Mobile phones and tablets are one of
our daily needs in this hyper-connected era. We cannot
expect our daily life without them.
Almost everyday, a mobile phone or a tablet gets launched in the market these days, thereby adding credence to the fact that these mobility devices are very popular among users. But if you thought that the laptop is losing relevance, think again. Even today, there are many among us who sit with their laptops either to attend to office-related work, watch a movie or listen to music. No wonder, PC makers are packing a whole lot of high-end specifications into these sleek computing devices, making them more powerful and capable than ever.
For evidence, take a look at the Lenovo Flex 2?one incredible
machine for everyday use and entertainment. It is an affordable thin and light dual-mode notebook PC with a touchscreen that flips around, making it perfect for on-the-go productivity and entertainment. It carries a price tag of R41,990.
As far as specifications go, there?s a 4th Generation Intel Core processor, Windows 8.1 64-bit operating system and battery upto six hours on a single charge. More on it later, what is more attractive is the fact that the Flex 2 is a convertible laptop with two distinct modes (laptop & stand) for work or play.
We got a Graphite Grey Flex 2 for a product evaluation. Out of the box, the machine comes across as a fast and sturdy machine, although a bit taller and heavier than I expected. There?s a 10-point multi-touch display, which means that you can interact with your Flex 2 by using simple, intuitive gestures directly on the
14-inch 10-point multitouch display?in other words, it is optimised for Windows 8.1 operating system. The Flex 2 has a memory of 4G (1 x 4 GBDDRIIIL1600), hybrid 500 GB 5400RPM + SSHD 8 GB hard drive, HD 720P camera with Array Mic and ports & slots number 2x USB 2.0, 1x USB 3.0. Let me admit, I am not a huge fan of Windows 8, therefore I re-installed instant messenger app Skype to connect with my wife, who was away attending the AIDS conference in Melbourne.
In terms of physical design, the acclaimed AccuType keyboard is ergonomically designed to make typing more comfortable and to reduce errors. And, with backlit keys, you?ll enjoy ease of use even in low-light conditions. When you are relying heavily on the keyboard?drafting documents or working on a spreadsheet, for example?you can keep your Flex 2 in the classic laptop mode for maximum productivity. But when you are focusing on touch applications, web chatting, or enjoying a film or video, flip the screen 300 degrees to enter stand mode. The Flex 2?s unique design means it adapts to whatever you choose to do.
In the absence of an optical drive, I watched some movies via a pen drive and the picture was nice and sharp with some great sound. The Flex 2?s speakers deliver rich stereo sound, while Dolby Advanced Audio provides an immersive audio experience, enhances audio quality, and reduces distortion. The HD resolution and 4th Generation Intel Core processor makes it speedy and nice to look at.
In my usage for over two weeks, the Flex 2 came across as a fast and sturdy laptop with good build quality. It
offers an excellent IPS display, its keyboard feels good and is backlit. The trackpad feels good and supports gestures too. The touch display initially felt like it had some resistance but over use, it began to feel smooth. The battery life is very good.
Overall, the Flex 2 has many spectacular features including the convertibility which makes it a large tablet and a laptop all in one. It?s great for its price.
