The two new laptops launched by Lenovo yesterday are designed to optimize the use of Microsoft’s new Windows 10 operating system, according to Microsoft executive Joe Belfiore. They’re also the first devices to combine Microsoft’s Cortana personal digital assistant and Lenovo’s REACHit app for searching multiple data storage sites at once.
Lenovo said its new YOGA 900 [pictured], which features a 13.3-inch display, is “the world’s thinnest Intel Core i convertible laptop.” The company has also released the new YOGA Home 900, a portable all-in-one desktop with a 27-inch touchscreen.
The YOGA 900 starts at $ 1,199.99 and is available in clementine orange, platinum silver and champagne gold, while the YOGA Home 900 is priced at $ 1,549 and up. The YOGA 900 is available now, while the YOGA Home 900 will be released at the end of this month. Lenovo first introduced the YOGA convertible laptop category three years ago.
Extending Cortana with REACHit
The latest YOGA devices were designed based on “real user needs to make them as thin and light as possible for the portability that they need,” said Dilip Bhatia, vice president of worldwide marketing and user experience for Lenovo’s PC & Enterprise Business Group, in a statement. In addition to making improvements to the performance of the PCs, Lenovo also refined the “signature watchband hinge” of the Yoga 900 to enable the device to switch more smoothly between its four modes: laptop, stand, tent and tablet.
“We worked closely behind the scenes with Lenovo to ensure its new PCs really brought to life the best of Windows 10,” said Belfiore, corporate vice president of Microsoft’s Operating Systems Group, in a blog post. Among the updated features enabled by the new OS are Cortana with REACHit, Lenovo’s own search app.
First announced in May at the Lenovo Tech World conference, the Cortana/REACHit combination extends Microsoft’s intelligent search capabilities to non-Microsoft services such as Google Drive, Dropbox, Box, OneDrive and other remote devices. Once users have created REACHit accounts, they can use the free search technology to find a wide variety of content across multiple devices and locations. Until now, the Cortana/REACHit capabilities were available in beta to users running Windows 10 on Lenovo devices.
Thinner, with Greater Battery Density
The new YOGA 900 measures 14.9 millimeters in thickness and weighs just 1.29 kilograms (2.84 pounds). Featuring a battery density that is 50 percent greater than the previous YOGA model, it can provide up to nine hours of local video playback, according to Lenovo.
The YOGA 900 also supports Windows 10 Continuum, which allows users to easily transition from laptop to tablet mode and back again.
The YOGA 900 Home is designed for desktop use while also providing portability. It features an Intel 5th-generation Core i7 processor and also offers the option for Nvidia GeForce 940A graphics. Also featuring touchscreen capabilities, it can be laid flat for photo and video viewing, online chats and gaming.
