Lenovo 8" Thinkpad: serious stuff

[postmortemIA]

Quadcore x86
1200P IPS
HDMI out
real OS: Windows 8.1
looks like tablet that you can use for everything, for $399

what do you think?

 

[Lyfer]

How is Lenovo build quality tho?

 

[postmortemIA]

not the best for sure, but since this device exists for now only in reviews, it's anybody's guess

 

[Roland00Address]

Why no waccom stylus option? I personally would never use it (I am being honest) unless it had a slide out area to store the stylus, but this is pretty much the perfect size for the waccom stylus.

 

[Dari]

With devices like this, why does Windows RT need to exist?

 

[Ravynmagi]

Yeah, no Wacom digitizer is a strange omission.

This is part of their Thinkpad lineup, so the build quality should be very good. They save their Ideapad branding for the cheaper stuff.

 

[paperwastage]

With devices like this, why does Windows RT need to exist?

Rt will die a quick death.

These atom CPUs weren't available when rt came out. Microsoft needed a low power solution for mobile computing, and existing atom chips sucked

 

[deathBOB]

Windows on an 8" screen? Don't want.

 

[crashtestdummy]

Rt will die a quick death.

These atom CPUs weren't available when rt came out. Microsoft needed a low power solution for mobile computing, and existing atom chips sucked

RT might just merge with Windows Phone. I wouldn't be surprised if Microsoft tries to push the desktop screen out of its tablet OS (both ARM and x86) after it has a Metro version of Office. Then, if they can merge the OSes in the next release, you'd have one operating environment for tablets and phones, and another for desktops. Why they haven't done this already is just plain silly. There's no good reason for there to have to be three development environments (WP8, Metro, Win32) for Microsoft's line of software. It just seems woefully inefficient.

 

[podspi]

My guess would be RT exists because Microsoft saw all of these ARM-based machines being sold and decided if ARM was going to be the next x86, they would have a Windows for it.

This is not that unusual, there were copies of Windows available for other instruction sets.

Where they are going wrong is the difficulty in explaining the differences to consumers, most of whom do not understand nor car to understand the underlying hardware differences of most of their gadgets, they just want their apps to work.

 

[rh71]

Yeah, no Wacom digitizer is a strange omission.

This is part of their Thinkpad lineup, so the build quality should be very good. They save their Ideapad branding for the cheaper stuff.

We get Thinkpads and refreshes every few years from work. After IBM sold them off, there has been a noticeable decline in material quality. It's more soft plastic (bends when you push it) than before and it weighs just as much so it's not like they're doing it for weight savings. It's still passable though.

 

[zerogear]

Huh weird, I thought I was replying to another thread.

 

[desura]

Man, that is good.

 

[desura]

I think the real question is: with tablets like this, why bother with an iPad?

I can live with a phone being locked down, but the thing with tablets is that they're big enough to do more functions...so I expect them to be more open.

 

[EvilYoda]

I'm waiting for this one to hit the stores...can't wait to play with it. I talked about it in another thread and I myself don't need a pen so everything else about the Thinkpad sounds great.

 

[Bateluer]

How is Lenovo build quality tho?

Lenovo's generally pretty good, from what I've read.

With devices like this, why does Windows RT need to exist?

Windows RT exists for the same reason it always has; so Microsoft isn't tied to Intel. Like it or not, ARM is where nearly all the growth is, and has been for a few years now. Not only, but its projected to grow far faster than x86 is. Its in Microsoft's best interests to keep a functioning, modern ARM compatible OS available. Without RT, if Intel's fortunes dropped, Microsoft would follow. Just good business sense from Microsoft, really.

Unfortunately, there's little need to buy an Windows 8 based tablet today when their Android and Apple competitors offer a far better experience across the board.

 

[TripleThreatTLT]

Unfortunately, there's little need to buy an Windows 8 based tablet today when their Android and Apple competitors offer a far better experience across the board.

From someone who has owned multiple android tablets, and now owns a Dell Venue 8 pro I would argue which has the better experience. Sure the apps aren't quite there yet, but windows 8.1 on a 8" tablet is pretty awesome. Much smoother than my android tablets, way better multi tasking, more productive.

 

[foghorn67]

No stylus, no care.

 

[gorcorps]

Quadcore x86
1200P IPS
HDMI out
real OS: Windows 8.1
looks like tablet that you can use for everything, for $399

what do you think?

I think this thread is useless without a link

 

[postmortemIA]

I think this thread is useless without a link

here you go, can't find it anywhere yet.
http://shop.lenovo.com/us/en/tablets...ad/thinkpad-8/
http://www.theverge.com/2014/1/5/5277418/lenovo-thinkpad-8-specifications-release-date-price

 

[Ravynmagi]

The pictures on the Lenovo website don't show the Thinkpad branding on the front glass like The Verge hands-on unit has. I'm guessing it'll have that branding. It's a shame, I really like tablets like the Nexus and Dell Venue 8 Pro that have no branding on the glass.

 

[hans007]

Isn't this basically a venue pro with a nice screen that costs a lot more?

 

[Roland00Address]

Isn't this basically a venue pro with a nice screen that costs a lot more?

Better Screen, 20% faster processor (3770 vs 3740)

 

[dagamer34]

RT might just merge with Windows Phone. I wouldn't be surprised if Microsoft tries to push the desktop screen out of its tablet OS (both ARM and x86) after it has a Metro version of Office. Then, if they can merge the OSes in the next release, you'd have one operating environment for tablets and phones, and another for desktops. Why they haven't done this already is just plain silly. There's no good reason for there to have to be three development environments (WP8, Metro, Win32) for Microsoft's line of software. It just seems woefully inefficient.

Because you can't just snap your fingers together and have the OS you want (sadly). Needless to say, because of Windows 8's poor response, there's already been a regime change, so the OS everyone is asking for will no doubt arrive at some point.

 

[dagamer34]

With devices like this, why does Windows RT need to exist?

RT exists because the fully-fledged idea behind it is sound, giving full Windows to a normal user is just ripe with trouble. Once desktop (and ensuing confusion) goes away, then the only legitimate complaint will be lack of apps (which even Android tablets have issues with in some places).

As far as wanting a stylus on an 8" tablet, that's only because people want to run desktop apps and correctly assume that trying to use their finger to select items will be an exercise in frustration. Still, I don't think it's a long term solution.