14 DAY TRIAL // Ultrabooks are supposed to help secure the notebook market against the so-called tablet onslaught, but Lenovo may have just thrown a wrench in Intel's plans.
Intel advertises Ultrabooks as the new incarnation of notebooks, so to speak.
Their key selling point is the decent performance in a package that is no thicker than a tablet, even with a physical keyboard.
Lenovo may or may not help ultrabooks' case by launching the YOGA laptop.
Basically, this is a sort of ultrabook whose 360 degree flip-and-fold design lets it switch from tablet to notebook form factors easily.
Both professionals and business users are going to benefit from ownership of the Yoga in equal measure, Lenovo claims.
“It is clear to us that consumers want their four screens: mobile devices, tablets, notebooks and smart TVs and they want them to work together seamlessly, anytime, anywhere,” said Yang Yuanqing, chairman and CEO, Lenovo.
“Whether a notebook that bends and folds, or an all-in-one that puts the 'wide' into wide-angle, today's announcements reflect our focus on delivering the inspirational innovations that consumers are looking for. The IdeaPad YOGA multi-mode notebook redefines the convergence and convertible user experience by bringing together the best of traditional PCs, with the best of tablets and more.”
The IdeaPad YOGA multi-mode notebook uses an Intel Core CPU, 8 GB of RAM, a 256GB SSD and a 13.3-inch screen (1,600 x 900 pixels), among other things.
Its thickness is of 0.67 inches (16.9mm) and it weighs 3.1 lbs, or 1.47 kilograms.
Alas, even though the introduction was made at this year's Consumer Electronics Show (CES 2012), it won't be until the second half of the year that sales of the tablet will begin.
When they do, buyers will have to fork up the sum of $1,199 (936 Euro). Considering that ultrabooks are supposed to get much more affordable by then, the Yoga may not have too great an effect on the segment after all.
