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Shogmaster · Oct 25, 2015

You want a large screen 2-1 convertible with a great pen capability AND a discrete GPU? Don't want to pay $1900+ for that? Lenovo has something for you for $1000.

Lenovo just stealth released a Skylake Thinkpad Yoga 14 at Best Buy. This looks like a Best Buy exclusive deal of an exclusive version of the upcoming Thinkpad Yoga 460.

Sure, it's not as sexy as the Surface Book, but it does have some advantages:

1.Pen is the new Wacom Active ES and the laptop has a silo for it. - You get the Wacom's vast 3rd party software support, super low initial activation force and linear and predictable pressure curve. If you need to lap up marketing pressure level BS bullet point, you also get 2048 levels of it. But more importantly, it's needs no battery, even though unlike Wacom's older EMR tech, the pen is powered; it's got a super capacitor in it, like Apple Pencil. Charge it for few second and you get tens of minutes. And unlike the Apple Pencil, you charge inside the pen silo. This new pen is best of all worlds in that it gives you the edge accuracy of the N-Trig pens but with the performance of Wacom pens.

2. It's UPGRADABLE. - You can pop open the bottom casing and get to the SODIMM slot, 2.5" SSD slot and even an half length M.2 slot. In 3 years when battery dies, you should be able to order the part and replace it yourself. This means you can get a 16GB RAM version of the unit for less than $1200 by ordering a 16GB stick from Newegg and install it yourself. Surface Book will cost you $2700 to get a 16GB RAM configuration.

3. Bargain pricing. - The $999 configuration at BB is pretty damn nice: 14" 1920x1080 IPS with 10 point multutouch and Wacom Active ES 2048 lvl pressure pen, Core i5 6200U 2.2Ghz, NVidia 940M with 2GB of VRAM, 8GB LPDDR3 RAM, 256GB SSD, comes with the pen.

I'm headed to Best Buy today as soon as it opens to pick this puppy up. Review incoming in coming days.

EDIT: SINCE SO MANY ARE CONFUSED, THIS IS A CONVERTIBLE, NOT A NORMAL LAPTOP

lenovo-laptop-convertible-thinkpad-yoga-silver-tablet-mode-6.jpg

Slayer-33 · Oct 25, 2015

Fuuuuck

tim.mbp · Oct 25, 2015

Lenovo's quality is a bit crap to put it lightly. I would never buy anything from them again.

Shogmaster · Oct 25, 2015

tim.mbp said:
Lenovo's quality is a bit crap to put it lightly. I would never buy anything from them again.

Depends what you buy. Thinkpad Yogas have been bulletproof. Thinkpad Tablet 2 was a disaster. The great thing about this unit is that its basically a SKylake + pen tech update to their super solid Thinkpad Yoga 14, so it's a well know quantity. Well reviewed product line.

phanphare · Oct 25, 2015

tim.mbp said:
Lenovo's quality is a bit crap to put it lightly. I would never buy anything from them again.

their thinkpad laptops are generally solid

RS4- · Oct 25, 2015

Thanks Shog, I think I'll have to buy one when I'm down in the US.

If I've got the money to buy it that is.

Gattsu25 · Oct 25, 2015

The design of the keyboard and trackpad don't inspire great confidence.

Previous thinkpad users, how are they in real life use?

giga · Oct 25, 2015

It doesn't seem like the screen detaches, like the SB. So if you want to use it as a tablet, you'd be carrying the full 3.85lbs?

BeforeU · Oct 25, 2015

Interesting.

Talon · Oct 25, 2015

phanphare said:
their thinkpad laptops are generally solid

They used to be. As of about 2 years ago, they're no longer as reliable as they used to be.

Shogmaster · Oct 25, 2015

giga said:
It doesn't seem like the screen detaches, like the SB. So if you want to use it as a tablet, you'd be carrying the full 3.85lbs?

That's one of the compromises, but frankly, I find the SB clipboard mode kinda meh since you only get 3 hours battery life and no GPU power.

Besides, a 14" tablet in your arms as you draw? Sounds like would super unwieldy to me.

phanphare · Oct 25, 2015

Gattsu25 said:
The design of the keyboard and trackpad don't inspire great confidence.

Previous thinkpad users, how are they in real life use?

the trackpad is serviceable, nothing more

the keyboard is great. one of the better laptop keyboards out there.

Talon said:
They used to be. As of about 2 years ago, they're no longer as reliable as they used to be.

you got receipts for that?

Gattsu25 · Oct 25, 2015

phanphare said:
the trackpad is serviceable, nothing more

the keyboard is great. one of the better laptop keyboards out there.

you got receipts for that?

