PURE CREAM WITH THE ULTRALIGHT YOGA

That is what Stig Myklebust of Lenovo says when we meet him at Elkjøp’s Campus Tech training fair at Gardermoen earlier this summer.

Here, the company is showing its next generation of premium PCs, along with new accessories, chargers and several concept products.

– We want to give customers the optimal experience when they buy a product from us, Myklebust tells the trade magazine Elektronikkbransjen.

The new Yoga Slim 7i is one of the main new products.

– The final letter in the Yoga Slim 7i product name stands for Intel, and we also call it Ultra. The reason is its weight. To bring the weight below one kilogram, we have analysed every single component and material choice down to the smallest detail, without compromising performance, says Myklebust.

Tap Sharing

The machine weighs 975 grams, has a 14-inch display and is aimed at users who travel frequently.

– The product is suitable for people who want a lightweight product but also need the power. For large Excel and PowerPoint files, minor image edits and other tasks, says Myklebust.

Lenovo has developed the Tap Sharing feature together with Intel.

– You connect your mobile phone, touch the edge of the display, and can move files back and forth. This works with both Android and iPhone, he says.

He also highlights the battery life.

– You can manage for two days without bringing a charger, says Myklebust.

Prices start at around NOK 17,000.

– The version I have here starts at around NOK 17,000, and you can configure it all the way up to NOK 28,000 for the very best, he says.

Headphones with Bose

Lenovo is also showing noise-cancelling headphones, developed in collaboration with Bose.

– Everyone travels; this is a mobile product, so you need very good noise-cancelling headphones. When you take meetings at an airport, there is a lot of noise around you. You can then sit in Teams and filter out the sound, using the AI functionality in the PC connected to the headphones. It learns your voice and provides two-way noise cancellation of the surroundings, says Myklebust.

He says Lenovo chose Bose because they are the best at sound.

– We pair this with the best in PC products, and we see that customers are more satisfied when they get products that belong together, as they do here. We now have a good line-up that fits together, with the right quality.

The cream colour Seashell

The headphones, other accessories and the Yoga Slim 7i are available in the cream colour Lenovo calls Seashell. A special surface treatment is intended to reduce visible fingerprints.

– A very special coating has been developed to prevent this, says Myklebust.

– The colour stands out a little, attracts attention, and may also appeal to a more female customer group that wants some colour, rather than just black, he says.

Lenovo also offers a port replicator for the slim machines.

– Devices are very slim these days. To get the old connectors, you need to expand with a port replicator, and here we offer one with a really attractive design, says Myklebust.

Rollable display

Lenovo is showcasing several concept products at the trade fair, including a 16-inch gaming machine.

– When you press a button, the display expands to 21.4 inches, or further to 24 inches. We created it based on feedback from gaming customers, especially professionals who need different screen formats adapted to the games. A few months later, we were able to show this display that rolls out, says Myklebust.

The company is also demonstrating a 3D concept that does not require glasses.

– This is Yoga 3D, with a built-in 3D display. Those working with CAD drawings, houses and other things can use this machine without putting on glasses. The same applies to game developers working with 3D, without a VR headset, says Myklebust.

– What response have you received to the concept?

– We have received a great deal of positive feedback, so this is a product you will probably be able to see on the market before too long, he says.

Angry Miao

Another product is a keyboard developed together with the company Angry Miao.

– This is a very special keyboard for creatives working with video and music editing, with a dial that you move around to navigate the sequences when editing, says Myklebust.

He believes the keyboard provides a very special feel when pressed.

– You can use it for gaming, because the keys are that good, but it is soft and quiet, so you can use it in the office without disturbing the person next to you. It weighs almost three kilograms, in order to remain stable when you are gaming intensely or working, says Myklebust.

New power supplies

Lenovo is also launching a range of power supplies aimed at travelling users.

– The reason is that we know the PC market very well. A PC normally needs at least 65 watts to charge and operate optimally with the CPU you have. We see many chargers on the market that deliver what we call peak power, but not consistently. They become very hot, deliver a peak and reduce the output when the heat builds up, says Myklebust, continuing:

– Our devices are designed to charge PCs. They come in several sizes, including a very small model that delivers 65 watts with one output, a slightly larger one with two outputs, and a 100-watt model that charges a tablet, mobile phone and PC at the same time. All provide stable output from the device, he says.

Many charge incorrectly

He believes many people use the wrong type of charger.

– People use the charger they have at home because the plug fits. Then they find that the PC is not fully charged, or not charged at all. This can also be a fire hazard, since the device in the wall is not designed for the power you need, and it can overheat. That is why it is somewhat worrying that a charger is not always included, says Myklebust.

He points out that EU regulations allow PCs to be sold with or without a power supply.

– The retailer decides whether it is included in the box or not. It is therefore important that the customer is informed and given the choice of buying a PC with or without a power supply, he says.

Lenovo also recommends that retailers ask customers which charger they already have at home.

– Most people have USB-C chargers, but they are normally rated at 12 or 22 watts. The product then gets hot, and you do not get the power you need to charge the battery properly, says Myklebust.

Yoga Pro 27

Lenovo is also showcasing the Yoga Pro 27, a monitor with a built-in 4K camera.

– This is aimed at creative users, and the display shows accurate colours. The display covers 99 per cent of both the sRGB and DCI-P3 colour spaces, as well as 96 per cent of Adobe RGB. Delta E is below 1, which means highly accurate colour reproduction, says Myklebust.

The monitor comes with a 400-watt power supply.

– You might think: What do you need 400 watts for? It is increasingly for the home. You connect it to a desktop computer that draws power from the monitor, then come home with a laptop and connect it directly. If you want an extra monitor on your desk, everything can be powered by one power supply. You need the right size, adapted to your device, says Myklebust.