity and extending battery life for up to 11 hours.

Lenovo technology flawlessly supports the 2006 Olympic Winter Games in Torino, Italy, supplying 5,000 desktop PCs, 350 servers and 1,000 notebook computers. Lenovo also hosts seven Internet i.lounges for use by Olympic athletes and visitors.

The first Lenovo-branded products outside of China debut worldwide. Researchers, scientists and product design teams from around the world combine Lenovo's heritage in enterprise and consumer PC technology to design the Lenovo 3000 product line, which features new desktop and notebook models specifically designed to provide worry-free computing to the small business market segment.