Lenovo ThinkPad Yoga

sounds like a good tip I will take a look at the surface pro pen prices here in Sweden, thanks.

 

Right, the active protection basically tells the HDD to stop spinning, so no reading/writing while protection is active.

Its great for protecting against drops or sudden bumps, but I wonder how it'll work with the TPY in tablet mode.
For a normal laptop, its usually sitting on a table or lap, some kind of stable surface. And you're usually not moving around while using it (except for when youre in a moving vehicle, which is a different case).
But think about how you usually hold and use tablets :\
It wont be fun if you have to stand perfectly still to use the TPY when in tablet mode lol.

 

Our vendor has informed us that we will not be able to receive any Thinkpad Yoga's until sometime in January due to a very large order already being in place. This forces us to have to purchase the Y2P model due to timing issues. Oh well, hoping that the IdeaPad model will last for the time frame we need them to.

 

Oh yes, the e-coupons were available pretty much right away. But, I'm referring to the prices that Best Buy was offering. Even with the e-coupons, it could not beat the prices Best Buy had for equivalent variants. I would also be happy with that variant if it comes out to be under the 1500 mark tax included.

 

If Bestbuy offers a good price, perhaps I will go with Bestbuy then, so I would not need to wait for about 30 days to receive the device.

 

I've been reading about big problems with the Yoga 2 Pro's screen: The color yellow is wrong, and the way to fix it is adjust power management settings, but it kills the battery.

I read part of a big thread about it yesterday on Lenovo's support forums. Seems a LOT of people have the problem. It may not even be fixable. So this notebook would be bad for any color-critical application.

http://forums.lenovo.com/t5/Idea-Wi...oga-2-Pro-13-Yellow-Color-Issues/td-p/1270427

Very unfortunate, because it seems really good otherwise.

 

This is a special issue of the Yoga 2 Pro, because the screen Samsung screen Lenovo uses for the Yoga 2 Pro has a pen-tile matrix with extra white sub-pixels, which makes the yellows look a bit greyish (as stated by Lenovo there). This pen-tile is used because the screen has a very high resolution.

The ThinkPad Yoga won´t suffer the same fate, as its FHD screen should use a normal RGB-pixel-matrix.

 

Not sure if you're in the wrong thread. The ThinkPad Yoga will have a standard screen like many other lenovo laptops and thus will not suffer the same problem.

 

"Right, the active protection basically tells the HDD to stop spinning, so no reading/writing while protection is active.

Its great for protecting against drops or sudden bumps, but I wonder how it'll work with the TPY in tablet mode.
For a normal laptop, its usually sitting on a table or lap, some kind of stable surface. And you're usually not moving around while using it (except for when youre in a moving vehicle, which is a different case).
But think about how you usually hold and use tablets :\
It wont be fun if you have to stand perfectly still to use the TPY when in tablet mode lol.""

My last fujitsu tablet had that feature with a HDD; 7 years later it's flawless. Many drops. I was able to walk around; casual movements did not trigger the HDD protection - data rates were stable. I'm sure in the intervening years the rule sets for inferred positional relationships (determining a drop vs. a causal repositioning) and movement would work that much better I would imagine. They have to have some well thought out threshold for acceleration.

Mind you this statement was pre-SSD's. I wouldn't get a machine without now. So much more durable. Photos, music, videos are stored remotely in the cloud - fabulous.

 

you can change the threshold level for the hdd protection. So it will ignore minor movements. But personally i think you should use a SSD if you have tablet.

I am getting the Thinkpad Yoga next Monday or Tuesday, will post up the review when i get it.

 

Hello everybody, perhaps someone can answer my question here. I've called Lenovo Support who directed me to sales, sales said they had no information.

Does anyone know if the retail pre-customized version will have the digitizer? Model Number: 20CD0033US

Which can be found here: Lenovo ThinkPad Yoga Touchscreen 2-in-1, Core i7 - Microsoft Store

Thank you for the help.

 

I spoke to the Microsoft Chat rep and they said that the one they offer on their site doesn't come with the digitizer.

 

Do you mean you're getting a pre-release review model or you're buying it and expecting it to come in by next week?

