Lenovo Miix 2 10.1

[Ravynmagi]

Looks like the Lenovo Miix 2 10.1 tablet should be launching soon. It's already on shelves in Germany and Lenovo's US website now has it listed.

10.1 inch 1920x1200 (16:10) IPS display
Baytrail Z3740, 2GB RAM
64GB and 128GB
micro USB, micro SD, mini HDMI
1.27 pounds

At CES they say pricing would start at $499. However Lenovo's website shows the 128GB model at $699 and the 64GB model at $749. Besides the prices on the storage capacities apparently reversed, this looks like the pricing on the Miix 2 11 with Haswell processor.

This Germany reviewer picked up a 64GB Miix 2 10.1 today and his cost $380 Euros (before VAT) which translates to $520, so it seems like we should see that $499 price Lenovo mentioned at CES and the current prices are an error.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pWka5nFog-I

I'm really excited about this tablet hybrid. First is the 10 inch display using a 16:10 aspect ratio. I like this more than all the 16:9 displays most of the 10+ inch Windows tablets have gone with.

The keyboard design looks kinda interesting, I'll miss not having a hinge and adjustable viewing angles, but it's a simple and quick design without a bulky hinge and I'm guessing this is partly why they can sell this tablet with keyboard for only $500. Also happy that this reviewer had experience with the horrible Lenovo Lynx keyboard and indicated this doesn't have those weird issues. And the magnets seem to hold the keyboard pretty well.

I wish Lenovo has more curves on the tablet section and less corners.

Update 1/29/14: Lenovo.com has fixed their pricing error. $600 for the 64GB model, $700 for the 128GB model. The reported $500 price from CES apparently has not come to be.
http://shop.lenovo.com/us/en/tablets...iix-2-10-inch/

 

[crashtestdummy]

As someone who's more of a laptop user than a tablet user, the combination of a glossy screen and non-adjustable angle would drive me a little crazy. If this isn't your main productivity device, though, that may bother you a little less. I think if you more view it as more of a tablet with a nice docking keyboard (i.e. a cheaper Surface Pro), you'll probably be ok.

 

[jpeyton]

$500 for a Baytrail tablet is hard to swallow.

 

[PrinceMyshkin]

That reviewer made an update that corrected his purchase price. It was actually $469 Euros.
http://www.umpcportal.com/2014/01/lenovo-miix-2-10-baytrail-t-2-in-1-unboxing/

I was very interested in these devices, especially the ThinkPad 8, which is now available for purchase ($429 for the 64GB version). But for the prices they're asking for this and the ThinkPad 8, I'm not sure it is a good buy anymore.

I'm leaning towards waiting till the Surface Pro 2 drops to $600 (the current sale price for the Surface Pro 1). All I need is a decent Win 8.1 tablet with good battery life.

 

[s44]

$500 for a Baytrail tablet is hard to swallow.

Name a cheaper device that includes both keyboard and 1080p IPS display...

 

[bearxor]

He can't. Because there isn't one cheaper. The only competition there is the Omni 10, which is $400 and you can get a keyboard folio for it, but the Lenovo contains more functionality.

But it's listed for $600-700 with bay trail on Lenovo's US site right now. I'm thinking a $500 price point comes without the keyboard dock. Not only that, but it's a slower processor than the Omni 10 and only includes 2.4ghz wireless, which is a show stopper for me at the moment. The little dock with the speakers is a nice perk but, given a choice, I think I pick the Omni 10 at this point for it's more rounded feel, faster processor, 5ghz wifi, better rear camera, and $200 less point of entry. I think all that matters more to me than an extra 32GB of storage.

 

[Red Storm]

Wouldn't the Thinkpad 8 (with keyboard) be cheaper?

 

[Ravynmagi]

Wouldn't the Thinkpad 8 (with keyboard) be cheaper?

It doesn't have a keyboard and it's a bit small to use a folio style keyboard case. And with a separate keyboard and stand it wouldn't be much cheaper.

 

[Ravynmagi]

Looks like Lenovo fixed the prices. $600 for 64GB and $700 for 128GB (yesterday they had the 64GB at $750).

http://shop.lenovo.com/us/en/tablets...iix-2-10-inch/

Yeah, now this tablet is kinda meh. All my excitement has faded. At $500 I would have been on this, but at $600 no. *sigh*

PS. I think I need to watch some CES videos. Because I'm pretty sure Lenovo themselves mentioned the $500 price. Pretty lame to give a price and then a month later jack it up by $100.

