Lenovo Yoga 11 Review

Lenovo Yoga 11 review
The Yoga 11, what is it? The most accurate description I have is this is a tablet that adopted the good qualities of a laptop while still giving you the features you want from a tablet. It runs windows 8 RT which is Microsoft’s mobile operating system. Similar to Android or IOS. It has your app store and mobile apps, many are ones you are familiar with like Netflix. RT runs very smooth on this device and I have not had it crash even once on me. However what sets this apart from other RT devices is the attached keyboard and the included ports. I will dive into these aspects further down.

(*Do not confuse this with the Yoga 13, that is an ultra-book that runs Windows 8. It is a totally different animal)



Performance
Built in applications like the mail client, Microsoft office and others run very well. They load quickly and perform with almost no issues. Messaging is a little funny but I might just have a setting off or something. Aside from that word opens documents quickly, typing is smooth and without hesitation, no matter how fast I type.

The Internet browsing is a little sluggish sometimes however it is just about as sluggish as other devices that are in it’s same class. I basically think all mobile browsers slow, so for people who do not you may see no issue with the browser. Keep in mind this device loads everything the Internet has to offer, other mobile platforms like IOS and Android (4.0+) do not load flash or silver light.

Keyboard
I own a Lenovo v570 and one thing that really drew me to it was the keyboard on it. It was very comfortable and a pleasure to type on. Lenovo has not let me down with the Yoga, this keyboard is also a joy to type on. The key spacing and the key travel feel just right under my fingers. I typed up most of my review on the device and if you do a lot of typing this keyboard is definitely set above the rest.

I enjoy how they turned the F1-F12 keys into quick keys that you can use without using the FN button. I frequently adjust brightness, volume and airplane mode. They are nicely set at the top for me and are easy to reach. (F keys are still accessible through the FN button)

If you are concerned about when you flip the keyboard over and put it face down I would not be too worried. If you are placing it on a flat surface your keys will be fine. I have not had an issue with it because there is just enough “bump” on the edges to keep the keys from touching the table.

*Note, my keyboard’s symbols are different because this is a Singapore model

Touch pad
The touch pad is really really good except for one single issue that I have with it. It is responsive, smooth and accurate. You are not accidentally hitting with when you are typing and when you use it there is no delay from it. The one little quirk I have with it is when you try to “right click” by using two fingers it sometimes picks it up as a left click. Now this might just be me not putting my fingers far enough apart. However for me personally this is something I still do by accident unless I really go out of my way to make sure my fingers are placed just right. Aside from that it works perfect.

I also enjoy that the gestures you use on the tablets screen are also translated onto your touch pad. For instance, when you swipe in from the right side of the screen it brings up a contextual menu. When you swipe in from the right of the touch pad it also brings up the contextual menu. Very very convenient considering in windows 8 gestures are a huge part of the interface.

Display and Speaker
I know there is a lot of noise going around for HD displays and such. As much as the higher resolution is always nice, this screen is clear and crisp. If you put it under a microscope there might be displays that have a higher ppi but in my daily use I have never once looked at it and thought to myself “Man, I wish the resolution was higher on this.” I have enjoyed my movies, shows and reading without an issue.

Additionally the touch of the screen is excellent. There is no hesitation or delay or “missed” touches. Every time I touch it the response is immediate and without hesitation.

It is bright enough that using it outdoors in the sun is just fine and presents no issues. It does have a glossy finish so you might need to tilt it one way or the other to avoid some glare. This is common in touch screen devices though.

The speakers are only OK. Inside a quiet room it is loud enough to hear just fine. However once there starts to be some background noise I found myself turning it up all the way. I do wish they had a little more oomph. I end up using headphones most of the time when I am outside my home.


Ports
I have to admit, aside from the keyboard the ports they included on this device really are a massive plus. Both for convenience and for your wallet. The Yoga comes with 2 full sized USB ports, 1 HDMI, 1 SD card slot and 1 headphone/microphone combo jack. The full sized USB ports allow not only for USB drives and external HDD (which means space is never an issue) but it also allows for an external mouse and keyboard if you so desire. The HDMI port really sets it over the top though because you do not need to buy and carry around a proprietary adapter. If you want to use an external display or if you want to give a PowerPoint presentation it will interface without adapters. It is the standard sized HDMI, meaning you don’t need those annoying mini HDMI cables or the other adapters that sell for $30 or more.
 Lastly the combo jack is nice because I carry ear buds with a microphone around for my cell phone, these work with the Yoga for both mic and audio, so I don’t need a second pair just for my Yoga. All of this adds up to some considerable savings because all of my existing hardware is compatible. I don’t need special cables, adapter and peripherals. I get to use the items I bought and love.

As for storage it comes with 64GB pre-installed but this is where the SD card is nice. You can get a 128GB SD card and drop it in without it taking up any additional space. I personally have a 32GB in there for my media. If you really need more a small external HDD works just fine.

Battery Heat and Noise
The battery is a champ. It lasts all day for me even with frequent use. It is rated for 10-13 hours and I easily get that out of it. It also charges in less than 2 hours (usually about 1 hour if it was around 30%) I never worry about my battery life if I charged it the night before or in the morning, often I only charge it once every 2 days.

Noise and heat are totally negligible. I have not heard any noise from it that was perceivable to me and the heat is so minimal I question if it is the device’s heat more just the heat from my lap.

Design
For starters the yoga feels rock solid. I don’t have any concerns of it falling apart on me or a little bump destroying it. It really feels like a durable little device that will last for years to come.

Looks wise I like the word “sexy.” I am proud to pull it out of my bag and show it off just for looks let alone features. I have often received a “wow” or similar reaction when I have shown it to people. It also has a rubbery feeling matte finish. I don’t know if it is actually a rubber finish or not but that is how it feels. I never worry about this getting scratched off of something little. I think it would have to take a pretty good shot to damage it. I also really like matte finishes.

This is the epitome of why they call it the Yoga. The ability to flip it around into many different positions for different needs. I often use it in either the laptop mode or the tablet mode. The in between positions are also use at times but my personal preferences lead me to those 2. I do sometimes use it with the keyboard face down. If I want to lay down and watch a show I can put it on my chest keyboard down and tilt the screen so it sits at a comfortable viewing angle even though I am laying down. That is much better than holding a tablet up and a regular laptop is unable to reach those angles. All in all, it is nice to have even if you don’t think you will use it, you might be surprised at what you can come up with.

Final words
Even though the right clicking and the sometimes sluggish browser happen using it is still very enjoyable and I would take this over any other tablet. I was never one for tablets because the lack of a keyboard was too much of a hindrance for me to do any real work. So I could not see myself buying one. This however solves the many issues I have towards tablets while still giving me the ability to turn it into a tablet for casual browsing and game playing. If you were in the market for a tablet or a chrome book this device would be something I would strongly recommend. It has the same fast boot and sleep/recover from sleep you get from tablets but still gives you the full keyboard for actually doing anything serious. Lenovo’s motto is “For those who do” and to be honest, they really added the things that were missing from a tablet to make it a device you can actually “do” with.