CIC Data, a Shanghai-based company that monitors online word of mouth for multinational brands, has released a white paper about the Internet buzz about laptop computer brands.

Excerpt:

* Lenovo is most discussed manufacturer (34% of total brand and product posts), but ThinkPad fans also present a challenge for Lenovo to maintain credibility while balancing innovation.

* Dell Inspiron 1420 launch and its color choice made it the most buzzed Dell model (11% of total Dell posts); Dell used its Chinese blog to communicate with customers disappointed with shipment delays.

* Configuration and price are the most buzzed attributes of notebooks (32% and 22% of total brand and product posts). CIC's "Brand Attribute Landscape" shows each brand is associated with different sets of attributes.

* Home-use notebooks lead the buzz, making up 67% of top 100 buzzed models. Entertainment and consumer-centric features such as independent graphic card and widescreen also drive the buzz.