The Yoga wasn’t my favorite Ultrabook of 2012 but it was incredibly popular when we wrote about it. Over on YouTube it was our most-watched video of 2012. We got hands-on with the Lenovo Yoga at CES 2012 and exactly one year later it’s in our hands for review. [Follow closely for teasers of 3rd generation Ultrabooks next week as we cover CES 2013.] Here’s a quick unboxing video just to prove it’s here in the studio. We’ll produce a first impressions, detailed review and for those on the cusp of buying one, a live review session where you can ask your own questions. Feel free to start listing those below.

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As part of our continuing co-op with Intel on highlighting interesting and useful Ultrabook resources we’ve got another bunch of info for software developers this week – a very useful guide to designing for Ultrabook Convertibles.

Related software development articles:

• Implementing Sensors in Ultrabook Desktop Applications
• Dev Tips – Designing Apps for Touch on Ultrabooks

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Written on the Acer W510.

Intel CloverTrail is a truly ground-breaking PC platform and the Acer W510 appears, in my 48hrs with it, to offer great ways to enjoy the new features of the platform along with amazing value. At least it does in Europe where the tablet and docking station can be had for €499 inclusive tax. I have the €599 version here which includes 64GB of storage.

I’ve been extremely impressed so far. It’s light enough to use in portrait mode using thumb input, it has battery life that will last you a full 24hrs in consumption scenarios or you can get creative and plug the dock in and work, like I am now, for a good 8hrs non-stop. This is not an ARM-based Windows RT device, this is  PC. ‘Post-PC’ needs to be re-thought because the dynamic range of this PC takes it into more scenarios than any computing product before.

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Business and pleasure mixed into a fun and inspirational package. The touch-swivel Windows 8 Lenovo ThinkPad Twist is a solid performer with an excellent working fascia for many scenarios. It’s not a consumer tablet though and there are one or two characteristics to be aware of but at a starting price of $899 for a Core i5 variant (959 Euro, 899 Euro street price) we think it offers solid value for money.

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According to a couple of online source the HP Envy X2 should start shipping soon. An offer starting in Japan today promises delivery starting from the 27th December (some reports say 21st) and in Germany a couple of retailers have listed the same timeframe.

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The upgrade from non-touch to Windows 8 touch is one you’ll see on a lot of models over the next year. It’s a relatively easy upgrade for manufacturers to make that expands their ranges out into the new touch-enabled market. The Lenovo Thinkpad X1 Carbon is the latest to get the treatment. Order the Lenovo Thinkpad X1 Carbon Touch today and you could be swiping and pinching your way through the holidays later this month.

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It’s been a busy, but enjoyable weekend with the Lenovo Thinkpad Twist. It fits right into the way I use laptops, the way I like to interact with laptops and the quality I like to see. Is it what YOU want from an laptop though. This Ultrabook Convertible has a great working fascia, extensive set of ports and one of the more popular convertible designs – the rotating screen that not only turns the Twist into a lappable tablet (it’s not a handheld) it also offers some other use cases.

I’ve put together a fairly detailed video overview for you and I think, if you’re considering the Twist, you’ll be able to work out if it’s really one for you. Check it out below.

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Since 2006 I’ve owned three swivel-screen laptops and one of them, the Gigabyte Touchnote, became completely ingrained in my mobile computing life. The Lenovo Twist is a similar size and weight but it offers quite a bit more. We’re talking about a useful and desktop-capable Core i5 CPU, 4GB of RAM, a 500GB hybrid HDD and 5-point capacitive touch. This little Ultrabook Convertible is running Windows 8 and also includes a great set of ports. To top it off there’s an IPS display. Out of the box it’s an extremely exciting form factor and it looks and feels both stylish and strong. My first thoughts were ‘I need this Ultrabook.’ After 4 hours of testing I’m still very positive but there are a couple of things that are annoying me.

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