LAS VEGAS - At CES this week, Lenovo announced several new Windows 8.1 PCs, including an ultralight 14-inch ultrabook and updates to existing innovative designs like the Yoga and Miix lines.
These systems are mostly portable, but the C560 touch-screen all-in-one desktop shows that major PC makers like Lenovo are still committed to innovative and traditional form factors.
The Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon is the updated version of Lenovo's premium ultrabook, now in its third generation. Like previous models, the X1 Carbon uses carbon fiber in its construction for strength without the weight of aluminum and magnesium, resulting in a very light 2.8-pound ultrabook. The new version comes in with a 14-inch screen, optional 4G connectivity, and a claimed nine-hour battery life. With connectivity to Lenovo's new OneLink Pro Dock, the X1 Carbon becomes a fully connected desktop with a one-plug link to power, USB, DisplayPort, DVI, and Ethernet. The ThinkPad X1 Carbon will be available later in January, and will start at $1,299. The OneLink Pro Dock is $179.
Lenovo's ThinkPad 8 (pictured) is an 8.3-inch Windows 8.1 tablet with an Intel Bay Trail quad-core processor, up to 128GB SSD storage, microUSB 3.0, and optional LTE networking. The tablet's 8.3-inch touch display has a 1,920-by-1,200 resolution display, so it's capable of displaying 1080p HD content and large spreadsheets equally well. The ThinkPad 8 can be equipped with an optional keyboard base for traditional desktop computing, or clip on the optional Quickshot Cover that will put the ThinkPad 8 in Tent Mode, similar to Lenovo's Yoga models. The ThinkPad 8 convertible tablet will range from $399 to $429, and will also be available in late January.
Lenovo updated its Yoga line as the Lenovo Yoga 2. The Yoga 2 comes in two models; 11 and 13 inches. Both have the full range of motion that previous models had, with Laptop, Stand, Tent, and Tablet modes. The 11-inch model is 0.67-inches thin with a 2.9-pound system weight, and features Intel Pentium processors. The 13-inch model is just a smidge thicker at 0.68 inches and weighs in at 3.5 pounds. The 13-inch Yoga 2 has a Full HD screen (1,920-by-1,080 resolution), fourth-generation Intel Core i5 processor, and SSHD option. The Yoga 2 11-inch starts at $529 and is available later in January. The Yoga 2 13-inch starts at $999 and will be available in February.
The Flex 14D and Flex 15D are AMD-powered versions of the IdeaPad Flex 14 and 15 laptops introduced last year. The Flex 14D and 15D also rotate into Laptop and Stand mode, but lack the Tent and Tablet modes of the Yoga 2 line. Both Flex models feature AMD A6 quad-core processors and AMD Radeon HD graphics. The Flex 14D and 15D both start at $499 and are available now.
The Lenovo Miix 2 convertible laptop comes in two sizes: an ultraportable 10-inch and a performance 11-inch model. Both Miix 2 convertibles are detachable tablets with keyboard bases. Like the Lenovo ThinkPad Helix, the Miix 2 tablet portion can be carried around alone, clipped into the base in laptop mode, or flipped around and connected in Stand mode. The 10-inch Miix 2 features an Intel Atom processor, 10-inch 1,920-by-1,200 touch screen, up to 128GB SSD, and all-day battery life. The 13-inch model also has a 1,920-by-1,200 screen (albeit larger), but comes with a fourth-generation Intel Core i5 processor, and up to 256GB SSD. Both Miix 2 models come with a plethora of ports on the tablet and keyboard base, including SD card reader, micro USB, USB 2.0, micro SD, and mini-HDMI. The Miix 2 10-inch starts at $499 in March, with the Miix 2 11-inch at $699 in April. More
Lenovo Product News
