Lenovo Unveils First Windows 8 Tablet

Chinese computer manufacturer Lenovo has officially announced the latest addition to its tablet family, a device that stands out as being the company's first to run on Windows 8.

Dubbed the ThinkPad Tablet 2, the device targets both the consumer and enterprise markets with a wealth of technologies and features. It incorporates an Intel Atom processor and sports a 10-inch screen, with weight at under 600g and thickness of 9.8mm. Users have a choice of input methods thanks to the availability of a stylus. The ThinkPad Tablet 2 can also be attached to a dock and keyboard and the presence of multiple USB ports makes it easy to connect the device to office equipment such as printers and monitors.

Aside from the 3G model, Lenovo will also sell a 4G one but that will not be available outside the US. The company pointed to the vast array of communications and entertainment features that make the tablet suitable for both lifestyle and business tasks. The list includes HD display, front and rear-facing cameras for video conferencing and photos, noise-cancelling microphones, an HDMI port and wireless video streaming.

Lenovo also made special mention of the enhanced security and manageability technologies that are bound to endear the ThinkPad Tablet 2 to IT managers. The Fingerprint Reader allows passwords to be stored biometrically and IT managers can use existing Windows management tools.

With regard to availability, Lenovo did not elaborate apart from saying that the ThinkPad Tablet 2 would be out in October together with Windows 8. No pricing details were given.