CES: Lenovo’s IdeaPad ‘Yoga’ one flexible hybrid
There weren’t too many tablets on display at the 2012 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas – but at least there were some innovative twists on the form factor.
If 2011 was the year of the tablet, 2012 might be the year of the ultrabook.
At least this is the sentiment from the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, where every major computer manufacturer showed off its super thin ultrabooks this past week — compared to last year’s heavy focus on tablets.
But those looking for a cross between the two form factors would appreciate Lenovo’s IdeaPad Yoga, a prototype hybrid that can transform between four different usage modes: Open it like a laptop to type, fold back the keyboard on the dual-hinge to use it like a tablet or prop it up as a stand or “tent” to watch a video, perhaps (see photos below).
We’ve seen “convertible PCs” in the past, sure, but this is one of the most versatile ones to date.
Powered by an early version of Windows 8, the 13.3-inch, 3.1-pound Yoga does feel a little odd with the folded keyboard under your fingertips – maybe it’s just a matter of getting used to it – but at least you won’t have to worry about accidentally typing as the keyboard is deactivated in this mode.
Lenovo says the Yoga should be out in the second half of the year, starting at $1,199. But before you start saving, remember many CES products never make it to retail at all – such as last year’s impressive IdeaPad U1 Hybrid.
Lenovo is not getting it. Going to Windows 8 it not the way to go for any device that is at least in part a tablet.
Microsoft is not going to make it in the business users market.. Toys and home entertainment…that is where they will survive.
The tide has turned on software… we are ebbing into the cloud… That is where it is happening now…
The budget conscious don’t even need Microsoft office anymore…
Where Microsoft is left now is with a bunch of companies who don’t want to spend the money do drop Microsoft Office… YET! …..
My company is so very close to being able to drop Microsoft all together… Oddly it is local software that has to run on our computers that is keeping us in MS World… that will change… as soon as that software will run in the clouds.. we will be done with MS>>>
The world is converging up in the sky… and we don’t need MS Windows or MS office up there.
I am still waiting for the right Android device along the lines of Android on the above mentioned Lenovo.
Thats is my 3.5 cents worth… hey… we still have inflation.
I work at an aerospace design company.
Sending our protected documents and designs into a ‘cloud’ is pretty much a breach of national security and customers wouldn’t like that too much to know their data is ‘somewhere in a cloud’ off on some dude’s server, and not in the next room on our servers.
We just got a new photo copier becuase it kept a copy of everything that was sent to it. Companies with important info will never be in the clouds.
Some companies will never be rid of MS, it just works too well.
Maybe your company will drop Microsoft but don’t forget Microsoft Windows 7 is the fastest and best selling OS ever and also are developing there own cloud. See below:
http://techcrunch.com/2011/09/13/microsoft-sold-450-million-copies-of-windows-7/
Today, Microsoft has announced quite the milestone for Windows 7: since its launch in October 2009, a full 450 million licenses have been sold. The numbers are somehow more impressive when broken down; just a hair over 650,000 licenses are sold each day.
Sales of Windows 7 have been on the upswing over the past two months to boot; it seems all that back-to-school prep has given Windows 7 a kick in the pants. The folks in Redmond are fond of calling Windows 7 “the fastest selling version of Windows ever,” and it turns out the claim may not just be a load of marketing fluff.
Microsoft is going to be around for awhile and Windows 8 with “Metro Apps” on ARM will be very exciting. Android (Google) has done amazing things in a short time but I would not kick a Big Dog when they are down. The next 5 years in Tech are going to be very exciting.
Nice Response.
I agree Michael. To all the Bashers and Haters, please understand that there is no perfect solution and that the world is ever evolving. A few individuals talked about Glass smearing or scratching or breaking when dropped on a write up about HP’s new Ultrabook, I’m sure it was considered prior to design guys. And if any of those guys ever looked at the back of the iPhone 4 (which I’m using to write this) I’m sure it’s not plastic.
I don’t want to rant… But companies innovate, not respond to what is best selling previously. Sure they would like to set the trend, but what takes them to the next level is having enough “balls” to get their ideas out there for people who may need it. One amazing example is how blind people can easily communicate using the iPhone or iPod Touch. I doubt Apple designed that for Market share or Sales purposes primarily. They thought of utility and communication. They wanted to innovate with a product that is useful to many already, and give function for those who have a disability.
Who’s better? Who cares! We have our opinions I agree. But at the end of the day, some fail some gain, but everyone is happy. BTW, yeah, know your facts first Dan White.
Finally
someone who gets it,a touch pad that has a built in keyboard
that is how it should have been done from the start. What clousd are you on
Apple is the toy market as least this I could use at work
How can you go into the cloud with your company info. The biggest problem with anything important going into the cloud is the fact that most companies that do are based in the US. That gives the US government the right to go through every bit of info you have on the cloud including the info you have on your clients. I was on the cloud, but came off of it for that very reason. How could I expose my client like that? I can’t.
The computer is nice but I cannot see me putting a computer on its edge like that, but if I saw it in person and it worked well maybe I would, but would like to see it come in under 1000 dollars.
Wait for the next tablet design and let the high price for this pass for now..