Review: Lenovo Ideapad Lynx Windows 8 Tablet, a more budget friendly option

There is a small assortment of Windows 8 tablets available these days. We've taken a await at the Microsoft Surface, the Acer Iconia W510, and the Samsung ATIV Smart PC500 and find them all to be capable Windows 8 tablets.  We now turn our sights on the Lenovo Lynx Windows 8 Ideapad.

The Lynx is a 11.6" tablet that is well built just 1 of the more than budget friendly tablets available. The tablet lonely is currently running $350 over at Amazon.com and if you shop around (and take reward of some timely coupons), you tin snatch up the tablet with keyboard dock for under $400.

Lenovo did a respectable job with the Lynx and while there is some room for improvement, we found the Lynx Ideapad to exist a steal of a bargain and some other capable Windows eight tablet.

Design

The Lynx tablet measures eleven.viii x 7.4 x .37 inches and weight a measly one.47 pounds. The weight is distributed nicely and the Lynx feels as though it weighs a lot less.  With the 11.6" screen, the Lynx is larger than the Microsoft Surface and Acer W510 merely is comparable in size with the Samsung Smart PC500 only with a slightly lighter experience to things.

Along the top of the Lynx you'll find the ability button and microSD carte du jour slot that is protected by a hinged plastic cover. On the top left side y'all will find the screen rotation lock and book key. To the correct side is the three.5mm headphone jack and micro HDMI port.  The Lynx's speakers rests on either side, just above the mid-mode point.

To the bottom of the Lynx is a micro USB charging port. This is one of the places where Lenovo actually did a skilful thing with the Lynx. In using a micro USB port to accuse the Lynx, your Windows Phone chargers can be used in an emergency.  The micro-USB port tin can also be used as an I/O port and is also used as the keyboard dock's point of connectedness.

Yous have a 2MP forepart facing web cam but no rear facing camera. The Lynx lacks NFC merely does have Bluetooth iv.0, Wi-Fi, an ambient lite sensor, proximity sensor, and a compass.

Packaging includes the charger, micro-USB cable, a micro-USB to USB cable and a microSD prying pin. The microSD slot is a little on the narrow side and the pin (more or less a paper clip) can help push down on the carte to let the spring to release and raise the card. I found a fingernail works just as well and you lot avert the risk of losing the microSD prying pin.

Another nice design feature with the Lynx is an internal, magnesium alloy roll cage frame to protect the internal components. The trounce of the Lynx is textured plastic that does have a picayune requite to information technology just with the roll cage in identify, the requite shouldn't be a business organisation.

No complaints any about the screen. The screen quality makes for a rather pleasant experience when using the Lynx.  Brightness levels were proficient, colors had a footling pop and the touch sensitivity was very responsive.  I do non believe (can't find any confirmation) that Gorilla Drinking glass is in play with the Lynx.  If the Lenovo opted confronting using Gorilla Glass, it may very well be the only surface area where the screen is defective.

How'southward the screen outdoors?  Not too bad.  On a bright sunny day yous may have some glare bug only the screen is viewable.  The ambient light sensor does keep things in check a little and if it gets too dim, you can e'er go into the settings and turn off the car brightness.  On the plus side though, the auto brightness setting does help with power management.

Overall, the Lenovo Lynx is designed very well. The Lynx has a nice experience to it, a sharp looking screen, and information technology won't weigh you lot downwards.  The microSD card flap is the weak point and if you admission the expansion slot a lot, you're likely to lose it eventually. The Microsoft Surface Tablets are probable the cream of the ingather with respect to build quality. While the Lenovo Lynx has a scrap of a plastic feel to it, its build quality is respectable in its ain correct.

Under the Hood

Under the hood the Lynx is fitted with an ATOM dual cadre i.8GHz processor, 64GB of internal storage and 2GB of RAM. Everything is powered past a Lo-Ion polymer battery that is rated for 8 hours.

The Cantlet processor moves things forth nicely for the most part and helps the Lynx become the almost out of its battery. 64GB of internal storage gives you a picayune more elbow room and with the microSD expansion card slot and your Skydrive business relationship, storage should not be an issue.

The Keyboard Dock

The Lenovo Keyboard Dock for the Lynx has a flake of a plastic feel to it just not in a Fisher-Cost toy mode. The keyboard is one of the nicer feeling nosotros've seen. Keys accept a bit of a bounciness to them and the keyboard size is very receptive to larger hands.  The keyboard has a multitude of office keys, one of which closes any open up applications with a single stroke. Which means no more Alt+F4 key presses.

