The release date of October 26th for Windows 8 is fast approaching. We are all aware of the Surface, but companies such as HP, Fujitsu and Dell have all confirmed Windows 8 laptops, tablets or hybrid devices.
After a first showing at CES all the way back in January and another look at the device at IFA 2012, Lenovo has added the IdeaPad Yoga 13 to its online store, showing the device in its various guises to try and tempt you to part with your hard earned cash.
The Yoga 13 is a pretty beefy system. Housing up to a Core i7 (more than likely the ULV variant) in a 13.3” body weighing just 1.5kg (or 3.4lbs), the device will act as a standard laptop or allow you to flip the screen and use it as a tablet. Did we mention the battery is rated for 8 hours use and there is a 10-point multitouch capacitive screen in there too, allowing you to fully realise the Microsoft dream for using Windows 8? From previous reports, there’s an SSD under the hood, making this a very attractive purchase.
That bring us onto the price, which is notably absent from Lenovo’s page. It has been rumoured that it will launch with a starting price of £1,200 ($1,900) with the i7 version setting you back a whopping £1,500 ($2,380). Just to compare, the highest spec IdeaPad U410 will set you back £800 ($1,199) or if you fancied the Macbook Air, £1,249 ($1,499) for the highest spec model.
It’s a lot to pay for the full, Windows 8, desktop experience, especially with Windows RT devices set to be released at a considerably lower cost. That said, there will always be users who can justify the costs. With similar devices to be released from other OEMs, will Lenovo be priced aggressively enough to make an impact?
The holiday season is shaping up to be a very nice one for gadget lovers!
Source: Lenovo – Thanks to member Ibrahim Jadoon for the tip