Ever because Apple's slates, like the iPad Air, invaded the enterprise scene, Microsoft and PGEgaHJlZj0iaHR0cDovL2hvc3RpbmdraXRhLmNvbQ0iIHRhcmdldD0iX2JsYW5rIiByZWw9Im5vZm9sbG93Ij5Hb29nbGUgPC9hPg==alike have scrambled to gobble what chunks of the BYOD (Bring Your Personal Device) pie they can. The latest foe for the mighty iPad looks to be the most worthy in a while : the Lenovo ThinkPad 10.
This beefy, 10.1-inch Windows 8.1 tablet is basically an all-grown-up version of the Lenovo ThinkPad eight. Through a preview occasion in New York, I was capable to play around with the device &ndash not to mention its myriad accessories &ndash for a couple of minutes. When short, it was adequate time to get a really feel for the aluminum and Gorilla Glass-clad pad and what it really is all about.
With a somewhat goofy, asymmetrical frame, the ThinkPad ten is however another laptop-tablet hybrid device, even though this time with a tablet- initial design. At least the goofy style ID has a purpose : that flat bottom has several docking accessories to match to enable a number of use instances.
Covered in circumstances (and docks)
Lenovo wants the ThinkPad ten to present customers as versatile a organization tablet option as attainable, therefore a whopping 5 accessories to accompany the device. Whilst fully capable of ten finger multi-point touch control, Lenovo delivers the Digitizer Pen for stylus manage.
And if you wanted a case, how about two? Very first up is the stiff and functional Touchcase, similar to Microsoft's touch- based Touch Cover. However, this rendition of the normally -frustrating touch keyboard design has clear delineations in between keys and a soft touch surface for supposedly simpler typing. (I wasn't able to test this.)
Subsequent is the Quickshot Cover, as observed on the ThinkPad eight. This cover is no various than what is identified shacking up with this tablet's tinier cousin. The exact same smaller flap is present and accounted for, and serves the similar objective : flip the flap to instantaneously activate the camera. You know, for all those tablet pictures you'll be taking &ndash hey at least it works, and an 8 -MP shooter with auto focus and flash is absolutely nothing to sneeze at.
Finally, you have the ThinkPad 10 dock, which is the same as all Lenovo tablet docks (a charging station replete with USB 3., HDMI and Ethernet ports), and the Ultrabook Keyboard. As the name implies, this is a additional mechanical keyboard dock with two fixed slots for the ThinkPad ten to fit inside. One particular delivers the obvious laptop mode, whilst the other has the screen about-face for a stand mode. I'm not positive what business application that has other than displaying off possibly time will inform.
Hot hardware inside and out
Even though versatility by way of gobs of accessories may well set the ThinkPad ten apart in a lot more obvious approaches, it's what is on the inside that counts. And behind that 1920 x 1080 IPS touchscreen rests some powerful innards to back it up.
Aside from a quad-core Intel Atom Z3795 processor, the ThinkPad 10 comes packing up to 4GB of DDR3 RAM and up to 128GB eMMC flash storage. Up front, you are searching at a 2 -MP webcam with 720p video capability to compliment that higher -resolution snapper about back.
In terms of connectivity, Lenovo equipped this slate with micro HDMI, USB 2. and a microSD card reader in addition to 802.11 a/b/g/n Wi-Fi. So, while this is no iPad Air in terms of sharpness or wireless speed, it really is far additional expandable. Plus, Lenovo promises the identical 10 hours of battery life, but we'll be the judge of that.
Early verdict
From purely a hardware and design perspective, the Lenovo ThinkPad ten impresses with an intense spec sheet and premium construct materials. But I'd be remiss not to mention how awkward that style felt in my hands, in particular in portrait mode.
I get it: the device is shaped to fit the umpteen accessories that Lenovo will sell alongside it. But couldn't these instances and docks had been molded to match a a lot more curvaceous tablet style ? This brings me to the ultimate hurdle facing the ThinkPad 10.
Starting at $599 (about £355, AU$639), the ThinkPad 10 is not a low-cost tablet by any means, nor should it be. But those accessories, with rates ranging from $59 ( around £34, AU$63) to $129 (about £76, AU$137), would drive this tablet's value through the roof if you want the device's full functionality. (Plus, this numerous items could spell "nightmare" for the IT buyer that already has sufficient to worry about.)
The Lenovo ThinkPad 10 is a finely designed tablet with a special signifies of infiltrating the small business marketplace. But will an abundance of accessories be also much for the average employee's shoulder bag? Keep tuned for our complete critique.
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