#lenovoin

[arthurhwalker]

Lenovo Tab P12 Pro Review

When announced, the P12 Pro Android Tablet had a feature list that seemed too good to be true, a disparate, yet complimentary, mix of mobile goodness. I suspect Lenovo went with Microsoft Pen Protocol (MPP) because the device has the potential to work like a wireless Wacom Cintiq (acting as a second display) with an Android Tablet rolled into it.

I didn't actually think the device would compete with Wacom EMR, but was really curious how close it would come.

So, I reached out to Lenovo and asked to take a look at one. The fine folks at Lenovo obliged, and sent me a product sample. This review focuses on the more unique capabilities of the device, and how it fits into a creative workflow. If you're interested in the specs, hit the link.

https://psref.lenovo.com/Product/Lenovo_Tablets/Tab_P12_Pro#

My initial thoughts, as I had them, on Twitter.

https://twitter.com/ArthurHWalker/status/1592198522698448896

Read on for more:

Keyboard

One of the absolute showstoppers with the P12 Pro is the keyboard that comes bundled with the Lenovo Precision Pen 3. It has the size and relative heft of a simple tablet accessory, but has Bluetooth connectivity, and independent power supply. For artists, this felt huge; take the keyboard off, set it opposite the screen from your drawing hand, and drop the tablet into a low angle.

It's the desktop drawing setup most people prefer. Mouse and stylus near your drawing hand, keyboard near your offhand for keyboard shortcuts, digitizer screen somewhere in the middle at a comfortable angle.

Is there a way to leverage this with drawing applications available in Android?

Or, when using the tablet as a second display for your Window's PC?

My first attempt at using the P12 Pro as a second display, accepting input from the Keyboard accessory didn't go well, and yet, it kind of did. The fact that it worked, badly, even for a couple of seconds before the connection failed, is amazing to me. I didn't expect the Lenovo Freestyle app to grant that functionality.

I'll talk more about using the P12 Pro as a second display later in the review. If that's your primary interest, scroll down.

How is it just as a keyboard for making text? Great, Key travel is as good as it gets with a keyboard designed to be this portable.  As tablet accessories go, it's way above average, wireless, or pogo pin connected. I didn't get the dreaded repeat key stroke issue I usually do with wireless tablet keyboards.

There's always a "but", isn't there?

The first version of this review was pretty harsh with the trackpad. I said the best thing about it was the dedicated button on the keyboard that let you turn it off. Letting the experience of using the Tab P12 Pro gel in my mind, I realized that I wouldn't have used it much, anyway.

When I use it as a second display, I tend toward the mouse of the primary connected device, touchscreen, or pen. When I connect the P12 to a display and use it as primary, you need a mouse if your display has even 1920x1080 resolution. Getting the cursor from point A to point B is just nicer with that set up.

Standing alone, I reached for the pen, for pen things, but used the touchscreen primarily because of how precise and responsive it is. Given how the tablet is designed, and the use cases it is destined to occupy, putting the trackpad down the list probably made sense for engineers. It isn't obsolete, yet, but that isn't the fault of the hardware, in my opinion.

Stylus

The Microsoft Pen Protocol 2.0 stylus charges wirelessly by attaching to the side of the device. I suspect there are other ways to charge the stylus, but there are few other devices you'd want to use one with. The upside is that the MPP tech seems much improved for both handwriting, and artwork.

The downside is that you'll pay for a Microsoft Surface Pen if you ever have to replace it. Upside, if Microsoft puts out a keen nib set, it'll likely be compatible.

Microsoft Surface Slim Pen 2

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/d/surface-slim-pen-2/8tb9xw8rwc14

Microsoft Slim Pen Charger

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/d/surface-slim-pen-charger/8zc6jrr8jmr8

Update: There is a semi-keen nib set. The nib kit, according to the pics, on MS's site, and in Lenovo's own documentation for the Lenovo Precision Pen 3, should work as replacements. The kit doesn't have an assortment of different textures or feels. They look to just be "extras".

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/d/surface-slim-pen-2-tips/93Z8RNZ3R3FN

The native note taking app included with the device feels like it could stand alone, but it is better used as a sidecar to Microsoft OneNote. If this is your first pen-equipped note taking device you could lean into Lenovo's App if you don't need a lot of organization.

I have found a couple of matte film display covers that give the P12 a really nice feel for handwriting. Four out of five stars. However, those films take the OLED display down a notch. Someone needs to invent a screen film that can be removed, rolled up, and re-applied later as needed. Go-go.

Display Functionality

The P12 Pro Tablet can be used as a 2nd (or 3rd) display. It can also utilize a second display, granting additional screen real estate in the event the tablet is serving as the primary device. There are a few limitations and considerations to know about if this is going to be critical to your workflow.

