Form Factor
I love the form factor of the Yoga Book C930. It is very light, lighter than some of my paper bound notebooks I've carried around at work for years.
I plan on using this for taking notes, using MS OneNote and the built-in elink as needed.
This 10in, thin yoga book will fit easily in a folio bag or my back pack.
Performance
Using a I5-Y54 processor cpu @1.2 GHZ on W10 Home, it is fine for intended use. It does seem a bit snappy, for casual use,
not necessarily for heavyweight programs. Browsing, office apps and email are fine.
Memory
My first thought/question: Is this a real computer with only 4 GB memory? 90's flasback!
It seems sufficient for this device, if barely.
Given the price point of the purchase for the c930 ($750 at BB), I would have preferred to see at least 8Gb of memory.
Although I might have succumbed to an upsale for an upgrade to 8GB, if it were offered. It was not...!)
Seems to me it could have helped the device -even the elink hardware performance, as it seems a bit laggy in switching modes with the 4GB memory config.
Display
Display @ 2560x1600 IPS, seems fairly sharp and bright. Bezels are a bit wide, but i can live with that.
The display is already small, but bigger than my mobile phone. So there is that.
Keyboard
I actually kinda like the haptic feedback for the elink keyboard.
I'm not the greatist typist, but for the intended use of this device, I'm good with it.
I type better on this keyboard, than i do on my Macbook Pro 15in keyboard.
This review is being typed on the C930 elink keyboard.
I do seem to have a lazy left-hand pinky finger, that likes to add 'a's and 's',s inadvertantly on this elink keyboard.
I'm cleaning those up as I type in this review.
E-link
I'm still getting familiar with the elink. It seems to work as advertized, per my initial understanding.
The drawing on the elink screen is good.
I haven't tested the ereader, as I plan on using Kindle on windows for my ereader, if I decide to use the device for extended reading.
Switching between the elink modes (keyboard, big touchpad, drawing pad, and ereader does seem to be a bit laggy, but performs fine when
using the modes.
Pen
I like the pen with 4096 levels of pressure. About the same as the MS Surface pen for heft.
Not as good as wacom pens, and marginally less than apple pencil.
It does stick to edges of the lid magnetically, but don't expect the pen to be secured for safe travel.
Dgital Art
I do amatueur digital art.
As the Yoga book c930 is not a power house,
I knew it wouldn't be able to support the large memory heavyweight art/photo apps, like photoshop or corel painter.
However, I did install SketchBook Pro, as it is a bit lighter on memory and was pleasantly surprised.
The digital pen and the sketchbook pro app, performed awesomely: smooth lines, no jitter, pressure worked fine,
and no lag at just a few layers. The brushes i used had little or no lag.
Power Consumption
Ok. Hmmmm....
I started with 100% battery at 7am this morning, and at 12:30 PM it says I have 25% left or 1 hour of battery remaining.
6.5 hours of battery life on first extended usage. I'm used to the boasts of manufacturers on battery life being more than actual experience.
However, with the minimal hardware config on this device, I expected to get nearer 8+. Granted I turned all power/sleep options to "Never", but I've also been using the device continuously this morning without interruption, except for a bio break and a coffee refill.
Meh!
My HP Specter x360 with 4K display gets 8 hours of battery. iPads, usually all day and into the next day.
The C930 won't make it thru a work day without a supplemental charge. Discouraging.
Finger Printer Sensor
<Insert Funeral Dirge musical clip>. Absolutely, awful. I can't set it up!
One finger press, lift.....2nd attempt, "cannot recognize your finger, please try again!"
Multiple attempts, same result. I'm not crazy.
It is not a deal breaker, unless, Lenovo or BB will tell me I have a defective device.
Still the youtube reviews, and online reviews all speak about even when setup, Lenovo C930 fingerprint reader is NOT dependable.
I'll check with Lenovo about it, I guess. But not expecting miracles. I can live without it, as compared to
trying to live with a undependable finger print reader.
Warranty
OK. I'm still trying to decide if this a deal-breaker.
After setting up this new Yoga book, purchased from BB yesterday (Sep 2019),
I logged onto the Lenovo site, only to discover the device warranty period had already started ticking at Feb 2019. This is Sep 2019, and I only have 192 days left on the warranty.
I tried chatting with a Lenovo Support agent, but I was 25th in the support queue and 30 minutes later 22nd in line.
I left the chat and will chase this down later.
I have bought many computers and the initial warranties for 1 year usually doesn't start ticking until initial user registration.
If Lenovo cannot give me at least 1 year of warrantied support at time of purchase, then I'm at risk, wouldn't you say?
This is my first Lenovo: Is this normal for them to start the warranty period consumption shortly after manufacture,
but before purchase by consumer ?
I'll call BB today.
If warranty cannot get resolved, i'll update this review, and probably return the device.
Overall, I wanted to like this device ALOT!
If they had added a config with 8GB memory or at a bit lower price point, I would have had fewer doubts about this purchase.
Don't get me wrong, there is much I do like about the Yoga book with elink.
If Lenovo or BB will do me right on the warranty period, I will probably keep this device and maybe even provide a 3 mo. update on the actual extended usage.
If not, MS Surface book may be my next option, after sending the Lenovo Yoga Book C930 back. Sorry.