CES 2014: Lenovo

Today is day two of CES 2014, and even more things are kicking off. T-Mobile had their Uncarrier conference today, and even more people are getting their hands on the latest and greatest in technology. Lenovo announced some of their new electronics here at CES, and some of them are the best in their categories. These are some of our Lenovo favorites.

Mobile

Thinkpad 8

No offense to the Microsoft Tribe out there, but most Windows 8 tablets have not been very competitive. They usually have low resolution displays, boring designs, and some unique quirk that makes you really not want to buy one. The only really remarkable Windows 8 tablets have been Microsoft's own Surface 2 and Surface Pro 2. At CES 2014, Lenovo changed that by releasing their Thinkpad 8. It is not a competitor to the Surfaces or iPad, but towards the iPad Mini. The Thinkpad 8 has an 8.3 inch 1,900 x 1,200 display, a 2.4GHZ quad-core Bay Trail Intel Atom processor, eight megapixel rear-facing camera, front-facing camera, micro USB 3.0 port, micro HDMI port, 2GB of RAM, 32GB, 64GB, or 128GB of storage, and optional 4G. Most competing Windows 8 tablets have worse low-res screens, and slower processors. Other Windows 8 tablets from Dell and others have slightly lower clocked processors at around 1.86GHZ compared to the Thinkpad 8's 2.4GHZ. The Thinkpad 8 also has a very nice aluminum back, which gives it a very premium and clean look. The micro-HDMI and micro USB 3.0 ports allow you to connect multiple monitors to the Thinkpad 8 to use it as a mini workstation. Lenovo also makes a smart cover-esque accessory that is especially designed for the Thinkpad 8. It unlocks your tablet when you lift the cover, but what's really cool is that the camera app opens  when you fold the corner piece of the cover covering the camera. Lenovo's Thinkpad 8 is the best eight inch or smaller Windows 8 tablet today, and it is definitely one of the best Windows 8 tablets ever. It is a great choice for business people that need Windows on the go, and the 128GB model lets you store all the documents and files you could ever need. At $399 for the 32GB version it is a little pricey, but the high-end specs justify it. If you do not like Android or iOS but still want a high-end and portable tablet, then the Lenovo Thinkpad 8 is a great choice.

Engadget: Lenovo Thinkpad 8, The Verge: Lenovo Thinkpad 8

Miix 2 10.1 & 11.6 inch

Lenovo's Miix 2 tablets are very similar to last year's Thinkpad Helix. They are both Windows 8 tablets with keyboard docks that can only face two ways. The two Miix 2 tablets do look very similar, but screensize is not the only difference. They both have 1,900 x 1,200 displays and Intel processors, but the 11.6 inch version is more powerful. A Bay Trail Intel processor powers the 10.1 inch Miix 2, while the 11.6 inch version has an Intel Core i5 processor. The smaller model has 2GB of RAM, while the 11.6 inch Miix 2 can have up to 8GB of RAM. They both have mini HDMI ports, but the 11.6 inch model surprisingly charges over a full sized USB 3.0 port. The keyboard dock is not like any normal dock that uses hinges; these keyboard docks rely on magnets to connect the tablet and keyboard. It is somewhat like the Surfaces where you attach the tablet to magnets on the bottom, but it closes more like a normal laptop. To close the Miix 2 tablets you just push down the tablet and it switches between two different magnets. At $499 and $799 for the 10.1 inch and 11.6 inch versions respectively, the Miix 2 tablets could easily be cheap laptop replacements. The $499 for the 10.1 inch version does include the keyboard dock, but the $799 for the 11.6 inch one strangely does not. Since the 11.6 inch version is more powerful, we would think that Lenovo would include the keyboard with it instead of the 10.1. Since it is Lenovo, the keyboards built for these tablets are bound to have a better typing experience than the Surface keyboards. The Miix 2 tablets are very competitive as convertible hybrids, but there is a lot of competition in their area.

Engadget: Lenovo Miix 2, The Verge: Lenovo Miix 2

Computer

Lenovo Thinkpad X1 Carbon

Lenovo's Thinkpad line of laptops have always been the best in business computers. Companies always look to Lenovo for laptops and computers with great security, and computers that will last years to come. Lenovo refreshed their Thinkpad X1 Carbon at CES with great improvements. It comes with Core i5 or i7 Haswell processors, can be configured with up to a 2,560 x 1,440 IPS display, 4GB of RAM, and up to a 512GB SSD. The X1 Carbon is no slouch in any area. The Haswell processors offer great battery life and performance, and the high-res screen will make everything look absolutely beautiful. Lenovo also manages to pick great IPS screens for its laptops, so color gamut and color reproduction should be spot on. A fingerprint sensor built into the laptop will keep all of your files safe and secure. It also has more ports than most laptops with a full size HDMI port, two USB 3.0 ports, a mini Display port, and a OneLink docking and charging port. The X1 Carbon does not have any fancy aluminum finish or crazy fast speeds but it is light, has a great keyboard and trackpad, and will last years longer than any other laptop. Lenovo's recently refreshed Thinkpad X1 Carbon is the go to ultrabook for businesses, and is a great option for all you normals out there.

Engadget: Lenovo Thinkpad X1 Carbon, The Verge: Lenovo Thinkpad X1 Carbon



Those are a few of the many refreshed products Lenovo announced at CES. Lenovo refreshed their Yoga line from last year, which made us very confused. There is already the Yoga 2 pro, which would seem like the successor to the original Yoga, but we guess not. The Yoga 2 and Yoga 2 11 inch have relatively underwhelming specs compared to the Yoga 2 Pro. At $999 for the Yoga 2 and $549 for the 11 inch version they are substantially less expensive, so they have that going for them. Lenovo also updated their Flex and Y and Z series laptops with higher resolution screens and Haswell. The Lenovo Y50  is offered with a 4k 3,840 x 2,160 touchscreen, just in case you need to have your 4k on the go. We still have many more companies releasing products at CES, so stay tuned for more of our CES 2014 coverage.