Positioning
Chinese company Lenovo is not the first year involved devices with Windows. Back in 2004 it bought the American division of IBM Personal Systems Group, engaged in laptops, and since it releases new Lenovo laptop models not only in their rulers, but also branded ThinkPad, once owned by IBM. During these years, the Chinese manufacturer did not just a series of worse, but it brought a lot of innovations, while retaining the traditional recognizable design, controls, and even typical keyboard.
In 2011, Lenovo decided to bring something from the line of ThinkPad laptops to tablets – so there was a series of the same name plate with one model at that time. This device is different from most other tablets unless strict design, the presence of an expanded set of hardware keys and branded pen. The second version of the tablet – ThinkPad Tablet 2 – has been built based on the Intel Atom platform, and with a full Windows 8, it is this tablet stand out against the background of Android-models. Compact 8 ThinkPad company introduced earlier this year, and that we’ll discuss in this review
Design, materials, housing
In terms of design and materials Lenovo ThinkPad 8 is a little different from the typical plates: front side of the body – the protective glass, rear – aluminum dark gray on the perimeter – rubberized plastic. Everything seemed to be quite normal, but if you put some 8 and ThinkPad Android tablet next, even in the case of aluminum, will be almost no similarities.In Lenovo tried to bring in a recognizable design of the device for the entire series ThinkPad feature – the rigor of design, even excessive, and it worked.
Among the shortcomings note two things. First – aluminum cover is soiled, her divorce and remain prints from fingers, and wash them difficult, easier to just not pay attention to the fact that the cover is soiled. The second – a small gap between the frame and protective glass screen, it becomes clogged dust. Otherwise neither assembly nor to the materials used claim no tablet
Dimensions
Device dimensions – 224 x 132 x 8,8, weight – 440-450 grams, depending on the version. For comparison purposes dimensions several other tablets:
- Apple iPad mini retina - 200 x 135 x 7,5 mm, 330-340 grams
- Asus Nexus 7 (2013) - 200 x 114 x 8,7 mm, 290 grams
- Samsung Galaxy Tab 8.0 4 - 210 x 124 x 8 mm, 320 grams
- 8 DELL Venue Pro - 216 x 130 x 9 mm, 395 grams
Tablet is not the most compact when compared with similar characteristics eight-inch models based on Windows, but also close to call it impossible. Dimensions within reason, the device is comfortable to hold in one hand while reading (although some of it seems tjazhelovatym).
In comparison with the Meizu MX3
In comparison with the LG G2
Management
On the front side of the body below the screen is the only touch key Windows – to switch between tablet and classic desktops.
On the right edge – the power button and volume rocker. There is also a jack micro-USB 3.0, used for charging, connect the tablet to the computer or connect to it accessories – mouse, keyboard, or any carrier. USB-only connection to the same micro-USB 3.0, imposes several features on the script using the tablet. First, it does not turn at the same time to charge it while connected via an adapter to use the keyboard or mouse, and this scenario is quite typical for Windows-based tablets that are often used as a netbook. Second, the constant use of USB 2.0 plug gradually bumped plug, rascchitanny under USB 3.0.
On the left edge is microHDMI, as well as closed plugs slots for memory card and SIM-card (optional).
Audio jack 3.5 mm located on the bottom, on the back of the bottom – hole stereo speakers, and on top – eye of the main chamber, enclosed in a red plastic bezel, it is also located near the flash.
Here you can see the logo ThinkPad, to a point on the letter «i» which forms the indicator light. The indicator lights red when charging plate is connected to a PC or simply is in active mode (with the included screen).
On the front side, above the display is a front 2-megapixel camera and a light sensor (left).
Screen
In Lenovo ThinkPad 8 is a touch screen based on IPS-matrix with a diagonal of 8.3” and a resolution of 1920×1200 pixels. The display has a good supply of maximum brightness and viewing angles. Close to the natural color rendition, no “distortions” to the cold, or, conversely, warm tones. The overall picture quality of the screen is very high. The sun, the display remains legible.
Lack at exactly one screen and it may even seem strange at first – too high resolution. Yes, if you are using the device exclusively in tablet version of Windows 8 Pro, will be no problem: big tiled interface, optimized for touch control programs and menus, all comfortable and convenient. But we are a full-fledged tablet based systems Windows, and it would be foolish not to use its capabilities, so at times you may want to switch to the traditional desktop. And here’s high resolution screen, along with a small diagonal play against you – the smallest fonts, menus, get on that finger (without pen or cursor on the connected mouse) is practically impossible, the abundance of barely scrutinizes parts usual desktop. In everyday life we use the Windows on monitors with a diagonal 17-27 “and the same resolution, it is necessary to study all on a tiny screen, and it’s really difficult.
