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Lenovo ThinkPad 10 review: a good Windows tab hurt by poor battery life
There isn't a very large middle ground in the Windows tablet world right now. You frequently have to choose between a budget-oriented, low-spec model and an expensive portable powerhouse. And that's a shame, really. There are no doubt people who want high-resolution screens or lots of options, but don't want to pay for fast processors that may go to waste. That's what makes Lenovo's ThinkPad 10 so appealing at first glance -- it's a well-equipped 10-inch Windows slate that won't hit your wallet too hard. The question is whether or not it strikes that price-to-performance balance as well as it should. It does in some ways, but there are some big sacrifices involved. Read on to see if they'll be worth your while.
Lenovo overtakes Apple in US PC sales for the first time
Apple has rightly made a big deal of the fact that its Mac sales have continued to grow, in spite of a contracting PC market. But Cupertino certainly isn't alone in having figured out how to win at desktops and laptops: Lenovo has just reported big gains in its full-year revenue and profits, and it claims that its PC shipments in the US overtook Apple's for the first time, grabbing the No. 3 spot behind the more stagnant giants, HP and Dell. This claim is based on data for the last three months, likely with a bit of help from analysts at IDC, although it's worth pointing out that Gartner still had Lenovo in fourth place in the US as recently as April. Whichever pundits you listen to, Lenovo has now dominated the PC market globally for around a year, thanks to its ever-expanding ThinkPad line, while also growing its non-Windows tablet and smartphone sales -- with the latter soon to become a lot more prevalent in the US now that the company owns Motorola.
Gadget Rewind 2005: Lenovo X41 Tablet
Lenovo made headlines earlier this year when it took Motorola Mobility off of Google's hands, giving it a boost in smartphone markets outside of its usual stomping grounds. But that wasn't the first time it snatched up another company for industry leverage. In 2005, IBM gave up majority control of its PC business, allowing Beijing-based Lenovo to take over and effectively expand its reach to a global audience. The timing of the deal was a little bit off, however. One of the first products to launch under Lenovo's new ownership was the ThinkPad X41 Tablet, a laptop/tablet hybrid, which had already rolled off the assembly line and was still sporting an IBM logo.
Lenovo teases a new 10-inch ThinkPad tablet in Australia
Online stores have been hinting that Lenovo was working on a 10-inch counterpart to its ThinkPad 8 tablet, and now there's no doubt: the company's Australian branch has listed a ThinkPad 10 ahead of an official announcement. While a full-fledged product page was only briefly available, it was enough to show that the new Windows slate shares much in common with its smaller sibling. You'll find a slightly faster 1.6GHz quad-core Atom processor and up to 4GB of RAM, but there's still a 1,920 x 1,200 screen, up to 128GB of storage, an 8-megapixel rear camera and a 2-megapixel front shooter. Not that we're griping about the similarity between models, since this ThinkPad 10 should still be leaps and bounds more powerful than the aging ThinkPad Tablet 2.
Lenovo brings Haswell to rest of ThinkPad line-up, including monstrous ThinkPad W540
Lenovo outed no fewer than five new notebooks just last week, but it doesn't want to stop there. With a distinct focus on business, the world's biggest notebook maker has come to the Intel Developer Forum (IDF) with a refreshed range of T, W, L and E Series laptops, outfitting them with Intel's fourth-generation Haswell processors, better graphics, improved security and faster connectivity. Do Lenovo's new buttoned-down notebooks offer more than their glossy counterparts? Find out after the break.
Lenovo outs five new ThinkPads, including a 15-inch business Ultrabook
It was just last spring at Engadget Expand that Lenovo teased the ThinkPad T431s business Ultrabook, and now it's already coming out with a follow-on product. The company today announced the refreshed T440s, along with the T440, the X240 (shown above) and two mid-range Ultrabooks, the S440 and the S540. In fact, though the S540 isn't the highest-end machine on offer here, even that's worth mention, as it's the company's first 15-inch Ultrabook aimed at businesses. (Guess that bigger-screen trend is going strong, eh?) Diving right in, the 14-inch T440s represents a fairly modest upgrade, as the T431s already ushered in some fairly big design changes (buttonless trackpad, latchless lid, 180-degree hinge, et cetera). The T440s has all that too, except it makes the natural shift to Intel's fourth-generation Haswell processors, along with an optional NVIDIA GeForce GT 730M GPU (which won't be offered here in North America). The T440 is closely related, as you'd expect, with similar configuration options (optional touchscreens, up to 12GB of RAM and up to either a 1TB HDD or a 512GB SSD). The main difference is that the resolution on the T440 is also capped at 1,600 x 900, whereas the T440s goes up to 1080p. Also, the T440s is a good lighter than the T440 (read: half a pound less).