First, lets talk about using the Tab P12 Pro as an additional display for your PC.

I couldn't test every application out there to see how it behaved, but the vast majority of what I use has good rendering and latency. There are some weird graphical twitches in OneNote, but nothing really distracting. Clip Studio works flawlessly. Adobe Photoshop is, as usual, very hit or miss.

Given how my gaming test went, I think it has to do with any app that leans heavily on the GPU to render. This means the experience could be different across connected devices. Also, network speed could play a role.

If I want to sit on the couch away from my PC and use the Tab P12 Pro as my portal, it does that. I can use the included keyboard accessory with the touchscreen to enter text, browse the web, and so forth. My PC views the P12 as just another display with audio. Connecting using the Freestyle App takes only a second or two, and I'm working.

The Freestyle app is required for this functionality, on both devices, and I've only tested it with a standard clam shell laptop PC. I might see what else that application can do, in a separate review.

Some caveats.

A mouse connected to the Tab P12 Pro will control the cursor, but only on the P12 Pro. It can't move the cursor to other displays connected to your PC. A mouse connected wireless to your PC works fine, though. This is probably the best way to go because the cursor will behave like you'd expect.

Using a Mouse connected to the P12 not only isolates the cursor to that one display, but makes it behave like a finger tap in Android. Most of the time, that isn't better, but it depends on the application.

In Windows you'll want to go to Settings -> Devices -> Typing -> and turn the touch keyboard off to prevent it from popping up every time you use the touch screen or mouse to place the cursor in a window ready to receive text.

The Tab P12 Pro will pick up the audio feed from your PC, and keep your tunes rolling. You set that up in Windows like you would any other speaker-equipped device.  

Final Thoughts

I used the Tab P12 Pro for 2 months. It exceeded my expectations with an impressive feature set. Everything but the trackpad on the included keyboard feels like something worth more than the sticker price. This includes the aesthetics, build quality, display, and sound quality. Usual Lenovo-level attention to detail here.

As a second display option for mobile situations, particularly for traveling, it'll be stellar.

It can't replace a Wacom Cintiq, as a connected display for accepting pen input. The pen stylus doesn't fall short except with customizing the one barrel button it has. The digitizer is extremely good, precise, with what feels like dense pick up on the surface. Latency over a wireless connection with applications that require hardware accelerated graphics is the choke point I think.

If Lenovo improves that on the software side, or there's a hardware fix (like a better router) for example, the Cintiq could feel a little pressure from hobbyists, and prosumers. For a lot of people, nothing replaces the buttery slip stride feeling of EMR digitizers, but the Tab P12 Pro comes as close as any tablet ever has. This is particularly true with a matte screen film.

My expectation was that I would find a narrow section of digital creatives this device would appeal to. That section is much wider than I anticipated. It is a competent device, and platform, for digital art, and handwritten notes.

[wilburlikesmith]

#beard #star #starlight | @lenovo #LenovoIN #AWC (at Manitoba Spur Steak Ranch)

[arthurhwalker]

Lenovo CES 2019

Disclaimer: I attended Lenovo’s events at CES and CES proper as a guest of Lenovo. All opinions are my own.

This wasn’t my first time going to Las Vegas to help Lenovo promote their brand and represent their customer advocacy program, but it was still a singular experience. CES always is. I always feel like something of an interloper at these things, because I’m not a journalist, marketer, or employee of a tech company. I’m an independent/freelance author, game developer and illustrator.

I fall somewhere between fan and spectator, hobbyist and professional, depending on what booth I am in, or device I am checking out. I go mostly to support the brand that currently makes the tools of my craft, with hope they will continue. That’s what CES is for me, a measure of whether I hold on to what I’m using or update the contrivances of my workflow.

Bryan Custer was the handler assigned to curate the experience for the Lenovo INsiders in attendance. He is Lenovo’s Community Manager, handling the majority of replies from Lenovo’s Global social media channels. He’s a thoughtful guy, possessed of emotional intelligence uncommon in people. I can see why he was selected specifically for the task.

Jen Lawrence and Beto Sanro were the other two members of the customer advocacy program in attendance. Great folks! I learned so much from them while I was there, seeing how they handled digital marketing (they are experts and professionals), through the questions they asked, and observations they made. We also had a lot of fun!

Also in attendance, the inimitable Lenovo INsider, Dave Kennedy.

The first day saw us talking to various executives and getting a little time to try out new products.

Our first meeting with Dilip Bhatia (VP, Global Marketing, User & Customer Experience, PC & Smart Devices) was very illuminating. The last time I spoke with him (2016) he was talking about how Lenovo planned to connect with consumers to garner a sense of their sentiment for certain products and services. Since then, I often joke that it seems like Lenovo has my office bugged when they make certain product announcements.

