Don’t you love how all these niche laptops have their own names. We have laptops, netbooks, smartbooks, and CULVs. Who knows what else is out there. Smartbooks have been considered by many analysts as the main threat to netbooks. Of course, as the lines between netbooks and laptops become blurry, the main threat will be coming from slim, energy efficient laptops that pack a power punch. Lenovo is one of the few companies that are involved in all of the above niches. So whether you are looking for a netbook, a laptop, or a smartbook, Lenovo has you covered.

Lenovo Skylight is a smartbook that is designed for those who are looking for a portable and energy efficient device that lets them connect with the world without costing them a fortune. The device, which will be priced at $499, will be available through Lenovo and AT&T. It’s based on ARM architecture and runs Linux, so it won’t be for everyone. But it does have promise. Here is how Peter Gaucher at Lenovo described the device:

The web has become the window to the world for more and more people, helping them connect with friends and family across town or thousands of miles away. Skylight combines the long battery life and connectivity of a smartphone with the full web browsing and multimedia experience of a netbook to create one of the first devices in this developing smartbook category

I am still not sold on smartbooks. They are great for those who don’t mind playing around with Linux or other OS. The battery life is  great, but most people would rather try a Windows machine. The price doesn’t help either.