14 DAY TRIAL // It seems that even high-tech products can get married these days, as the IdeaPad U1 from Lenovo clearly proves. By combining two distinct systems, Lenovo has managed to create a hybrid ideapad notebook that has a detachable screen and a CPU for each half. Consumers practically have two distinct PCs, but the systems may be merged together in order to share the same battery power, data, documents and the 3G connectivity.
“The IdeaPad U1 hybrid notebook is a game-changing technology in the PC industry that lets user switch their PC experience within a single device to match their dynamic lifestyle,” Liu Jun, senior vice president, Idea Product Group, Lenovo, said. “By fusing the functionality of a notebook with the slate tablet’s rich multitouch entertainment and mobile Internet experience, U1 provides consumers the freedom to choose the device they prefer for any activity.”
The unique design allows end-users to detach the laptop's 'screen' and have it run as a tablet PC thanks to its ARM processor. When merged, however, the laptop system itself can behave as a hub and docking station while the slate acts as a mobile device. Lenovo implemented its Hybrid Switch technology that enables the seamless toggling between the two processors, which means that operations do not need to be interrupted even when detaching the tablet from the whole system.
The IdeaPad U1 has a fashionable, scarlet red exterior and a footprint smaller than a piece of notebook paper. It is thin and weighs only 3.8 pounds, and will easily satisfy customers with its easy detach-and-converge design. The slate has multitouch capabilities and uses an 11.6-inch, HD LED screen. The laptop system runs Windows 7 and, when removed, the multitouch slate is usable thanks to Lenovo's customized Skylight OS.
An extra feature of the hybrid computer is the “Me Centric” user interface. The IdeaPad U1's has a“Me” centric tablet interface for comfortable landscape and portrait viewing. In addition, it is possible to toggle between a six-section and a four-section display, with the six-section mode meant to complement the multitouch access, thus enhancing the mobile Internet experience. On the other hand, the four-section mode is excellent as a media center.
The Lenovo IdeaPad U1 is designed with 3G connectivity and both the laptop and tablet modes support five hours of 3G web browsing. On the other hand, 3G can last on standby for about 60 hours.
The IdeaPad U1 hybrid notebook has a retail price of $999 but won't become available until June 2010.