Lenovo previously had an unsatisfactory answer, but it’s come around:
For affected processors, we will honor Intel’s 2-year processor warranty extension and recommend customers impacted by any CPU instability issues to contact Lenovo service for support.
Fuller statement in our big story:
The number-one PC maker has answered our question whether it’ll honor Intel’s two-year extended warranty on damaged chips — but the answer doesn’t even include the word “warranty.”
Lenovo has been made aware of the instability issue affecting Intel’s 13th and 14th Generation Processors and is working with Intel to understand the potential impact on our products and how to best resolve them. We will work toward integrating into our future product BIOS any fixes provided by Intel once available. We recommend customers impacted by any CPU instability issues to contact Lenovo service for support.
Intel is footing the bill for replacements; this shouldn’t be a hard decision for Lenovo.
Windows Central reports a Lite version of the modular Steam Deck alternative is in the works, with an AMD Z1-based processor — and almost no information beyond that.
I think there’s more than enough room to shrink the relatively massive 8.8-inch display. Lenovo could also easily sacrifice the removable mouse/controllers, among other low-hanging fruit. We’re taking bets in the comments.
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Verge Score
Duel of the dual-screen laptops: Asus Zenbook Duo vs. Lenovo Yoga Book 9i
Small design variations make a big difference.
According to Windows Report, Lenovo might be showing off a new transparent concept laptop at MWC later this month. There’s no specification info yet, but this thing looks gorgeous: a fully transparent bezel-less display, alongside a clear deck with a visible keyboard underneath.
Lenovo’s new 2-in-1 is a Windows laptop with a detachable Android tablet. They run on separate hardware. This is the least awkward way Lenovo could have done this.
Apple, on the other hand, uses the exact same chips for iPads and MacBooks and could simply make an iPad Pro that runs MacOS when the keyboard is attached. And yet!
Wi-Fi 7 quietly took off while everyone was looking at AI
There may not have been any splashy router announcements, but Wi-Fi 7 hit laptops all over the place.
At BlackHat EU, Binarly showed how custom boot logo features could be exploited by crashing vulnerable image parsers, report SecurityWeek and ArsTechnica, allowing them to take over Windows and Linux systems. Binarly’s researchers write, “we detected parsers vulnerable to LogoFAIL in hundreds of devices sold by Lenovo, Supermicro, MSI, HP, Acer, Dell, Fujitsu, Samsung, and Intel.”
Not all of those systems are actually exploitable this way, but some vendors, like Lenovo, have issued BIOS updates or advisories in response.
Shortly after Geoff Keighley announced Valve will give away 100 Steam Deck OLEDs during the event, Lenovo piped in with a giveaway for its competing handheld: the Legion Go. The company will hand out 100 free devices during The Game Awards, which you can enter to win starting tomorrow at 7:30PM ET.
[The Game Awards]
Lenovo’s USB-C Laptop Power Bank (model PBLG2W) just got recalled because it may catch fire. The US Consumer Product Safety Commission says the power bank’s “internal screws can come loose, causing a short circuit and overheating of the lithium-ion battery, posing a fire hazard.”
About 2,850 units are affected by the recall. If you have this power bank, you can contact Lenovo to get a free replacement.
The Lenovo Legion Go will have a 144Hz, 8.8-inch QHD plus touchscreen and can be configured up to an AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme mobile gaming processor, claims Windows Report, citing a leaked press kit.
The same outlet has produced steady leaks about the Legion Go this month, including alleged pictures of the console and AR glasses to pair with it.
[WindowsReport]
Digital Trends got a preview of Lenovo’s Aurora design that comes apart without the use of so much as a screwdriver. The company is the latest to look towards sustainable notebook designs following the successful release of Framework’s modular laptops. They’re a DIY dream come true thanks to easy upgrades to basically any component, which as the Framework 16 now includes graphics too.
Dell also announced a similar Project Luna concept late last year.
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Lenovo’s Yoga Book 9i is for the two-screen lifestyle
The Yoga Book 9i jettisons the traditional lower laptop deck for a second touchscreen, which opens up some interesting use cases along with some compromises.
This is the ThinkBook Wireless Dock, which you’ll be able to buy later this summer. If you happen to own a Lenovo ThinkBook, you can stick it on this pad, and not only does it charge the laptop, but it connects it to up to two 4K displays as well. The panel on the left side is a universal charger for mobile devices. I tried this out at Computex 2023, and it works impressively well.
I have a very vested interest in this kind of gadget, as someone whose deskside cable management is...you know what, let’s not talk about it.
Just when we were getting used to foldable phones, tablets, and laptops, these concept designs suggest rollable screens are in the near future, ready to extend the view by a few more inches when you need them to, without taking up more space in your pocket or bag.
Jon Porter is at Mobile World Congress 2023 this week and can show you Lenovo’s rollable screen laptop plus its Motorola-branded rollable phone.