 

[bearxor]

I still think they'll release a dock-less version that hits the $500 mark. I don't know what else they could take out of it to make it hit that point.

But put a slick deals alert on it. Heck, when I was cruising around the site, I got a pop up for 10% off my purchase of I signed up for the Lenovo mailing list. That would put it at $550/630. I bet there's a sale on them soon. If the 128GB version hits $600 it's a pretty decent deal. The BGN only wireless still kills it for me.

 

[quikah]

Ok, it is $499 now. Go buy it.

Wonder what they are doing, release it with the prices inverted, then fix that a couple days later, then drop the price $100 the next day?

Wonder what they will do tomorrow?

Wish my crappy Galaxy tab 2 would die so I would have an excuse to buy one.

 

[Ravynmagi]

Well that's pretty cool of Lenovo. Not sure why the price changed between CES and now, but it's cool of them to at least temporarily give use the $500 CES price.

 

[quikah]

Hmm, the Q&A on Lenovo site says that it only includes a trial version of Office.

The small battery and funky magnetic dock design are making me hesitant. Need a full review...

 

[Ravynmagi]

Hmm, the Q&A on Lenovo site says that it only includes a trial version of Office.

The small battery and funky magnetic dock design are making me hesitant. Need a full review...

I looked at the Miix 2 10 Q&A and didn't see that. Under features they have this...

Office Home & Student 2013
The Lenovo Miix 2 10" includes a full version of Office Home & Student 2013. Do more with Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and OneNote preloaded on your PC. No additional purchase required.

It seems Atom based Windows tablets get a full version of Office Home 2013. While more expensive Haswell tablets only get trial versions.

 

[bearxor]

Correct. All these Atom tablets should have Office 2013 H&S included. Anything with a faster processor doesn't get whatever break Microsoft is giving for the Atom versions.

 

[quikah]

I looked at the Miix 2 10 Q&A and didn't see that. Under features they have this...

Office Home & Student 2013
The Lenovo Miix 2 10" includes a full version of Office Home & Student 2013. Do more with Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and OneNote preloaded on your PC. No additional purchase required.

It seems Atom based Windows tablets get a full version of Office Home 2013. While more expensive Haswell tablets only get trial versions.

Search for office in tne q&a. I have no doubt that the answer is wrong, though they offer office as an add on when you add to cart which is weird.

 

[zerogear]

For 500 why not a Surface Pro (1st gen)?

 

[bearxor]

For 500 why not a Surface Pro (1st gen)?

They're not $500 anymore, for starters. Lighter/thinner than a SP, longer battery life, keyboard included.

 

[Roland00Address]

I don't know all the details but supposedly you can get the miix 2 for about $430 with keyboard through the barnes and mobile subsite of lenovo's website.

 

[bearxor]

Can confirm. $430 32GB and $530 64GB through the Barnes and Noble portal.

 

[quikah]

Guy from unboxing vid in OP made a review:

http://www.umpcportal.com/2014/02/lenovo-miix-2-10-review/

Seems pretty good, but that small battery is really a bummer.

 

[lagokc]

Correct. All these Atom tablets should have Office 2013 H&S included. Anything with a faster processor doesn't get whatever break Microsoft is giving for the Atom versions.

Word of warning: attempting to use Office 2013 H&S will result in the tablet demanding you sign up for a Microsoft account.

Blegh would rather just use LibreOffice

 

[zerogear]

Word of warning: attempting to use Office 2013 H&S will result in the tablet demanding you sign up for a Microsoft account.

Blegh would rather just use LibreOffice

lol. Okay.

 

[Ravynmagi]

Word of warning: attempting to use Office 2013 H&S will result in the tablet demanding you sign up for a Microsoft account.

And that's a good thing. I am liking my Microsoft Live account. My settings get saved to the cloud, so when I go from my work desktop, to my home desktop, to my laptop, to my tablet, everything is consistent. The cloud is cool kids!

 

[lagokc]

And that's a good thing. I am liking my Microsoft Live account. My settings get saved to the cloud, so when I go from my work desktop, to my home desktop, to my laptop, to my tablet, everything is consistent. The cloud is cool kids!

But... then Microsoft/Google/your cloud provider can data mine you and do creepy things.

:hmm:If you setup your own VPN at home and your own cloud server you can do all of those things without being a product to be sold. Or just keep your files on one of their clouds but under encryption so they host your data but don't have your data.