Lenovo ThinkBook Plus review: Second E-Ink screen adds an extra dimension
The ThinkBook Plus is a decent 13.3-inch business laptop with a key addition: an extra 10.8-inch E-Ink touchscreen built into the outside of the lid.
The ThinkBook Plus is a decent 13.3-inch business laptop with a key addition: an extra 10.8-inch E-Ink touchscreen built into the outside of the lid.
The LifeBook E8110 is a solid dual-core workhorse that delivers excellent performance and decent battery life. Features like Trusted Platform Module support, a built-in smartcard reader and optional fingerprint recognition should appeal to IT managers.
An ultrabook that can convert to a tablet when the occasion demands, the ThinkPad Twist has a lot going for it. The build quality is very good, and there are enough business-friendly features to make it acceptable as a BYOD system. Battery life may be an issue though.
Dell's Inspiron 17 7000 2-in-1 is the first 17-inch laptop with a 360-degree screen hinge that we've seen. The combination of such a large screen and a form factor more commonly associated with ultraportable devices is intriguing, if not entirely successful.
Lenovo's second-generation ThinkPad Helix is a compact and competent ultrabook, although some may not like the highly reflective screen and most will need the optional Ultrabook Pro keyboard.
This 11.6in. notebook is an outstanding performer. It's not particularly lightweight or attractive, but the specification is top-notch and the screen, keyboard and touchpad are all perfectly usable. Plenty of professionals will be keen to get their hands on this system, if they can stomach the price tag.
A work in progress rather than a finished product, the XO has much to recommend it. However, there are substantive issues to address if it's to live up to its creators' lofty ideals in practice.
This well-built, lightweight ultraportable looks fantastic but is also expensive and comes up short in places, notably screen resolution and battery life.
Dell's Vostro V13 has visual appeal, although it's not easy to upgrade the RAM or swap in a second battery. It's also somewhat short on ports and connectors, and some business users will rule it out for lacking an integrated optical drive.
The ThinkPad L412 is a chunky notebook and you'll need to add a few upgrades from the entry-level spec to get a business-ready configuration. Some may find the keyboard noisy and the ports are tricky to access, but Lenovo's use of recycled materials is admirable.