Lenovo IdeaTab Lynx Windows 8 Tablet Review

Microsoft's Surface Pro has been out just over a month now, but with its $899 base price, it's at the high-end of what a lot of consumers are willing to fork over for a Windows 8-equipped tablet, and that's not even factoring in the $120+ keyboard option. Thankfully, the market is getting a few more entrants in the field, and Lenovo's IdeaTab Lynx is one of the more interesting ones. It's priced well below the Surface Pro, is compatible with an optional keyboard dock, and runs a full, unabashed version of Windows 8 Pro.

If you've been holding out for the perfect Win8 tablet, you may be interested in finding out how this tab stacks up in our usual gauntlet of tests.

Lenovo IdeaTab Lynx (11.6" Windows 8 tablet) Specifications & Features

Processor: Operating System: Display/Resolution: Storage: Memory: Camera: Sound: Communications Ports: Battery: System Weight: System Dimensions: Extras: Price:

Intel Atom Z2760 dual-core processor at 1.8GHz (2 cores; 4 threads; 1MB cache) Windows 8 (32-bit) 11.6-inch Touch-Enabled LED IPS Display with 1366 x 768 resolution and 400 nits 64GB eMMC Flash Memory (microSD expansion slot is available as well) 2GB 800MHz LPDDR2 2MP front camera (1080p-capable); no rear camera 0.5W Stereo Speakers, microphone / headphone combo jack 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth 4.0 Micro HDMI, micro-USB, USB 2.0, MicroSD, headphone/mic, dock connector 6800mAh; Li-Po battery 1.41 pounds 11.8 x 7.39 x 0.3-0.37 inches (WxHxD) Ambient Light Sensor, Accelerometer, 3-axis Gyroscope, Digital Compass $550, $670 with keyboard and dock

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Thanks to its Atom Z2760 SoC, the Lynx is capable of running the full x86 version of Windows 8 -- much like the ATIV Smart PC 500T we reviewed earlier in the year. You’re likely familiar with the distinction between Windows 8 and Windows RT by now, but if not, know this: you’ll want a tablet running Windows 8 if you plan to run Window 8 desktop apps on it. Windows RT doesn’t support X86 apps that are designed to run on your desktop, just apps from the Microsoft Store. That means that the Lynx can run any app that your Windows 8 laptop can run, and that's a pretty major distinction. In fact, this device priced around the same as the Surface RT, which is far more limited from a platform standpoint.

At the hardware level, of note are 2GB of DDR2L (low-power) memory and a 64GB SSD. This is where price and power consumption restrictions make a dent. As we noted in our earlier review, Clover Trail means no DDR3 memory. This is also where the tablet form factor presents a blessing and a curse. On one hand, it's great to have the full Windows 8 on a slate. On the other, you have to be prepared to use Windows 8 with just 64GB of storage -- of which only around 35GB are available to the user.

We'll explore these features, issues and more in the pages ahead -- join us for the full review.