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ThinkPad Tablet Hands On Video: Android, Handwriting Recognition & ThinkPad Keyboard

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Lenovo has toyed with a slate tablets over the past two years, but today the company announced a new ThinkPad Tablet running Android Honeycomb 3.1, showing that Lenovo is ready to get down to business.

The ThinkPad Android Tablet is a 10.1″ portable slate device that includes a Lenovo optimized user interface, a ThinkPad pen, numerous ports and can be carried in a ThinkPad Portfolio that includes a trademark ThinkPad keyboard and TrackPoint.

Lenovo is going all in on Android, with the IdeaPad K1 Android tablet launching today, Netflix certification and the curated Android tablet app store for Lenovo devices (the tablets can still access the standard Android Market).

ThinkPad Android Tablet Portfolio Keyboard Case

ThinkPad Android Tablet Portfolio Keyboard Case

ThinkPad Android Tablet Hands On Video

What can you do with the ThinkPad Tablet?

Lenovo isn’t trying to just offer another media consumption tablet. Instead, the ThinkPad tablet focuses on productivity and business connectivity.

The tablet has a 10.1″ IPS display with a 1280×800 resolution and a Corning Gorilla Glass finish.

The tablet will come with the Documents to Go app by DataViz, which will allow employees to create and edit Microsoft Office documents.

ThinkPad Android Tablet with Pen

ThinkPad Android Tablet with Pen

The tablet also supports handwriting with the included ThinkPad pen. The digitizer is mad by N-Trig and works with your fingers or the pen. Users can write with the pen and the handwriting will be converted to text.

In addition to the WiFi and 3G connectivity options the ThinkPad Tablet also has a full size USB port, mini HDMI port and two HD video cameras for video conferencing.

Keyboard Case for Productivity

ThinkPad Tablet Keyboard Portfolio

ThinkPad Tablet Keyboard Portfolio

The optional keyboard portfolio may be the best looking portable tablet keyboard we have seen, taking a cue from the X series keyboards we know and love. In addition to great looking keys, the keyboard is optimized for Android with Android actions tied to numerous function keys. The keyboard also includes a TrackPoint and mouse buttons so you can edit documents easily without reaching for the touchscreen.

Netflix for Relaxing

The ThinkPad Android tablet is the first Netflix certified Android tablet which means at the end of the day you can boot up Netflix and relax. You can even connect to a HDTV with the included mini HDMI port. The Netflix app will be available for download when the Tablet launches.

Corporate Ready

IT managers will appreciate the ability to preload apps and settings with the Good for Enterprise app and the ability to create a company controlled app store. From a security standpoint the ThinkPad tablet includes SD card encryption, device disablement and theft recovery options.

ThinkPad Android Tablet Rear with Pen Dock

ThinkPad Android Tablet Rear with Pen Dock

Another enterprise friendly option is the inclusion of ThinkPad support and warranty options. Businesses can gain access to Android support experts through ThinkPad Priority Support. Companies can also purchase ThinkPad Tablet Protection, which covers non-warranty issues like dropped tablets, spills and other problems that are more likely to occur with a portable slate.

Pricing and Availability

The 16GB ThinkPad Android Tablet comes is available for purchase starting today on Lenovo.com and through partners for $499 or for $529 with the digitizer pen. The optional keyboard portfolio dock is available for $99.

Expect broader availability in August 2011 and worldwide availability in the 3rd quarter of this year.

ThinkPad Android Tablet Gallery

ThinkPad Android Tablet Specs

ThinkPad Android Tablet Specs

23 Comments

23 Comments

  1. Maracine Robert

    07/20/2011 at 4:45 am

    WOOOW NICE,  I might just be tempted to buy it. If I don’t, I’ll certainly buy the tegra 3 windows 8 version next year.

  2. Jin

    07/20/2011 at 4:54 am

    Nice Info.. Thanks…

    gadget device

  3. Candy Lewis

    07/20/2011 at 6:18 am

    that is sweet!

