I don't really know what fact or experience you're looking for, but I'll try and address my points, based primarily on what's been posted in this thread -
Heating issues -
wrote:
I just want to let everyone know I have had the 256 gb i7 version for several days... I love it however after ten minutes it's so hot it almost burns my hands. I have been told it is defective and am shipping the item back to macmall... But just be aware the tablet was unusable to me because of the heat. I was also just using one-note :(
http://forums.lenovo.com/t5/X-Series-Tablet-ThinkPad-Laptops/When-is-the-Helix-release-date/td-p/1047985/page/38
****Overheated, returned, probably defective.
wrote:
Hello, i have just received my Helix 36986DG and i'm having issues with the lenovo software.
for one the solution center keeps telling me there is 2 unknown devices, but the device manager doesn't show any. i have just disabled this.
the second and more annoying thing is the system update. it did all its updates including a bios update, but now it still keeps showing a recommended update Intel Smart Connect Technology 3.0 - 8 [64] version 3.0.42.1767. It refuses to go away, i tried to let it install and rebooted a dozen times and even installing the new 4.0 one from the intel site it still shows. even disabling the notification for this update doesn't really help because the tile in the metro start menu just keeps telling me there is an update.
Any suggestions?
About the heat discussion from earlier:
mine has the i5 cpu and in normal browsing and such the back becomes handwarm, but during the first installation and the windows updates/performance check it became quite hot on the right center side and the back there, too hot to touch actually. The fan noise isn't disturbing me, but the lit red dot on the thinkpad logo is...
http://forums.lenovo.com/t5/X-Series-Tablet-ThinkPad-Laptops/When-is-the-Helix-release-date/td-p/1047985/page/61
****Another that was hot, "too hot to touch," possibly corrected itself - in my opinion still cause for mild concern.
wrote:
wrote:
...
The temperature of the CPU got into the mid- to high 40s (C), which resulted in a very scary "fry" moment; it had clearly over heated. The only way to shut it down was with the emergency reset hole in back. I should have seen this coming because it was getting awfully hot under my hand as I took notes while listening to a webinar.
...
It should have absolutely no problems in the 40C range. It should be able to run just fine even in the 80C range. Once it hits about 100C, I believe it will auto-throttle itself.
I changed the levels in smart mode 1 to be a ltitle more conservative than the default:
52 - 0
55 - 1
60 - 2
75 - 3
80 - 7
90 - 128 (bios controlled)
At these levels, the fan will generally not run with light browsing, office application work, one note or light game apps. It will kick on for applications where the CPU goes high for several seconds, which is what I want it to do.
It's been perfectly stable with no signs of instability and I've thrown everything I could at it to test it out, including burn-in tests and extended 3D game playing at full resolution (Half Life).
I just now tried to duplicate what the unluck other fellow has with screen overheating. Brought up a couple of browsers , set the screen to 100% brightness with no auto-adjust (so max brightness) and drew with onenote for about 10 minutes. While the screen was slightly warmish, it was by no means hot. Very comfortable to draw on.
I then even ran the Intel Burn test in addition and continued to use onenote, and while the overall temp increased understandably, there was no discomfort in using the screen, just warmth.
I feel quite confident using TPFC set as above, and am even considering bumping the first 3 entries up a little (maybe 53, 57, 62)
http://forums.lenovo.com/t5/X-Series-Tablet-ThinkPad-Laptops/When-is-the-Helix-release-date/td-p/1047985/page/44
****Another behaving unusally hot considering the reported temp range. This one may or may not have been overheating, but there is no evidence to the contrary other than a failure to reproduce.
Fan Noise -
wrote:
Regarding heat, I have the i7 as well and have no issues. I use TPFC to solve the horrifically obnoxious fan issue, but it does indeed solve it completely (the default threshold is simply too low -- no biggie). Sorry to say that the other fellow's unit may indeed be defective in some way.
The machine gets hot when the A/V runs or is otherwise under load, but I have yet to see the CPU exceed ~67C. No issues in tablet or laptop mode regarding physical touch and heat after ~2 weeks.
It's a great machine. My only beef after all this time is that Windows 8 continues to be a little schizophrenic to me. Lately I am in desktop mode since the Helix is such a fantastic laptop, which makes me wonder about the purpose of Metro/Modern UI except when the tablet is detached. But that is off-topic.
http://forums.lenovo.com/t5/X-Series-Tablet-ThinkPad-Laptops/When-is-the-Helix-release-date/td-p/1047985/page/42
"Horrifically obnoxious fan noise," an issue that is repeated throughout the thread.
