At just 1.72 pounds you would expect low specifications, a flimsy build, and poor battery life, but Lenovo surprises at every opportunity. Packed inside its 16.9mm thin body is Intels 5th generation Core i5 processor, an unusual choice over the fanless Core M processors that are often selected for such thin and light machines.
That gives you the power of a real laptop alongside a 13.3-inch display that can be configured up to 2560 x 1440 resolution. Theres no touchscreen on the basic laptop model (HZ550), but Lenovo also has a convertible Z model (HZ750) that works like a Yoga with a 360-degree hinge to flip around and an option for an Core i7 processor. The convertible is slightly heavier at 2.04 pounds, but its largely identical otherwise. Lenovo is using an IGZO display in both models, a choice that should help with battery life. The company estimates 5.9 hours for the notebook model and around 9 hours for the convertible.
Its really hard to explain in words or pictures just how light this laptop is. You need to hold it to really appreciate how crazy it is. I held it with just two fingers and from the corner edge of the base, and my muscles (I dont think I really have any) didnt even twitch. When I picked up a MacBook Air shortly afterwards, Apples highly praised laptop started to feel really bulky. Every laptop needs to be as light as this new Lenovo.
Both models will be available in the US in May, with the basic HZ550 (without touchscreen) priced at $1,299 and the convertible (HZ750) priced at approximately $1,499.
Agreed, but the physics score of the X250 looks very good especially compared to the horrible one the Yoga 3 Pro gets... The same applies to other CPU tests.http://www.tomshardware.co.uk/intel-broadwell-u-first-benchmarks,news-49511.html
Ice Storm Unlimited for a GPU comparison.....useless. No meaningful reviews or previews available.
Poor launch for sure.One of the poorest Intel launches in the last years. Nothing from Anandtech as well.
Poor launch for sure.
So when do you guys think they will announce the new Apple A9 powered macbook airs?
I am not joking. This is not going to be acceptable to Apple. They will not sell their customers a 6% processor speed jump on a device that they are doing a COMPLETE refresh of. You guys would have to be crazy to think Apple will take Broadwell-U the way it is now.
This is worse than I ever thought. I mean come on, what do you think the HD4600 in Ivy Bridge-U scored? I guarantee you it was a lot better than 6% on the graphics side. On top of that, Ivy Bridge brought clock speed bumps to things other than base clock. The reason intel is only adjusting the base clock up, and not the turbo clock, is that they actually can't clock 14nm any higher than 22nm. In fact, I would bet it's worse. Apple will not accept this. I am calling it now: Apple A9 powered Retina Macbook Air 2015.
Remember, YOU HEARD IT HERE FIRST
So you say Intel is too slow. Yet you ask when Apple will release something with a much slower ARM CPU as a replacement?
Shintai besides your totally unsupported (as usual) statement that is easily refuted (please search for Apple A8X thread everything will be explained for you there) why do you think apple would accept such paltry performance when they have consistently shown that they are willing to uproot their entire software stack for performance?
Also, for reference, the Apple A8X scores 30,000.
So more than half what the 50,000 the 28W5500-U scores in cloudgate! How much power do you you think it used?
Four. Watts. That is the number 4.
What do you think Apple could do with 28W?
http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apple_A8XYou forgot to link to your numbers. 30000 what?
http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apple_A8X
Now let's see your numbers. Please show me a 4W Intel chip that scores 30,000 or even 10,000 in cloudgate.
I'm waiting :whistle:
Your link doesnt show any benchmark numbers.
Oops. Here you go.
http://www.anandtech.com/show/8666/the-apple-ipad-air-2-review/2
Is this your method of argument? To offer no information or support and keep begging for me to feed you like some mewling infant?
You arguments are pathetic. Since I already know what you will find, there are no Intel chips that top 23,000 in cloudgate at anything less than 4,5W.
Why is it that Intel can't keep up with a measly iPad chip? Even after paying off retailers, they don't want Intel chips!
So you talk IGP only with no regards to CPU performance? But even then:
TreVader
I assume you are referring to the following benchmarks?
