Lenovo ThinkPad Yoga

Lenovo's ThinkPad Yoga has a keyboard that flattens when you use it in tablet mode (hands-on)

Yoga with active digitizer in a ThinkPad boots

 

I like it a lot more than the X240. I remember the rumor of a Thinkpad version of the Yoga from months ago and it is finally here.

 

It looks like the successor of the X230t, as no X240t has been announced ?

 

I like the look of the Thinkpad Yoga as well.

 

The keyboards receding while in tablet mode seems like a great feature.

 

Some specs:

• 12.5" HD (1366) or FHD (1920) screen w/ Gorilla Glass and 10-finger multitouch
• Optional Wacom Integrated digitizer
• Optional NFC
• Up to 8 Hours of battery life
• Up to Haswell Core i7
• Up to 8GB Ram
• Backlit Shift n Lock Keyboard
• OneLink Technology suppot (dock)
• Up to 1TB HDD or 256GB SSD

 

I also like the Yoga 2 Pro with the ultra high resolution, but it seems to be positioned more as a consumer model. With a higher resolution QHD display in the business ThinkPad Yoga, that would be icing on the cake.

 

If it's a built like a proper Thinkpad, this looks like a wonderful model. Pen input too? I wished for this product not long ago.

 

Man, if they could get this in the sub 3lb range, I'd be all over it... I bet that gimmicky key locking mechanism is taking up my extra 0.5lbs!

 

At that size/weight, I hoped they could keep the VGA and Ethernet ports...yes I realize most of you won't want these, but I use them a lot and get tired of carrying adapters.

 

Yeah, I was thinking of returning my Sony Duo to wait for this one, but the weight of 3.5 lbs is kind of crazy.

Lenovo ThinkPad Yoga is a flexible Windows 8 convertible for business - Liliputing

 

Choosing between this and the New Vaio Flip 13 is going to be a hard decision. they each have their PRO's and CON's.

 

Anyone know if we can use the older docking stations that were compatible with the X220 and X230? We've got two of those in our household.

Besides build and the roll cage, how else is this superior to the Yoga 2? I thought the Sony Flip PC was cool and then Lenovo comes up with the Yoga 2 and this Thinkpad Yoga.

Thanks in advance.

 

Namely? [not solely directed to you but it would help if people can enumerate the pros and cons for the two] What takes the Yoga 2 out of contention? That too seems appealing.

Wacom digitizer will trump the optional N-Trig digitizer on the Sony, correct?

Pricing wise, I know a Lenovo purchase has to be timed to coincide with Lenovo sales, haha.

 

Your VGA habits need to stop, you're bringing the rest of the world down

The only difference between the ThinkPad Yoga and IdeaPad Yoga Pro seems to be that the ThinkPad Yoga has a trackpoint and lock-down keys, but literally everything else is crappier (probably reflected in the prices, but still). I also prefer the sleek design of the Yoga pro, sure it's like a black MBP, but that simplicity isn't entirely bad in my book..I just might tempt myself into trying one out.

 

Same here, and while the tendency is to replace all wired networks with high speed wifi and also get rid of the vga projectors, many businesses still use those. Ethernet will still be a must for network guys and I don't like to carry an extra cable and take up one additional usb port (usb to serial is enough of a nuisance).

 

What takes the Yoga Pro 13 out of the conversation is the lack on an active digitizer which most people who are considering these two devices want. Other then that it is also a great device.

Here is my list of Pros and Cons:

Pros to Thinkpad Yoga

• Integrated Wacom Pen which you can store in the machine
• Flush screen
• Thinkpad keyboard/trackpad

CONS

• Worse color accurate display (most likely)
• Still have keyboard somewhat exposed
• No eraser on pen
• About 1 lb heavier

Pros to Vaio Flip

• Cover the keyboard
• Slightly more color accurate display (most likely)
• Lighter

CONS

• No place to store pen
• NTrig (even thought its getting much better fast)
• Screen not flush

Regarding NTrig, I have heard from news reports at IFA that Sony is working very closely with Adobe to get the pressure sensitivity working on Adobe CC, so the pressure sensitivity in Adobe might be solved very soon (I am not going to be using the machine for PS only just for note taking and light doodling). I have also read NTrig is superior these days for note tasking, as it has better accuracy near the bezel of the device. However you are correct right now if you need to heavily use adobe then Wacom is the only game in town until NTrig gets its adobe act together.

Regrading my statement about the screen, we know the 13" Vaio Flip is going to be using the same display as the Duo and Pro 13 (this has been noted at IFA). It is a great display if you look at testing number (96% sRGB) (73% Adobe RGB).