Lenovo's Windows 8 PCs to bundle SweetLabs' Start menu replacement, app store
Software developers and PC vendors have frequently catered to reluctant Windows 8 buyers with Start menu replicas, and that trend doesn't appear to be slowing down. Lenovo has just reached a deal that will bundle SweetLabs' Pokki suite with its Windows 8 PCs, including a Start menu replacement, an app store and a game arcade. The two companies haven't said which particular systems will first ship with Pokki, although the deal starts with consumer-focused devices and will spread to include multiple PCs across the IdeaCentre, IdeaPad and ThinkPad lines. The SweetLabs agreement should cheer those who want the old Windows experience or an alternative software store. The bundle may prove bittersweet for Microsoft, however -- it usually wants Windows PC buyers to embrace the future.
How would you change Lenovo's ThinkPad X1 Carbon?
Lenovo's ThinkPad X1 Carbon is such a beautiful piece of hardware that we're having trouble concentrating. With that carbon fiber chassis, the Ultrabook is thin, light and classily understated. Even packing Ivy Bridge internals, it still managed to crank out five hours of battery life and, aside from its slightly weak display, stands head and shoulders above other skinny carbon laptops we could mention. But what about you high-rollers who splashed out upwards of $1,400 on one of these things? Here's the time for you to share your experiences and tell us what you would change.
Lenovo reveals a Haswell-refreshed ThinkPad: the 14-inch, 1080p T440s
Lenovo's busy webmaster has put up a new product page, sans hoopla, for a Haswell-powered ThinkPad called the T440s. The "ultimate business Ultrabook" isn't fully detailed at this point, but there are a few other specs and options on show, including a 14-inch, 1,920 x 1,080 IPS display with claimed 180-degree viewing angles and optional multitouch, three USB 3.0 ports, a 720p webcam with dual noise-cancelling mics, NFC and a "Power Bridge" battery that can be swapped out without powering down. All that will be encased in 21mm-thick mil-spec body starting at around 3.5 pounds in weight. There's no word on exactly which processor and memory configurations will be offered, nor on the launch date ("coming soon") or all-important pricing -- for reference though, the similary-sized Ivy Bridge T431s we saw back at Expand started at around $950.
Lenovo ThinkPad Helix review
It's been six months since Lenovo launched the ThinkPad Helix at CES, but during that time we've never really stopped talking about it. Every time we've reviewed a comparable product -- a small-ish PC that could be used in some sort of tablet mode -- we've returned to the Helix as a beacon of what could be in this category. All told, the Helix has had a few things potentially recommending it: it rocks the same sturdy, well-spaced keyboard you'll find on other ThinkPads and a spec list that includes NFC, a Wacom pen digitizer and a high-quality, 11.6-inch, 1080p display. Best of all, the Helix can be used in three ways: not just in tablet mode, but with the tablet inserted either facing the user or pointed away, a design Lenovo is calling "Rip n' Flip." It's the sort of versatility we loved so much in Lenovo's Yoga line; only this is a more compact machine with a higher-res screen and pen input. Sounds lovely, right? Read on to see if it's as good in practice as it is on paper.%Gallery-192094%
Lenovo unveils 15-inch ThinkPad S531 Ultrabook
As quick as Lenovo has been to hop on the Ultrabook bandwagon, it hasn't been so eager to launch big-screened models. Its new ThinkPad S531 explores that territory at last: the Windows 8 PC mates a slim profile with both a 15.6-inch, lay-flat LCD and a large keyboard. The experience will otherwise be familiar to those who've seen the S431, as it shares the same basic design language, the OneLink dock connector and a nine-hour battery. Unfortunately, the similarity also extends to the Ivy Bridge-era Intel processor -- there's no Haswell inside, at least for now. Still, the £575 ($900) UK price is within reach of many buyers, and there's a 1080p display option coming in July. Lenovo hasn't said if or when the S531 will reach the US, although we hope it gets a processor upgrade if and when it crosses the Atlantic.
