Double dose from Lenovo

MANILA, Philippines - Do you really need to own a tablet PC? If you already own a smart phone and a laptop, would you still want to carry a third screen?

Computer manufacturers are betting that you do, as they continue to flood the marketplace with their own version of the touch-screen pad.

And now, you can now add Lenovo of China to the list of PC manufacturers churning out Android tablets this year.

The fastest-growing PC company has officially entered the tablet battle royale, fielding two contenders in an attempt to capture a wider range of consumers. Launched last week in Singapore, the sleek and stylish Lenovo IdeaPad K1 caters to multi-media obsessive consumers and the robust Lenovo ThinkPad targets business professionals.

Lee Chown How, Lenovo Singapore country general manager, says the company believes that coming out with two different tablets is the best approach to address the diverse market.

“As the third-largest PC company, we have a lot of different customers, from large accounts, small to medium businesses as well as consumers,” says How. “A commercial user behaves differently from a regular consumer. That’s why our tablets have something for all users, including entertainment-friendly features that are must-haves for consumers who enjoy life on the go and business-oriented content for professionals to enhance productivity while working anywhere and at any time.”

The new Lenovo tablets are the company’s first mobile Internet devices featuring Google’s Android 3.1 platform, tailored for tablets. They deliver an accelerated mobile experience through an NVIDIA Tegra 2 dual-core mobile processor that offers extreme multi-tasking, faster web browsing with built-in Flash, console-quality gaming and low power consumption for improved battery life.

The Fun Machine

Between the two new tablets, the IdeaPad is the party animal.

Imagine your own private screening of movie blockbusters in high definition. That’s exactly what you get on the Ideapad’s 10.1 inch, 1280x800 HD, LCD backlit screen. A mini HDMI connector also allows users to connect to a HDTV or monitor and enjoy HD video on a big screen.

“The IdeaPad is the tablet for entertainment and social networking. From a design point of view, it is more stylish. In terms of functionality, it is more for enjoying rich multi-media content,” says Feng Jianjian, Lenovo Asean consumer business director.

Lenovo Asean relationship segment director Ronnie Lee (left) and Lenovo Asean consumer business director Feng Jianjian pose with the company’s newest babies during a briefing at the Lenovo head office in Singapore.

Weighing just 0.74 kg, the highly mobile IdeaPad K1 tablet offers dual cameras, integrated Bluetooth and 802.11 WiFi and 3G connectivity. Battery life is superior, giving users up to 10 hours in a WiFi environment. The WiFi version comes in white, red and black finishes, while the 3G version comes in black and brown.

“We looked at different models to come up with a perfect tablet with features to set it apart from others,” says Jianjian. The IdeaPad incorporates a unique home button, which you can slide from left to right for more functionality as well as a Launch Zone application to help users easily access frequent applications like email, music and web browsing.

Unlike most competitors, the IdeaPad offers users a true out-of-the box experience. The Android-powered IdeaPad comes pre-loaded with more than 30 apps from partners like Amazon, Adobe Electronic Arts, including full versions of the powerful Documents To Go and Angry Birds HD. Users are also provided access to more than 250,000 apps in the Android Market and 200 exclusive Lenovo apps in the Lenovo App Shop.

The 32GB model IdeaPad K1 WiFi version is priced at SGD 699 (P24,500) while the 32GB model IdeaPad K1 3G version, which will be available at end of September, is priced at SGD 799 (P28,000).

Business Class

If the IdeaPad is all entertainment, then the Thinkpad is all business. Lenovo’s new tablet combines the superior media and entertainment experience of the IdeaPad with the security, reliability and manageability features the ThinkPad is known for, to create the first true business-class tablet.

Users have long clamored for manufacturers to realize that tablets shouldn’t simply be a toy for kids. Lenovo listened and the Thinkpad tablet, which carries the royal IBM bloodline, was born.

“Our customers tell us what they want and we, in turn, tell our RD people and innovation finders what needs to be done,” says Ronnie Lee, director for Lenovo Asean relationship segment.

Designed as a companion computing device for professionals on the go, data remains safe on the ThinkPad with layered data security. The device is easily supported by IT managers thanks to a suite of business partner solutions that include anti-theft software and the ability to disable the tablet if the device is lost or stolen with Computrace. Preloaded with the Documents to Go application, the ThinkPad tablet allows users to view, edit and create Microsoft Office documents like Word, Excel and PowerPoint.

In terms of looks, the ThinkPad is slightly thicker, has sharper edges than the IdeaPad and has several physical shortcut keys below the screen. Offering a 10.1” WXGA (1280x800) display and weighing a mere 0.75 kgs, the ThinkPad also comes with an IPS display for a 178-degree viewing angle and a scratch-resistant Corning Gorilla glass screen. Corning Gorilla is the toughest glass available for touch-screen products, offering extra durability, rigidity and scratch resistance. During a pre-launch briefing at the Lenovo head office in Singapore, Lee demonstrated to us just how tough the Corning Gorilla glass was, scratching the tablet screen with coins, keys and a pocketknife blade. In the end, we just ran out of tools of destruction and the ThinkPad screen remained scratch-free.

A full-size USB port extends the capabilities of the Thinkpad as a computing device. One of the coolest extras is the Keyboard Folio Carrying Case, which when opened and connected to the tablet turns the Thinkpad into a notebook, complete with TrackPoint trackpad. This really comes in handy and gives the user fast, comfortable and accurate typing and mouse control.

The Thinkpad also includes an optional Digitizer Pen that allows users to input notes straight onto the screen.

“Touch may be good for most screens, but with some applications using your fingertips simply doesn’t work,” says Lee. “With the pen, our customers can easily work on sensitive business applications and even sign documents.”

Paired with the right applications, the pen opens up specific tasking in industries and professions. In some countries, healthcare and law enforcement agencies have long been using tablet PCs, equipping vehicles and personnel with these devices for instant access to information and smooth transmission of vital data. One school in Asia recently announced its intention to equip students with tablets in an attempt to go paperless in an academic environment.

No price has been set yet for the ThinkPad tablet, which will be available in end-September.  

So, are we willing to shell out cash to purchase another set of gadgets?

Lenovo’s family of tablets shows us that these devices are more than just toys or oversized smart phones. With the right applications and support, users can even use their tablets for almost everything they do with a notebook.

Data from the company shows that media tablets will experience a five-year annual growth rate of 54 percent in the Asia-Pacific region, multiplying nearly 10 times to 21 million units from two million units shipped in 2010. Most companies expect more consumers to adopt media tablets to hit gaming, Web-browsing, and social networking needs on the go. Think of it this way: if you need to make a call, use your smart phone. If heavy office work needs to be done, fire up your netbook. For everything else fun in between, use a tablet.