Good to hear on both fronts, thanks.

Zabka · Oct 25, 2015

I've had a hell of a time dealing with Lenovos crapping out on me lately but this sounds really damn good.

cartoon_soldier · Oct 25, 2015

Does it come with the Lenovo malware or without it?

jchap · Oct 25, 2015

cartoon_soldier said:
Does it come with the Lenovo malware or without it?

Just use the windows 10 clean install feature

nocturnalis · Oct 25, 2015

Since the Lenovo spyware stuff got exposed (for the second time!), I've noticed a lot of people recommending them. Even if they could be trusted, apparently their quality has gone down the gutter.

jchap said:
Just use the windows 10 clean install feature

I thought some tech people said it wouldn't work because it's in the BIOS or something.

Borman · Oct 25, 2015

jchap said:
Just use the windows 10 clean install feature

That wouldnt fix a thing when it was in the firmware of the hardware.

Danneee · Oct 25, 2015

Holy crap that's awesome value.

Gallbaro · Oct 25, 2015

Gattsu25 said:
The design of the keyboard and trackpad don't inspire great confidence.

Previous thinkpad users, how are they in real life use?

Use the superior nipple! The three hard buttons at the top of the pad are fantastic for tweaking the nipple.

Sir Abacus · Oct 25, 2015

Don't trust Lenovo.

Fuck em. Get an old X230 or T440. Don't buy their new shit or trust them as far as you can throw them.

nocturnalis said:
Since the Lenovo spyware stuff got exposed (for the second time!)

This. You get one for stupidity. Doing it a second time, fuck it, they're gone. Anything by them made after 2014? They're forever off my list.

Gattsu25 · Oct 25, 2015

Gallbaro said:
Use the superior nipple! The three hard buttons at the top of the pad are fantastic for tweaking the nipple.

I've tried the nipple and feel that it is a vastly inferior control method to a good trackpad.

If you have a poor trackpad then the nipple comes into its own.

Nipples that, when tapped, register as clicks are the WORST though. I usually pull out those nipples in order to reduce the number of erroneous mouseclicks that move the focus to somewhere else on my screen and fuck up whatever it is I'm typing.

Edit: I typically call them nubs.

nocturnalis · Oct 25, 2015

Sir Abacus said:
Don't trust Lenovo.

Fuck em. Get an old X230 or T440. Don't buy their new shit or trust them as far as you can throw them.

This. You get one for stupidity. Doing it a second time, fuck it, they're gone. Anything by them made after 2014? They're forever off my list.

Exactly. You have to realize that they are just going to keep doing it and just get better at hiding it. Does not explain the defense force though.

LQX · Oct 25, 2015

The screen is detachable?

LyleLanley · Oct 25, 2015

If the screen doesn't detach is it really comparable to the Surface Book?

Shogmaster · Oct 25, 2015

LyleLanley said:
If the screen doesn't detach is it really comparable to the Surface Book?

It's too compromised of a feature for me to care. Most reviews are reporting 2 hours battery life detached. I say why bother.

Anfang · Oct 25, 2015

jchap said:
Just use the windows 10 clean install feature

Except that doesnt get rid of the some of the malware lenovo uses.

Chezzymann · Oct 25, 2015

If the screen isn't detachable then its just a touch screen laptop, not a tablet/laptop hybrid. Bending the keyboard back is just too bulky.

StudioTan · Oct 25, 2015

Shogmaster said:
It's too compromised of a feature for me to care. Most reviews are reporting 2 hours battery life detached. I say why bother.

Still doesn't make it comparable to a Surface Book just because you don't like the feature. I don't want to hold an almost 4lb device for any length of time. 2 hours is enough time to read a magazine or web browsing before bed.

Xan Kriegor · Oct 25, 2015

Shogmaster said:
It's too compromised of a feature for me to care. Most reviews are reporting 2 hours battery life detached. I say why bother.

Title is kind of misleading this. Surface Book capability, to me, refers to the detachable screen. This is simply a good valued notebook.

DrPoolips · Oct 25, 2015

I have a Thinkpad Yoga 14. I love this damn thing. The build and quality of a Thinkpad with the usability of a Surface. Definitely would recommend.

DUFFMCWALIN · Oct 25, 2015

tim.mbp said:
Lenovo's quality is a bit crap to put it lightly. I would never buy anything from them again.

My 2015 y50 has been great but they are a bit ymmv.

Not sure if mine has the malware. Can't remember the models affected.