  4. Goran Stepic

    07/20/2011 at 8:34 am

    I am definitely buying it, just starting slaughtering my piggy-bank…

  5. Willem Evenhuis

    07/20/2011 at 9:56 am

    Hi Xavier, nice review. Does look like a better and slim productivity device, perhaps more versatile than the current Thinkpad tablet lines from the past. In your title you mention that the device has ink support but is mentioned nowhere in the video. Will this also be demonstrated on video? Ik think the inking is just as big a feacture on this tablet as the keyboard. Certainly when compared with other tablets.

    • Xavier Lanier

      07/20/2011 at 6:02 pm

      I only had a limited amount of time with the ThinkPad tablet, so I didn’t get a chance to do a full inking demo video. It uses an N-Trig digitizer, which in my experience means it won’t have a fluid inking experience as we’ve seen in full-fledged Tablet PCs with Wacom technology. We are planning a review of this device and will investigate further. 

      • Darío Tórtola

        11/16/2011 at 12:26 am

        Please, when you do the full review, I’d like to know if the handwriting recognition includes symbols (like mathematical, etc) and/or other languages (english and japanese mixed, for example) characters

      • Jwatt2006

        11/18/2011 at 5:34 am

        I recently purchased the Thinkpad Tablet and keyboard. When I go from keyboard to tablet (when I am using the keyboard folio and the pull out the tab to use the touch screen) the touch screen is unresponsive. In addition, when using the folio keyboard, the touchscreen in non responsive. Did I miss something in settings? On some of the vidoes it shows the keyboard folio and touch screen working at the same time. Mine, doesnt seem to work both. Any suggestions? I would not be surprised if this were a user error.

  6. Tuur

    07/20/2011 at 10:00 am

    can I ink pdf’s with this?

  7. Anonymous

    07/21/2011 at 10:46 am

    The ThinkPad Tablet appears perfect for the business community. I can take the tablet to meetings to take hand notes (hopefully the Notes apps lets you incorporate audio, video and pictures) that will be integrated with my Calendar; I can use the portfolio case when I travel to use the keyboard for longer documents. I truly enjoy my iPad 2 for work but I have to use a lot of different apps to achieve some of the simple functionality I desire.
    Yes, I would be interesting in seeing a lot more regarding the inking functionality (web pages to pdfs that can be annotated, uploading PowerPoint / Word documents to pdfs that can be annotated, etc.

  8. ethibault

    07/23/2011 at 9:49 am

    how is the handwriting on this one
    I expect a review, the HTC fyler got one I hope there will be an inking review on this one by gbm 

  9. Anonymous

    07/24/2011 at 5:16 pm

    It looks pretty sweet over all.
    But I have to say I think the ASUS keyboard dock is a better solution than the folio, at least in general design.
    It seems more compact on video at least.
    It also seems to provide more flexibility in the choice of angles of support.
    It still offers protection, and also offers additional battery supply.

    Also – not sure what is up with the track-stick thing here.  Why optical?  What does that do for me?
    I’m an old fan of thinkpad and have always preferred the little track-stick thing to pads.
    But with multi-touch, pads have gained some new tricks.

    Finally – did not see any mention of file management software with this.  How usable are the USB port etc for moving files about and such?

    Would love to see a head-on review of this against the transformer.  Thinkpad seems to have added in some thinking for business use – but generally these two seem to stack up to each other pretty well otherwise.
    Of course, inking is a big bonus here.
    Hoping ASUS still comes with the rumored I/R inking plus touch tech on a tablet this year.
    If I remember correctly I think it was to be by the same company that did the touch tech on the new Barnes and Noble e-reader.

  10. Alain Chappaz

    07/27/2011 at 9:33 pm

    Very very nice. Too bad the screen is glossy though…

    • guest

      08/14/2011 at 3:44 pm

      Put a matte screen protector on it. Problem solved !

  11. Poom Laupattarakasem

    08/12/2011 at 1:26 pm

    Throw the folio away and make the real keyboard like Asus Transformer. This will be the best tablet ever !

  12. Justin

    01/12/2012 at 9:05 am

    To what degree can one access the underlying Linux O.S.?   Just shell level?    can one add one’s own drivers for new USB devices?  Can one easily apply fixes known to the Linux world that Lenovo hasn’t gotten around to incorporating yet?  Or must one reflash firmware?

  13. idris

    05/29/2012 at 4:50 pm

    is this through about the inking,that you will refill your pen in using the tablet…

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