Lenovo's IdeaPad Yoga convertible tablet runs Windows 8, set to arrive later in summer

If CES is the place where companies can demo products they don't intend to sell for another six months, what better place for PC makers to tease their first Windows 8 tablets? Though the OS isn't expected to reach its final stage until later this year, Lenovo is already showing off the IdeaPad Yoga, a convertible tablet with a screen that flips over, like a cover on a spiral-bound book. If you like, you can bend it partway so that the keyboard functions as a stand when you're in the mood to watch a movie. According to some Lenovo reps, it's clear the company sees this as a laptop first, and tablet second. The proof is in the specs, really. It weighs “less than 1.5kg,” or 3.3 pounds, making it heavier than some ultrabooks. Not only is its display IPS, but it boasts 1600 x 900 resolution — an unheard of pixel count for tablets, let alone most 13-inch laptops. And when this hits, it'll pack “next-generation” (read: Ivy Bridge) Intel Core processors — albeit, of the ULV variety. Accordingly, it has a laptop price: around $1,000, when it eventually ships, sometime later this year after Windows 8 gets finalized. Fortunately, the battery life is worthy of a tablet: Lenovo says the 54Wh juicepack can last up to eight hours. It measures 17mm (0.67) inches tall, which wouldn't be at all impressive for a typical tablet, but seems slim here, all things considered. Interestingly, Lenovo even rejiggered the power port to help minimize the thickness. Whether you call this a laptop or a tablet, the build quality is top-notch in either category. The patented hinge is rated for 25,000 cycles, and the back cover has a soft, tactile finish. The keyboard, too, feels sturdy, in the style of the IdeaPad U300s. The real start of the show, though, is that IPS display, which offers vibrant colors, crisp detail and wide viewing angles. But even at this early stage, the screen seems responsive. Not just to rote taps and swipes, but 10-fingered input, which at the very least should come in handy for drawing apps. HD videos run fluidly at full-screen too. Of course, the timing of this all depends on how quickly Microsoft can get Windows 8 out the door.

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