The touchpad on the other hand is a fleck on the sensitive side. More times than non a simple brush was seen as a tap that launched an app or some other unwanted action.  Unfortunately, I exercise not run into any settings to adapt the touchpad sensitivity.

The keyboard dock is fitted with an internal battery that charges the Lynx's bombardment.  Essentially doubling the battery life of the Lynx to most 16 hours. The keyboard dock has ii USB ports and a micro-USB charging port that volition charge both the keyboard and tablet.  The only affair missing is a SD Bill of fare reader.

The docking expanse is basically a pocket that encloses the bottom frame of the tablet. Metallic hooks latch on to the docking ports and the Lynx snaps into identify with an authoritative click.  There were a few occasions when information technology took a few seconds for the keyboard dock to annals with the tablet.  During that time the keyboard is more than or less a big battery but once it kicks in, information technology's performs only smashing.

The keyboard tin exist a little pricey, frequently running close to $150. However, it is ofttimes on sale at various retailers (and directly through Lenovo) for $100. If your budget will reach far enough, the keyboard dock makes for a very appealing accessory.

Software

The Lenovo Lynx runs the 32-bit version of Windows eight. Lenovo did a dainty job of keeping the pre-installed software to a minimum and whatsoever is installed, can be uninstalled if you lot demand to free up storage space.

Pre-installed software varies from market to market place so what's installed on my Lynx may be a trivial different than what's installed on someone else's. In general, you lot take the following installed.

Lenovo Cloud Storage, Microsoft Office Trial, Nitro Pro 7 PDF, Norton Net Security, SymSlient, AccuWeather, Amazon Kindle, eBay, Encyclopedia Britannica, Evernote, Fresh Paint, Merriam Webster, Norton Studio, Rara, and Skype

No complaints about the software aspect of the Lenovo Lynx. I do wish that at that place was some consistency to the pre-installed selections. For example, my married woman had Photoshop Elements eleven pre-installed on her Samsung ATIV tablet and the Surface came with the full version of Office. Both would accept been dandy on the Lenovo.

Side Annotation: Terminal night I updated the Lenovo Lynx to Windows 8.i Preview and information technology really makes a difference.  Not certain what fine tuning Microsoft did but the Cantlet processor seems to have a footling more pep to information technology and Wi-Fi performance moved forth with a little more gusto as well.  Windows eight isn't a slouch when running on the Lynx only viii.1 shines noticeably brighter.

Overall Performance

While the Lenovo Lynx is a budget friendly Windows eight tablet, Lenovo really didn't scale the Lynx dorsum likewise much. It is missing a rear photographic camera, NFC, and more than probable Gorilla Glass (nevertheless haven't confirmed). Only I don't encounter whatever of these missing items are deal killers.

64GB of storage with the expansion card (and SkyDrive) will satisfy nearly and the micro-USB port is a really nice feature and eliminates the need for proprietary chargers.

The screen is respectable, build quality solid, battery life gets you through the day (if not days) and overall performance has plenty zip to prevent y'all from falling asleep as apps load.  The keyboard dock expands the capabilities of the Lynx with an extended battery, extra USB ports and a very comfy keyboard. I do wish the touchpad was a piffling less responsive though.

Of the tablets we've reviewed which is the all-time? Between the Surface, Acer, Samsung and Lenovo all three are capable machines and cover a wide range of price points. Equally with well-nigh of the Windows 8 tablets, I don't run across them replacing my laptop but rather supplementing it.

The Surface has the ameliorate build quality and had Microsoft offered a keyboard dock, it might just be the clear front end runner.  I think the Samsung edges out the Lenovo with regards to features and perchance a slightly improve screen.  The Acer also gets high marks for build quality but the keyboard is a little on the cramped side (or at least it was for me).

The Lenovo Lynx can hold its ain nicely up against the other Windows 8 tablets.  The 11.6" screen means you lot get a little more real estate non only for screen size merely too keyboard size if you opt for the keyboard dock.  So when you add together in the toll, the Lynx may be the all-time bang for you buck in Windows 8 tablets.

Overall, I'm very pleased with the Lenovo Lynx (more so now after installing Windows 8.one).  The keyboard gives me enough elbow room to be comfortable and the tablet has enough gusto to meet my on-the-go computing needs.   If you lot're in the market for a budget friendly Windows 8 tablet, the Lynx is worth because.

You tin notice the Lynx through various retailers such as Amazon.com and Staples also as directly through Lenovo.  Pricing ranges from $350 up for the tablet and $99 up for the keyboard dock.

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Source: https://www.windowscentral.com/lenovo-ideapad-lynx-windows-8-tablet-budget-friendly

Posted by: easterlybuitive.blogspot.com

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