Lenovo’s 27-inch IdeaCentre Horizon is part tablet, part table

By Mika Turim-Nygren January 6, 2013

Check out our review of the Lenovo IdeaCentre Horizon all-in-one table PC.

Lenovo unveiled quite a few new products today at CES, but none are quite like the IdeaCentre Horizon. With its gorgeously massive touchscreen, the table PC aims to create a new digital experience: the sharable home computer. The 1920 x 1080 HD 27-inch screen is a backlit beauty. It accepts 10-finger multitouch gestures, allowing multiple users to gather around the screen and interact simultaneously.

When vertical, the IdeaCentre Horizon could serve as a good-sized flat-screen TV. Mounted on an adjustable rolling stand, it can easily transform from a 90-degree “wall” mount to lying completely flat, as well as any angle in between. At 1.06-inch thick and only 17 pounds, the screen is easy to maneuver, and visible from nearly any angle.

Of course, the touchscreen would hardly be as impressive without the hardware to back it up, including up to a 1TB hard drive, up to Windows 8 Pro, up to NVIDIA GeForce GT 620M graphics, and up to a 3rd generation Intel Core i7 processor. Additionally, its internal battery lasts up to two hours for toting it around the house.

Paired with included peripherals such as “e-dice” and four joysticks, the IdeaCentre Horizon becomes a gaming powerhouse, as well as the pinnacle of the “phygital” – a neologism Lenovo invented to describe the intersection of digital and physical gaming. Games designed specifically for the multi-user, multitouch screen come from the Lenovo App Shop, while pre-loaded apps include Monopoly, racing games, and music editing.

Moreover, when tilted horizontal so that it lies completely flat, the IdeaCentre Horizon defaults to a home screen with a “moon dial” for a full desktop experience. This scrollable pinwheel of applications is designed for multi-user interactions, multi-tasking, and unique touch gestures.

The IdeaCentre Horizon starts at $1,699, and is slated for release early this summer. Lenovo also demonstrated the IdeaCentre Horizon’s big brother at CES, a massive 39-inch behemoth nicknamed “Gamma,” but this couch-sized screen is only an early concept for now.

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Mika Turim-Nygren

Former Digital Trends Contributor

Mika Turim-Nygren writes about technology, travel, and culture. She is a PhD student in American literature at the University…

Computing

Lenovo announces ThinkPad Helix and IdeaPad Yoga 11S convertibles

Check out our reviews of the Lenovo IdeaPad Yoga 11S and the Lenovo ThinkPad Helix convertible laptops.
Lenovo's reputation as an innovator at CES is exemplified with the announcement of two new products. Both are convertible Ultrabooks with high-resolution displays and unique designs.
First is the IdeaPad Yoga 11S. This smaller version of the existing IdeaPad Yoga 13, which we rated an 8 out of 10, ships with Windows 8 Professional. It also offers some high-end hardware options such as a Core i5 processor and up to 8GB of RAM. It ships with a 1366 x 768 IPS display, and can be had in grey, pink, or orange (shown above). Lenovo is touting the Yoga 11 as "the world's first mini Ultrabook," but we'll have to get our hands on it before we can tell how the 11-inch model compares to its larger sibling.

Next, and entirely new, is the ThinkPad Helix. This convertible uses a unique “rip and flip” design that lets the user remove the display and then re-attach it in the opposite orientation. All hardware is kept in the display, however, which means the device can still be used as a Windows tablet without the keyboard attached. Lenovo is gearing the Helix towards business users, and its Gorilla Glass, pen touch input, and Intel vPro for professional grade, hardware-based security will definitely appeal to enterprise users.
The Helix comes equipped with an Intel Core i3 processor and can be upgraded up to a Core i7. Weight is just under four pounds when used as a laptop and less than two pounds when separated from the keyboard. Other features include an 11.6-inch 1080p IPS multi-touch display, near-field communications, and optional 3G/4G connectivity.
Consumers can grab the Helix in late February for $1,499. The Yoga 11S will not see store shelves until June and is expected to ship with an MSRP of $799.

