The design may be retro (being less than half a decade old; which is retro enough for quick-advancing technology), but the Lenovo ThinkPad Twist’s inner laptop components are anything but. Before we delve into that, though, let’s talk about the laptop part that defines the Twist’s form.
A Matter of Perspective
Yes, that’s right: The Twist’s design harkens back to earlier laptop/tablet hybrids, although this was before tablets as we know them today (i.e. iPads) were even a thing. It wasn’t that long ago, sure; but back then, most people didn’t even know what a tablet PC was. Full-fledged laptops were still the only things that came to mind when most people thought of portable computers.
It’s this unfamiliarity that makes many people think the Twist’s design is as innovative as Lenovo’s other interesting hybrid, the Yoga. While both are admittedly nifty-looking, it’s only the Yoga that’s really new, design-wise. The Twist’s design, in more apt words, has already made the rounds.
On the other hand, this also means that the Twist’s single-hinge mechanism has already been tried and tested,which should ease the concerns of those who may think of it as frail. In fact, the laptop’s hinge is one of the sturdiest I’ve come across; as it should be, since it’ll have to take at least five years’ worth of constant abuse.
Specs Report
For just a hundred bucks shy of a cool grand, the Lenovo Twist gives you a durable casing to go along with the following laptop parts: A 1.7 GHz Intel Core i5 CPU, 4 GB of DDR3 RAM running at 1600 MHz, an Intel HM77 APU with integrated HD4000 graphics, and a hybrid drive with 500 GB of 7200 rpm hard disk storage space plus 24 GB of fast-access solid state drive.
The laptop also has two video ports (a mini-DisplayPort and a mini-HDMI), two USB 3.0 slots, and an SD card reader. For network connectivity, it has the expected standards Ethernet, Bluetooth, and 802.11n Wi-Fi, as well as optional WWAN.
The LCD screen measures 12.5 inches diagonally, and is outfitted with edge-to-edge glass to give it an optimum touch control interface. It has great image clarity, and the viewing anles aren’t too shabby either. The keyboard and clickpad are also great, as is expected of Lenovo. The keys are contoured at their lower ends to provide better “finger-grips” (and hence, fewer wayward keystrokes), and Lenovo’s signature trackpoint is also as responsive as ever.
The Twist’s accelerometer, however, seems to have a life of its own sometimes, changing the screen’s orientation from portrait to landscape and vice versa with even the slightest budge. It could prove inconvenient for some users, although admittedly it’s not as severe as some people make it out to be. Personally, it’s a flaw I could live with.
What I could do without, though, is the less-than-impressive battery life, which the Twist unfortunately is saddled with. Whereas most laptops nowadays are expected to run for around six hours straight with constant video playback, the Twist only gives around four and a half. This is especially short if the laptop is running video games; but then again, if video gaming is what you’re after, you wouldn’t even be considering the business-like Lenovo Twist in the first place.
Bottom Line
At $900, the Lenovo ThinkPad Twist’s construction and features seem just about right. It has all the attributes expected of a “serious” mid-to-high-end Lenovo machine, and it’s one of the better Windows 8 computers out there to boot. Recommended.
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