Going by a recent announcement by Lenovo, select models of its most recent netbook, the IdeaPad S12, will ship with pre-loaded Windows 7 Home Premium edition when it hits the markets in December.

Saying that the IdeaPad 12, Lenovo's first 12-inch netbook, is a marked upgrade from its standard 10-inch netbooks, Lenovo said that the new device boasts of enhancements in terms of both usability as well as performance, largely resulting from the feedbacks given by the customers.

About the notable improvements in the new netbook, Chris Kelly, Lenovo's product and marketing director for A/NZ, said: "We've heard from consumers loud and clear about the need for affordable and extremely portable computing devices. We've responded by introducing our third generation netbook with a completely new form factor."

The $799-priced IdeaPad 12, to be available in black or white, features a full-size keyboard; an Intel Atom chipset with Intel integrated graphics; and up to six hours battery life. The distributors of the new Lenovo netbook include Ingram Micro, Synnex, Cellnet and Dicker Data.

The 1.5-kg device, which Lenovo claims is the "first to offer high quality video capabilities," marks the company's foray into a "new territory," allowing users to watch 1080p high definition video. Moreover, with the netbook's HDMI connection, videos can be watched through an external monitor.