Need help picking new Windows (Lenovo) laptop

[spopepro]

Note quite familiar with the convertible laptops but can't you dock them too ?

Yeah, it doesn't matter a ton, but there are differences. The thin "dock" (really a big plug on the side) has slightly different functionality than the push-down type. There are a variety of small compromises made to make it tablet-able. Lenovo laptops typically have the only built in keyboards worth using but the ones on the convertibles ones suck because of both having to make them thin, and the keys are pulled out of the way (lowered) on the yoga when it's flipped around in tablet mode. Battery life is much more limited in convertibles due to space and weight. Connectors are either missing or the mini versions due to thinness (my thinkpad yoga only has mini hdmi out for video, so I must carry my own cable because no one will have one). And something that probably only matters to me is that there are a variety of position sensors that will automatically change the screen orientation and lock the keyboard and touchpad in Windows that can cause issues in Linux when dual booting.

[NYCfixie]

Yeah, it doesn't matter a ton, but there are differences. The thin "dock" (really a big plug on the side) has slightly different functionality than the push-down type. There are a variety of small compromises made to make it tablet-able. Lenovo laptops typically have the only built in keyboards worth using but the ones on the convertibles ones suck because of both having to make them thin, and the keys are pulled out of the way (lowered) on the yoga when it's flipped around in tablet mode. Battery life is much more limited in convertibles due to space and weight. Connectors are either missing or the mini versions due to thinness (my thinkpad yoga only has mini hdmi out for video, so I must carry my own cable because no one will have one). And something that probably only matters to me is that there are a variety of position sensors that will automatically change the screen orientation and lock the keyboard and touchpad in Windows that can cause issues in Linux when dual booting.

My younger brother has a Yoga 900s and loves it but it is a secondary computer to both his work and home desktop computers.

I cannot order "consumer" models with the 50% offer so I am limited to the ThinkPad versions: X1 Yoga, Yoga 460, and Yoga 260 which all have HDMI and USB ports so a dock is not really needed. All I need is an HDMI cable and a USB cable from my keybaord if I want to use it in a "dock" setup. It appears the slimline dock would be redundant and only take up unnecessary extra space on my physical desk.

[MarkC]

Dont know what you call it but they have a box (dock) that requires one USB connection to the laptop. Plus power supply and you dock and undock (so to speak) with just two cables. Monitors, mouse, keyboard, Ethernet hard wire all plug into the box / dock. Seems to work fine and as well as the old style dock using the large connector on the baseplate of the PC.

[fastupslowdown]

My best laptop was when IBM made the think-pad. The Lenova version isn't as good when it comes to the keyboard, but I think its still ranked relatively well. -Mike G

[NYCfixie]

My best laptop was when IBM made the think-pad. The Lenova version isn't as good when it comes to the keyboard, but I think its still ranked relatively well. -Mike G

My current favorite laptop/ultrabook is my personal HP Folio 9470m mentioned above: i7, 8GB RAM, 256SSD, Win7 (upgrading to 10 this weekend). It has a full Ethernet port (unlike most ultrabooks), really nice 14" screen, VGA port, Display port for other video connection options, media card reader, and a great keyboard. It is a bit heavier than other Ultrabooks at 3.5lbs. but you get the extra full sized ports which was worth it to me.

Unfortunately, HP never offers these 50% off deals to corporate customers.

IMHO the "Lenovo" ThinkPad is as good as the original "IBM" ThinkPad line. In some respects I would say it is better. The "T" series is still the best business class notebook. The "X1 Carbon" was created by Lenovo and is often rated as one of the best in its class. The Yoga line (both consumer and enterprise versions) is a game changer.

Being able to choose 2 Lenovo options at 50% off retail is an embarrassment of riches when you think about it. One will be for me at work and one I will probably pass around for others to test Win10 and the Yoga/convertible need versus standard laptop. Right now I am thinking X1 Carbon Yoga (14" screen) and X260 Yoga (12.5" screen).

[spopepro]

IMHO the "Lenovo" ThinkPad is as good as the original "IBM" ThinkPad line. .

Yep. We don't go through a ton of computers (13000 student school district, about 600 employees), but the construction and specifications of Apple and Lenovo laptops has meant that they last at least a year longer in the field than anything else we have purchased.