 

I should have clarified this in my original post, I apologize for having not included this.

I spoke with chat on two occasions, one rep said it does the other said it does not. Even on their store page it shows the device being used with the pen, so I'm not sure what to believe coming from them.

 

I get the preview model.

 

That's great. I look forward to your thoughts and observations of it.

 

Hi guys
I just found this from BB

THINKPAD YOGA 20CD0033US /12.5IN - 20CD0033US - Best Buy For Business

 

Fry's also has it as well as a bunch of other places when you plug it into a search engine.

• Windows 8.1
• Intel Core™ i7-4500U
• Intel HD Graphics 4400
• 8GB PC3-12800 DDR3L SDRAM
• 256GB SSD SATA
• 10-finger multitouch display
• 12.5" FHD IPS (1920 x 1080) 400 nits
• 10-finger multitouch display
• FHD available with option of combined Wacom digitizer pen and Anti-glare coating
• 2 x USB 3.0 (one Powered)
• Audio/Mic Combo
• OneLink Dock
• Mini HDMI
• 4-in-1 card reader
• VGA and RJ45 via OneLink Dock
• Dolby Home Theater® v4
• Enhanced audio for VOIP
• Intel® Wireless-N 7260 2 x 2 11 BGN+BT
• Intel® Dual Band Wireless-11 AC 7260 2 x 2 +BT
• Patented Lift ‘n’ Lock backlit Keyboard
• Enable RJ45 using dongle or OneLink Dock
• Bluetooth Yes
• Battery Up to 8 hours
• Warranty 1 Year Limited

 

My unit has just arrived in Melbourne at the UPS depot. Will get it on Monday, i am excited, never got a preview model so early.

 

is anyone an old yoga user and now used the yoga 2 pro. The CPU speed doesn't matter to me, the yoga was plenty fast for me, I want to upgrade but I've had my yoga for a short time and am on the fence about shelling out another $1.3k just to gain some resolution.

 

Would anyone know if a standard 2.5 hard drive is installed in there? And at what height, 9.5mm, 7mm? I need all my 600GB+ files in there, so thinking about upgrading the HDD myself. Along with a 128GB M2 for the OS, this would be perfect.

 

According to the specs found here:

RTPW1230_ThinkPad_YogaUltrabook

It can accept a 2.5 inch HDD/SSD, (7mm and 9mm) is supported.

 

Isn't the M2 in the TPY just used for caching an HDD?

 

Yes and no, I believe that if you choose the HDD route, it does come with a M2 16 gb SSD for caching. I've read that if you do not pair an HDD to the M2, it will just be treated as another hard drive. I cannot be 100% certain. As long as you don't plan to shake or man handle your lappy, the HDD route should be viable; Lenovo also has built in HDD protection. But, if you plan to manhandle it, a SSD would be the better option, so long as the smaller capacity is sufficient for your purposes.

 

Wrong thread. This is the Thinkpad Yoga thread, not the Ideapad Yoga 2 Pro thread.

 

This is pretty exciting. The prices are better than what I expected. I just hope I can get an i5 model with 256gb SSD and 8gb of RAM because it seems this configuration is only available for the i7 model

 

Can anyone direct me or explain to me what would be better for a school/writing/photoshop oriented device. I've been going through a plethora of different makes and models, but due to my precise need for digitizer for neat notes, I've come down to four.

1. ThinkPad Yoga
2. Fujitsu T904
3. Microsoft Surface Pro 2
4. Sony Vaio Flip Multi Flip < YOU TOO EXPENSIVE, DAWG.

Could anyone suggest to me which of these would work well with what I plan? The ThinkPad is currently raining king on my watch list.

 

I hope you can use both the M2 and the HDD as separate drives as seen by the OS.

I did some digging and looks like the msata/m2 cache is enabled in Windows via the Lenovo ExpressCache software ( ExpressCache software is not installed on ThinkPad and ThinkPad Edge systems with mSATA SSD device.). So if BIOS can see and boot off the M2, then we can use it as the Windows boot drive.

 

SO I got the ThinkPad Yoga Today.

