The Lenovo ThinkPad 8 is a small Windows tablet that kind of breaks the mold. While Acer, Dell, Toshiba, and even Lenovo have launched low-cost Windows 8 tablets with 8 inch screens and Intel Bay Trail processors in the past few months, the ThinkPad 8 has a better screen, optional support for more storage, and better support for external displays or docking stations than the competition. It also has a slightly larger screen.

But the ThinkPad 8 is also a bit pricier. Lenovo is now offering the ThinkPad 8 with 64GB of storage for $429.

Lenovo ThinkPad 8

Lenovo’s expected to offer a $399 model with 32GB of storage eventually, as well as a higher-priced model with 128GB. You can also use a microSD card for extra storage.

All models have the same 8.3 inch, 1920 x 1200 pixel display (with a very thin screen bezel), 2GB of RAM, 802.11n WiFi, Bluetooth 4.0, and 20.5Whr batteries for up to 8 hours of run time. The tablets have microSD, micro USB, and micro HDMI ports, and they’re designed to work with Lenovo accessories including a magnetic cover that turns off the display as soon as it’s closed, and which fires up the camera app when you lift the corner covering the rear camera.

Lenovo will also offer a docking station that lets you connect a keyboard, mouse, display and other peripherals if you want to use the tablet as a desktop. What Lenovo doesn’t plan to offer is an official ThinkPad 8 keyboard.

The company figures an 8 inch tablet is really designed for handheld use — if you want a laptop replacement, you’ll probably want a model with a larger display. I can’t say I disagree. I tried using the 8 inch Dell Venue 8 Pro with an external keyboard and mouse for a few days, and found the experience kind of painful thanks to the small screen and sharp text. Small, sharp displays work better when you hold them closer to your eyes than you normally would with a laptop.

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24 replies on “Lenovo ThinkPad 8 Windows tablet now available”

  1. Was going to purchase the second it came out since they said if you would order from them it would be $399 and everywhere else it would be $429. But now that it is $569 (the 128gb) I’ll wait till a sale and when it is in stores to see if I really must get this. Also, a lot easier returns if I got it and then chose not to keep it. I was expecting the 128gb to be around $500 tops.

  2. I called Lenovo yesterday to inquire about what was available for this machine. No flip case or mobile broadband as of yet. Hell none of the sales guys seemed to know much about it.

    1. I have the 64 bit 4gb version with 128gb sdd and another 128 sd card with 4G LTE and it is a little beast that I use as my work laptop docked to large screen keyboard and mouse and 4 usb hub, does everything and my bag is very light to and from work

  3. Another Win 8 tablet with 2GB RAM……. Come on, atleast include 3GB! My 6 year old laptop has more RAM than this.

  4. No active digitizer, no stylus. Not getting my money. The Fujitsu Q584 10″ Baytrail Wacom tablet has 4GB of DDR3 RAM.

    1. Thanks for this. When I first read about the Fujitsu, it was only reported to have 2 GB of RAM. I guess that was incorrect or it has changed.

      I hope it comes in a non-white color.

      1. That’s probably because it’s a business device with actual business features. The ThinkPad 8 is a consumer device with not much business features with the ThinkPad name on it.

      2. $879. 10.1″, waterproof to one meter, fingerprint reader, 2560×1440 IPS display, 4GB DDR3 Ram, full size USB 3.0, keyboard, desktop dock, Windows 8.1 PRO, Wacom digitizer with pen silo, 11 hr battery, folio case, NFC, GPS, 128GB option. Yes. Expensive, but will mostly be purchased by large companies and tablet niche users. I have the Q584, a SP2 and a Dell Venue 8 PRO. I will probably keep the Q584 as my main PC and keep an 8 inch for a more mobile solution.

        1. A lot of those features aren’t included. If you add the NFC, GPS, Windows 8 Pro and 128gb its now $1,279.00. It doesn’t really make sense to me to compare the too

          1. Yes. I am aware of that. Like I said, expensive and has a niche buyer in mind. For those that want a digitizer in a 10″ running Windows there is nothing available with Baytrail and 4GB of RAM.

        2. wish I had a corporate sugar daddy… I am waiting to see what MWC offers then if there is nothing I’ll get the 32gb Asus Vivotab 8. The Q854 is nice but if I am spending upwards of $900 I need some horse-power. I wish Asus would just release a pro version of the T100 for $500 with wacom..

        3. Are you able to install 64-bit Windows on the Q584? I ask mainly because that allow me to install Linux on it easily. Thanks!

    2. Get the ASUS Vivotab Note 8. If you don’t need USB 3.0, video out and a uselessly high PPI then it looks decent. I plan to get it.

    1. It doesn’t have a trackpoint either. I thought ThinkPad == trackpoint, right 🙂

  5. Incredible, Lenovo seems to know how to reduce bezels … and from what i see, have a good screen!

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