I admit I opened up a can of worms when I voiced my opinion that a slate form is required for multitouch on a notebook to provide much benefit. The folks at Lenovo were listening and sent me the ThinkPad x200 Tablet PC to prove it. The x200 they sent me is the convertible notebook / Tablet PC that has a dual digitizer. The active digitizer works with the included pen for writing on the screen and the capacitive touch digitizer lets you work directly on the screen with fingertips. I’ve only had the x200 in my hands (literally) for a few hours but I feel safe to say it is the best Tablet PC I have used to date.
The quick impressions that follow are off the top of my head, and will soon be followed with a video showing more of the x200. The full specs of the device as provided to me (thanks Lenovo) are as follows:
- CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo L9600, 2.13 GHz
- OS: Windows 7 Professional 32-bit
- RAM: 4 GB (only 3 GB usable with 32-bit)
- HDD: 128 GB SSD
- DISPLAY: 12.1-inch, 1280×800, Integrated Intel GMA 4500MHD
- Webcam: yes. I assume 2 MP, not detailed in the docs
- Security: Fingerprint sensor, ThinkVantage TPM
- Ports/ switches: VGA out, Ethernet, 3 USB, ExpressCard, Multi-format media card, audio in, audio out, modem, pen silo, wireless on/off
- DIMENSIONS: 295x228x26.5 mm, 11.61×8.97×1.04 inches
- WEIGHT: 1.58 kg, 3.5 lbs
- Webcam:
The x200 is a true convertible Tablet PC with a swivel screen that locks into slate mode. The device can be configured to auto-rotate from landscape to portrait when swiveled, and also to magically rotate when the device is flipped around. This is done via an accelerometer. The pen lives in a silo on the side of the notebook, and pushing it causes it to pop out.
While the x200 is a very good Tablet PC, using the multitouch features in slate mode rocks. Having the slate in my hands and interacting on the screen with my fingertips is very comfortable and intuitive. Lenovo has very sophisticated multitouch enabled, with up to four touches detected simultaneously. The x200 takes full benefit of the touch features in Windows 7, and is a joy to use in slate mode.
I will be putting the x200 through some vigorous usage scenarios, and will no doubt have plenty to share in the future. I have snapped some photos in the meanwhile, so enjoy the x200. I sure am.
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1 / 9ThinkPad x200 frontThinkPad x200 -
2 / 9ThinkPad x200 keyboardTrackpoint, no trackpad -
3 / 9ThinkPad x200 leftLeft side -
4 / 9ThinkPad x200 rightRight side -
5 / 9ThinkPad x200 bottomBottom -
6 / 9ThinkPad x200 screen buttonsScreen buttons -
7 / 9ThinkPad x200 battery portraitButtons portrait orientation -
8 / 9ThinkPad x200 portrait jkOTRPortrait orientation -
9 / 9ThinkPad x200 portrait closeupPortrait closeup
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