Other Random Issues Including Connection to Dock and USB -
wrote:
Interesting, have you all done this?
4/16 update changelog is quite long
UEFI: 1.10 / ECP: 1.13
•(Fix) Fixed an issue where the computer might hang when attaching/detaching
the USB device to/from the computer or Docking Station.
•(Fix) Fixed an issue where no sound was heard from the ThinkPad internal
speakers while the computer was locked when SmartAudio was set to
Multi-stream mode and headphones or external speakers were attached to
the computer. This fix is to follow Windows' behavior.
Hint: To disable sound from the internal speakers in lock state, press the
mute button on the keyboard.
•(Fix) Fixed an issue where some settings were not updated immediately after
loading default settings in ThinkPad Setup.
•(Fix) Fixed an issue where some unexpected characters might be shown on the
left-top on screen when a diagnostic splash screen was displayed.
•(Fix) Fixed an issue where the LED on the Fn key of the Enhanced Keyboard Dock
for ThinkPad Helix might not be updated when docked with it.
•(Fix) Fixed an issue where the system configuration including cTDP might not
be updated when docked with the Enhanced Keyboard Dock for ThinkPad
Helix.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
wrote:
Hmmm...wonder what my problem is then. Did you upgrade your Bios yet?
Have not touched my bios was I supposed to?
dave
http://forums.lenovo.com/t5/X-Series-Tablet-ThinkPad-Laptops/When-is-the-Helix-release-date/td-p/1047985/page/39
Screen-door effect -
wrote:
Sorry to say, hansolo82, but I just got back from returning the Surface to the Microsoft Store (no problems inside the 30 day window with that, for the record). I can say that although my eye is not as discerning as yours probably is--as I'm not a pro-- I did feel the Helix's color tint was a bit warm until I turned off auto-brightness. Also, and this one may serve as a **bleep** hard disappointment to some folks, but I do see what looks like a very mild screen door effect on white backgrounds when viewed close up. I don't think it's a manufacturing defect; probably just the way it is. It's *nowhere near* the X1 Carbon's effect, however, and is entirely livable. I'd hold off to hear from other users before panicking -- this so far is pretty mild and the screen is otherwise fine to my relatively untrained eyes once, as mentioned, auto-brightness is disabled.
http://forums.lenovo.com/t5/X-Series-Tablet-ThinkPad-Laptops/When-is-the-Helix-release-date/td-p/1047985/page/13
Other Facts Possibly in Question -
Haswell supposed release date:
http://www.anandtech.com/show/6898/intel-details-haswell-overclocked-at-idf-beijing
Intel North Cape Prototype Reference Design:
http://www.engadget.com/2013/01/07/intel-north-cape-haswell-reference-design-eyes-on/
Dell Warranty Policy:
http://www.dell.com/content/topics/global.aspx/services/client_support/completecare_svc?c=us&l=en
Samsung Ativ Priced at $999:
http://www.microsoftstore.com/store/msusa/en_US/pdp/productID.257325300
Samsung Ativ Wacom Drivers:
http://www.mobiletechreview.com/notebooks/Samsung-ATIV-700T.htm
Lenovo Misses Expected Release Date:
http://www.ubergizmo.com/2013/02/lenovo-thinkpad-helix-misses-february-release-date/
No Innovation:
http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/31/asus-eee-pad-ep101tc-and-ep121-hands-on/
***At computex in 2010 the ep121 was supposed to come wih dock. The transformer series followed up on this, with the book being the first to announce a built it battery in the dock. The video at the bottom shows the ep121 in the dock back in 2010.
I sadly no longer have the pictures of my machine teardown so I can't verify the internal customizations I spoke of but I can confidently say that replacing a hard drive, motherboard, and RAM in is a pain in the rear, and the gpus on an M18x are on there real good, but in the meanwhile, here's a shot of a non-standard hard drive for my configuration and her name

Hopefully that'll do.
Finally, I'm not entirely sure what my name, or yours for that matter, has to do with this but I'm not concealing my identity - I use the username or a variation on every board I participate, and have for the past 10 years, as well as gamertags and IDs, but if you absolutely must know, my name is Jose Soriano. I'm also not bashing the product, this whole thing started because I said that Lenovo waiting too long was bad and by the time it actually releases the product it will no longer be top of the line, and for some people, the quality/reliability/company history/whatever is not enough to negate that. I also never used the word "crazy," that was another poster, and I'm not trying to dissuade anyone from anything, just stating my opinion that Lenovo's current decision making is poor.
So if there's anything elso you would like me to verify, then please let me know, and I'll do my best to provide you with whatever you need.