Gattsu25 · Oct 25, 2015

Xan Kriegor said:
Title is kind of misleading this. Surface Book capability, to me, refers to the detachable screen. This is simply a good valued notebook.

It was immediately obvious to me that Shog was referring to the pen/style functionality for artists

Xan Kriegor · Oct 25, 2015

Gattsu25 said:
It was immediately obvious to me that Shog was referring to the pen/style functionality for artists

Yeah you're right, I could see that. The formal comparison of the functionality doesn't take away from the fact that the device in the OP is a great value.

jagowar · Oct 25, 2015

Shogmaster said:
It's too compromised of a feature for me to care. Most reviews are reporting 2 hours battery life detached. I say why bother.

It's good enough for what pretty much everybody would use a tablet for.... 2 or 3 hours lounging on the couch or casual browsing. The fact that this can't detach makes it not as good as the surface imo.

Shogmaster · Oct 25, 2015

StudioTan said:
Still doesn't make it comparable to a Surface Book just because you don't like the feature. I don't want to hold an almost 4lb device for any length of time. 2 hours is enough time to read a magazine or web browsing before bed.

This a 14" unit. It ain't for reading ebooks in bed. And frankly, neither is the SB. Even at only 1.6 lbs it's too unwieldy for that. I find 1lb tablets too unwieldy for holding in my arms while reading.

You get this 14" convertible for doing work on the desk.

Xan Kriegor said:
Title is kind of misleading this. Surface Book capability, to me, refers to the detachable screen. This is simply a good valued notebook.

This is a CONVERTIBLE. Screen flips around. You can use it in tablet mode.

jagowar said:
It's good enough for what pretty much everybody would use a tablet for.... 2 or 3 hours lounging on the couch or casual browsing. The fact that this can't detach makes it not as good as the surface imo.

You don't buy a $2000 convertible for casual browsing. You can buy a $100 Android for that. Even if I had SB, I would never use it in that scenario when I have a cheaper better suited tablets for that purpose. And if you can afford a SB, you will have light throw around tablet as well.

Kyoufu · Oct 25, 2015

Shogmaster said:
This is a CONVERTIBLE. Screen flips around. You can use it in tablet mode.

Except nobody uses it that way because it's far too heavy for tablet mode.

giga · Oct 25, 2015

Shogmaster said:
T
You don't buy a $2000 convertible for casual browsing. You can buy a $100 Android for that.

If I enjoy the experience of a fork in my eye, sure.

888 · Oct 25, 2015

Just hope that it doesn't have to go to their repair Depot.

Aiii · Oct 25, 2015

You don't need a touchscreen on a regular laptop. And if you're just gonna buy a regular laptop you can get WAY better specs in that price range.

SugarDaddy · Oct 25, 2015

Kyoufu said:
Except nobody uses it that way because it's far too heavy for tablet mode.

Graphic design majors/artists? This seems perfect for them, especially with the stylus.

Zabka · Oct 25, 2015

Kyoufu said:
Except nobody uses it that way because it's far too heavy for tablet mode.

You can put it on a table or a desk or your lap. It's the same way you'd use the Surface Book when you draw for any significant length of time.

Joe · Oct 25, 2015

Is there an inexpensive Surface Pro?

btrboyev · Oct 25, 2015

Joe said:
Is there an inexpensive Surface Pro?

$899

SomedayTheFire · Oct 25, 2015

Have a Lenovo Yoga 11s. Never again.

Hoo-doo · Oct 25, 2015

giga said:
It doesn't seem like the screen detaches, like the SB. So if you want to use it as a tablet, you'd be carrying the full 3.85lbs?

I'd wager a tiny minority of Surface Book owners are actually going to use the detachable tablet functionality past the honeymoon phase.
Seeing as the battery life is abysmal and it's way too bulky for comfortable tablet use.

Scalemail Ted · Oct 25, 2015

I look forward to reading your review on this.

Shogmaster · Oct 25, 2015

Kyoufu said:
Except nobody uses it that way because it's far too heavy for tablet mode.

Tablet mode meaning you use it for doing artwork on a desk. Like a Cintiq. This is a productivity machine, not an iPad competitor. 14" is too unwieldy for arm handling. No one wants to draw while holding with one arm anyways.

outunderthestars · Oct 25, 2015

Would a USPS movers coupon work on it? I have a couple of those kicking about.

Shogmaster · Oct 25, 2015

SomedayTheFire said:
Have a Lenovo Yoga 11s. Never again.

This is a Thinkpad line. Yours was part of Ideapad line. Better quality materials and construction. Business market, not consumer market.

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