Lifestyle
The Lightweight Lenovo Yoga Book
The Lightweight Lenovo Yoga Book
A magnesium and aluminium alloy is behind this distinctive new Lenovo computer's design.
9 February, 2017
When Lenovo designed the new Yoga Book, it was with the tablet-laptop flexibility in mind.
That flexibility also meant that maximizing its potential for creative use relied on a minimalist approach to aesthetics.
The first thing that new or potential users will notice is just how thin the 2-in-1 device is. In the closed position with the keyboard attached, the Yoga Book is slightly over 4 millimeters thick. That's about the height, perhaps less, of this sentence that you're reading – and that's pretty thin indeed. It's a design decision that makes the mobile device weigh less too: The company says Yoga Book weighs 690 grams, helped by Lenovo's high-quality aluminium/magnesium alloy.
Image: NeverStandStill
That's achieved by using the lightweight materials, including a gear-like, watchband hinge mechanism that offers four different mode positions for watching content and browsing, and for typing or drawing.
Images: DPReview
Since most people want to work on their machines, what the ultrathin Yoga Book is like when it's open is what matters most. Despite its lightweight mobility, the machine is sturdy enough for traditional laptop use, with a full keyboard that "disappears" when using the Yoga Book for drawing or presentation work.
The halo keyboard appears when you need it, much like the touchscreen on a smartphone, but it fades from view at the press of a button for alternate setting, leaving the black matte screen for other tasks. The haptic feedback system helps to guide the user, but novices may find it takes some time to adjust.
The halo keyboard appears when you need it, much like the touchscreen on a smartphone, but it fades from view at the press of a button for alternate setting, leaving the black matte screen for other tasks. The haptic feedback system helps to guide the user, but novices may find it takes some time to adjust.
The hinge allows for a V-shaped tent position when a visual display – whether in the kitchen, or in a meeting – is what you need. Yet it also makes it easy to fold the Yoga Book flat on the table for drawing and graphic arts. The create pad allows for a side-by-side experience using a stylus that is included with the device.
The stylus itself is convertible, so that it works with ink cartridges when the user is focused on a design project that relies on paper sketching too, without disrupting the flow to switch the pens. It's a feature that can be useful for taking notes on paper while simultaneously recording a digital version.
The stylus itself is convertible, so that it works with ink cartridges when the user is focused on a design project that relies on paper sketching too, without disrupting the flow to switch the pens. It's a feature that can be useful for taking notes on paper while simultaneously recording a digital version.
Image: The Region 2 Show
The stylus also never needs to be charged because it relies on electromagnetic resonance technology, so there's no battery needed. All told, the Yoga Book stylus system allows for 2,048 levels of pressure.
Image: TabTimes
That's a lot of creative capacity in what Lenovo boasts is the "world's thinnest and lightest" device, but the sleek design comes with its tradeoffs. One is the absence of any standard-sized ports, apart from an audio jack along an edge that also holds the power button and a volume control. The other edge on the Yoga Book has a micro HDMI port, a micro USB port, and a slot for an SD card up to 128GB capacity.
Image: ExpertReviews.co.uk
Other features, like audio speakers offer adequate if not state-of-the-art sounds, and Lenovo has included a small Webcam and a camera that works in tablet mode. The USB port is used for charging the system's battery, and that's where users may find another of the versatile device's tradeoffs.
Charging the system is slow if you are simultaneously using the device, and the only way to quickly get back to a full-power battery is if you shut down while it's charging. The battery life, though, is expected to last up to 15 hours, since the Yoga Book is designed with mobility in mind, meaning it is worth the wait.
Charging the system is slow if you are simultaneously using the device, and the only way to quickly get back to a full-power battery is if you shut down while it's charging. The battery life, though, is expected to last up to 15 hours, since the Yoga Book is designed with mobility in mind, meaning it is worth the wait.
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