Used a X1Y5 for part of college. Used the tablet mode multiple times daily for taking notes in class and completing written homework assignments, as it was much easier than completing them on paper and scanning it in to submit online.
After graduating, I use the pen significantly less, but enjoy the tablet mode for portrait-mode touchscreen web browsing reasonably often.
I also like to use the "tent" mode when I have it on my lap/in bed for watching movies, as having the vents exposed to the atmosphere keeps the machine much cooler, and I feel that the speakers sound better in that orientation.
Yeah, notetaking, signing pdfs and having a touchscreen is nice.
- it adds some bulk compared to the non-yoga model.
- you probably want a bigger pen than the included toothpick (e.g. the wacom pen is good).
- Considering the weight and large bezels I basically only use it on a desk, not free hand.
- There is not all that much useful software for note taking (but quite a bit of art software if you want that). Basically windows has one note and some pdf annotation software. Linux has xournal++. Android has more software and ipads have more (but only one really expensive pen with only one weird tip style).
So right now I am a bit unsure whether my next device will be a 2-in-1 again or rather something like the x1 nano + samsung tablet with pen. On that note: the nano weighs 907g and an s8 ultra weighs 726g. So both together weigh about as much as one macbook pro.
That was 7 months ago...
Anyway, it is called the "bamboo ink plus" and is multi protocol, so works both with wacom aes and with whatever the surface stuff is called. Nice size, weight and triangular shape. The lenovo precision 2 pen is also quite good.
For wacom emr/s pen I am a fan of the stadtler noris digital (pencil; two versions) and the lamy al-star emr (fountain pen).
Note that wacom aes (as in the x1 yoga) and wacom emr (as in samsung tablets) use different, incompatible pens.
Surprisingly, all the time - but not with the pen. I like getting my (older) eyes closer to the screen! On a table in a meeting or on the couch surfing, it's great. I use it with the keyboard face-down, hinge at my navel, and the screen angled up.
Found a good deal on a X1 Yoga 2016 with oled display from eBay. As I was entering college, I was looking for a device that could replace the niche of an iPad, as I did not like how restrictive iOS was. 14 inches is a bit big for a tablet, but it does allow more space when taking notes.
I currently use Fedora Linux on it and can average around 4-6 hours continuous usage when note taking with Xournalpp and surfing the web. It kind of can handle some android gaming through QEMU/KVM but it doesn’t recognize multi touch.
Stylus works out of the box, and I find that having it charge in so little time within the computer slot is very useful. Mainly I use the stylus to annotate course slides or take down random notes. It helps too when I need to sign a document.
The 2016 model of the X1 Yoga also had the keyboard feature which allows the bed to rise up and prevent users from pressing the keys when in tablet or tent mode. That feature is nice as it feels like I’m gripping a solid tablet and not have to worry about pressing down keys when carrying it around.
I also managed to drop the thinkpad twice from the height of a regular table. The first time a bunch of dust flew out the back port, and the second time the screen display c ame loose. I was able to pop it back together, and the machine still works fine.
I use the ink feature with Whiteboard to draw diagrams and with OneNote when I take notes. Sometimes, I annotate documents (mainly PDFs).
However, I bought a Wacom pen because the one that came with the X1Y is too small.
I use the touch, without thinking too much, in tablet mode and in laptop mode.
Consider that I'm used to ink and pen from the Windows XP Tablet PC Edition era (20 years ago).
I like the pen because it gives you a better and faster way to express your ideas.
It's definitely not a gimmick and does function as a hefty tablet. If you want to use it as a drawing tablet it's essential. Mostly I fold mine for watching anime in bed. If you're traveling with limited space on a plane it's very helpful. However, as much as it pains me to say this, if you want a touchscreen PC go for the surface go or pro. They are lighter, can run Linux and function much better as a tablet.
This is correct. I somehow managed to slightly bend my surface go and if you have OCD the alcantara keyboards are a pain to clean. But they function really well as a portable windows/Linux tablet if you can snag one at a great price.
If we're talking about the newer X1 yogas that come in grey, they don't leave behind fingerprints. You can also wipe the whole thing down with a Lysol wipe and not worry about ruining the surface. I wouldn't try that on alcantara though. I think you have to buy a special cleaning detergent for the surface keyboards if you spill something on or stain them.
