LENOVO WINDOWS 8 CONVERTIBLE PCs
Written by Gavin // October 26, 2012 // Technology
It has now become a fact of life that we can’t go a week without a new piece of tech coming out that will in some way change the way we live and work. This week is no different with the iPad mini announcement and the unveiling of the much anticipated Kindle Fire HD, but by far the biggest news for me is the launch of Windows 8. Windows 8 is the biggest advancement in Microsoft’s history, encouraging touch screen use and downloadable apps. To accompany such a dramatic break from tradition, Lenovo have created a range of bendable, twistable, convertible computers, and are like nothing ever seen before.
Lenovo IdeaPad Yoga
More flexible than any gymnast I’ve met, the Yoga swivels a full 360 degrees to change from notebook to tablet in an instant. In ‘normal’ mode, it is just like any computer and play around with the familiar UI, and when I am informed to try it in tablet mode, I have to go against all my instincts to fold it beyond 180 degrees. Once I go over the threshold, the Yoga seamlessly transforms into a tablet and I’m swiping and pinching in no time.
Available in 11” or 13”, up to 13hrs battery life, and more processing power than any tablet on the market. The downside to the Yoga is that I did find it quite cumbersome and didn’t offer the level of comfort I have come to expect in a tablet. Best of both worlds? Probably not, but the Yoga is a very worthy notebook in its own right, with a cool quirk to show off to your friends.
RRP: £699 (11”) and £999 (13”). Available from Amazon, Dixons, John Lewis and PC World.
Lenovo IdeaTab Lynx
Unlike the Yoga, the Lynx is a purpose built tablet that comes with a keyboard accessory that turns it into a notebook PC. It has all the features you expect from a tablet; lightweight; Intel atom dual core processor; 11.6” screen and when attached to the keyboard, the battery is an impressive 16 hours. As a tablet alone, the Lynx is not going to set the world alight, but the keyboard changes the mood from playful to business-like, and the familiar Windows interface means you can use Word, PowerPoint etc without compromise.
RRP: TBC. Coming soon
Lenovo ThinkPad Twist
If you really want to impress your business clients, the Twist is the convertible PC for the board room. Similarly to the Yoga, the Twist rotates 180 degrees from notebook to tablet. Lenovo are renowned in business, and they have ensured the Twist has all the business functions you would expect, but with the added bonus of an all day battery and the portability of a tablet. A great notebook, but as a tablet it is a bit clunky for the average consumer, but at the end of a day filled with spreadsheets and graphs, a 180 turn may be the relief needed.
RRP: £971. Available from mid-November