In 2019, Lenovo is using big data to gather the analytics they need to make decisions about features and products. It shows, because I’ve seen very specific hardware, displays, and features, things I really wanted, show up in current products. It’s clear that Lenovo’s Dilip Bhatia is funneling good information back to product teams and designers.

Our second meeting, with Matt Bereda (VP of Global Marketing), started out with me making a lame joke that fell flat. It was a rough day, and I couldn’t seem to get my words straight through the conversation, but Matt patiently answered our questions and addressed our specific concerns gracefully.

Through the conversation I could tell that Matt Bereda genuinely believed Lenovo was providing value to people through their products. The sort of things that change workflows and lives. I got the impression that giving people information and communicating to the public about that value was priority number one.

I was sick at the press event, but I had to stay long enough to watch Matt Bereda’s full keynote. It was worth the extra discomfort just to see how he worked and interacted with the public. It feels less like he’s trying to convince you to buy something, and more like he’s just trying to give you good information to make an informed choice. It was a welcome departure from how one usually sees tech marketed.

There is every reason to believe Lenovo is going to continue being an attractive option for creative professionals crafting things for the web and for print. That said, I was nervous about the recent shift at Lenovo relative to design before I went to CES. Those concerned evaporated after meeting the VP of Design, Brian Leonard.

I asked a lot of questions about the rate of iteration between generations, prototyping for new devices, and how design influences the rise or demise of a brand. What shone through was that Lenovo intends to make things that are beautiful and functional, with the latter never suffering for the former. Then, I asked about the 3rd Generation Yoga Book, and whether we’d see a Ruby Red Yoga Book C930.

All things are possible. I have high hopes for that form factor.

Along that same thread, I was able to play with Lenovo’s Yoga A940 AIO for at least a half hour between two sessions. It’s a device with tremendous potential, waiting for some advances in NFC and for the price to come down on certain components. I’ll explain.

At first glance, it looked like the deck beneath the screen wirelessly charged the pen, keyboard, mouse, and had a spot to charge a smartphone as well. Lenovo’s Kevin Beck said he made a similar assumption, and Brian Leonard confirmed that such functionality had been a consideration. Because that sort of wireless charging isn’t cheap, it didn’t make it into the final product. Maybe in the Gen 2?

My wireless desk feels so close, and yet, miles away. That said, the inclusion of a content creation dial that can be attached to either side of the screen, for left and right handed folk, feels like a big deal. How big a deal? Huge.

If you know me, you know I dislike Windows 10. I’m pretty much all Ubuntu these days, but to use a Yoga Book Gen 1, or the new Yoga Book C930, I would tolerate Windows 10. Added to that list, definitely, is the Yoga A940 AIO as well. The hardware is so good, I would more than gladly use Windows 10 to have access to the features and form factor.

The Yoga Book C930 and Thinkvision P32u weren’t new products at CES, but it was the first time I was able to lay hands on them. The new Yoga Book is the ultimate companion device. Currently, I carry a stylus-equipped ReMarkable E Ink Tablet and my Ruby Red Gen 1.5 Yoga Book. The new Yoga Book C930 basically combines both of those devices in one tiny form factor, for the same money. Amazing.

How good is the Thinkvision P32u? There’s a picture of me hugging it on Twitter. Gods, the display and the features on that display are so (so) good.

Also, at Lenovo’s CES 2019 display was Lenovo’s AMOLED Yoga C730. Somehow, I walked right by it. Another INsider said the display was there, but understated. Still can’t believe I missed a chance to put my hands on one. It’s a big deal for folks that ink illustrations digitally. You haven’t really inked in Photoshop, GIMP, Mischief, or Krita until you’ve done it on an AMOLED display. The contrast ratio can’t be compared to anything else.

The second day saw as through product tours, with even more time to lay hands on displays and products.

Definitely, Lenovo is very conscious of the consumer’s desire for privacy. Every product seemed to have new privacy features, both in the hardware and the software. I saw a smart lock door handle for your home, a hardware switch for the microphone on their new smart alarm clock, and privacy software that detects people lurking behind you while working on your laptop. If you’re anxious about protecting your intellectual property and your privacy, Lenovo has a product to help you out.

There were the usual gimmicks, like a Formula 1 racing simulator, and cheesy eye-candy displays to draw people in, but there was also more substance to Lenovo’s CES offerings this year.

The Legion Gaming line has matured to the degree that even the pure Thinkpad crowd turned their heads slightly.Would I have bought a Legion Gaming rig at inception, no. Would I buy one of their new devices? Most assuredly. Would I buy a Thinkpad with the same cooling and IO set up at the 15” Y740? Anyone would.

