When it was first introduced at CES 2013, Lenovo described the Helix
hybrid laptop-tablet as a "flip and rip" system, which sounded like the
usually staid company was trying to add a little sizzle to the normally
conservative ThinkPad lineup.
In person, this detachable screen
hybrid still has a very ThinkPad-like look and feel, and from a
distance, looks nearly identical to the army of ThinkPads on office and
cubicle desks around the world.
The flipping and ripping comes
into play when you activate the small hinge-based latch for removing the
display from the rest of the body. In this case, the screen pops off
much like any other hybrid's, but then can reattach after being rotated
180 degrees, leaving the screen facing out from the back of the system.
That makes for a good presentation mode, which I sometimes call a kiosk
setup. Of course, you can also use the Helix screen by itself as a
Windows 8 slate, or fold the unit shut with the screen facing out for a
thicker tablet mode backed up by the extra battery power of the keyboard
dock.
A crowded 11-inch field
But, as an 11-inch laptop, the
Helix is in the middle of a suddenly crowded market. The Sony Vaio Pro 11 and 11-inch MacBook Air are on the traditional clamshell side, while Lenovo's own Yoga 11S and the Acer Aspire P3 are hybrids, although ones that work differently than the Helix.
Another potential stumbling block: the Helix (like the
Yoga 11S) is currently stuck with Intel's previous-generation
processors, rather than the new fourth-generation Core i-series, called
Haswell. The difference is important for a device such as this, because
the battery life numbers we're seeing from the first few Intel Haswell
laptops make the new chips more than worth waiting for, especially if
you're going to be using a hybrid in its extra-portable tablet mode.
Because
this system is from Lenovo's professional-grade ThinkPad line, as
opposed to the consumer-targeted IdeaPad line, you can expect to pay a
bit of a premium compared with other machines with similar specs. For a
ThinkPad's rigid construction, best-in-class keyboard, and IT-friendly
security features, that's perfectly reasonable, in theory. But, the
Helix starts (starts!) at a frankly surprising $1,679, and for that, you
only get a last-gen Intel Core i5 CPU, 4GB of RAM, and a 128GB
solid-state drive (but, points for the 1,920x1,080-pixel-resolution
display). Upgraded versions add faster processors, more RAM, larger
SSDs, and mobile broadband, but those can cost north of $2,000, and all
include a digitizer stylus.
Design and features
Despite misgivings about the price and older components, Lenovo has
created the best detachable-screen latching system I've seen. It's still
overly fiddly, with multiple hook-and-eye-style connections, but it
feels more robust and solid than other detachable hybrid hinges, and the
release mechanism is a large push-in button on the left edge of the
hinge, rather than a cheap-feeling button right below it (as found on
the HP Envy x2 and other hybrids).
There's
even a short horizontal panel that covers the entire hinge mechanism
from the rear of the system, both to protect it from the elements and to
give the entire package a cleaner look. I've taken to calling it the
Helix Modesty Skirt.
The rest of the physical design is up to
Lenovo's usual impeccable ThinkPad standards. The matte-black chassis
feels like it could take a bullet, and the standard island-style
ThinkPad keyboard, with keys slightly curved at the bottom, is
impossible to top.
At 3.7 pounds for the screen and body (not including
the power cable), it's hefty for an 11-inch laptop, but note that
there's a three-cell battery in the tablet and a separate four-cell
battery in the keyboard dock.
We're currently running the Lenovo
ThinkPad Helix through our CNET Labs benchmark tests, including battery
life, so check back soon for the full review.
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