Here is a brief rundown of initial experience.

Keyboard

The key travel is about half as much as the T430s/T430/T530 etc, so there is definitely some getting use to. The feel is pretty good for such a short travel keyboard.

The popup keyboard protection when in tablet mode is interesting, but not sure I find it completely necessary. I didn't mind the IdeaPad Yoga that I had before.

Trackpoint

Same as the T431s/T440s/X1 Helix, not my favourite and definitely takes some time to get use to it.

TrackPad

Frosted glass finish, very good feel to it.

Palmrest

Large and comfortable, also doesn't get hot. There is no squeaks when you push on it, there is a great quality feel to it.

Screen

The model they sent me is the HD 1366x768 IPS model with no Wacom digitiser. I initially thought the 1366x768 LCD was FHD, since there was NO pixelisation that I commonly see on my X220 and X230 IPS LCD with HD resolution. Also, the HD screen is very bright and there is no perceivable ghosting that plagued some of the X2x0 HD IPS LCD.

Although I am very interested in what the FHD LCD with Digitiser feels like.

Touch

Very responsive. The experience is very fluid, unlike the ThinkPad Twist that I had. The touch experience is good as the Surface Pro and Pro 2 that I have.

Hinge

Sturdy and made of same alloy material. The folding action is fluid and crisp. Very good.

I will post up more when I get to know the Yoga Tablet a bit more.

 

You thinking on getting the digitizer version too?

Cant wait for some reviews regarding screen/pen/pressure/accuracy to pop up!

 

Does the key travel feel same as the X240's?

And I'm very curious about the reason why TPY is heavier than X240 ???

I'm very happy with your review. :-D please try TPY much more~

 

lead_org:

Thanks. Please comment more. Yoga 1 has a small keyboard, does TP yoga has the same problem? Does it have the same tent mood that yoga 1 has?

 

Lead_org -

I had really hoped that you would receive a better equiped TPY - no diditizer, no FHD. This leaves me with a bit of a dilemma. With only a few days left in my Y2P trial period, is this laptop worth dumping the Y2P for? Other than the known product line differences, I do not know if there is enough, here to compare. Do the FHD and digitizer make it worth the xtra weight and thickness? The keyboard doesn't.

What to do.

 

Lead_Org, I highly appreciate your initial impressions. You answered a lot of the questions I had on my mind that I would have no way of finding out otherwise. I'm really glad to see that the touch response is comparable to the Surface Pro which I also have. I'm also glad the screen looks decent even at just 1366x768 because I've found some lenovo screens to be sub par like the Carbon x1 that looks really grainy to my eyes.

If you have any time I'd really appreciate if you could look into these questions for me since I probably won't get to try one in person before I buy:

1. Keyboard - How does the keyboard feel/travel compare to the ThinkPad Twist keyboard?

2. Trackpad - How do you find the new fully clickable trackpad that they are starting to put on all their devices? I've never tried it yet

3. Heat - How do you find the heat on the bottom of the device under heavy use?

4. Screen - How far is the actual screen from the top piece of gorilla glass? On the Surface Pro, there is practically no space at all because the screen is optically bonded to the glass. How about with the TP Yoga? Also how does the matte gorilla glass feel on your fingers?

5. Any impressions on battery life?

6. Build - Any flex in the body/lid? Does it feel sturdy and can take a beating?

7. Wifi / Bluetooth / NFC - How do these 3 components function? Any dropped signal/connection? High download/upload speeds?

I know this is a lot. If you only have time to answer a few of these questions, I'd still be really grateful. Thanks again!

 

Thanks for keeping your word and the quick review. Too bad about it not being the FHD with a digitizer. How is your feeling on the weight? How is the responsiveness of the trackpad? After tinkering around with it, would you consider purchasing a TPY?

