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Lenovo refreshes its ThinkPad X1 Carbon Ultrabook with 'adaptive' keyboard, 2,560 x 1,440 screen option
Lenovo's ThinkPad X1 Carbon was once our favorite business Ultrabook -- actually, make that one of our favorite Ultrabooks, period. Still, it's been a long time since we've been able to recommend it: A year and a half after it first went on sale, it's still saddled with a 1,600 x 900 screen and a 2012-era Ivy Bridge processor. Thankfully, Lenovo has finally unveiled a refreshed model, and it brings almost everything you'd expect from a modern machine, including a 2,560 x 1,440 screen option, Haswell processors and longer battery life (up to nine hours, according to Lenovo). If nine hours isn't enough, the X1 Carbon makes use of Lenovo's Rapid Charge tech, which promises an 80 percent charge in under an hour. Oddly, Lenovo dared to mess with the keyboard -- the main reason some folks have remained loyal to the ThinkPad brand. Here, there's an "adaptive" panel up top, with context-specific controls that only light up when needed. Thankfully, the layout otherwise hasn't changed much, and the red TrackPoint is still there (so is the large buttonless trackpad, but you should be used to that by now). We also got to spend some time on the new keyboard and aside from that top row of adaptive keys, it feels almost identical to the chiclet layout used on its predecessor. In fact, the redesigned keyboard looks cleaner and more modern than ThinkPads past. The fingerprint scanner now sits flush with the keyboard lines, while the touchpad is now a flat plane, more in line with other Ultrabooks and simply more modern. Elsewhere on the machine, Lenovo added NFC, voice commands (via pre-installed Dragon software) and gesture control, allowing you to swipe through presentation slides and the like by waving your hand.
Acer goes up against the Surface Pro 2 with its own $950 hybrid
What will Acer's outgoing CEO leave as his legacy, aside from a bit of financial wreckage? It could be a pair of brand new TravelMate Ultrabooks, the X313 and P645, which were revealed a few weeks ago and now have final pricing and availability set for this month. The 11-inch X313 is a tablet hybrid like the Surface Pro 2 or VAIO Tap 11, except that it's priced higher (at $950), has a lower resolution (1366 x 768) and comes with an older Ivy Bridge Core i5 processor instead of Haswell. This strange choice of silicon could potentially have an impact on battery life, which is officially rated at six hours. Then again, the X313 has a redeeming feature in its portability: at 0.39-inches thick and 1.74 pounds in weight, it's slightly less of a burden than the two-pound Surface Pro 2. The base spec also includes a 120GB SSD, versus the Microsoft hybrid's 64GB. Meanwhile, the P645, shown below, does possess Intel's latest chip, but it's a more traditional business Ultrabook in an ocean of similar products. The 14-inch Core i5 version also starts at $950 for the base configuration, with a 1366 x 768 display and integrated graphics. Spending more will add a 1080p panel with discrete AMD graphics, although doing so will bring you closer to ThinkPad territory, especially now that the new ThinkPad T440s has launched at $1,149. As far as legacies go, therefore, we'd suggest that JT Wang puts something else on his CV: perhaps the Iconia W4 or even the new Chromebook.
Lenovo's convertible Yoga 2 Pro Ultrabook now available in the US, starts at $1,049
Many Ultrabook fans have pined for Lenovo's Yoga 2 Pro given its blend of a 3,200 x 1,800 display, long battery life and a slim profile. Those people can finally act on their impulses, as Lenovo has quietly started selling the 13-inch folding convertible. For the $1,049 base price, buyers get a silver gray variant with a Haswell-based 1.7GHz Core i3 processor, 4GB of RAM and a 128GB solid-state drive. An orange model normally costs $1,399 (currently $1,149), although that also includes a 1.6GHz Core i5, 8GB of RAM and a 256GB SSD. Be sure to shop around before you pick up the new system, however. Best Buy is currently selling an entry-level Yoga 2 Pro for $1,000, and there's a chance you'll find similar bargains elsewhere.
