What Is It? – Computer makers have this problem: users want to be able to take their devices with them, but nobody wants to haul a 6 pound laptop around when they can instead take a tablet that’s under 2 pounds. So where’s the middle ground? Lenovo’s ThinkPad 13 Ultrabook may be there, a “regular” but relatively lightweight Windows notebook with features you won’t find on most tablets, such as three USB 3 ports, a USB-
C port, a full-size HDMI port, plus you can plug in Lenovo’s ThinkPad OneLink+ dock which can support up to 3 desktop monitors while charging the Ultrabook, and also has a wired Ethernet connection plus additional USB ports. The ThinkPad 13 does not include an optical drive, but there is a 4-in-1 SD card slot. My review model was silver, with an Intel Core i3 processor, 4 GB of RAM, and a 128 GB Solid State drive. The screen is a 13.3 inch HD display, and of course there’s a built in camera. The spill-resistant keyboard and touchpad are classic Lenovo in look and feel and my review model weighed just over 3 pounds and was a little less than 1 inch thick. The ThinkPad 13 also comes in black, and for some reason only the black model has a fingerprint reader. This Lenovo meets 8 military specs and is able to withstand both high and low temperatures, high humidity, shock, and sand, among other things. You can get it with Windows 10 Home, Windows 10 Pro, or even a downgrade to Windows 7 Pro. It can also be ordered with an i5 processor, larger SSD, and up to 16 GB of RAM, the last two of which add some weight. Battery life is estimated at 11 hours.
Is It 50+ Friendly? – Like many Lenovo products, the ThinkPad 13 is easy to use, with real feel on the keys and trackpad, and while the screen is only 13 inches, I found it pretty clear, although admittedly not as easy to see as the 24-inch monitor I’m using to write this!
Frustration Factor? – The review model, an i3 with only 4 GB of RAM, was is a little slower than I’d like, but as I said, the ThinkPad 13 can be purchased with a faster processor and more RAM. Also, as a Windows 10 device, it’s not a touchscreen, and I think it should be. Though we understand that Lenovo and other manufacturers skip the touchscreen to save money and a little weight. But given that Windows 10 is really optimized for touch, it’s a bit frustrating when it’s not available, despite the reasoning.
Is It Worth The Money? – The ThinkPad 13 is just the thing to take on the road, whether vacationing, working, or commuting (but not when you’re in the driver’s seat, of course!). With the mil-spec, it can certainly take being knocked around, it’s lightweight without sacrificing usefulness, and the estimated battery life is excellent. Direct from Lenovo, this Ultrabook is between $500 and $960, depending on configuration (the highest priced is with the fastest processor, 16 GB of RAM, a 512 GB SSD, and higher resolution screen).
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