Lenovo is launching a 13 inch Windows laptop that weighs just a tiny bit more than Apple’s first-generation iPad.
The Lenovo LaVie Z is a notebook with an Intel Broadwell processor, solid state storage, Windows 8.1 software, and a case that weighs just 1.7 pounds.
There’s also a 2-in-1 model that you can use either as a notebook or a tablet. That version is still super-light, weighing just over 2 pounds.
Both models are 0.67 inches thick and feature magnesium-lithium cases which Lenovo says is 50 percent lighter than aluminum, but just as sturdy as other magnesium laptop cases.
The LaVie HZ550 is the laptop-only model, while the HZ750 convertible has a touchscreen that’s bonded to the display so there’s no cover glass to add thickness or weight.
Both models feature 13.3 inch displays, up to a 5th-gen Intel Core i7 processor, 128GB of solid state storage, and an optional 2560 x 1440 pixel WQHD display.
Lenovo plans to begin offering the notebooks in the US in May with the HZ550 selling for $1299 and up while the HZ750 will start at $1499.
If the LaVie branding sounds familiar, that’s because NEC has been offering a line of notebooks in Japan under that name for a few years. The Lenovo LaVie Z comes from a partnership between Lenovo and NEC.
Make a light weight tablet with digitizer pen and the
ability to convert back into a full fledged 13+ laptop running win 10 and usb 3.1 and it would cause a tectonic plate shift in business.
The equivalent of bringing a high energy laser beam to a gun show.
These devices are getting to be too light. To
achieve their goals, manufacturers are turning
out “anorexic” laptops with too few ports (particularly
USB), requiring easily-misplaced dongles, too
little internal storage (128 GB SSDs when 256 GB
should be the minimum), nonremovable batteries,
non-upgradable RAM, and nonreplaceable SSDs.
I’d rather have greater weight but with the above
features, plus an active digitizer.
https://www.dynamism.com/top-notebooks/nec-lavie-z.shtml
Same ports that my old UX31E got (minus a mini-VGA that, honestly, no one uses) and that I was plenty happy with port-wise. Non-upgradability is but a small sacrifice to achieve such a light weight (and how many ultrabooks are upgradable anyway). And that active digitizer, well, I doubt your average consumer (or even the deep-pocketed business type that this is aiming for) will miss it. Heck, I hardly ever use the one on my Note 4.
Besides, there are plenty of heavier, more fully featured tablets that can address your needs. Leave the lightweight 2-in-1s for us. If VR don’t catch on, I can’t wait for the day when a 13.3″ tablet is <1lb.
That’s pretty cool it’s 13″ and still that light.
I am interested in the ~2lbs 13.3″ foldable. Having used a DV11P as my sole computer for the past half year I am leaning back towards the 13.3″ hybrid range. A bit too early for an upgrade for me, but if the Lenovo/NEC partnership holds and they update this with Skylake/Cannonlake, this just might be my next laptop/tablet.