How would you change HP's Envy Sleekbook 6z?
HP's range of thin-and-light notebooks like the Sleekbook 6z were designed to undercut the Ultrabook with cheaper internals. However, when the base model retails for around $600 and a bone-fide Ultrabook isn't that much more expensive, was there any point to this device? When we reviewed it, we found that the performance was sluggish and there was a finicky touchpad that detracted from its comfortable keyboard and decent battery life. So, let's imagine that Meg Whitman invited you to design the follow-up, tell us, how would you change it?
Dell's XPS 11 foldable Ultrabook coming in November for $1,000 and up
We first met the Dell XPS 11 back at Computex, but at the time Dell wasn't ready to go into much detail on its Yoga-like foldable Ultrabook. At a press conference today in New York, however, we learned a little more about the XPS 11 -- including the price. For starters -- and this should surprise no one -- the company's offering Intel's Haswell chips, and all-solid-state storage. We're told the final product doesn't look any different from the prototype we played with, which is to say it's an amalgam of machined aluminum and carbon fiber, with a sheet of Gorilla Glass NBT covering the pixel-packed 2,560 x 1,440 "IGZO-based" touch display. That's what you'll be poking at when you're in tablet mode, having folded the solid-surface keyboard back round the 180-degree hinge. Speaking of the keyboard, it will have 0.5mm travel and customizable feedback options. There will also be optional NFC and unspecified "voice options" available when the XPS 11 is finally up for grabs, but when that will be, and at what price, won't be known for a few weeks yet. Look for it in November for $1,000 and up and in the meantime, we encourage you to revisit our hands-on from June. Update: At last, Dell has announced pricing and availability for the XPS 11. We've just learned it will be available in November, starting at $1,000. Dana Wollman contributed to this report.
HP launches ZBook mobile workstations with Ultrabook model, 3,200 x 1,800 screen option
HP's 2012 mobile workstation range was powerful, but would we have called it exciting? Not exactly. The company may just liven things up with its new ZBook line, however. The three-laptop series is based on a thinner and lighter design template that includes a 14-inch Ultrabook variant, the ZBook 14 (pictured above). Basically, Dell's Precision M3800 now has a big-name competitor. Those willing to trade some portability for power will also get a few welcome additions. The mid-size ZBook 15 (after the break) has a 3,200 x 1,800 display option, while both the ZBook 15 and the flagship ZBook 17 carry Thunderbolt ports. All three PCs ship with Haswell-based Intel processors as well as the latest pro graphics from either AMD or NVIDIA. Mobile workers can order the 15- and 17-inch ZBooks today, or wait for the 14-inch system's arrival in late October. You'll find more details of HP's workstation updates after the break, including a more conservative refresh to the Z desktop line that brings Ivy Bridge-based Xeon processors and Thunderbolt 2.
LG 13-inch Z935 Windows 8 Ultrabook hands-on
Major companies have a notorious reputation for quietly bringing unannounced products to trade shows like IFA 2013 and tossing them in some random part of the booth, which means we're always walking in expecting to find something new. Fortunately, LG did not disappoint us this time, as it showed off a new 13-inch "Ultra PC" Ultrabook called the Z935. Reps told us that this model, due to arrive in Korea this November for $1,000, is a minor refresh to its existing series of Ultrabooks; the Z935 in particular gets a bump in IPS display resolution to Quad HD (2560 x 1440) and also sports a Haswell SoC. The Win8-powered machine measures 314 x 219 x 13.6mm and weighs 1.15kg, much like the Z360 we peeked at in January. There's a USB port and HDMI port to the right, along with a headphone jack, while a pair of microSD slots are tucked away just a tad underneath the right-hand side, hidden barely out of sight but still easily accessible; USB and ethernet ports line the opposite side. All told, there are only a few minor design changes here, and we've put together a gallery of images for you to see it from all angles. We're still waiting for the full listing of specs, but we'll keep you posted as soon as we hear more. Follow all of our IFA 2013 coverage by heading to our event hub!
