Lenovo’s Yoga Book Convertible Scraps Physical Keyboard in Favor of Touch-Sensitive Surface
by Anton Shilov on September 1, 2016 2:05 PM ESTAt IFA trade show in Berlin, Lenovo announced its latest addition to the Yoga product line, the Yoga Book convertible laptop that replaces physical keyboard with a large touchpad, which can act as a keyboard and a drawing board. The Yoga Book will be one of the thinnest and lightest convertibles on the market and will be available with Google Android and Microsoft Windows OSes.
From hardware point of view, the Lenovo Yoga Book is an ultra-thin convertible featuring a 10.1” capacitive touch IPS display (1920×1200 resolution) that is based on the Intel Atom x5-8550 which is Intel's Cherry Trail SoC with four cores running at up to 2.4 GHz, 2 MB cache, and 12 EU Gen 8 integrated graphics. The device is equipped with 4 GB of LPDDR3, 64 GB of NAND flash storage (a microSD card is also present), 802.11 ac Wi-Fi as well as LTE connectivity and so on. The Yoga Book system is just 9.6 mm thick and weighs only 690 grams since it is made of magnesium aluminum alloy. However, specifications and dimensions are not the key highlights of the novelty.
The Yoga Book convertible is one of the first products of this kind to scrap a physical keyboard in favor of a large 10.1” touchpad covered with a special anti-glare matte glass and featuring backlighting that turns on when the keyboard is needed. The surface, which Lenovo calls the Halo Keyboard, supports a haptic touch feedback technology to emulate physical keyboard and thus reduce the amount of typos that usually occurs when typing on tablets. To further speed up typing, Lenovo developed a special app that learns its user’s typing habits and tries to predict the words that are typed. The surface is essentially a large digitizer featuring Wacom technologies, it is possible to place a piece of paper on it, draw something, or write a note, and get it digitized automatically. To do so, you’ll need Lenovo’s dual-use active electrostatics (ES) stylus with Wacom Feel tech that supports 2048 levels of pressure sensitivity and can also write/draw on regular paper (special refills are needed).
Lenovo Yoga Book Specifications | |||
Yoga Book with Windows 10 | Yoga Book with Android 6.0 | ||
Processor | Intel Atom x5-Z8550 (Quad-core, up to 2.4 GHz, 2 MB cache) |
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Memory | 4 GB LPDDR3 | ||
Graphics | Intel HD Graphics | ||
Display | 10.1" IPS 1920×1200 resolution |
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Storage | 64 GB | ||
Networking | 802.11ac 2G/3G/4G (optional) |
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SIM | Nano SIM card | ||
Audio | Dolby Audio Premium Headset jack |
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Battery | Li-ion Polymer 8500 mAh 13 hours battery life |
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Sensors | Vibrator G-Sensor Ambient Light Sensor Hall Sensor GPS |
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Buttons/Ports | USB, HDMI microSD card reader |
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Back Side | Hinge with 360° Rotation Air Vents Integral to Hinge |
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Dimensions | 10.1" × 6.72" × 0.38" 256.6 × 170.8 × 9.6 mm |
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Weight | ~1.52 lbs (0.69 kg) | ||
Webcam | 2 MP front fixed-focus front webcam 8 MP front auto-focus rear cam |
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Extras | Lenovo's software for Halo Keyboard | Lenovo's software for Halo Keyboard Lenovo's enhancements for Android 6.0 |
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Colors | Carbon Black | Gold Gunmetal |
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Pricing | Starting from $549 | Starting from $499 |
The replacement of a physical keyboard with touch-sensitive surface allowed Lenovo to make its Yoga Book thinner than other convertibles with flip around hinges. At the same time, this opens up doors to new usage models for the device, at least for those, who use a stylus.
The manufacturer intends to offer several versions of its ultra-thin convertible. The Yoga Book in gold or gunmetal finishes with Google Android 6.0 OS will be available starting at $499. The carbon black Yoga Book Windows 10 will be priced starting at $549, whereas convertibles with Windows 10 Pro will be slightly more expensive. All versions are expected to hit the market in October.
Source: Lenovo
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p1esk - Thursday, September 1, 2016 - link
$500 for Atom processor? Can't say I'm impressed.Morawka - Thursday, September 1, 2016 - link
Blame intel, they are charging around $110 tray for that cpu. I've seen arm dies bigger than that and sell for less than $25Gunbuster - Thursday, September 1, 2016 - link
WUT? Intel lists the chip as "Recommended Customer Price $27.00" http://ark.intel.com/products/93360/Intel-Atom-x5-...damianrobertjones - Thursday, September 8, 2016 - link
The Atom isn't the main bottleneck... that would be the eMMC (Not sure what this machine has but as it's 64Gb it probably is)mkozakewich - Monday, September 5, 2016 - link
I've gotten $100 tablets with less bezel. No, it's just about how they design it. Likely, they wanted battery capacity to be a selling feature and weren't willing to increase the price even more with a bigger display.damianrobertjones - Thursday, September 1, 2016 - link
...and? I have to actually hold the device so do need some bezel.p1esk - Thursday, September 1, 2016 - link
How do you manage to hold your smartphone?RBFL - Thursday, September 1, 2016 - link
Most smartphones don't have 10.1" screens and thus you can hold them without putting fingers on the touchscreen.vegabook - Thursday, September 1, 2016 - link
just what I though. I quite like the whole thing but *what* were they thinking with those bezels. Makes a u-boat periscope proud.Tams80 - Friday, September 2, 2016 - link
That technology Intel had for virtual bezels has gone nowhere. You need to hold something.Plus, if you look at thin bezel laptops, they have nasal cameras.