What Is It? – They’re called hybrid laptops – laptops that convert, in one way or another, to be used as tablets – and a tablet that can become a laptop by adding a keyboard, such as with an iPad. Microsoft has scored well in hardware, for once, with its Surface series of laptop tablets, and now there’s new competition from the Lenovo Thinkpad X1 Tablet, a Windows 10 Pro device with add-on features for business. The X1 has a 12 inch backlit FHD Gorilla Glass touch screen, and my review model had an Intel Core M5 processor, 8 GB of RAM, and a 256 GB solid-state hard drive. Other configurations are available. The tablet and keyboard together – that’s how it’s sold – weigh in at just over 2 pounds, which is more or less the weight of a Microsoft Surface Pro 4 with the keyboard/cover. The back of the tablet has a “kickstand” to hold it upright in laptop mode, and the keyboard easily attaches magnetically. The X1 has front and rear cameras, 2 speakers and 3 microphones, both USB 3 and USB Type-C ports, as well as a Mini DisplayPort and a jack for headphone/microphone. It also has an Active Pen that can be used to “write” on the screen: sign documents, take notes, make sketches, and it includes a Lenovo app to convert handwriting to data. The Lenovo has 3 things no Microsoft Surface has – add-on modules: a Productivity Module increases battery life and includes a full size HDMI port; the 3D Imaging Module has an Intel RealSense camera; and a Presenter Module has a built-in projector. These all, of course, add a little weight and cost to the X1. By the way, Lenovo says this hybrid has passed 10 military grade durability tests, for such things as heat, humidity, shock, and sand. For your next deployment to a war zone, I suppose.
Here’s Lenovo’s tour of the X1:
Is It 50+ Friendly? – The X1 tablet keyboard/trackpad has the familiar look and feel of other Lenovo Thinkpad products, and that’s not a bad thing. As a tablet, it’s Windows 10, for better or worse.
Frustration Factor? – The only thing puzzling to me was the little plastic holder for the stylus, which fits into the USB 3 port on the tablet, rendering the port useless. But there’s also a fabric loop that can also hold the pen next to the keyboard, so I guess when the X1 is in “laptop” mode you’ll have that USB port to plug in a printer or connect your phone.
Is It Worth The Money? – If Lenovo was trying to sharply undercut the latest Surface Pro in price with this new hybrid, they really haven’t, as the prices are just a tad lower than the latest comparable Microsoft models with the cover/keyboard added. My review model for instance would list for $1349. The Thinkpad X1 Tablet certainly feels solid and would be a good choice for both business and personal use, especially if you need a laptop to travel with. And if you had to make a decision between the Surface and the X1, the tipping point might be the longstanding reputation of Lenovo’s X1 line as a reliable performer.
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