Lenovo ThinkPad S3 and S5 teased, show off aluminum 'floating design'
Starting to get bored of the ThinkPad's classic look but not keen on the Edge series? Then we have good news for you! Earlier today we received a couple of photos that show off two upcoming Lenovo Ultrabooks: the 13-inch ThinkPad S3 (codename "Labatt") and the 15-inch ThinkPad S5 ("Guinness"). As you can see above and after the break, both aluminum laptops feature a new "floating design" that might have taken a page out of Samsung and Vizio's book: shaving off the front outer edges of the bottom side to create that slim and floating illusion. Also, these will apparently come with either a black or silver lid. Some folks on Sina Weibo have received other teaser photos of the ThinkPad S5, with one confirming the presence of JBL stereo speakers. The funny thing is Chinese website Yesky reported on a charity auction that actually sold limited editions of the S3 and S5 earlier this month, but those unannounced Ultrabooks went under everyone else's radar. If you're curious, Yesky speculates that a launch is due in China at the end of this month, but you'll have to stay tuned for the prices and specs.
Lenovo ThinkPad X230s unveiled in China: a thinner and lighter 12-incher
Who says a carbon fiber chassis with sufficient cooling for a Core i7 has to be heavy? The ThinkPad X230s, revealed on Lenovo's Chinese site following a partial leak in January, looks like a significantly more portable version of last year's X230, with a weight of just 1.28kg (2.8 pounds) and a minimum thickness of 17.7mm (0.7 inches). There's room inside for up to 8GB of RAM, either a 240GB SSD or 1TB HDD, fingerprint reader, 720p webcam, VGA and Mini DisplayPort outputs, two USB 3.0 ports and keyboard backlighting. It's a Windows 8 machine, of course, with shortcut keys and a gesture-optimized TrackPad. We're on the lookout for further details, including any pricing, and will update this post soon as we have some. Update: We're going to hazard a guess that the resolution is 1,366 x 768, based on the January leak. Chinese pricing looks to be around 7,399 yuan ($1,200). [Thanks, Os]
Lenovo unveils touchscreen ThinkPad S431, ships ThinkPad Edge E431 and E531
Lenovo is giving fans of professional laptop chic a treat today: in addition to shipping the ThinkPad Edge E431 and E531, it's unveiling one more model, the ThinkPad S431. The new Ivy Bridge-powered system is closer to the Edge S430 in spirit, carrying a similar 0.8 inches thick chassis, an aluminum lid and a thin-bezel design that stuffs a 14-inch touchscreen into a small body. It does carry the newer Edge line's unifying OneLink connector and gesture-friendly touchpad, although the svelter profile also involves some sacrifices -- the S431 tops out at 8GB of RAM and a 500GB hard drive, or about half what its peers can manage. The slimmer, touch-enabled design will also boost the asking price to $699 when the S431 ships in June, although the cost conscious can spring for the E431 and E531 today for a distinctly cheaper $599.
Lenovo ThinkPad Helix starts shipping, Seton Hall University gets early units
Lenovo's ThinkPad Helix has had one of the rockier roads to the US market, having been promised for February only to be delayed to April. Things are getting smoother, however, as the first units of the are rolling off the production line -- and there are already customers waiting at Seton Hall University. Keeping up its recent practice of handing out gadgets to junior students, the school expects to test the dockable Windows 8 tablet within a few weeks, and then deliver about 2,000 units to newcomers starting in June. The turn toward a hybrid lets the university settle on one PC design for the fall rather than divide its attention between tablets and Ultrabooks, Seton Hall's Drew Holden says. As for the general public? Lenovo hasn't officially put the Helix on sale through its own store, but a handful of customers say they've already received theirs through other channels. In any event, keep a close watch on third-party stores if you're willing to part with $1,499 for a ThinkPad convertible.
