Review: Lenovo ThinkPad Twist S230u Shifts Form in an Instant
The speedy Lenovo ThinkPad Twist S230u bridges the gap between traditional notebooks and tablet computers with a screen that can twist, fold, bend and spin into various form factors.
Images on the HD-compliant, 12.5-inch touch screen look great when displayed in the model’s 1366x768 native resolution. The Corning Gorilla Glass screen has enough resistance to hold itself in place and act as a stand for the rest of the hardware. The ThinkPad Twist works as a presentation tool with viewers on the other side able to see the screen in proper resolution and orientation and hear audio projected by the powerful Dolby Home Theater stereo speakers.
Specifications
PROCESSOR: Intel Core i5 3337U
SIZE: 12.3x9.3x0.8 inches
WEIGHT: 3.48 pounds
SCREEN: 12.5-inch HD IPS display with Touch Sensor
MEMORY: 4GB
PORTS: 2 USB 3.0, Mini HDMI, Mini DisplayPort, 4-in-1 card reader, Ethernet
CDW•G Price Starting at $775.05
The ThinkPad Twist scores well on the PassMark performance benchmarks, coming in at 1,671 — about the same as many entry-level desktops and ahead of the pack of most ultrabooks. Four gigabytes of RAM help stave off performance problems, and the Intel HD Graphics 4000 delivers solid graphical flair for business applications and many entertainment apps.
Weighing only 3.4 pounds, the computer enables users to work with a tablet yet still have a full keyboard on standby in case it’s needed. The device should also prove successful because of its multiple input options, enabling users to access features and programs however they use them.
The touch screen is highly sensitive. The keyboard comes with an extra-large touchpad that has two buttons at the top, like a mouse. There’s a pointer stick common to Lenovo computers, and a 720 HD webcam with a built-in, noise-canceling microphone gives workers a lot of options for deploying and using the ThinkPad Twist in the office or on the road.
Convertible Notebooks Offer Versatility for Workers
Agencies that don’t want to incur the cost of devices can get two for the price of one with the Lenovo ThinkPad Twist 320u.
State government workers increasingly demand mobile devices to do their jobs from any location.
While bring-your-own-device initiatives have taken off, some organizations haven’t moved to that model yet due to security concerns. And the problem there is that purchasing a mobile device for every employee who needs one can be expensive, particularly if that worker already has a desktop computer.
That is where a highly configurable convertible notebook like the Lenovo ThinkPad Twist 320u comes in. As our review found, the Twist is powerful enough to run almost any program and features a full keyboard in notebook mode. Yet at 3.4 pounds, the device is also light enough to be carried around all day as a tablet. The device is well suited to workers serving constituents in the field, yet robust enough to also serve as an office computer.
Public-sector agencies will find that convertible notebooks can provide a single product that suits their workers’ needs, and that they as owners can lock down with all required security.
