Lenovo kicks off Windows 8 devices with ThinkPad Tablet 2
- 08 August, 2012 23:31
- Comments
Lenovo on Wednesday announced the ThinkPad Tablet 2, which has a 10.1-inch screen and kicks off a new generation of the company's PCs and devices with Microsoft's upcoming Windows 8 operating system.
The tablet will weigh less than 600 grams and measure 9.8 millimeters thick. It will come with Intel's Atom processor code-named Clover Trail and will be released in October with the Windows 8 Pro OS, which has been optimized for touchscreens. Microsoft will ship the Windows 8 OS on October 26.
Pricing for the tablet will be announced closer to the date of launch, a company spokeswoman said.
The tablet is the successor to the original ThinkPad Tablet, which started shipping in the middle of last year with Google's Android 3.1 operating system and ARM processor. With the new tablet, Lenovo is switching over to Wintel, which is dominant in PCs but not yet established in tablets. Prototypes of the new ThinkPad Tablet 2 were shown in June at the Computex trade show in Taipei.
The device is for office and home use, Lenovo said. Depending on the country, the tablet will come with optional 3G and 4G connectivity options. An optional keyboard and dock can be attached to turn the tablet into a PC.
Features include a "high-definition" display, front and rear cameras and wireless video streaming. High-definition TVs can be connected to the tablet through an HDMI (High-Definition Multimedia Interface) port. Peripherals such as printers can be connected to the tablet via a USB port. The tablet also takes stylus input.
The tablet has a fingerprint reader and can be remotely managed. For example, IT managers can remotely deploy applications and prevent users from installing specific applications. A whole range of Windows management tools can be used with the device, Lenovo said.
Lenovo worked closely with Intel and Microsoft to make the tablet. Lenovo is switching over to an Intel chip for the tablet because of the backward compatibility it provides with existing Windows programs on PCs. That is an important feature that will make the tablet an easy fit in corporate environments.
Tablets with ARM processors running Windows RT are also due to be released by companies like Acer and Asus, but those devices will not run existing Windows applications.
The ThinkPad Tablet 2 will compete with Microsoft's Surface tablets, which will also come with Windows 8 Pro and Windows RT. Hewlett-Packard, Dell, Acer and Asus are also releasing Windows 8 tablets with Intel's Clover Trail and Ivy Bridge chips. Around 20 tablets are being designed with Intel's Clover Trail tablet chips.
Agam Shah covers PCs, tablets, servers, chips and semiconductors for IDG News Service. Follow Agam on Twitter at @agamsh. Agam's e-mail address is agam_shah@idg.com
Recommended
Join the CIO Australia group on LinkedIn. The group is open to CIOs, IT Directors, COOs, CTOs and senior IT managers.
- Bookmark this page
- Share this article
- Got more on this story? Email CIO
- Follow CIO on twitter
-
Samsung Galaxy S4 vs. HTC One: 5 Reasons to Choose the GS4
-
Samsung Galaxy S4 vs. HTC One: 5 Reasons to Choose the GS4
-
Solving the skills conundrum – part 1
-
Samsung Galaxy S4 vs. HTC One: 5 Reasons to Choose the GS4
-
High school students still see ICT as ‘sitting at a computer all day’: survey
-
Spear-Phishing Email: Most Favored APT Attack Bait
This research paper presents findings on APT-related spear phishing from February to September 2012. We analysed APT-related spear-phishing emails collected throughout this period to understand and mitigate attacks. The information we gathered not only allowed us to obtain specific details on spear phishing but also on targeted attacks. We found, for instance, that 91% of targeted attacks involve spear-phishing emails, reinforcing the belief that spear phishing is a primary means by which APT attackers infiltrate target networks. -
Russian Underground 101
This research paper intends to provide a brief summary of the cybercriminal underground and shed light on the basic types of hacker activity in Russia. It discusses fundamental concepts that Russian hackers follow and the information they share with their peers. It also examines prices charged for various types of services, along with how prevalent the given services are in advertisements. The primary features of each type of activity and examples of associated service offerings are discussed as well. Read this paper. -
Advanced Persistent Threats and Real-Time Threat Management
Businesses face a constantly evolving threat landscape. One of the greatest challenges is presented by advanced persistent threats (APTs), which are sophisticated, multi‐faceted attacks targeting a particular organisation. Mitigating the risk of APTs requires advances beyond traditional layered security to include real‐time threat management. This whitepaper describes the nature of APTs, the risks they pose to businesses, and techniques for blocking, detecting, and containing APTs and other emerging threats. Read now.
Get exclusive access to Invitation only events CIO, reports & analysis. 