Conclusion is very simple – to work at 8 in the standard ThinkPad Windows 8 environment will be difficult, unless you have eagle vision, the tablet is designed primarily for work in Metro-interface.
Performance and memory
The tablet is based on Intel Atom Z3770 platform with quad-core processor clocked at 2.4 GHz, with passive cooling, with 2 GB of RAM (DDR3-1067) and 64/128 GB of flash memory, depending on the version. Also has a slot for memory card format microSD. Graphics subsystem – Intel HD Graphics.
As for performance, for everyday tasks such as viewing and editing documents, work with e-mail, browser and other applications used in ThinkPad platform 8 is more than enough. Yes, if you will use the tablet to work in Photoshop or, especially for video editing, become visible freezes, lengthy downloads and other things, but keep in mind that this is a compact tablet and work with Photoshop – not its main purpose.
Play for Lenovo ThinkPad 8 is also quite possible, I installed Steam and put a few toys – Civilization 5 and HoMM V, both are excellent on the tablet, and it is possible to play even when using the touch screen, but with a mouse and keyboard connected, of course, will be more convenient .
Interfaces
In the tablet supports Wi-Fi a / b / g / n and Bluetooth 4.0, also has a GPS. There is a version with a slot for microSIM-card support and 2G/3G networks.
Camera
The main camera has a resolution of the tablet, and 8 MP autofocus, there’s also an LED flash. Number of camera settings is minimal, but it shoots surprisingly decent for a tablet. But judge for yourself.
Also, the camera allows you to record video with a resolution of up to 1920×1080 pixels.
Front 2 megapixel camera suitable for video calls Skype, in principle, it is one of the main purposes for her.
Battery operating time
To the manufacturer of the tablet – up to 8 hours. In reality, when watching videos at full screen brightness while working ThinkPad 8 averages 3-4 hours. If you use the device simply to work (does reading or editing documents while the Wi-Fi), the charge lasts about 5-6 hours.
Indicators modest, especially if you have previously dealt with the tablet from Apple, but on the other hand, we should not forget that in front of us, in fact, a full-fledged PC with all the features in a slim and compact body eight-inch tablet. Far from record levels of operating time – one of those things that has to sacrifice in favor of compactness and performance.
Platform software
The tablet runs on Windows 8.1 Professional, and this is his main feature. In ultra-housing with decent performance netbook you get all the features of a full-fledged operating system Windows. As the main interface as assumed, the holder 8 is used ThinkPad Metro UI. It is familiar to many Windows Phone tiled interface with emphasis on the use of so-called “live tiles” that combine properties of the shortcut to run the program and widget simultaneously.I will not tell much about the features of Metro UI on the tablet, we have a separate detailed review of OS Windows RT, in which this interface is given a lot of attention.
Switch between classic Windows-environment and Metro UI is done by pressing the keys below the screen, this process is instantaneous, takes just a second. Of course, work on the ThinkPad’s familiar interface difficult, especially if you did not connect a mouse to it, affects high resolution with no optimization of the Windows interface for small displays. Use the Metro UI, on the contrary, it is convenient, although I can not deny that the interface takes some getting used.
Conclusion
The plate is available in several versions memory and supporting 3G or without it. The cheapest model ThinkPad 8 and 64 GB WI-Fi will cost, on average, 21 000 rubles. Version with 128 GB considerably more expensive, so it is wiser to choose younger and complement its 64 GB card as an option. I find it difficult to call Lenovo ThinkPad 8 tablet in the familiar sense of the word. It’s definitely not a bedside device to watch movies and TV series, as it is hardly suitable for use in situations where the tablet to take 10 or more hours on a single charge of the battery. And, at the same time, ThinkPad 8 is very versatile – it is one of the few tablets on the market with such broad capabilities provided by the presence of a full-fledged Windows 8. Full MS Office, Adobe Photoshop, any other software, you can install Steam and play dozens and even hundreds of different games by connecting a mouse. You can work with text by connecting the keyboard.
It should be understood that without ThinkPad options fit most 8 to read documents but not edit them. In general, it seems to me, the tablet can serve as a replacement netbook for those people who are already accustomed to using a compact device on Windows, but not consistently uses the keyboard on a netbook. With Lenovo ThinkPad 8 a user can simply connect the keyboard when needed.
Not sure 8 ThinkPad has a great future, too specific product, but the release of this tablet the company has demonstrated its capabilities and some goals. So if Lenovo does not throw the direction of compact Windows-tablets, this year and next year we can expect a very interesting novelties.
Review of the tablet Lenovo ThinkPad 8
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