We also had the chance to watch a Lenovo Unboxed video be produced. The INsiders in attendance got to be filmed giving their opinion about whether they favored the new X1 Carbon, or X1 Yoga. Gavin O’Hara threatened to have me draw on camera, but, fortunately, to the betterment of all, that did not happen, and none of the footage made it to the final video. Whew! ;-D

Day three had us on a Hoover Dam/Grand Canyon tour.

I spent a lot of time riding in the back of the Hummer on my Thinkpad X1 Extreme prepping posts and recording my observations and recollections. In that moment, I realized just how much Lenovo’s products had influenced my workflow. Sitting in my lap was a device I could pleasurably generate textual assets with, draw with a digitizer stylus on the screen, or play Fallout 76 with my spouse. Much of my work and play fit entirely in a backpack via a slim 15” form factor.

The tour was amazing, and so was the company. Bryan, Jen, and Beto are great to travel with.

As I write this, I’m reflecting on the time spent at CES. I got a chance to look at some of Lenovo’s competitors at CES because I was curious of what they were bringing to the table. I think if there’s anyone Lenovo should keep in their rear view, it’s probably Samsung. In the consumer (non-commercial) space, they make a pretty nice laptop, tablet, and phone.

Everyone else seems to lack a central design philosophy, or they haven’t iterated on those principles to the degree I think they’re keeping up. That isn’t to say Lenovo won’t have competition in 2019, because they definitely will. Communicating the value of their products is going to be important for folks that rely on them, and that’s why I continue to promote the brand.

[arthurhwalker]

Lenovo Thinkpad X1 Extreme Review, Overview, Thoughts

I've had my Lenovo Thinkpad X1 Extreme for a month now. I usually would do a full review and talk about all the specs, but I think I'm going to do something different.

For those that are curious, click these links for more information:

Lenovo Thinkpad X1 Extreme US Site Lenovo PSREF Thinkpad X1 Extreme Entry For reference, I bought one with:

Intel® Core™ i7-8850H

32GB 2400MHz DDR4 RAM (2666 MHz installed, but run at 2400 because Intel limit)

Intel UHD Graphics 630 in processor and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Ti Max-Q, 4GB GDDR5 memory

15.6" (396mm) HDR 4K (3840x2160) with Dolby Vision, anti-glare, LED backlight, IPS, 400 nits, 16:9 aspect ratio, 1200:1 contrast ratio, 100% gamut, 170° viewing angle, multi-touch, anti-reflection (AR)

Pen Stylus Support

M.2 SSD / PCIe NVMe x2, 1 TB ea

Disclaimer: I am a Lenovo INsider. That said, my opinions are my own, and I purchased this device because I wanted it, and I'm writing this review/overview because I feel like it.

Okay, let's begin.

This machine is an X-Series Thinkpad. Everything in that line is meant to be ultraportable, slim, and easy to take with you. Lenovo claims you can get up to 15 hours of battery life on the 4 cell, 80Wh battery.

Yeah, there's no way you'll get close to that.

I knew that going in, and bought the machine anyway for two reasons. It charges extremely fast, and the charger they send you with the laptop is, for 135w, absolutely tiny. My advice is that you buy an extra charger to keep at your desk for a couple of reasons.

First, your tiny charger will always just live in your bag. Second, the docking options situation. There are two routes to take if you want to go with all Lenovo kit. There's Lenovo's Thinkpad Thunderbolt Dock (40AC0135US), and the elusive, you have to search carefully for it, using the compatibility finder, otherwise it's invisible, Thinkpad Thunderbolt 3 Workstation Dock (40AN0230US).

I bought the regular Thinkpad Thunderbolt Dock unaware the Workstation Dock existed. Regular TB dock didn't charge my X1 Extreme very well, and my two 4K Monitors flickered, because the dock isn't designed to do work that way with a machine this powerful. I regretted the purchase for a half second.

Then, I looked at the Workstation Dock on the Lenovo Website, and immediately over at the dock I bought for my Thinkpad P40, now largely useless, with it's proprietary connection. I'd bought the right dock after all, because it will work with any machine I buy in the future with a Thunderbolt port. All I needed was to move the Thunderbolt cable to a different port, and buy another 135w+ charging cable.

And, that's exactly what I did, and it's awesome. True I was connecting two cables instead of one to dock my machine at my desk, but you kind of will anyway. If you're only ever going to buy Workstation grade Thinkpads that have the charging and Thunderbolt ports right next to each other (the connections are wrapped together), pay the extra $100 for the Workstation Dock. Otherwise, naw.

Ubuntu also works with the Thunderbolt Dock. Very rarely it hangs on boot, and I have to unplug the dock, but this hasn’t happened since a recent BIOS update. I've only gotten Ubuntu to push the laptop display, and one other 4K monitor. There's probably a way to do more, but I haven't discovered it yet, and maybe won't as that's plenty for what I do.