Now I am assuming the Thinkpad Yoga's IPS Display will be similar to the Helix's display (73% sRGB) (55% Adobe RGB) because of its similar size.

So if that is true the Flip will have a far better display.

This is just my take but like I said I don't think there is a wrong choice and they will both be great. I am not even sure on which one I will be getting but it will be one of these 2 devices.

 

Is the thinkpad yoga about as thick as the original yoga 13? If so, thats still pretty darn thin.

 

I'll be happy when the age of VGA is over. However, I do training for a living and corporate training rooms and conference rooms are still 95% VGA. Even when the projector can handle a better connection type, they usually only run VGA from the projector to the podium.

 

was waiting for the haswell thinkpad helix and disappointed that it won't come any soon. Now this one looks really interesting.

 

My only gripe with this machine is the fact that it's about the same size as the 13.3in Yoga 2 Pro, but has worse battery life(9 for the Pro while this gets a max of 8), while being thicker. Speaking of battery life, it seems like the i3 variant is the only one quoted getting 8 hours, while the i5 is a lower 6, and even lower for the i7. I am under the belief we can't option the i3 model with the 1080p display, which also is at a brighter 400nits, and of course comes with the all important Wacom digitizer. Could have been perfect in an i5 variant, with the digitizer, but need at least 9 hours(well I think I could have dealt with 8 hour compromise, specially for all you get).

I think the Thinkpad Yoga is only .4lbs heavier than the Yoga Pro. As for display, isn't the Helix a 11.6in display, so I have some hope that it would be a little better than that(maybe closer to the X230 or better yet Fujitsu T732 or HP Elitebook in this size).

 

Ivy bridge Helix has about 10 hours battery and this has been confirmed by many users. But Haswell Helix won't be here until early next year.

I will be surprised if i7 thinkpad Yoga only has 5 hours battery life, which will disqualify it as a ultrabook. My i7 X220 got around 7 hours with a brand new 6 cell battery.

 

I think 5 hours is for the i7 models with the 1080p display, but the PDF sheet just states battery life for each cpu, and no mention of the rest of the specs; therefore, it's a bit of an assumption since the optional 1080p display is100nits brighter vs the standard display.

 

Lenovo ThinkPad Yoga @ IFA 2013 - YouTube

Looks like there is semi-matte screen onboard. That's good, isn't it?

 

Depends, if it affect clarity and sharpness, then no.

 

I believe it's a matte screen covered by a layer of gorilla glass. The glare comes from the gorilla glass.

 

They got around this by using their OneLink cable. So the places where you have ethernet cables such as your home and office. You buy the OneLink dock which has (Speakers, Ethernet, Keyboard, Mouse, ExtHDD and Power inputs) which then feeds into your ThinkPad Yoga via one cable

To me this makes sense, as I really wouldn't ever need an ethernet at a random place, normally only at home or at the office.

 

The battery figures they gave were when playing a 1080p video stream on repeat with brightness at 75% according to a twitter post from their RandD guy that I saw earlier. The i5 will easily get around 9 hours of productivity like Word/Excel with some web browsing and the screen at half or lower brightness.

 

That's even worse for me: I would have to carry a VGA adapter, the OneLink cable, and the OneLink dock. VGA and ethernet are the two ports I do need at 'random' places (giving presentations at clients).

 

I think the OneLink dock has the cable built into it. So basically you just need to carry the OneLink dock with you, I don't think its going to be big or annoying to carry. Its not really a standard usecase for this device I guess.

VGA is slowly dying out anyways in place of HDMI even at offices nowadays, well some offices.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AVxiGZnxpz8

Watch from 4:00 thats when he starts looking at the Dock, not sure if its the exact same one but should be.

Technically would this and a USB Ethernet adapter solve your issues??

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Cable-Matters-Active-Female-Adapter/dp/B007TWXAVI

 

VGA is still very much alive - that's just the reality. Very few conference/training rooms I visit have anything except VGA, and I go to 15-20 different companies every year. I don't need VGA or Ethernet at home, just when visiting client sites so the dock solution is useless for me.

 

The adapter I posted and the suggestion of an USB Ethernet adapter of similar build type would solve your issues and allow you to have these kind of devices. Your probably going to carry the power cable with you anyways, two adapters would easily fit in a laptop bag.

 

Says on Lenovo's website, "Up to 7 hours with standard battery" with MobileMark 2007.

Do you have a link to that twitter post?

It annoys me how bad the battery life is, especially with a lower resolution display than the 2 Pro and the additional weight.

A quick question though. Do we have any word on what type of Haswell processors will be in the ThinkPad Yoga? U, M or HQ..?