Computing

Lenovo IdeaCentre A720 Touch quick look

We reviewed the Lenovo IdeaCentre A720 late last year. It was a beautiful machine dragged down by poor value compared to competitors like the Dell XPS One and even the iMac.
Lenovo pulled the A720 from its website not long after release and listed it as “temporarily unavailable,” saying that it’d be back on store shelves soon with Windows 8 and a touchscreen. These changes may give it a second chance with consumers.
The new model is in many ways the same as the original, so we didn’t feel a full review was warranted. However, we did want to take another look at the system to see if adding touch is enough to make the system stand out.
A slightly lower price, a slightly slower processor
Our review unit arrived with a price tag of $1,599. That’s $100 less than the model we previously reviewed, but the new unit came with a Core i5-3210M instead of the Core i7-3610M found in the previous PC.
The slower processor lowered the system’s 7-Zip score from 18,607 to 8,177 and reduced its SiSoft Sandra Processor Arithmetic score from 88.51 GOPS to 45.4 GOPS. Other performance figures haven’t significantly changed. The system came equipped with the same Nvidia 630M graphics processor and mechanical hard drive as the model we previously reviewed.
A sizable performance gap may seem a poor trade for $100, but it’s important to remember that our benchmark tests are highly optimized and show quad-core processors like the Core i7-3610M in the best possible light. In normal use, the Core i5 doesn’t feel slower.
Don’t forget the touchscreen. Most competitors charge $150 to $250 for this option, which will put them at or near this system’s $1,599 MSRP.
Still lacking in resolution
All versions of this all-in-one ship with a 1080p display. Unfortunately, that isn’t enough pixels to make a 27-inch monitor look sharp. Competitors like Apple and Dell have figured this out and provide a resolution of 2560 x 1440 on their 27-inch models. Not correcting this flaw with the refresh is a missed opportunity for Lenovo.
Image quality is lacking as well. Test results were middling and banding was visible in many images including the default Windows 8 background. Every other all-in-one of similar price and/or size is superior in this area.
Still a beauty
Still, we can’t help but admire the design of this PC. Its elegant, slim exterior is primarily constructed of metal, putting it a step above the silver plastics used by Dell and HP. While the HP Spectre One does an even better job of hiding its hardware, the A720 remains more attractive and feels more robust. The engineers responsible for this system deserve a promotion.
We also like the controls. Our previous review unit, like this one, used touch-sensitive controls to handle volume and display settings. Adding a touchscreen to the system makes these controls feel even more intuitive than before. It’s on par with the Dell XPS One and far better than the HP Spectre One’s finicky software controls.
Even the peripherals are decent. The mouse is basic but sturdy and the keyboard is a desktop rendition of the superb AccuType keyboards that dominate Lenovo’s laptop line. Most users will have no need for an upgrade.
Does touch save the day?
Aesthetics aside, our previous review couldn’t find a reason to recommend this system over Dell’s quicker and less expensive XPS One. Has that changed?
No, it hasn’t. Dell has also added touch to its XPS One and is selling it for an identical $1,599. That price buys a Core i5-3330s processor and an incredible 2560 x 1440 display. Lenovo’s alternative is superior only in graphics (the entry-level Dell ships with Intel integrated), though that’s no real advantage. Both systems are bad at gaming.
The A720 Touch offers class-leading design. It does not, however, offer a competitive display or a particularly quick processor. These serious flaws continue to mar the beauty of this all-in-one, making it impossible for us to recommend it over Dell’s XPS One or the Apple iMac.

Computing

Lenovo debuts media-friendly IdeaPad and IdeaCentre PCs

lenovo debuts media friendly ideapad and ideacentre pcs y series dec 2010

Computer maker Lenovo wants to get 2011 off to a strong start, today announcing two new IdeaPad Y-series notebooks and the IdeaCentre K330 desktop PC that will be available in early 2011. Lenovo is pitching the systems as perfect for media-hungry young adults, and plans to offer plenty of CPU horsepower, RAM, and storage for a strong combination of multimedia excitement and performance.

"The Y460p, Y560p and K330 all feature speedy performance and advanced processing in a sleek form factor," said Lenovo VP of business operations Dion Weisler, in a statement. "Immense storage and high-quality graphics make these ideal for those looking for a superior and easy multimedia experience."