Lenovo IdeaPad Yoga Series: Stretching the Boundaries

There are so many laptops out there right now that making an educated, informed decision about a laptop purchase is akin to filing your taxes on your own—you never quite trust that you’re making the right decisions.

Lenovo takes the guesswork out of the equation by offering the new IdeaPad Yoga series of laptops. These fully functioning, feature-rich Ultrabooks offer almost everything you need in a portable PC, and Lenovo throws in a versatile series of display modes to make your experience as flexible as possible.

But is the Yoga right for you? I recently took two of the flagship models out for a test drive, both 13.3” Ultrabook convertible models, and I came back with this conclusion: Maybe.

First of all, your experience may differ depending on what you really need. If you’re looking for a business-centric solution, you’ll appreciate the solid processing power of the dual core 2.0 GHz Intel© Core™ i7-3537U model. It features 8GB of 1600 MHz DDR3 RAM for even more efficient multi-tasking, and a 256GB solid-state drive. The 13.3” HD+ IPS screen is equipped with a native resolution of 1600 x 900, and it’s also a multi-touch capacitive touch screen, which perfectly complements all the features of Windows 8.

There also another 13.3” version that features a 1.8 GHz Intel© Core™ i5-3337U dual-core processor, 4GB of 1600 MHz DDR3 RAM and a 128GB solid-state drive. Screen resolution, multiple display modes and included extras like the webcam, mic and speakers all remain the same.

If you’re looking to have fun with this machine, to use it casually and infrequently, then you may find its innovative multitasking screen displays to be a bit of overkill. Using the Yoga to just check email and surf the Web is like using a Ferrari to pick up milk at the store. It may look great, but you’re not using it to its potential.

Although the Intel© HD Graphics 4000 may be a little too light to handle the intense graphics of hardcore gaming, it’s perfectly suitable for most challenges during the course of a normal work day. Watching most videos and viewing photos or other digital files is seamless, and I noticed no glitches or interruptions when playing back an HD movie downloaded to a memory card. The absence of an optical drive was not noticeable thanks to the 2-in-1 media card reader.

Networking is made possible through 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 4.0, and the unit includes USB 3.0/2.0 and HDMI connectivity. An integrated webcam, microphone and stereo speakers round out the list of standard features.

But the real selling point of the Yoga is the convertible options available to display your Ultrabook. As a laptop, it functions perfectly. The hinge is solid and runs the full length of the display—unlike some hinged convertible hybrids with a single middle hinge that makes you hold your breath every time you swing the screen around.

In tablet mode, the screen folds completely back until it rests on the opposite side of the keyboard. This converts it into a full tablet, but leaves the keyboard exposed on the other side. Although you do get a full tablet experience, leaving the keyboard exposed may seem risky to some users.

In tent mode, you simply extend the screen backwards until the Ultrabook™ achieves an A-shape or tent position. You can use this mode for presentations to a group or to demo applications or graphics. I tried using this to show my in-laws a PowerPoint presentation on why we need to borrow money from them, and although the presentation didn’t garner me any cash, it went off without a hitch.

The last mode is unique—you simply bring the screen back until the bottom of the unit forms an L-shape. Called Stand mode, this allows the screen to be displayed and the touch screen to activate. It makes kind of a mini-kiosk station, which could have a number of real-world applications.

No matter which mode you use it in, the Ultrabook conforms to height and weight standards for its class (less than an inch thin when closed and under 3 lb). Battery life in our tests topped out at just over 5 hours and 15 minutes, running four HD movies consecutively to drain the battery. I did this without running the power-saving modes, so playing it smart and tight with the power could probably net you a full seven-hour day if done right.

The keyboard features island-style chiclet keys that produce a satisfying resistance when pressed. The layout is comfortable enough, although large hands will find navigating the keyboard difficult at first. The keyless multi-touch touchpad also requires a slight learning curve.

So again, the question of whether the Yoga is right for you comes back to what you need in an Ultrabook. This one has almost every base covered—its good looks and unique display modes make it a great talking point for casual users, but its pumped processor and abundance of RAM make it a great workhorse as well. Presentations, demos and video sharing will have no better friend this year than the Lenovo IdeaPad Yoga.

For more information about the IdeaPad Yoga series, speak with a B&H sales professional in our New York SuperStore, over the phone at 1-800-606-6969 or online via Live Chat.

	Lenovo Ideapad Yoga 13 Convertible 13.3" Ultrabook Computer	Lenovo Ideapad Yoga 13 Convertible 13.3" Ultrabook Computer
Performance
Processor	2.0 GHz Intel© Core™ i7-3537U  Dual-Core Ivy Bridge	1.8 GHz Intel© Core™ i5-3337U  Dual-Core Ivy Bridge
Cache	L3: 4MB	L3: 3MB
System Bus	5GT/s	5GT/s
Memory	Type: PC3-12800  1600 MHz DDR3 SDRAM Installed: 8GB	Type: PC3-12800  1600 MHz DDR3 SDRAM Installed: 4GB
Graphics Card	Type: Integrated Installed: Intel HD Graphics 4000 Shared	Type: Integrated Installed: Intel HD Graphics 4000 Shared
Display
Type	Touch screen	Touch screen
Size	13.3"	13.3"
Backlight	LED	LED
Aspect Ratio	16:09	16:09
Finish	Glossy	Glossy
Native Resolution	1600 x 900	1600 x 900
Storage
Hard Drive	Installed: 256GB SSD	Installed: 128GB SSD
Optical Drive	None	None
Input/Output Connectors
Ports	1x USB 3.0 (A) 1x USB 2.0 (A)	1x USB 3.0 (A) 1x USB 2.0 (A)
Display	1x HDMI	1x HDMI
Audio	Integrated Stereo Speakers, 1W each Integrated Microphone 1x 1/8" (3.5mm) Headphone/Microphone Combo Jack	Integrated Stereo Speakers, 1W each Integrated Microphone 1x 1/8" (3.5mm) Headphone/Microphone Combo Jack
Flash Media Slot	1x SD 1x MMC	1x SD 1x MMC
Communications
Network	None	None
Wi-Fi	802.11b/g/n	802.11b/g/n
Bluetooth	Bluetooth 4.0	Bluetooth 4.0
Mobile Broadband	None	None
Webcam	Yes	Yes
General
Operating System	Windows 8 (64-bit)	Windows 8 (64-bit)
Security	HDD User Password Protection, Power-On Password	HDD User Password Protection, Power-On Password
Keyboard	Type: Standard Notebook Keyboard	Type: Standard Notebook Keyboard
Pointing Device	TouchPad	TouchPad
Battery	4-Cell Lithium-Polymer Providing up to 8 Hours per Charge (3700mAh)	4-Cell Lithium-Polymer Providing up to 8 Hours per Charge (3700mAh)
Power Requirements	Not Specified By Manufacturer	Not Specified By Manufacturer
Dimensions (WxHxD)	13.1 x 0.6 x 8.9" / 33.3 x 1.5 x 22.6 cm	13.1 x 0.6 x 8.9" / 33.3 x 1.5 x 22.6 cm
Weight	3.4 lb / 1.54 kg	3.4 lb / 1.54 kg