I'm going to talk about the actual machine now. ;-D

The X1 Extreme is geared toward the creative that is trying to decide between a 15" MacBook Pro, a 15" Dell XPS 9570, and whatever else compares. It is for the person that needs a powerful machine they can easily take with them, with a premium display option for visual asset creation.

The Dell XPS 9570 does have one advantage over the X1 Extreme, you can buy a "Premier Sleeve" fitted to the device. If anything should have had a custom folio, sleeve, or bag, it's the X1 Extreme. The MacBook Pro doesn't really have any advantage except for access to a few professional programs available only on MacOS. If you know what they are, then you know what I mean. It's not really an advantage as much as it is a harsh reality.

Dell is a worthy competitor for Lenovo these days, and I would definitely check out their things. When you do, compare warranty options, service, duration, and cost. Then, probably buy a Lenovo unless Dell somehow has a better option. I haven't seen that to be the case, but that's the main reason to go with Lenovo. If it breaks, they just handle it.

For now, I recommend people avoid buying the iMac Pro, a 2018 MacBook Pro, and (probably) the new MacBook Air. Apple is actively making machines that could, with a software update, prevent you from repairing your own device, or seeking a 3rd party for service. They are also lobbying to prohibit you from doing so by law, working against Fair Repair Act legislation.

ANYWAY, moving on.

Drawing on the screen with a stylus pen is great, if not a little awkward at first, if you're used to a tablet. The screen will lay flat if that's your preference, and I thought it would be kind of a problem, but I adapted pretty quickly. I would have bought a 2-in-1 Yoga device over the X1 Extreme, but Lenovo doesn't really make one for the creative crowd right now.

And, that's okay, because the X1 Extreme has the nicest display I've ever used on a laptop. I can't bear to put a screen protector on it. It's lack of a Yoga-style hinge is forgiven. The keyboard, styling, aesthetics, packaging, soft-touch exterior, and the ease of upgrading the user serviceable internals are all great.

I popped it open and added a second M.2 SSD easily. The only hard part was finding one of those tiny screws as neither the X1X or the SSD I bought came with a spare.

What I can't forgive is that my X1 Extreme came dirty. I opened up the excellent X1-branded packaging and found factory drit on my device, and stuck in the cracks around the display. This was very obvious because the X1X is a shade darker than other Thinkpads I think. Even the Thinkpad emblem is metallic black (super nice touch, it's like Dethklok designed the exterior).

Also, the display has some light leakage in the corners. While I only notice it on boot with a black screen, it's these small details that chip away at what should have felt like an extremely premium buyer's experience. If someone drops this kind of money on a laptop, none of that should happen. Doubly so, if Lenovo really wants a device to be a MacBook Pro "Killer", and appeal to creatives that pay attention to such things.

Yes, but, what if that isn't you. What if you really want a Max-Q gaming rig with 12 military-grade requirements and 200 quality checks because playing Fallout 4 in a real dust storm might be awesome? Gaming rigs almost never have better than a decent display, and playing any game on the X1 Extreme is kind of a unique experience.

Playing games that I have 500 to a 1000 hours on feels new, like I'm seeing colors and depth I hadn't seen before. I'm usually the first to discount such things, because I'm kind of a retro-gamer, but with newer games like Warframe and Fallout 76, the experience is much enhanced. Even better, the machine runs cool and quiet, relatively speaking, while running games.

Yes, it gets warm, and yeah you can kinda hear the fans, but no where close to what I've felt coming off traditional gaming rigs. Also, I can play Fallout 4, or Age of Wonders III for 2-3 hours before the screen dims and I'm looking for an outlet. And, that brings me to my final observation about this laptop.

For a lot of people, this device could be your only machine. I was jumping between my Thinkpad P40 for work stuff, and travel, and a desktop for games. The X1 Extreme isn't the Thinkpad P41, or P42 I was hoping for, but it does the job, and does it well, with precious few compromises.

I can't wait to make more text, visual assets for book covers, and pixel art with it.

[arthurhwalker]

Yoga Book 2, C930

Lenovo announced their new Yoga Book (2) C930 at IFA in Berlin yesterday. It's a big deal, not just because the Yoga Book got a refresh, but it brings a form factor to the market I've been waiting ten years for (Microsoft Courier). Dual-screen devices have been tried, but no one has ever done it well. Lenovo looks like they've found the secret sauce, or just waited for the tech to advance far enough along, and seized the moment.

Either way, I win! I already carry a Yoga Book 1 and an E-Ink Tablet with me most places, and the Yoga Book C930 basically combines the two into one easy to carry device.

UPDATE:

Reached out to Lenovo for some clarity on some things and heard back. See below.

Let's look at the specs.