Sony announces VAIO Flip PC, looks to steal the IdeaPad Yoga's thunder
We knew a novel VAIO form factor was bound to be announced at IFA when Sony dropped a origami-inspired teaser video last week. And look what we have here: in Berlin, the PC maker unveiled a new line of VAIO Flip PCs. Like the Lenovo IdeaPad Yoga, this Ultrabook can be used in a variety of modes; the machine works as a standard clamshell laptop, but the display can also be collapsed down over the keyboard for use as a tablet. Finally, you can reverse the screen so it's facing outward, away from the keyboard, in "viewer mode." The Flip will be sold in 13-,14- and 15-inch flavors, compared to the 11- and 13-inch sizes for the Yoga. Does Sony have a strong contender on its hands? Read on for specs and impressions.
Daily Roundup: Aspire S7 (2013) review, Ultrabooks buyer's guide, Ixi-play robot owl, and more!
You might say the day is never really done in consumer technology news. Your workday, however, hopefully draws to a close at some point. This is the Daily Roundup on Engadget, a quick peek back at the top headlines for the past 24 hours -- all handpicked by the editors here at the site. Click on through the break, and enjoy.
Acer Aspire S7 review (2013): the second time's a charm for Acer's flagship Ultrabook
To those of you who've been waiting for an S7 refresh, this new model barely needs an introduction: it features virtually the same design as the unit we tested last year. And that's a good thing.
Samsung shipping ATIV Book 9 Plus and ATIV Tab 3 in the coming weeks, promises business-minded variants this fall
B&H may have jumped the gun a bit, but here's the word from the proverbial horse's mouth: Samsung's high-specced ATIV Book 9 Plus will be available for pre-order in the United States beginning August 18th, with shipments of the $1,399 laptop to commence shortly thereafter. For those in need of a brief recap, the 13.3-inch rig packs a QHD+ (3,200 x 1,800) touchpanel, a Core i5 4200U processor, 128GB SSD, a battery good for 7.5 hours and a copy of Windows 8. Meanwhile, that ATIV Tab 3 that we handled back in June is getting a proper ship date of its own, with Sammy assuring Americans that they'll be able to snap one up starting on September 1st for $699.99 -- thankfully, that tally does include a Bluetooth keyboard / cover combo. It's said to be the planet's thinnest Windows 8 slate at 0.31-inches thick, with a proposed 7 hour battery, preloaded Office Home & Student and one of those always-lovable S Pens. For whatever it's worth, it appears that Samsung's distaste for Windows RT in the States hasn't carried over to tablets with Windows 8 onboard... yet, anyway. Oh, and for the enterprising individuals in attendance? Samsung has promised "to introduce versions of both products specialized for business use in the fall." Nifty!
Dell unveils Latitude 7000 series Ultrabooks with Haswell inside
Dell's Haswell-based Latitude laptops have been a tad on the chunky side so far, but the company is making amends by quietly launching its new Latitude 7000 series Ultrabooks. Both the 12.5-inch E7240 and 14-inch E7440 fit Intel's new low-voltage, 1.7GHz Core i3 CPU into an aluminum shell that's about 0.8 inch thick, yet meets military standards for resistance to dust, water and shock. They also support Dell's WiGig Wireless Dock and WiDi. Neither will come close to the Precision M3800 in features, however. The two Latitudes both start with 4GB of RAM and a 1,366 x 768 display, and there's no way to upgrade the performance or screen quality. They're also expensive -- the E7240 is launching at a $1,169 sale price with a 128GB SSD inside, while the E7440 with a 320GB hard drive isn't much cheaper at $1,049. Still, we wouldn't complain (much) if an IT manager plunked either of these Ultrabooks on our desks.