Distro Issue 84: The inside story behind the Lenovo ThinkPad redesign
Back at Expand, the folks at Lenovo unveiled the ThinkPad T431s, a unit that embodies an overhaul of the outfit's iconic laptop. The latest issue of our weekly magazine goes inside the process of balancing customer preference, perception and tradition with forward-facing design in order to construct the final model. As far as reviews go, Ableton Push, Sonos Playbar and Dell Latitude 10 all get put through their respective paces to tally up some final grades on each. Moog occupies both Eyes-On and the Q&A, Hands-On speed tests T-Mobile's LTE network and IRL has three more items that we've used on the daily. All of that and much more is a download away on your go-to e-reading gadget. Distro Issue 84 PDF Distro in the iTunes App Store Distro in the Google Play Store Distro in the Windows Store Distro APK (for sideloading) Like Distro on Facebook Follow Distro on Twitter
Lenovo ThinkPad Helix slated for April release in the US
Lenovo's still being vague about a release date for its ThinkPad Helix, but it's at least narrowed down the retail window somewhat. Though the 11.6-inch, 1080p Ultrabook had already been officially delayed and marked for a Spring release, the company is now confirming via its Twitter account that consumers can look for it to launch sometime in April. That's specifically for the US market, as no other word on overseas availability has been announced. When it does finally go on sale stateside, look for the reversible Windows 8 device to carry a $1,499 price tag and potential AT&T-friendly LTE.
Lenovo bringing contactless payments to certain NFC-enabled ThinkPads in 2013
Select ThinkPad owners may be making online purchases simply by tapping a compatible credit card to an embedded NFC reader before 2013 is through. Lenovo reps confirmed that the tech would be coming to a yet-to-be-announced array of NFC-enabled ThinkPad tablets or Ultrabooks sometime this year -- processing partnerships are still in the works, so we don't have any details to share there, but if all goes to plan, you could be submitting your card details securely and with ease very soon. The company shared the news during today's Expand conference in San Francisco, shortly after unveiling two new ThinkPad models, including the T431s Ultrabook. Lenovo hasn't confirmed whether that model will offer tap-to-pay support, too, but we certainly wouldn't rule it out. We've seen contactless payments in plenty of smartphones, of course, but widespread tablet and laptop implementation has yet to arrive. Follow all of Engadget's Expand coverage live from San Francisco right here!
Lenovo's Corinna Proctor and Jason Parrish backstage at Expand (video)
We spent some time on stage with two of the Lenovo's honchos to talk about how the ThinkPad brand has braved the test of time and take a look at what's next. The firm's Senior Research Manager Corinna Proctor and its director of ThinkPad strategy and planning stopped by backstage to chat a bit longer. We asked if Lenovo believes the ThinkPad name is being diluted by the likes of Yoga IdeaPads and other transforming hardware, how much love they're giving Windows 8 and if their success is tied to that of Microsoft's OS. Head past the jump to catch the full interview on video. Follow all of Engadget's Expand coverage live from San Francisco right here!
Lenovo's war-torn ThinkPad Terminator edition hands-on: it's not for sale... yet
During my discussions with Lenovo's team about the research involved in reshaping the ThinkPad line, they clued me in on the beast you see above. That, friends, is cutely referred to as the ThinkPad Terminator edition within Lenovo's walls, and it's essentially a prototype T431s that's stripped of its retail garb. The lid's paint is torn back in order to expose the edges that enable wireless radio transmissions to be sent and received, while the bottom has been left in its rawest form. Think of this as the space shuttle before its paint job, or Mr. Schwarzenegger before his green room appearance. The goal here was to showcase the underlying rigidity of the machine, without the retail coat of paint covering up the magic within. Obviously, Lenovo has no immediate plans to actually ship this thing, but I can assure you I'm begging the team to reconsider. Looking to join the cause? Go ahead and give 'em an idea of the premium you'd pay in comments if these were released in limited quantities. Or, just enjoy the gallery below. Follow all of Engadget's Expand coverage live from San Francisco right here! %Gallery-183000%