Processor

The Yoga Book (2) C930 comes with either an Intel Core i5-7Y54 Processor or Intel Core m3-7Y30 Processor. Both of these are going to be passively cooled, Hyper Threading, and pushing Intel HD Graphics 615, dual-channel memory (DDR3L/LPDDR3), and a fairly high Turbo clock.

If you're used to using a passively cooled device, particularly a Yoga Book 1, either of these processor options should feel like a big upgrade. If you're using anything with fans, 15 watts and up, this is going to feel as fast or slower for applications. These are the trade offs for a silent, energy efficient machine, that stays cool to the touch.

Sound

2 x Speakers with Dolby Atmos®

2 x Microphones with Noise-Cancelling Support

Lenovo has really been pouring the love into sound production across other models announced at IFA. While not a selling feature of the Yoga Book 2, I bet there's a significant improvement over the Yoga Book 1.

Memory

RAM - 4 GB LPDDR3 (Rumored 8GB option?)

ROM - 128 or 256 GB SSD

Card Slot - microSD; Supports Up to 512 GB

I'm not sure what kind of hard drive will actually land in the Yoga Book 2 (I'm going to try and find out), but it isn't EMMc type. That's good for speed, really good, but not as good for battery life or reliability where EMMc really shines.

UPDATE:

Me: Are the SSD options, SATA, M.2, or... ???

Lenovo: its M2. PCIE SSD

Is 4 GB of RAM enough? For me, even with slower, passively cooled machines, it has been. I've been able to draw fluidly in Photoshop at 300 DPI, twelve layers, with that kind of RAM and not had a problem. Typically, that would be all I would have open, other than some reference images. 

The press release says 4 GB, but I’ve heard reporters say 4 or 8 GB reporting from IFA. I’ll try to verify.

UPDATE:

Me: Will there be a 4GB RAM and an 8GB RAM option be offered?

Lenovo: There is only a 4GB RAM variant announced. It's technically ready to support 8GB but we are not planning to ship it now, unless there are some specific demand which would likely be only in B2B.

For my varied use case, with devices like this, the EMMc hard drive has been the bottleneck, not the RAM.

Hopefully, the microSD card slot works reliably, unlike the Yoga Book 1 where it was hit or miss.

Battery

Type - Li-ion Polymer

Capacity  -  4650 mAh / 35.8 Whr

Standby Time  - Over 16 Days

General Usage -  About 8.6 Hours

8.6 hours for that capacity mAh battery feels like optimism. Could be real. I'll believe it when I see it.

Even if I only got seven hours out of it, I wouldn't be sad, and I carry a spare battery with me most of the time anyway to charge my phone and tablet. The Yoga Book 2 has two USB 3.1 (Gen 1) Type-C ports, one for charging.

Display

LCD

Size - 10.8" QHD (2560 x 1600), 281 ppi

Type - LCD with IPS Technology

Brightness - 400 nits

Color Depth - 16.7 Million

Color Gamut - 85% (Typical)

Touch - Capacitive Multitouch and Precision Pen Support (4,096 pressure levels)

I love QHD displays. Love. I understand that this is Wacom Tech, and probably not proprietary to Lenovo. I'll try to verify, but I think any AES pen stylus should work. This was a major gripe with the Yoga Book 1, that both surfaces didn't take pen input. It didn't bother me because I preferred to draw offset on the Create Pad surface, but for some, it was a hard transition.

E Ink

Size - 10.8" FHD (1920 x 1080), 204 ppi

Type - Flexible E Ink Mobius Display

Touch - Capacitive Multitouch and Precision Pen Support (4,096 pressure levels)

This panel provides the keyboard (with support for thirty languages), with haptic/audio feedback, and keen key press animations. Switch modes, and it is a digital notebook, for sketching and taking notes. At 10.8″ it should be a little bigger and better to use than the Yoga Book 1. Also, Infrared Fingerprint reader built in. Whether this will make Windows Hello viable or not, remains to be seen. I keep hoping Lenovo will go back to having their own biometric access for their machines, as Microsoft can’t make a ham sandwich correctly right now. 

Edit: The Infrared Fingerprint reader, sitting flush with the surface of the keyboard, looks to be the power button. Nice!

Last year, Onyx teased an E Ink typewriter (laptop) with a 10.3 Flexible E Ink display. It ended up being canceled, and attempts by other companies to bring such a device to the US have fizzled. I kickstarted the Pomera foldable E Ink writer, but it didn't go. I've been watching to see if something with that display would land in the US. Looks like it will.

The Yoga Book appears to have that tech built in. Excite! I thought that maybe the "Flexible" nature of the display was a literal description, and it appears to be. The Yoga Book 3 teased at Computex appears to maybe have a flexible display, maybe? Squint, and look at that hinge!

Here's the product page for the E Ink Mobius product.  Check out the embedded video. Draw your own conclusions.