Toshiba adds Haswell to refreshed Satellite U and M laptops
While Toshiba already outed its Haswell plans, the company has chosen today to unveil a few more PCs. The outfit's refreshing its Satellite U and M range in the UK, with the U50t being equipped with a 10-point touchscreen and Windows 8 onboard. The Satellite M50D and M50Dt, meanwhile, boast AMD's latest APU processors and Radeon graphics. The whole line (which is slated for dispatch in Q3) ships with Intel's fourth-generation processors and HD 4400 graphics, while those needing a bit more oomph on the pixel pushing side can opt for NVIDIA's GeForce GT 740M. As you'd expect, Intel's WiDi and Miracast technologies are infused, and each machine arrives with a full-size HDMI port, Bluetooth 4.0, an SD card slot and a pair of USB 3.0 sockets. Tosh isn't talking pricing just yet, but you can dig into the specification list just after break. %Gallery-194886%
Acer Aspire S7-392 Ultrabook arrives in the US, starts at $1,450
We first met Acer's Aspire S7 at Computex in 2012, and since then it's gone through a major overhaul to become the Aspire S7-392 -- a Haswell-equipped Ultrabook that's now available in the US. You can choose between two models up for sale at retail outlets and on Acer's online store, with the cheaper $1,450 package toting a 1.6GHz Core i5 processor and a 128GB SSD. The $1,700 variant comes with a more powerful 1.8GHz Core i7 processor and double the storage space, but their other specs are identical. Both Windows 8 Ultrabooks boast a 13.3-inch 1,920 x 1,080 touchscreen display, an HD webcam, an 8GB of DDR3 RAM, and a bigger battery that promises up to 7 hours of power. It's too bad the European version's 2,560 x 1,440 screen didn't make it stateside, but at least the US incarnations are a bit easier on the wallet. Update: We've revised the post to reflect that the higher-end model comes with a Core i7 processor, and not a Core i5.
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.
Tobii and Synaptics team on eye-tracking Ultrabook concept
While Tobii has a peripheral that brings eye tracking to Windows PCs of all sorts, there's little doubt that an integrated approach would be more elegant. The company agrees: it's partnering with Synaptics on a concept Ultrabook (seen above) that combines both Gaze UI and Synaptics' pressure-sensitive ForcePad in a showcase of new input methods. The partners haven't said just what new tricks they'll demonstrate, if any, but it's clear that there won't be a size penalty when the concept is as slim as the laptops in stores today. Synaptics and Tobii plan to tour the PC throughout the industry during the summer and the fall, and they're no doubt hoping that a few vendors use the concept as inspiration.
Samsung ATIV Book 9 Plus and ATIV Book 9 Lite hands-on (video)
Samsung's long since decided to rebrand its Series 9 series as ATIV Book 9, but it's only now that it's got some new Ultrabooks to show off. While the ATIV Book 7 unfortunately jumped the Haswell gun, the higher-end ATIV Book 9 Plus is happy to benefit from those impressive battery savings we've already seen from Intel's next-generation chips. In fact, Samsung is promising 12 hours of usage -- and that's despite the Plus model arriving with an eye-watering 13.3-inch, 3,200 x 1,800 QHD+ display. In addition, there's up to 256GB SSD storage and 8GB of RAM, two USB 3.0 ports and mini-VGA and micro-HDMI sockets. The screen is protected by a layer of Gorilla Glass and, alongside adding touch functionality since the previous Series 9 Ultrabook, Samsung has crafted a new hinge for its latest flagship, offering two stop-points. Moving the screen through to a standard 105- to 110-degree pitch, the screen strongly resists. Better still, there's really not that much give as we tapped our way through Windows 8. However, give it more of a sustained push, and the screen bends down to a flat 180-degree position, making it easier to show the screen around a table. It's joined by the humbler Book 9 Lite, with a lower (though unspecified) price. Powered by an unnamed 1.4GHz quad-core processor and housing up to a 256GB SSD drive, it promises a cold-boot time of eight seconds, or two seconds from