14 DAY TRIAL // Tablets with the 4:3 screen aspect ratio instead of 16:9 are pretty few compared to the rest, but not completely non-existent, thanks to the efforts of companies like Lenovo.
The IT player has officially introduced the IdeaTab S2109, which has a dual-core Texas Instruments 1GHz ARM Cortex-A9 processor and a 9.7-inch IPS display.
The press release and product page call the panel an IPS HD display, but all we could find was that the native resolution was 1,024 x 768 pixels, not very HD at all.
Sure, the screen isn't exactly built for cinematic experience (that's why the 16:9 ratio is more popular), but the resolution is still odd given that the IdeaPad S2109 is supposed to be an “entertainment maven’s dream device.”
Fortunately, the rest of the specs are decent or better, from the 1 GB of RAM to the storage capacity of up to 32 GB.
Even a microHDMI port is present, for streaming 720p media or full HD 1080p video to an HDTV or HDMI-enabled monitor.
And now we reach that so-called “advantage” that Lenovo's invention has over most rival tablets: loud and clear sound. Lenovo actually outfitted the slate with four SRS Surround Sound speakers.
Finally, the Lenovo IdeaPad S2109 runs the Android 4.0 operating system, otherwise known as Ice Cream Sandwich.
“The IdeaTab S2109 tablet is an entertainment maven’s dream device, boasting powerful processing and graphics for multimedia use,” said Yao Li, director of innovation product operations, Lenovo.
“The tablet’s Ice Cream Sandwich OS and amped-up features give consumers something that will keep them conveniently entertained anywhere, anytime in an incredibly slim package – whether they’re consuming or sharing their favorite websites, books, videos or music. It’s as nimble and convenient as toting a magazine, but it offers much more than the contents of one.”
Lenovo IdeaPad S2109 will have a price of $349 when it finally starts selling in June. The European tag will probably be 349 Euro instead of what exchange rates would have one believe (281.61 Euro).