14 DAY TRIAL // They say Microsoft is far from being an innovative company in the hardware business, but despite all of these, several firms are more or less copying its products and launching clones that not only look similar to Microsoft's but are also based on pretty much the same ideas.
Case in point, Lenovo's new Miix 700, a 2-in-1 device that was unveiled today at IFA 2015 and that comes with a removable keyboard and an integrated kickstand. Just like the Surface tablet, that is.
Back in October 2012, when Microsoft introduced the first Surface model, codenamed RT, it was the first tablet that came with a removable keyboard that could be easily attached to the screen via a magnetic port. More, the Surface RT included a built-in kickstand that allowed the tablet to be used just like a fully featured laptop.
The next Surface models came with the same features, but the keyboard was slightly redesigned for the Surface Pro 3 to be easier to use in your lap. And it turns out that all these ideas were really appealing to the other hardware manufacturers, including Lenovo, as they're now available on several other devices too.
The Lenovo Miix 700
The first thing that needs to be mentioned about the Lenovo Miix 700 is that it comes with the same removable keyboard that uses a magnetic port and the built-in kickstand as the Surface. The mechanism seems to be very similar too, so just by looking at the two devices, it's rather difficult to say which one is which if it weren't for the Lenovo branding.
The Miix 700 comes with Intel's new line of Skylake processors, and depending on the configuration you choose, you can go all the way up to m7 and 8 GB of RAM. The 12-inch screen has a resolution of 2160x1440 pixels and the devices weighs only 780 grams.
In terms of storage, Lenovo offers up to 256 GB on a built-in SSD, and the built-in battery can provide up to 9 hours of video playback. In real life, that's about 7 or 8 hours of continuous use.
Additionally, the device features Wi-Fi support, 1 USB 3.0 port and another one 2.0, a microHDMI connector, microSD card, and LTE support for on-the-go Internet access. A RealSense camera is also there if you want to use biometrics authentication features such as Windows Hello.
The device will go on sale in November, with pricing to start at $699.
