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The first along with second generation connected with Chromebooks we reviewed virtually all followed the exact same general formula. Any flimsy plastic system, small, low-resolution screen, underpowered Intel or maybe ARM CPU, along with few if virtually any frills. Paired using Googles Chrome OS, essentially an online-only operating-system where tools along with features are accessed throughout the Chrome Web cell phone browser, it was a good, if unexciting low-cost way to obtain a clamshell laptop.

The next wave of systems begun to change it up a little, with Chromebooks such as the Acer Chromebook 13 switching for an Nvidia processor along with GPU, and Lenovo putting flexible designs, from the N20p, with a 300-degree hinge to get a kiosk mode, to the model, the ThinkPad Yoga 11e. As it gives you a 360-degree fold-back hinge with all of those other popular Yoga series, one might declare the Yoga 11e could be the first Chrome OS tablet weve tested, as its screen folds here we are at form a thick, chunky slate, while also stopping halfway in a kiosk or demonstration mode. 

If which are the systems just notable feature, that could be enough, but this really is also a Chromebook created for education use, which is therefore hefty along with rugged, exactly the other of most various other Chromebooks. It feels great inside the hand, although very heavy for an 11-inch laptop. This product is currently accessible in only one setting, a $455 build through an Intel Celeron cpu, 4GB of RAM, a 16GB SSD, along with a 1, 366x768 exhibit. Thats a advanced over other Chromebooks, and all-around what youd pay for Lenovos excellent 11-inch Yoga exercises 2, which carries a full 500GB disk drive and Windows 8. In england, the Chrome version in lenovo thinkpad yoga 11e amazon can be listed as "coming before long, " but this Windows version can be £410, while this Australian version, using Chrome OS, prices AU$740.


Also realize that this education-targeted rugged person is used for greater than just a touchscreen display screen Chromebook. Lenovo can also be using it to get a non-touch/non-Yoga Chromebook, in addition to for Yoga along with non-Yoga Windows 8 designs. That said, the Yoga-style Stainless- OS version is just about the most interesting.

Chrome OS isnt touch-optimized including Windows 8 can be, so theres much less obvious utility to get a touchscreen, although it will come in handy when scrolling lower long webpages, especially when the system can be folded into its various non-clamshell shapes.


The ThinkPad Yoga exercises 11e feels far more upscale and well-thought-out than the majority of Chromebooks, which are aimed clearly in the bottoom end of the market. But with basically the same internal elements as those programs, and the exact same productivity limitations connected with Chrome OS, its also difficult to justify the larger price unless youve got a specific need to get a Chromebook with an especially rugged design, accommodating hinge, or the touchscreen.

Semi-rugged laptops yield every from time to time, typically targeted from either industrial consumers, the education market place (where hardware has to be student-proof), or especially clumsy types who decrease their laptops or maybe spill coffee with them regularly. But as yet, we have definitely not seen any rugged versions in the current generation connected with ultraportable hybrids, nor in the growing roster connected with Chromebooks.


In this particular case, the screen bezel is wider, the rear cell is stronger, along with the hinges have recently been reinforced. That makes this Yoga 11e well-suited with regard to active on-the-go types who will be especially rough on the hardware. But, whats more, it makes the process thicker and heavier than one could expect from an 11-inch ultraportable or maybe Chromebook. The Yoga exercises 11e is 0. 87 inch thick (22mm) along with weighs 3. 7 fat (1. 7kg), devoid of its A/C adaptor. Compared, Lenovos other Chromebook this N20p is 0. 7 inch thick (18mm) along with weighs only 3. 8 pounds (1. 3kg).