Core M (4.5W TDP) edges out the GPU performance of A8X and crushes it physics:
Apple's silicon teams are good, but for PC class power/performance chips, Intel is still -- at least in my opinion -- quite ahead of everybody else.
Intel's mobile efforts, on the other hand...
TreVader, as a Mac fan who is looking forward to the new 12" MacBook Retina, I'd say you're smoking some pretty good stuff if you think Apple is going to put an A9 chip in it over Broadwell.So when do you guys think they will announce the new Apple A9 powered macbook airs?
I am not joking. This is not going to be acceptable to Apple. They will not sell their customers a 6% processor speed jump on a device that they are doing a COMPLETE refresh of. You guys would have to be crazy to think Apple will take Broadwell-U the way it is now.
This is worse than I ever thought. I mean come on, what do you think the HD4600 in Ivy Bridge-U scored? I guarantee you it was a lot better than 6% on the graphics side. On top of that, Ivy Bridge brought clock speed bumps to things other than base clock. The reason intel is only adjusting the base clock up, and not the turbo clock, is that they actually can't clock 14nm any higher than 22nm. In fact, I would bet it's worse. Apple will not accept this. I am calling it now: Apple A9 powered Retina Macbook Air 2015.
People have been predicting ARM MacBooks for years now.Remember, YOU HEARD IT HERE FIRST
Even if the 12" MacBook Retina shows up, with Broadwell, even if I do like the form factor and design, I'm thinking I might end up waiting for Skylake too.Agreed. Broadwell-U is better than Haswell-U, but I can't shake the feeling that Skylake is the 14nm laptop chip that will deliver a really huge leap.
TreVader, as a Mac fan who is looking forward to the new 12" MacBook Retina, I'd say you're smoking some pretty good stuff if you think Apple is going to put an ARM chip in it over Broadwell.
People have been predicting ARM MacBooks for years now.
Even if the 12" MacBook Retina shows up, with Broadwell, even if I do like the form factor and design, I'm thinking I might end up waiting for Skylake too.
CPU aside, Apple usually intentionally leaves out something big or cripples it with a low spec in one or more of the components on their new product launches, only to fix it in the next generation one year later. eg. iPad with single core CPU and 256 MB RAM, fixed with dual-core CPU and 512 MB RAM 1 year later.
As for the CPU, the one thing that has got me worried is lack of proper H.265 HEVC acceleration. Since I keep my laptops a very long time, this is one feature I foresee myself missing in a few years. Speaking of which, I'm still on my 2009 MacBook Pro. Almost 6 years old now. I can hold out another year though.
TreVader
I assume you are referring to the following benchmarks?
Core M (4.5W TDP) edges out the GPU performance of A8X and crushes it physics:
Apple's silicon teams are good, but for PC class power/performance chips, Intel is still -- at least in my opinion -- quite ahead of everybody else.
I wouldn't underestimate Apple's chip prowess, but I also wouldn't underestimate Intel's (at least in PCs and above) either.
You do realize that Core M is a fiasco, right?
Intel has put NDAs on products it has on the shelves. It is afraid that people will realize it has no edge, and is actually far far behind.
The Intel distortion field will now return to normal and I will let you continue posting irrelevant stuff that never answers any of my actual requests. Peace be with you.
I'm not trying to deflect your requests. It is helpful to all forum participants for people to ask questions like the one you raised because everyone (ideally) should benefit from the exchange.
If you could phrase your request in a different way (perhaps I misunderstood in my reply with the Core M/iPad Air 2 tests), then I would be happy to try to answer it as best as I can.
As for the CPU, the one thing that has got me worried is lack of proper H.265 HEVC acceleration. Since I keep my laptops a very long time, this is one feature I foresee myself missing in a few years. Speaking of which, I'm still on my 2009 MacBook Pro. Almost 6 years old now. I can hold out another year though.
I was being a bit trollish because Shintai was trolling me, you are right I should have phrased it better.
I tried to answer your post better.
Anyway, I think it's certainly not a sure thing that apple will go A9 this year on the 12 air.
I can tell you that after the release of core M Apple probably has their CPU design working on replacing ALL Intel CPUs. The writing is on the wall.