The bad news; it only supports PDF format right now. Lenovo has told reporters that they will add ePub (non-DRM), Mobi, and Text formats, but I wouldn't hold your breath. Lenovo, or any OEM, adding functionality to a consumer product after release is very unlikely. I'm sure Lenovo has the best intentions here, but if having those formats recognized on the E Ink side is mission critical, this might not be the device for you.

UPDATE:

Me: When will Lenovo add ePub, Mobi, and txt format options to the E ink display reader application?

Lenovo: In Q1 calendar, 2019.

There's also handwriting to text conversion right now. It sounds like Lenovo might add the same for mathematical calculations, diagrams, and such, but if it ships lacking that functionality, I wouldn’t count on seeing it added later. It is what it is.

UPDATE:

Me: Will it ship with the ability to convert mathematical calculations and diagrams the same as handwritten text?

Lenovo: Yes

Other Stuff

You can knock on the lid twice to reverse the polarity of the magnets holding it closed. It makes the device feel very premium, and it is great for nail biters, and people that like knock-knock jokes.

The Precision Pen that comes in the box looks nice, but appears to lack barrel buttons. Like the Yoga Book 1, designers and artists will be looking for alternatives, and like before, there will probably be many options. I'll try to verify that. Hopefully, with the Yoga Book 3, Lenovo gives us a stylus pen we don't immediately replace with something else.

UPDATE

Me: Does the Precision Pen have barrel buttons? Will other AES Lenovo and Wacom stylus pens rated for 4096 levels of pressure sensitivity work with the Yoga Book 2?

Lenovo: It has barrel 2 buttons and one eraser button at the top. Only Bluetooth AES 2.0, yes, but shortcuts of physical buttons may not work as intended as our built-in software pairs and configures in the background for this Pen specifically;

Edit: I found a video where one of the reviewers demonstrates the use of the barrel buttons (2). There’s a flat toggle piece on one side of the stylus pen. One for erasing, and one for making selections. Yay!

Edit: There are conflicting reports about release, September, or October.

This video actually does a good job demonstrating what the device can do.

[arthurhwalker]

Lenovo Yoga Book Stylus Pens

You’ve just bought your Lenovo Yoga Book, and you’re wondering what other stylus pens are out there beside the one that was included in the box. Or, you’ve had your Yoga Book for a while, and you have misplaced the included pen stylus, and you need a replacement. More recently, perhaps thanks in part to Samsung (pure speculation on my part, but the timing is peculiar), EMR pens have come to feel a little more universal across devices.

If you want to have the option of swapping ink pen inserts with an EMR sensitive tip, Lenovo’s Yoga Book’s Real Pen stylus is the only option I’m aware of. It might be that Smart Pens included with Wacom’s Bamboo Folio/Slate/Spark devices might (wild speculation on my part) work, but I think those always function as ink pens. That said, if you just want a stylus, and to use your Yoga Book like an Intuos Tablet there’s a plethora of options out there.

Best

Behold, Excalibur…

Lenovo’s 1st Gen Thinkpad 10 Tablet came with a stylus pen 4X80F22107 that is one of the best I’ve used. With the Thinkpad 10, it only supports 1024 levels of pressure sensitivity. However, paired with a Yoga Book, it seems to take advantage of all 2048 levels of pressure sensitivity the create pad is supposed to provide. Both the barrel and the eraser button work. 

The soft textured tip works with the create pad on the Yoga Book better (in my humble opinion) than the included stylus pen. It is definitely the one to get, if you can lay hands on one. I have two.

Good

A Microsoft Surface Pro 1 or 2 stylus pen would be the next one to look for. The barrel button, eraser button, and hard plastic nib aren’t as good as the Thinkpad 10 stylus pen, but close. The barrel button sticks out, to fit into the Surface Pro’s magnetic charging port for storage. It isn’t ideal.

Lenovo Thinkpad Yoga Digitizer “Silo” Pens that came with the older S1 Yoga and Yoga 12, should work with the Yoga Book as well. Again, these will be good, have a barrel button, but no eraser button.

Maybe Good (Update: Good)

The Fujitsu Digitizer Pen – T5000 FPCPN28AP gets rave reviews, and it has two programmable barrel buttons, with the eraser button. This is a good stylus, I’ve tried it, with the only quibble being that you can’t get both barrel buttons to work. You do get a barrel button, an eraser button, and a pretty nice drawing experience. Recommended I’ve read that they work with the Surface Pro 1 and 2, and thus, they likely work with the Yoga Book. They’re about forty dollars, so pretty low stakes.

Again, I haven’t tried the Fujitsu, but it would appear to be an option. With two barrel buttons, it might even belong in the “best” category. It’s next on my list to try.

