If Ashton Kutcher is advertising a product, then surely it must be good. The Hollywood actor not only has the face to shift devices, but with a thriving digital media business, he understands technology, which is why Lenovo has appointed him as its latest product engineer.
He is currently peddling Lenovo’s Yoga tablet, a do-it-all device that is one serious contender to Apple’s dominance in the tablet market.
The Yoga is not a typical tablet. It is a “multimode” device thanks to a foldable stand. When in “stand” mode, you can tilt the screen from 110 degrees to 135 degrees. This is where most tablets fail – they rely on their covers to be propped up and that is usually limited to one or two angles. The Yoga is far more flexible, making it ideal for watching videos and films, and with the Dolby Digital Plus speakers, watching movies is a great experience.
It is available in two sizes, 10 inches, weighing 1.35 pounds, and 8-inches, weighing 0.88lb. Both are light and portable and boast an 18-hour battery life.
Lenovo has chosen Google’s Android operating system (OS) for the Yoga Tablet.
The Yoga offers a very vast array of applications and entertainment options, but this is a device that can also be used for work.
The 10-inch model in particular is intended to replace a laptop. I was sceptical at first. The absence of a physical keyboard renders most tablets virtually useless for serious work, particularly tasks that require typing, but the Yoga’s virtual keypad is surprisingly responsive and accurate and I was able to transcribe and take notes quickly and efficiently during an interview. Those that want a keyboard can get the cover which has a keypad built in.
The storage space is enough to use as a work device and as more companies allow employees to bring their own devices to work, the Yoga Tablet is a fine option for both work and play.
Perhaps the only downside to the Yoga is that it is an Android device. Google’s OS is one of the most vulnerable to virus and malware attacks.
The user interface (UI) is particularly garish especially when compared to Apple’s clean and crisp interface. But at Dh1,599 for the 10-inch Yoga Tablet and Dh1,299 for the 8-inch, an unattractive UI is an easy compromise to make.
thamid@thenational.ae