I did notice the processor is not listed as a U series on the ThinkPad Yoga pdf on the Notebookreview press release. Versus the 2 Pro, which clearly mentions the U series. The reason I ask is this may explain the battery life difference.
It's either that, or the Lift and lock system meant a smaller battery.

 

I have a very small VGA adapter and an even smaller Ethernet adapter that I carry. Trading the tiny Ethernet adapter I use for a giant dock would not benefit me.

 

It does seem like Lenovo is getting more accurate with their battery life estimates though. This time 7 hours does sound like 7 hours (and not 5)

The Yoga will be using the U processor, as will all ultrabooks.

 

I found the twitter post!

https://twitter.com/nickonthemove/status/377005525453393920

 

Exactly. They're not giving extravagant claims, which is nice. - It also seems that the ThinkPad Yoga page has been updated since my post. They removed the mention of MobileMark 2007. The update even comes with some lovely typos. (They call it the Yoga 2 Pro in the Ultraportable field)

I think I got a bit ahead of myself there and forgot the ThinkPad Yoga was an Ultrabook.

Awesome! Thanks for the link.

9 hours of use is in line with the Yoga 2 Pro. But I'm sure this estimate will vary on how you use the device.

He also mentions 5.2 hours of video playback on the i7 models, 6h i5, 8h i3, which isn't too bad.

 

As long as the pricing in the UK doesn't go all stupid which if I am to go from previous devices Lenovo won't screw us UK lot over. Then this device shalll be mine at launch!

I love what I have seen, and I never use my Windows 8 Samsung ATIV SmartPC as a tablet anymore, and its almost useless as a laptop replacement due to the crap Hinge/Dock! So a laptop like this fits my need immensely!

Just need to figure out if the i7 is going to consume more then the i5 when doing normal tasks and also find out if they are going to be using the i7/i5 with the HD5 series GPU's..

 

First of all, I'd like to know it uses DUAL channel memory. That alone is >>HD 5000. It'll make up for the difference and more.

Perhaps the battery might be somewhat smaller on the Thinkpad Yoga compared to Yoga 2 Pro. Maybe a 47WHr?

 

There is one stick of ram, so it is not dual channel. As as for the i7 option, it will probably be the 4500U with HD4400. In my opinion I am waiting on the Broadwell version of this. That one will be great.

 

Are we sure about the RAM? Perhaps there's RAM soldered to the motherboard like the T440s (4GB Soldered + SO-DIMM) or Mackbook Air.

If half or all of the RAM is soldered to the MoBo it can be dual channel.

 

100% sure. The X240/X240s also are single channel with 1 stick.

 

Wow, that's really disappointing.
I had no idea the X240 is shipping with a single stick of RAM. Lenovo ruined a perfectly good laptop.

The X240 sets a pretty good example as to what we can expect from the ThinkPad Yoga, especially since they both cap out at 8GB of RAM.

 

Another think that worries me (except RAM cap, U version CPU, 4400GPU instead of 5000, so-so battery life) is hdmi out instead of display port.
Also onelink dock has only single hdmi. That can mean only 1 external display caped at 1080p when using dock.
If I won't be able to use docked 2560x1444 screen than it's finaly a deal braker for me.
So close lenovo... Why are you putting consumer hdmi in business line?

 

Another thing that worries me (except RAM cap, U version CPU, 4400GPU instead of 5000, so-so battery life) is hdmi out instead of display port.
Also onelink dock has only single hdmi. That can mean only 1 external display caped at 1080p when using dock.
If I won't be able to use docked 2560x1444 screen than it's finaly a deal braker for me.
So close lenovo... Why are you putting consumer hdmi in business line?

 

I also found it odd that thinkpad Yoga uses hmdi. However the latest version of hmdi can output to higher resolution than FHD.


But 8 GB Ram and ULV CPU should not be problems for my usage (heavy programming, music, reading pdf files).

 

The Yoga is technically a part of the ThinkPad S-Series, which also uses HDMI - a small business line.

 

I hope you are right. I found (In description of neweset intel 4400 drivers) that it supports higher resolution output via hdmi, also found somewhere that viewsonic vp2770 will accept this resolution via hdmi (but 8bit instead of 10bit), even though the manual says max is 1080p. So there is hope for laptop out to monitor, not sure about onelink dock - this may use 1.3a hdmi, but i couldn't find spec anywhere.

 

Why do you think it's technically S-Series?
I thought it's technically X Series, as it looks like it is successor to x230t (there will be no x240t).
Does it mean it will be using cheaper / less rugged chassis and components than X Series?

 

I have exactly the same usage Wouldn't mind more RAM and Cores when running 2-3 vm's docked, but can live with 8GB, ULV and single video out from the dock (as long as it supports 1440p) as this laptop won't be my main work machine (unlike my current elitebook).