If youve seen or used (or owned) any one Lenovos other Yoga exercises products, youll have a pretty good notion of how the hybrid car hinge works. Unlike normal laptop knobs, which stop anywhere between 90 degrees along with 180 degrees, the hinge on a Yoga folds all the way back, a complete 360 degrees. That means that you can fold the screen down flat, then keep going. Stop at around 270 to 300 degrees and also you get what all of us call a kiosk manner, with the screen pointing out of the rear of the machine, and the keyboard set tray pointed lower, facing the desk and acting like a stand. Thats a great mode for introducing a video or maybe PowerPoint file, for instance.


Fold the screen all the way back, and youve got a slate-style tablet, albeit a thick, chunky one. The keyboard set the touchpad are usually exposed, sticking out of the back of the slate in this mode, but deactivated. Some people find this distracting, but it hasnt slowed lower the steady flow of new Yoga exercises models or imitations from other COMPUTER SYSTEM makers.


This is an especially notable attribute here, because while weve seen a few other Chromebooks with touchscreens, this is actually the first Chrome OS system weve tested that works as sometimes a hybrid or pill. We dont count on many Chrome OS tablets in the future, but its a unique idea, one which will depend on just how touch-friendly the websites or Web-based tools youre using are usually.

Of course, you should also be aware of what a Chromebook gives, and what it doesnt. This is primarily an online-only operating-system that gives a window to many Web services via the Chrome cell phone browser, but little far more. There are a number of offline tools with regard to photo and data file management, but no capability to download, install, or maybe run traditional House windows. exe files. Weve written extensively concerning the advantages and compromises of having a Chrome OS personal computer, and its ideal as a secondary PC in case you are comfortable applying online tools like Google Drive, Googlemail or other webmail companies, Netflix, etc.


The keyboard along with touchpad are standouts to get a Chromebook. While nearly all Chrome OS laptops have shallow, clacky tips and tiny touchpads, here we get the advantages of Lenovos deep opportunities in system design. The keys (stamped using lowercase letters within Chrome OS style) are usually hefty and satisfyingly solid, while the glass-topped touchpad gives excellent two-finger scrolling.

Like most various other Chromebooks (outside of a number of higher-end models), the display in such cases isnt a authentic stunner. Its an 11. 6-inch 1, 366x768 screen thats clear along with bright enough, and has good off-axis looking at angles (practically needed for tablet use), nevertheless the screen overlay can also be extra glossy and accumulates plenty of glare. Lenovo claims the glass isnt really scratch-resistant Gorilla cup, but a similar-sounding product called Dragontrail cup, and six situations stronger than regular laptop glass. We didnt drop the machine off a table to try this, but the story fits in while using the rugged design of all of those other chassis.

Im not sure what you think youll plug into this USB ports of the Chromebook, but it has both USB 3. 0 and 3. 0 places. Most wireless personal computer mice actually operate fine in Stainless- OS, but this is intended to be a fairly self-contained process. The inclusion connected with faster 802. 11ac Wi-Fi can be a nice extra, even so.


Chromebooks can run many internal components, from the Intel Celeron chip used here to help faster Core i3 CPUs to help ARM chips such as the Samsung Exynos along with Nvidia K1. Inside surfing and applying most online tools, weve never felt there is a huge experiential change in Chromebook designs, but in this particular case the higher-end Celeron chip in your HP Chromebook 15 was faster using some tests, while the GPU-heavy Nvidia K1 inside the Acer Chromebook 13 was faster in a 3D graphics test. Despite being middle to rear in the pack, the Yoga exercises 11e performed fine for Netflix playback, taking care of productivity docs, and also playing a few simple online flash games.

Battery life seemed to be another area the spot that the Lenovo Thinkpad Yoga 11e Chromebook was middle in the pack, running with regard to 5: 36 in your online video streaming playback test. Thats over 2 hours a lot less than the Acer Chromebook 13, but a lot better than HPs Chromebook 15, which didnt even hit 3 time. Chromebooks are low-power, portable devices created for on-the-go use; but without access to extreme battery life gains traditional laptops have gotten previously few years by Intels Core i-series websites, were still definitely not seeing all-day, no-compromise figures.