 

James, I think it really depends on you. Do you need the digitizer? I'm sure the digitizer will work just as good as any other wacom device. Also, Lead_org says the 1366x768 screen looks great, but I could imagine the FHD would be stunning. I personally don't mind the extra weight and thickness as the weight is only half a pound more which is like adding a touch cover to a surface pro. The thickness is just an aesthetic issue which I am not really concerned with. At this point you probably have enough information to make a decision. I doubt Lead_org getting a higher model would help you much. Its just a matter of you weighing everything and making up your mind

 

I do not doubt that the FHD screen will be more than adequate and no, I do not 'need' the digitizer. Would it be nice to have? Yes. I do not expect that, however good the FHD screed ends up being, it will offer the sizzle that the Y2P screen gives. Of course It won't have the minor issues either.

My travel experience has been that a half pound here and a half pound there and before you know it you are a pack mule in an airport. It remains to be seen if a fully equiped TPY comes in at three and a half pounds.

I would really like for the TPY to be a great machine and it may be. I have been a thinkpad believer for many years. The question that remains is whether or not the price adder for the added features makes it a worthwhile alternative to the Y2P. For what some of us need for it to do, maybe, maybe not.

 

The ThinkPad Yoga is probably heavy due to the keyboard's fancy lock out mechanism, there is a special metal bracket that supports the keyboard and makes it do all the fancy stuffs. Also, the hinge is pretty big on the ThinkPad Yoga, which i guess would add weight.

The ThinkPad Yoga keyboard's key width is about 15.66 mm, and the ThinkPad X1C key width is around 16.21 mm. So there is a size reduction in the keys width.

IT has all the modes that IdeaPad Yoga has.

My friend has a Yoga 2 Pro that he bought over from the USA, i have to say that i am impressed with the quality, and would consider getting one when i travel to US next year Or ask someone to bring me a unit. Digitiser is great, but i find that i am not really using it all that much nowadays, since i am not writing much notes, and i have a Surface Pro/TPT2 with me that has the feature. It really depends on the personal usage scenario i guess.

==============================================


1. Keyboard - How does the keyboard feel/travel compare to the ThinkPad Twist keyboard?

ThinkPad Twist kb has more key travel

2. Trackpad - How do you find the new fully clickable trackpad that they are starting to put on all their devices? I've never tried it yet

TrackPad is great, but the TrackPoint takes lot of getting use to. Your old way of using TrackPoint won't work with the new integrated trackpoint/trackpad design

3. Heat - How do you find the heat on the bottom of the device under heavy use?

There is very little of it during idling. I have not yet put it through the paces with synthetic benchmark. But the ULT CPU used in the Yoga should produce very little heat.

But to note, the heatpipe on the heatsink is very thin, around 2 to 3 mm thick.

ThinkPad Yoga heat pipe. | Flickr - Photo Sharing!

4. Screen - How far is the actual screen from the top piece of gorilla glass? On the Surface Pro, there is practically no space at all because the screen is optically bonded to the glass. How about with the TP Yoga? Also how does the matte gorilla glass feel on your fingers?

The space between the gorilla glass and the LCD is very small, comparable to the Surface Pro from what i can see using my naked eye. I am not sure the glass is bonded to the LCD or not, don't have the information available. But i love the screen, even if the resolution is HD, because it looks great.

The screen finish is not matte, it is glossy mirror finish like the Surface Pro.

5. Any impressions on battery life?

Battery life is about 5 hrs from my first use, so mix of video watching and web surfing with 70% brightness on power saver mode. Not the best.

6. Build - Any flex in the body/lid? Does it feel sturdy and can take a beating?

The entire bottom chassis is made of magnesium, so definitely no flex there. The top screen case is made of CFRP, there is flex if you try to bend it.

ThinkPad Yoga bottom access panel (magnesium alloy) | Flickr - Photo Sharing!
ThinkPad Yoga internal battery removed | Flickr - Photo Sharing!

7. Wifi / Bluetooth / NFC - How do these 3 components function? Any dropped signal/connection? High download/upload speeds?

My machine doesn't have NFC. But the WIFI and Bluetooth functions great, no dropped signal, and great wireless reception. My WIFI is N model, not the AC model.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

After using this Yoga ThinkPad, i have to say that i really love it. I won't purchase it, because the model they sent me i can keep.

If i am not getting the one with digitiser, i would consider the Yoga 2 Pro with the QHD to be a better purchase.

