Lenovo talked about the IdeaPad a year ago – a laptop that featured a detachable tablet – but now the computer maker looks as if their idea will make it to market.
At the Consumer Electronics Show, Lenovo showed off the new IdeaPad. Reps said the device be available mid-year (we bet later, but we are pessimists).
This hybrid device would try and offer users the best of both worlds – a real keyboard when needed (who wants to type a long email on a virtual keyboard), but simple tablet functionality for other tasks. It’s an interesting concept.
Another fascinating aspect of the IdeaPad is not just the detachable screen – but the fact that it, essentially, operates as two different devices. When docked, it runs Windows 7 – giving users access to common productivity tools like Microsoft Office. But when detached, the tablet runs LeOS – a tweaked version of Google’s Android OS. The switch between OS’s is seamless.
Lenovo may have found a niche market to exploit. The proof will come when the device actually gets into the hands of users.
tabletpcreview.com has a great look at the device.