sleep. It's the same size screen (13.3 inches) as the Plus model, but resolution drops down to 1,366 x 768 -- a noticeable difference when you observe the two side by side. Turn them off, however, and the interiors of the two machines are so similar that even the most hardened Samsung exec might be fooled (excepting for that Intel sticker on the high-end model). On the outside, though, the systems remain noticeably different. The Book 9 Plus gets a moody, matte finish to its aluminum unibody, while the Book 9 Lite has a glossy plastic surface. The cheaper Lite model reminds us of the finish on Samsung's Galaxy smartphone series, but it'd be great to see Samsung bring this other, cooler finish to more products. Both Ultrabooks are expected to land in the US (and elsewhere) in time for back-to-school season. Check out the gallery below, and follow past the break for more impressions. %Gallery-191827%
Samsung intros ATIV Book 9 Plus flagship Ultrabook, ATIV Book 9 Lite
We haven't heard much about Samsung's Series 9 Ultrabooks for a while, barring a resolution bump late last year. Today, though, the company announced the follow-on to that product. Two follow-on products, actually. The company just introduced the ATIV Book 9 Plus, a 13-inch flagship laptop that appears to be the direct replacement to the old Series 9. In addition, the company announced the ATIV Book 9 Lite, another 13-inch ultraportable that doesn't quite rise to the level of flagship status. Starting with the Plus, it steps up to Haswell processors (Core i5 and i7), as well as a 3,200 x 1,800 touchscreen. Sammy also made improvements to the old Series 9's backlit keyboard and trackpad. (Think: the sort of excellent touchpad found on the recent ATIV Book 7). The new display, meanwhile, is coated in Gorilla Glass and has a 72 percent color gamut. The Plus offers two hinge positions -- one at about 105 degrees and another all the way down to 180 degrees. Additionally, the company's opted for OCR bonding this time around, which should offer an improved touch experience, say company reps. With the touchscreen, the weight is up to 1.39kg (3.06 pounds) -- definitely not the lightest 13-inch touchscreen Ultrabook we've seen, but still plenty portable. As for battery life, you're looking at 12 hours, according to Samsung. And given the performance of some other Haswell machines we've already had a chance to test, we're inclined to believe it. Meanwhile, the ATIV Book 9 Lite has up to 256GB of solid-state storage and an unnamed quad-core processor clocked at 1.4GHz (it's an AMD chip, we hear). As a slightly lower-end device, it has a 1,366 x 768 display, and also comes in a more playful gamut of colors, including white, red and the usual black. Battery life is rated at 8.5 hours, compared with 12 for the Plus. Likewise, you get 4GB of RAM, versus eight gigs on the flagship model. Also, it will be available in both touch and non-touch versions, with the non-touch model weighing in at 1.44kg (3.17 pounds) and the touch one tipping the scales at 1.58kg (3.48 pounds). The Book 9 Plus and Lite will launch globally in Q3, but in the meantime we've got a hands-on post on ready for your perusal.%Gallery-191947% Mat Smith contributed to this report.
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.
Samsung makes first PCIe-based SSD for Ultrabooks, we see one likely customer
Solid-state drives are so speedy these days that even a SATA interface might not have the bandwidth to cope. It's a good thing that Samsung has started mass-producing the first PCI Express-based SSDs for Ultrabooks, then. The new XP941 series uses PCIe's wider data path to read at nearly 1.4GB/s -- that's 2.5 times faster than the quickest SATA SSDs, and nimble enough to move 500GB in six minutes. It also ships in a tinier M.2 format that makes past card-based SSDs look gargantuan, even when there's up to 512GB of storage. Samsung hasn't named laptop makers receiving the XP941, although it doesn't take strong deductive skills to spot one of the (probable) first customers. When Apple is shipping a new 13-inch MacBook Air that just happens to use a very similar PCIe SSD from Samsung, there's likely more than coincidence at work.
