Lenovo ThinkPad Tablet 2 running Windows 8 Pro targets enterprise
We've been waiting to see some manufacturers announce their Windows 8 tablets, and today Lenovo answered the call by announcing its ThinkPad Tablet 2, which will be running Windows 8 Pro, and will be available "when Windows 8 launches in October". Unfortunately, since it wasn't part of Lenovo's announcement, there is still no pricing available for Windows 8 tablets.
The ThinkPad Tablet 2 was designed as "a joint effort between Lenovo, Microsoft and Intel", and it looks pretty nice. It will be thinner and lighter than the Microsoft Surface Pro at 9.8mm (.385") and 600g (~1.3lbs), compared to 13.5mm (.53") and 900g (~2lbs). It will have a similar keyboard dock and stylus as optional accessories.
And, most telling of all is that the announcement is that Lenovo is clearly targeting enterprise. We fully expected that the enterprise market was Microsoft's aim with Windows 8 tablets, but this really does prove it. Lenovo doesn't waste any time in getting to features that IT managers would enjoy like a Fingerprint scanner for security, front and rear cameras "for video conferencing", the stylus for "capturing signatures and completing forms", and 3G/4G connections for "productivity anywhere".
It seems pretty likely that the first run of Windows 8 tablets are designed with enterprise in mind, so we'll have to keep that in mind as we analyze any future announcements. It will be interesting to see if any manufacturers directly target the consumer market.
source: Lenovo
FCC OKs Cingular\'s purchase of AT&T Wireless
Things that are NOT allowed: