Luis Hernandez is the vice president, ThinkPad Edge Business Unit, for Lenovo.

The annual Mecca of gadgets, computers and more – the International Consumer Electronics Show will commence on Tuesday, January 10, but Ultrabooks and Hybrid computing devices are already at the forefront of tech trend conversations. Twitter is all a-Twitter with predictions and leaked announcements of a number of products in these categories.

Kicking off a smorgasbord of major product announcements during CES 2012, we officially released our first business Ultrabook, the ThinkPad T430u and the ThinkPad X1 Hybrid laptop, fulfilling a burning desire by business professionals for sleek, stylish PCs that kick power performance butt. Who says all work can’t include some play – especially when it comes to aesthetics and multimedia capabilities.

It’s been said so many times already in the latest headlines of CNN, Forbes, Scientific American and more, 2012 will be the year of the Ultrabook. This new product niche represents what we think of as 'Laptop 2.0' - the laptop computer re-conceptualized in nearly every facet of design. Lighter and thinner than a traditional laptop, with super fast boot up times and instant on functionality – the Ultrabook lets users do what tablets don’t, consume and create content, albeit not to the same degree as traditional laptops – but in the most impressive and mobile possible form factor.

Ultrabook for big business

The ThinkPad T430u is super slim and lightweight. It’s the answer to a question that begs “can a business laptop pack a powerful processor but be uncompromisingly mobile at the same time?”

The physical breakdown: the T430u Ultrabook weighs less than 4 pounds, is less than 0.8 of an inch thick and has a 14” screen. It’s got user comfort in mind with a matte finish and aluminum cover that are both soft to touch and provide durability. It’s modern and minimalist island-style keyboard exemplifies our long-standing attention to superior keyboard functionality.

The lowdown: equipped with the latest Intel Core processors and Intel integrated or NVIDIA graphics along with RapidBoot Technology for quick resume and fast boot-up and shut-down times, this Ultrabook is ready to handle demanding productivity needs. Plus, the business-user can rest easy thanks to extensive security features including the Lenovo Solution Center powered by Intel Small Business Advantage – a set of productivity and security tools helping to enable overnight energy savings and automatic patch updates. With a battery life lasting up to 6 hours, road warriors will function at optimum speed and mobility.

Hybrid Thinking

The new ThinkPad X1 Hybrid laptop is the thinnest ThinkPad laptop to date that boasts not one, but two separate processors and operating systems. It’s got double the battery life of its predecessor, the X1, which launched in May 2011. And that’s just the beginning.

The physical breakdown: the X1 Hybrid laptop, like the T430u Ultrabook, weighs less than 4 pounds and is less than 0.6 inches thick. This 13.3” device features rugged style details for a svelte and sleek look that chic professionals crave. It’s also got a spill-resistant LED backlit precision keyboard, roll cage technology and Corning® Gorilla® glass to take on the toughest accidental bumps and spills and to prevent against scratches.

The lowdown: with smartphone savvy thanks to its dual processing and dual operating system features, the X1 Hybrid makes for seamless multimedia consumption so users can use the laptop for both work and play. The latest Intel Core processors and unique Instant Media Mode pack a powerful processing punch. We really wanted to maintain the security needs business users require with the great multimedia functions of this laptop, and furnished the X1 Hybrid with key security features including Intel vPro technology, encrypted hard drives with remote management support and a fingerprint reader for truly authenticated PC login. This laptop features up to 10 hours of battery life and Lenovo’s unique RapidCharge feature powers the X1 Hybrid up to 80 percent battery capacity in only 30 minutes

CES hasn’t even started and the tech world is buzzing about the launch of our Ultrabook and Hybrid.

Keep up with Lenovo’s CES 2012 events and news right here on the Lenovo Blog. We’ll be sharing insights for unfolding trends, event videos, pics and more from the action-packed Lenovo HQ at the Venetian Hotel and the Lenovo Mobile Media Unit, right outside the Las Vegas Convention Center in Central Plaza, where you’ll find me stationed during CES.

Vegas, here we come!