Update: I’ve received some feedback that the Fujitsu T5000 works or does not work, in varying degree with Android versions of the Yoga Book. I’ve had pretty good luck with it, but not everyone has. Buyer beware. :-(

Wacom makes what’s called a Bamboo Stylus Feel for Galaxy Note & Pen-Enabled Tablets. It has a barrel button, but no eraser button. I’ve used one with a Lenovo Thinkpad 10 and the S1 Yoga. It was good with those devices, so I’m assuming it would be good with the Yoga Book as well. I’ve lost mine, so I can’t verify, unfortunately.   

Decent

I’ve found a number of Samsung device compatible pens work.

The Staedtler Noris Digital Pencil Stylus works, and so does (probably, I’ve only tried a couple) most other S-Pen stylus pens, but pressure sensitivity is very shallow, and limited to the mid to heavy.

They do feel nice in the hand, especially the Staedtler. You won’t be making any light strokes in an art program with these, but they’d be keen for navigating menus, or capturing handwriting in OneNote.

Bad

Elextako makes a digitizer pen with a barrel button, eraser, and hard plastic nibs. I tried it, and a similar one made by Zodiac Inc. They work, but not very well, and not with perfect reliability. They sometimes miss strokes, and at times fail to operate properly. I think it is because they’re made for older EMR tech.

Good luck in your quest, and drop me a line if you’ve found your own Excalibur Stylus Pen for the Lenovo Yoga Book. Cheers.

[arthurhwalker]

My Lenovo X260 running Linux is the best "I just need something to write with" laptop I've ever owned. I'd recommended the X-Series for years, but hadn't owned one myself because I needed a touch screen and pen input. I should have taken my own advice long ago.

[arthurhwalker]

My P40 Yoga, 16 Months Later

I've had my Lenovo P40 Yoga since early March of 2016. It is nearly two years after the device was announced, and it is still a relevant device in the professional computing landscape. The P40 has been central to my workflow since I got it, acting as a confluence for my professional and personal interests in writing, game development, and illustration.

As I write this, the P40 doesn't look to be getting a refresh, and Lenovo doesn't have a replacement device among their current offerings. As far as I know, only Wacom has a machine that is roughly comparable. That doesn't mean another one won't emerge down the road, but for right now, the P40 Yoga pretty much stands alone.

My P40 Yoga has traveled with me to Orlando, Baltimore, and on a weird road trip through Texas. It goes in my bag almost every day, through airports, and up the road to the donut shop. While it is showing some cosmetic wear and tear, it still runs like the day I got it.

At some point, I'll have to look at replacing the battery, putting a new screen protector on it, and finding just the right Linux distro. Wacom's newer (and badly marketed) Bambook Ink Stylus works really well with it, making it feel like I got a little bit of an upgrade for my money.

The P40 Yoga doesn't have a lot of the newer features of 2-in-1 devices coming out this year like faster SSDs and Thunderbolt 3 ports. What it does have is NVIDIA Quadro on board, and a best in class pen stylus experience. It’s weird to be obsessive about a piece of equipment. Maybe, that’s just me getting old and sentimental. 

I’m a game developer, a novelist, and an illustrator. Admittedly, finding an all-in-one mobile computing package for me isn’t easy. I’m also a personal computing princess and I won’t use crap. 

I have looked extensively for a replacement, something new and shiny to act as my mobile workstation. I don’t think the HP Spectre X360, Wacom’s Mobile Studio Pro, or even Apple’s iPad Pro are bad options, they just don’t hit enough of my criteria to make me want to trade up. 

Anyway, my criteria are as follows:

Intel ULV Processor 

Premium Graphics – Quadro or Intel Iris (no GeForce)

WQHD screen resolution or higher

Device/Manufacturer Specific Docking Option

A Good Keyboard or Keyboard Accessory

SD Card Reader - Full Size, or Micro.

Runs Linux if I want to

Included Stylus, even if just a 6.5 mm 

Premium Warranty/Service Options, Device Replacement Plan

I don’t need all of these things, but a good majority of them would be nice. Right now, my P40 Yoga ticks off the entire list. I’ve logged about 2600 hours on my P40, a few hundred more than my S1 Yoga.

I take really good care of my electronics, keeping them protected and dust free, but everything has a threshold. It’ll only power up so many times, and jump through so many airports in a bag. I’ve thought even more about doing that other thing old people do with gear or tools they get sentimental about, and buy a spare. 

This has become a trend with me lately, as my wife and I have come to like Lenovo Thinkpad 10 Tablet to the degree we’ve got three between us. We’ve got two 1st Gen and a 2nd Gen. Like the P40, there is not a new Thinkpad replacing it Lenovo’s offerings. 

So, that might be the answer. Lurk on Lenovo’s Outlet site and wait for a P40 Yoga with all the right specs to pop on the cheap. It might be, that the only thing that can replace a P40 Yoga, is another P40 Yoga.