Lenovo took the wraps off its ThinkPad- and IdeaPad-branded Windows 8 and Windows RT convertible devices this week. These next-generation PCs are optimized for mobility, connectivity, and multi-touch, just like the software platforms which run on them.
Three of the devices will be sold via Lenovo’s consumer-oriented IdeaPad brand while one will be branded as a ThinkPad. All of the devices but one will run Windows 8 (or Windows 8 Pro). They join the previously announced Lenovo ThinkPad Tablet 2, which will run Windows 8 as well.
Here they are.
The IdeaPad Yoga 13 closely resembles Lenovo’s existing IdeaPad U-series Ultrabooks, with the same unique, wedge-shaped design. But unlike today’s IdeaPads, the Yoga 13 is what Lenovo calls a multi-mode Ultrabook, in which its hinges allows it to move 360 degrees and fold from a traditional laptop form into a tablet in one simple motion.
The Yoga 13 utilizes third-generation Intel ULV Core i processors, a 13.3-in high definition IPS display with 10-finger multi touch, and provides 8 hours of battery life, according to Lenovo. It supports up to 8 GB of RAM, up to 256 GB of SSD storage, and sports 1 USB 2.0 port, 1 USB 3.0 port, a 3-in-1 card reader, and HDMI out.
The IdeaPad Yoga 13 arrives October 26, but you can pre-order it from Best Buy starting on October 12. Pricing starts at $1099.
If you’re looking for a smaller version of the Yoga 13, consider the 11.6-inch Yoga 11, which runs Windows RT and offers most of the same features, including the 360 hinge and 10 point multi-touch screen running at 1366 x 768. It’s powered by an NVIDIA Tegra 3 processor, up to 2 GB of RAM, and 32GB or 64GB of eMMC storage. It features two USB 2.0 ports, a 2-in-1 card reader, and HDMI out. It achieves up to 13 hours of battery life.
The IdeaPad Yoga 11 arrives in December. Pricing starts at $799.
In addition to its unique multi-mode devices, Lenovo will also sell a tablet with a clip-on keyboard base that provides laptop-like functionality and, best of all, far more battery life. The IdeaPad Lynx will utilize the next-generation Atom (“Clover Trail”) processor, an 11.6-inch, 5 point capacitive multi-touch display running at 1366 x 768, 2 GB of RAM, 32 GB or 64 GB of eMMC storage, two USB 2.0 ports, microSD expansion, and micro-HDMI out,
It can achieve 8 hours of battery, or 16 hours with the keyboard base. The tablet weighs just 1.4 pounds, while the base adds an additional 1.45 pounds.
The IdeaPad Lynx arrives in December. Pricing starts at $599, while the keyboard base adds $149.
The new ThinkPad Twist Ultrabook bears some familial relations with the ThinkPad Edge series and features the same basic look and feel. But this machine utilizes a single, central hinge, much like old-school, convertible Tablet PCs, providing a 12.5-inch display that can be spun around, reorienting the device as a (slightly thick) tablet. It utilizes 3rd generation Intel Core (up to i7) processors, optional broadband networking, storage up to 500 GB, and of course the legendary ThinkPad keyboard.
The Twist weighs 3.5 pounds and gets up to 7 hours of battery life. It has two USB 3.0 ports, a 4-in-1 media reader, mini-DisplayPort, and mini-HDMI.
The ThinkPad Twist arrives October 26. Pricing starts at $849.