After upgrading both its N-series and ThinkPad lines to Intel’s newer Core 2 Duo processor, Lenovo today said it would upgrade its remaining systems in the budget 3000 range.

The pictured V100 is the company’s low-cost alternative to the ThinkPad X-series and sports a 12-inch, 1280×800 screen but a thicker chassis. In its upgraded form, the V100 will still be equipped modestly at the base level with a 1.66GHz Core 2 Duo, 512MB of RAM, 80GB hard drive and DVD/CD-RW optical storage; an ExpressCard/54 slot is present for mobile broadband or flash memory cards.

Prices will begin at $999 when it ships by the end of October. Less expensive still is the new C200, a basic model for beginners or those who only need basic mobility. It features the same 1.66GHz processor, RAM, and storage of the V-series but incorporates a less expensive 15-inch, 1024×768 display. The C200 will start at $899 in its Core 2 Duo incarnation. This too is anticipated for a launch in late October.

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