Tablet and Netbook combined: the IdeaPad U1 Hybrid

(Credit: Lenovo)

UPDATE: Hands-on impressions added below. The IdeaPad U1 Hybrid is our Best of CES 2010 Award Winner in the category of Computers and Hardware. Also be sure to check out our hands-on impressions of Lenovo's other Netbooks and smartbooks from CES. //

Tablets are rapidly becoming the hot chatter-buzzword of 2010. Netbooks were very 2009. Combine them both and perhaps you end up with a great idea--at least, so hopes Lenovo. In one of the boldest moves in laptop technology at CES, the IdeaPad U1 Hybrid doesn't just flip its screen to become a tablet--the screen detaches completely as its own separately powered computing device.

Perhaps it sounds too good to be true, and we're both skeptical and very curious here at CNET. At an estimated cost of $999, the U1 will have in its main body an Intel Core 2 Duo ULV processor, and its 11.6-inch multitouch screen will house a separate ARM processor and battery. Both devices will produce completely different experiences, however, according to Lenovo's press release. Availability hasn't been revealed yet, but Lenovo should release those details soon.

In its notebook form, the hybrid will run Windows 7 Home Premium and have an estimated battery life of 10 hours. Meanwhile, the "Slate mode" will run its own Lenovo Skylight OS with a multi-panel UI, using a Qualcomm Snapdragon CPU--and it has an estimated 8-hour battery life. Stereo speakers, a mic, and a 1.3 megapixel webcam are integrated on the Slate screen.

As for memory, the main body will house an SSD up to 128GB, while the Slate tablet will have 16GB of flash memory. Other specs of note: 802.11b/g Wi-Fi, 3G wireless, and a system weight of 3.7 pounds in notebook form or 1.6 pounds as a tablet/slate.

Hands-on impressions:

To start with, the Lenovo IdeaPad U1 Hybrid is a fascinating idea. The sleek round notebook has a form almost like the old clamshell iBooks from years ago, or a Motorola PEBL as a laptop. Textured surfaces on the inside and a shiny, translucent ruby lid give the machine an instantly eye-catching appeal. The showcase feature of the U1--the undocking of its 11.6-inch screen to become its own handheld Qualcomm Snapdragon-powered tablet--is accomplished via a pin dock at the base of the screen that activates Wndows 7 when attached, or turns on Lenovo's Skylight Linux-based OS when detached. Lenovo representatives handled the undocking for us, and it makes us curious as to how delicate the procedure is and whether the laptop might accidentally disconnect under casual use, but the tablet screen feels solid and attractive on its own.

Meshing a tablet and notebook into one device is conceptually smart, but fraught with questions. Will both devices sync well with each other? Will the battery life be suitable? None of these could be determined in the space of a few minutes, but the tablet's Snapdragon-powered OS had a series of scrolling app-based windows that launched widgets, some of which looked more ready for prime time than others. Windows could be expanded and photos zoomed in on with iPhone-esque multitouch, but the performance was generally choppier and laggier than on an iPhone. Video playback was a mixed bag depending on the size of the video window, but we imagine its performance will be tweaked before release. The tablet's edge-to-edge glass is comfortable and the chromed edges appealing, but the weight and slight heat dissipation on the sides made us wonder about long-term ergonomics.

Intriguingly, Lenovo told us that the base, when detached, can continue to function as its own Core 2 computer independent of the tablet--a monitor would need to be attached, but it opens up possibilities for the U1 to truly act as two devices in one. Separate batteries and Wi-Fi antennas are contained in both the base and the tablet screen, while the tablet has the 3G and Bluetooth antennas, as well as speakers and a webcam. The tablet doesn't have a sensor for switching between landscape and portrait, but apps will allow easy flipping for e-reading, browsing and other functions. The keyboard is flat and somewhat squishy, a far cry from Lenovo's generally excellent raised and tapered keys, but Lenovo said they'll be updating to a raised keyboard before release.

The new Asus 1008P Netbook.

LAS VEGAS--This may go down as one of the best years for computers, and laptops specifically, at the annual CES trade show. We saw new and improved Netbooks, new CPUs from Intel, and a somewhat surprising number of slate and tablet PCs.

Slates and tablets
Following Lenovo's U1 Hybrid, which combined a detachable slate PC with a full Windows 7 laptop (and was many people's favorite show item), we saw glimpses of tablets from HP, Dell, and others--although most were prototypes only, and clearly intended to stake out some slate real estate before the rumored Apple tablet arrives.

These slate devices are essentially handheld screens that do some or most of what your laptop does, but with touch controls and, often, 3G data access.

Intel WiDi
We were fond, in theory, of Intel's Wireless Display technology that will allow new laptop owners to wirelessly beam their desktops to a nearby HD display.

During our on-stage demo session, we couldn't actually get a connection to fully go through, thanks to the overwhelming number of wireless signals permeating the convention center. However, we've seen it work before, and the idea was enticing enough that CNET readers voted it their choice for the Best of CES People's Voice award.

Look for a handful of supported laptops from Toshiba, Dell, and Sony in the near-future, as well as a receiver (which plugs into your display) from Netgear, called Push2TV.

Green computing
The "green" thing was also top of mind for a few PC makers--although perhaps to a lesser extent than we expected. Sony's Vaio W, made of recycled CDs and DVDs, was a highlight, as were new energy efficient routers from TrendNet and a tiny "plug computer" from Marvell.

Intel (and others) inside
Intel let its new Atom N450 chips loose a few weeks early, although they were still featured in nearly every Netbook at the show. Mainstream systems got the new Core i3 and Core i5 CPUs, which join the high-end Core i7 as the new default for non-Netbook laptops. Qualcomm was a surprisingly strong presence in the PC space at this year's CES, as its CPUs powered the slate half of the Lenovo U1, as well as several smartbook systems--which are essentially halfway points between smartphones and Netbooks.

We also saw more Netbook-size systems with decidedly non-Netbook components, highlighted by the Alienware M11x, an 11.6-inch mini-laptop with some serious Nvidia gaming power and an Intel ULV processor.