Lenovo IdeaPad Tablet K1 Review

Performance Analysis:  Performance-wise, there were no real surprises with the Lenovo IdeaPad Tablet K1.  This tablet is based on NVIDIA's Tegra 2 reference design for Honeycomb, so it performed within a few percentage points of other, similarly configured Android 3.1 slates.  This is not a bad thing by any stretch, however.  NVIDIA's dual-core Tegra 2 offers great general purpose performance, as well as a robust graphics engine.  Where the K1 shined was in regard to Lenovo's user interface tweaks.  With simple features like those little red app kill Xs and Lenovo's App Wheel, users will find fewer high-level interface commands are required to complete a function or to control apps, utilities and other system resources.

 
Lenovo's IdeaPad Tablet K1 and Optional Keyboard Dock                    

Though Lenovo's IdeaPad Tablet K1 isn't exactly a stand-out product, versus what we've seen from the competition, it does provide a few key optimizations that deliver tangible value to the consumer.  Lenovo's subtle UI tweaks and enhancements definitely improve upon the Honeycomb experience.  Furthermore, the K1 has a healthy assortment of pre-installed applications, utilities and games that aren't just bloatware but provide key functionality and features for an out-of-the-box experience that is as good as it gets these days for 10-inch Android slates.  It may not blow the doors off other tablets (though it will keep pace), offer a razor-thin profile or feather-weight construction but what it does, it does rather well. 

The IdeadPad Tablet K1 also offers a level of refinement that will provide even novice tablet users the ability to get things done with a shallower learning curve.  Finally, though we wish it had a few more IO port options on board (even a fulls-sized SD card slot would be a big plus), the Lenovo IdeaPad Tablet K1 drops in at a price point that is much more in line with where we think tablets should be these days.  At $499 for a 32GB version, its price point is on the cusp of allowing prospective consumers a guilt-free purchase decision, knowing that a mainstream multimedia notebook can be had for not a lot more.  Tablet manufacturers may cringe but we've just got to say it again; prices have to come down for tablet PCs, especially when you consider current thin and light notebook alternatives.  Thanks to Lenovo for "keeping it real," or so to speak.  For the price, we have no qualms recommending the IdeaPad Tablet K1 for a little bit of coffee table Honeycomb convenience at your fingertips.

Solid Android 3.1 performance Fast 1GHz NVIDIA Tegra 2 Dual Core SoC Great custom UI tweaks offer additional utility Screen capture button! Custom File Manager app Optional keyboard dock Competitively priced	Fewer ports and IO access features Screen could be a little brighter