Wish list for the Helix 2

[loyukfai]

http://www.tabtech.de/windows/lenovo-thinkpad-helix-2-und-tab-s8-auf-ersten-bildern

http://liliputing.com/2014/08/lenovo-thinkpad-helix-2-ideatab-s8-leaked-ahead-ifa.html

Cheers.

[wolfindersteppe]

New info about Helix 2:

Lenovo business 2-in-1 ThinkPad Helix gets new Intel Core M processor

IFA 2014: Lenovo's PCs

ThinkPad Helix: First Look

ThinkPad Helix Tour

What I can see as very positive:

- Screen can be leaned almost to 180° angle with the Pro-Keyboard

- Pen is longer, should be more ergonomic

- Fingerprint reader (yeah!)

- Far more accessories, my favorite would be a protection box a la Otter.

Other improvements:

- Battery life with pro-keyboard should be up to 12 hours. From my very personal experience, I would be very lucky to get up to 8 hours in praxis

- CPU performance increase - compared to what? Previous i5 or i7?

- GPU performance increase - that might be interesting for Toon Boom StoryBoard Pro, Studio, Photoshop..

- 4 performance modi - oh no! I am afraid that only in desktop mode aka with the desktop dock the Helix 2 will run with full power but let's see.

[JaLooNz]

Finally the refreshed Helix is here... The japanese site lists more options, especially for storage and a WWAN model.

http://pc.watch.impress.co.jp/docs/news/event/20140904_665268.html

And luckily the Trackpoint buttons are still there and not castrated away like the X1 Carbon.

[loyukfai]

http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?f=12&t=115217
http://forum.tabletpcreview.com/lenovo-ibm/63682-thinkpad-helix-2-a.html

Cheers.

[joesixgig · Accepted solution]

---

joesixgig wrote:

Must-haves:

- Haswell (OK, they went with Core-M)

- a solid desktop dock for the slate with the screen angled up toward the user at 'writing angle', 2xhdmi, 4+ usb in back.

- lighter all around, same battery life (thanks to Haswell). How about 3lbs with keyboard?

- at least one USB port on the slate that is not blocked by docking.

- eraser on the included pen!

- SD or uSD card slot

Nice to have:

- a touch-cover like product. 

- Firmware update: option to not lock the digitizer if pen is in silo.

- virtual bezel to have more screen space when docked (see Intel reference design)

- option to keep some of the USB powered when machine is off

- a backlit keyboard

- fingerprint reader

---

So they seem to have done a pretty great job with satisfying these wishes. The blue highlights show which ones were included. OK, the dock is not at writing angle, but that may be a niche request anyway. If it's really 12% lighter as the product tour vid claims, it's basically exactly 3 lbs as requested (now I wish we'd asked for 2.5 lbs..). 

Edit: from the product page it's clear that the weight with Pro Keyboard is 3.7 lbs, so basically the same as Helix 1. That's kind of a bummer. Weight with ultrabook KB is 3 lbs.   

It looks like they also gave the pen an eraser. Sadly we forgot to request / demand a silo, which they promptly took away.  On the plus side, we didn't even request trackpoint right? So that's a nice bonus. They did include a lighweight keyboard, but it's not quite as portable as a Surface touch cover. Still, good to have options. 

Now let's see some benchmarks on the Core-M!

[letti001]

slot for stylus. They took that away on the TPT2 with the 10.

[notandor]

According to Japanese news, it will have the option of 8GB, WWAN LTE, 512GB in BTO (new).

How much you guys think a fully loaded Helix 2 will cost?

I'm thinking:

$999 Basic

$199 i3->i7

$199 4gb -> 8gb

$199 WWAN LTE

$399 64gb -> 512 gb (512gb is only available in BTO)

oh boy! this is already $2K.. without keyboard docks, additional adapters, covers etc.

I really hope, they have a higher end bundled model (overall cheaper than individual customization).

And still this one doesn't come with a Thunderbolt!!!... the best thing since sliced bread (for eGPU solution) and would have enabled 1 single machine in true sense... e.g. including gaming or even big multi-monitor setups allowing video editing, heavy photoshopping etc.

FYI... I think, MS SP3 connecter uses Thunderbolt protocol, but they screwed it up by making it as their propriteray connector.. so you are limited to using their dock, and still cannot use a eGPU solution.

[wolfindersteppe]

Thinkpad Helix 2 on sales from today, http://shop.lenovo.com/us/en/tablets/thinkpad/thinkpad-helix-2nd-gen/ . Who is going to be first to post the product test results in real life situation?

[mdovey]

Mmmm, I thought there were supposed to be two difference keyboards. It isn't clear which keyboards (or if any) come with either of the two models for sale.

The different keyboards (or the third docking bay) don't seem to be listed under accessories.

Neither model seem to offer a 3G\4G\LTE option.

Hopefully more models and options are still to come, so I think it prudent to hold off any rush purchases until we have a better idea of the full range.

[Digiguy]

The basic keyboard is included with all models (which contrary to the power one has a slot for the stylus). Sim card slot is on all models.