 Today I have the fortune of testing out the Lenovo Yoga 3 Pro. Because there are so many reviews (e.g., CNET says, “In terms of form and usability, this is easily my favorite new laptop design of the year”) I decided to focus more on practical applications I have for the device. For those of you unfamiliar with the device, the Yoga 3 Pro is a flagship ultrabook with a unique, sturdy watchband hinge that allows it to fold 360°; comprised of 813 pieces of aluminum and steel, the hinge truly is a thing of beauty that turns heads and allows the laptop to be folded into several different modes (laptop, stand, tent, and tablet) depending on the user’s needs.
|
Though the Yoga is a consumer device, it is clear Lenovo is also targeting the device to professionals: “From writing proposals and building presentations, to emailing and online shopping,” Lenovo promises that “the enhanced performance features of the Lenovo YOGA 3 Pro" will "help you get more done.” As such, I decided to use the laptop as I would as a student in an academic laboratory. I will very briefly describe the various features I liked about the Yoga.
In 2010, while a student in Dr. Erin Bromage’s lab, we made the switch from paper notebooks to electronic lab notebooks (ELN) using Microsoft OneNote; similarly, when I started working in industry, they had switched to ELN produced by Waters. Using OneNote proved to be very useful: Cutting and pasting images into the document could be done in an instant without tape and scissors, Excel files (or files of any type) could be inserted directly onto the page of the corresponding experiment, searching for keywords was possible, the fear of misplacing/staining a notebook no longer existed, and my PI could look at my progress in real-time (a mixed blessing) and provide advice from a remote location.
There were, however, some downsides to switching to an ELN. Though it’s often very convenient being able to type and insert shapes, sometimes it’s quicker to scribble a few words or sketch an arrow. Moreover, my T400, at over 4 pounds, was considerably more heavy and bulky than paper notebooks. With the Yoga, both of those complaints are negated.
The Yoga 3 Pro (bottom left) is much thinner than my T420s (top left). Even the charger is compact (top right). The touchscreen is very useful for quick scribbles in the lab notebook (bottom right).
Aside from being a lab notebook, my Lenovo T400 was my workhorse. However, data analysis involving densitometric scans of gels, for instance, and editing images for publication were done on separate monitors with more accurate colors, higher resolutions, and better viewing angles. In contrast, the Yoga’s 13.3-inch screen at a 3,200x1,800-pixel resolution is stunning and does not suffer from the color inversion that my old TN screen suffered.
The Yoga 3 Pro (left) has a stunning screen that is better suited for the analyses of SDS-PAGE gels, for instance, when compared to my Lenovo T420s (on right).
Outside of lab work, as is the case for all grad students, I had to keep up with the current scientific literature. The majority of the time, I would print the articles out—at least for me, there’s something reassuring about ink on paper, being able to read a few articles comfortably during a commute, and being able to jot a few notes directly on the paper. Though I’m not confident any device will ever cease my predilection for hard copies, the Yoga 3 Pro makes me one step closer. As mentioned previously, a selling point of the Yoga is that it conveniently converts to a tablet, which I find much more pleasurable for reading; and when reading a pdf in tablet mode, the Yoga automatically switches to ‘Paper’ mode, mimicking the look of ink on paper. As this is a touchscreen, it is possible to take a few notes on a paper.
Last, it was common for us to learn the principles of a technique by watching online videos, often on a separate monitor. The tent mode works perfectly for such situations. I can picture my lab mates and I gathering around my Yoga 3 (so cozy) with its great viewing angles and its JBL speakers providing loud, clear audio over our jokes and gossip.
I think it's clear that I like the Lenovo Yoga 3 Pro. While it's a fun device that many consumers will enjoy for media consumption, social networking, in addition to work, I see it more as a serious professional device. It is durable, light weight, flexible for many applications, and powerful enough for everyday use. Though I have demonstrated how it could be used in the lab, it is easy to imagine how it could be used in many different professions like teaching--for instance, it would be great to prepare a lecture in laptop mode, rehearse the presentation in tent mode, brush up on material in tablet mode, and ultimately present the lecture in stand mode.
RSS Feed