 

Lead_org, again I appreciate your in depth answers along with the pictures and your response was quite prompt. The battery life seems quite concerning since I plan to get the i5 with full HD panel, which would bring the battery life even lower. I might just have to wait for reviews and battery run down tests before I make the plunge to buy. I am also concerned that the keyboard has even less travel than the TP Twist. Do you still find that the keyboard is accurate and pleasant to type on? Otherwise everything else sounds great

*Also, it might be great if you posted the full specs of your model that you received

 

Lead_org -

Thanks!

 

How about the fan noise? And why the battery life is so short? Vaio Flip gets about 7 hours of battery life whereas it is labeled to be about 5 hours on Sony's website.

 

And do you have any news about the model with digitizer? When will it be released according to your best knowledge?
I highly appreciate your time! Your review is very helpful as well!

 

Thanks for answering this! I've tried using the digitizer pen on the x220T and found it was kind of distracting to use because there is a 3-4mm space between the glass, where the pen touches, and the screen. I'm really interested to know whether this distance is minimized in the digitizer model of the TPY (similar to the Surface Pro 2). Does anyone know more about this?

 

Guys check closely tomorrow on the Lenovo website. According to the Lenovo live chat, it should be available for purchase tomorrow (November 12)

 

I've also been tracking the Fry's site and calling their stores the past couple weeks. Today my efforts came to some fruition as they finally received a few of these in stock.

I got the chance to unpack it with an another curious rep, looked at it up close and turned it on, but I ultimately didn't buy this model as I want a digitizer:

* The Fry's i7 model does *not* come with a stylus (nor installed grid) --- the stylus position is capped with what looks like, but actually isn't, a stylus. Other Wacom digitizers available in-store (including the Surface Pro 1/2 stylii) also did not work with the screen. Looks like those models will need to be custom-ordered.

* The laptop was 1080p on the screen -- and the yellow looked like yellow (... coming from a former Y2P owner).

* I didn't like the keyboard as much as I like the Y2P keyboard -- travel/depth was fine, but the Fn key in the bottom left corner next to the CTRL was irksome in typing and shortcuts. Yes, I probably could have gotten used to it.

* The border on the screen was noticeable but not terrible in my opinion. The overall size and form factor felt nice and slim (thicker than Y2P sure, but just felt compact -- no complaints on this category).

* It certainly felt zippy -- it also seemed to have fewer Lenovo companion apps installed than the Y2P.

 

This is a little disheartening. On the flip side, I know that the model offered by Best Buy and Microsoft also do not have digitizers as well. They have the same product number as the one Frys has. I can always be hopeful, but seems like I'm going to end up ordering the model I want via Lenovo. But still, if by the sweet chance I hope some local store will carry a digitizer variant ***fingers crossed***.

 

TPY Now avain in Australia (today being the 12th), yeeha! Prices are what I had expected... though will be interesting to compare with US Prices, I've just specced up;

System components;
Intel Core i5-4200U Processor (3MB Cache, up to 2.60GHz)
Windows 8.1 64 bit
12.5“ FHD IPS (1920 x 1080), 10-finger Multitouch Display with combined WACOM digitiser pen
8GB memory on-board
TrackPoint® and 5-button clickpad
256GB SSD SATA3 eDrive
Integrated Li-Polymer 8-cell (47Wh)
Intel® Wireless-N 7260 (2X2, 802.11b/g/n) with Bluetooth 4.0

Services;
3 years Depot

comes in @ $2110 AU.. think I might have to wait for a special to bring it down at least 10%...

 

According to the specs, anti-glare panel only comes with the digitizer option. Pity, since I am not at all interested in the digitizer, but I would highly appreciate an anti-glare display.

Anyone with previous experience of ThinkPads wrt glossy vs. anti-glare, i.e. is there a big difference? And is there a big difference between an anti-glare panel vs. fitting an adhesive anti-glare screen protector onto a glossy panel?

 

So if I am calculating right, you add $100 for an upgrade to an i7 processor and that would make the price about $2100 US? How much of that is warranty?

 

Would that go live at midnight Eastern time in the US or sometime later in the day?