Computers

Lenovo shows IdeaPad U1 Hybrid tablet/laptop at CES

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Lenovo has unveiled its IdeaPad U1 Hybrid tablet/laptop system at CES 2011
Lenovo has unveiled its IdeaPad U1 Hybrid tablet/laptop system at CES 2011

Can’t decide between a laptop and a tablet? According to the folks at Lenovo, you soon won’t have to. On the eve of CES 2011 at a press event in Las Vegas, company reps were on hand to present the updated and ready-for-sale IdeaPad U1 Hybrid, which combines a Windows-running laptop with an Android 2.2-running LePad tablet. In laptop mode, the LePad serves as the screen for the laptop. If you want to do some tablet computing, however, you just pull the LePad off and use it on its own. We reported on a previous incarnation of the system a year ago, but this time we got the chance to see it up close and personal.

The LePad features a 1.3 GHz Snapdragon processor and a capacitive touchscreen. A USB connector links the tablet to the laptop, and users can toggle between the two with the flip of a switch below the laptop’s tablet-mounting surface. The laptop remains booted when the tablet is removed, allowing users to work on a Windows project in laptop mode, temporarily remove the tablet to do some Android work, then put the tablet back into the laptop and continue where they left off with Windows.

Lenovo plans to begin selling the IdeaPad U1 Hybrid in China this month, at approximately US$500 for the LePad alone, and about US$1,300 for the whole system. When it does become available in other parts of the world, the tablet’s operating system will be upgraded to Android 3.

Below is a video in which one of the company representatives demonstrates the "dual nature" of the setup.

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4 comments
Richie Suraci
I like it, put Android 3.0 in and make it reasonable and I may buy it but for now I am sticking with HP Touch and Archos 9
Tony Giglio
One word: UGLY!!! :P
Phil Shewring
I like the concept of the idea pad, but this isn\\\'t the story. The thing I would like to know is why does it take a year for this thing to get released. and I mean a year! This was the talk of last years CES? its old news, and I love the first comment on this news story which was, \\\"wouldn\\\'t it be nice to have Android 3\\\" on there. My answer to this, is yes it should but this was designed over a year ago. This is where (dare I say it) company\\\'s like apple have got this so right. They officially keep their gobs shut until the release of product, but let the rumor factory go into over drive to gain public intrets. Ok I am not saying everyone should be like Apple, but products should be released as soon as they are announced. The IT market doesn\\\'t need concepts to be released, this isn\\\'t the car industry.
Facebook User
I'm perplexed... what advantages does this offer over the outstanding ASUS Transformer which is Android 3.2 Honeycomb O.S.(4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich upgradable), or the newer ASUS Transformer Prime which ships with Android™ 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich OS with Adobe® Flash® support?
What am I missing. This looks like an ugly clunky less-elegant and usable copy of something fantastic (We bought one for me mum and it's outstanding).
What advantages does it have?