Lenovo IdeaTab Lynx Windows 8 Tablet Review
Summary and Conclusion
Windows 8 and the highly efficient, low-power processors available today have made it possible to integrate a fully-functional Windows PC in the form factor of a traditional tablet, that's also manages to be touch-friendly and offer great battery life. And perhaps best of all, products like these are accessible to anyone with a few hundred dollars to spare. That's no small feat, and it's important to remember that while it's our job to pore over products and nitpick, we're impressed by how fluidly full-blown Windows 8 runs on the Lenovo IdeaTab Lynx.
While the Lynx doesn't break any benchmark records, it does an excellent job in real-world use. 2GB of RAM and a speedy 64GB SSD means that the 1.8GHz dual-core Atom CPU isn't bogged down by a relatively slow HDD. And while the GPU in Clovertrail isn't particularly powerful, you shouldn't be considering a tablet if gaming is your goal anyway. This little machine is an ideal workhorse and consumption device that runs cool and remains quiet even under duress. At $550, the tablet side of the Lynx is plenty capable of handling Office chores, e-mail duties, and even a little Photoshop. Add in the $120 keyboard dock, and you can double your battery life while also making yourself even more productive, thanks to physical keys and a trackpad. The combo works very well together, and honestly, we think the keyboard dock is a must have if you're considering a Windows 8 convertible like the Lynx. A keyboard dock is an ideal accessory, and you'll miss out on much of the Lynx's appeal if you don't have access to its dock.
Performance was well above average given the lower price point, and the build quality of the tablet is impressive. The keyboard dock is a little on the flimsy side, but it serves its purpose. The 11.6" display, while limited to a 1366x768 screen resolution, is quite vivid. Viewing angles are exceptional and touch sensitivity is top-notch. Of course, trying to mash tiny icons on the desktop side of Windows 8 is tough on any touchscreen machine, but the trackpad works well enough in that situation -- we only wish it were a bit larger and supported multi-finger gestures.
The Lynx offers a nice proposition. For $670, you can have a Windows 8 machine with over 11 hours of real battery life (incorporating the keyboard dock, of course), a highly portable form factor, and the option of separating the slate from the dock in order to use the tablet by itself. It runs circles around netbooks that were all the rage just a couple of years ago and while it can't step up as a gaming machine, it's ideal for working professionals and home users who are on the hunt for something that lasts longer untethered from an electrical outlet and weighs less than a conventional notebook or ultrabook.
;)
While the Lynx doesn't break any benchmark records, it does an excellent job in real-world use. 2GB of RAM and a speedy 64GB SSD means that the 1.8GHz dual-core Atom CPU isn't bogged down by a relatively slow HDD. And while the GPU in Clovertrail isn't particularly powerful, you shouldn't be considering a tablet if gaming is your goal anyway. This little machine is an ideal workhorse and consumption device that runs cool and remains quiet even under duress. At $550, the tablet side of the Lynx is plenty capable of handling Office chores, e-mail duties, and even a little Photoshop. Add in the $120 keyboard dock, and you can double your battery life while also making yourself even more productive, thanks to physical keys and a trackpad. The combo works very well together, and honestly, we think the keyboard dock is a must have if you're considering a Windows 8 convertible like the Lynx. A keyboard dock is an ideal accessory, and you'll miss out on much of the Lynx's appeal if you don't have access to its dock.Performance was well above average given the lower price point, and the build quality of the tablet is impressive. The keyboard dock is a little on the flimsy side, but it serves its purpose. The 11.6" display, while limited to a 1366x768 screen resolution, is quite vivid. Viewing angles are exceptional and touch sensitivity is top-notch. Of course, trying to mash tiny icons on the desktop side of Windows 8 is tough on any touchscreen machine, but the trackpad works well enough in that situation -- we only wish it were a bit larger and supported multi-finger gestures.
The Lynx offers a nice proposition. For $670, you can have a Windows 8 machine with over 11 hours of real battery life (incorporating the keyboard dock, of course), a highly portable form factor, and the option of separating the slate from the dock in order to use the tablet by itself. It runs circles around netbooks that were all the rage just a couple of years ago and while it can't step up as a gaming machine, it's ideal for working professionals and home users who are on the hunt for something that lasts longer untethered from an electrical outlet and weighs less than a conventional notebook or ultrabook.
 |
 |
|
|