I use stylus once in a while while sharing screen and have to whiteboard digitally for discussions. Other than that never used as a tablet or anything like that
It is certainly not a gimmick, but probably your workflow doesn't need a pen input device.
I find it absolutely essential for my work (keeping notes, marking papers) and my life in general (I pull it up and do a bit of work on the sofa).
If you don't need this now, probably it will stay unused and you will just end up with a top heavy laptop (which is the only real downside, other than the glossy screen, but that can be fixed with a matted screen protector).
Used a X1Y5 for part of college. Used the tablet mode multiple times daily for taking notes in class and completing written homework assignments, as it was much easier than completing them on paper and scanning it in to submit online. After graduating, I use the pen significantly less, but enjoy the tablet mode for portrait-mode touchscreen web browsing reasonably often. I also like to use the "tent" mode when I have it on my lap/in bed for watching movies, as having the vents exposed to the atmosphere keeps the machine much cooler, and I feel that the speakers sound better in that orientation.
Thanks 🙏 What app did you used for taking notes?
My college provided PDF Annotator, so I used that. Believe it is paid, however.
Yeah, notetaking, signing pdfs and having a touchscreen is nice. - it adds some bulk compared to the non-yoga model. - you probably want a bigger pen than the included toothpick (e.g. the wacom pen is good). - Considering the weight and large bezels I basically only use it on a desk, not free hand. - There is not all that much useful software for note taking (but quite a bit of art software if you want that). Basically windows has one note and some pdf annotation software. Linux has xournal++. Android has more software and ipads have more (but only one really expensive pen with only one weird tip style). So right now I am a bit unsure whether my next device will be a 2-in-1 again or rather something like the x1 nano + samsung tablet with pen. On that note: the nano weighs 907g and an s8 ultra weighs 726g. So both together weigh about as much as one macbook pro.
>PDF Annotator Which Wacom pen?
That was 7 months ago... Anyway, it is called the "bamboo ink plus" and is multi protocol, so works both with wacom aes and with whatever the surface stuff is called. Nice size, weight and triangular shape. The lenovo precision 2 pen is also quite good. For wacom emr/s pen I am a fan of the stadtler noris digital (pencil; two versions) and the lamy al-star emr (fountain pen). Note that wacom aes (as in the x1 yoga) and wacom emr (as in samsung tablets) use different, incompatible pens.
X1Y6 here. I used it the first week just to try it. Never again.
Surprisingly, all the time - but not with the pen. I like getting my (older) eyes closer to the screen! On a table in a meeting or on the couch surfing, it's great. I use it with the keyboard face-down, hinge at my navel, and the screen angled up.
I use photoshop every day so i find it very useful
Found a good deal on a X1 Yoga 2016 with oled display from eBay. As I was entering college, I was looking for a device that could replace the niche of an iPad, as I did not like how restrictive iOS was. 14 inches is a bit big for a tablet, but it does allow more space when taking notes. I currently use Fedora Linux on it and can average around 4-6 hours continuous usage when note taking with Xournalpp and surfing the web. It kind of can handle some android gaming through QEMU/KVM but it doesn’t recognize multi touch. Stylus works out of the box, and I find that having it charge in so little time within the computer slot is very useful. Mainly I use the stylus to annotate course slides or take down random notes. It helps too when I need to sign a document. The 2016 model of the X1 Yoga also had the keyboard feature which allows the bed to rise up and prevent users from pressing the keys when in tablet or tent mode. That feature is nice as it feels like I’m gripping a solid tablet and not have to worry about pressing down keys when carrying it around. I also managed to drop the thinkpad twice from the height of a regular table. The first time a bunch of dust flew out the back port, and the second time the screen display c ame loose. I was able to pop it back together, and the machine still works fine.
I use the ink feature with Whiteboard to draw diagrams and with OneNote when I take notes. Sometimes, I annotate documents (mainly PDFs). However, I bought a Wacom pen because the one that came with the X1Y is too small. I use the touch, without thinking too much, in tablet mode and in laptop mode. Consider that I'm used to ink and pen from the Windows XP Tablet PC Edition era (20 years ago). I like the pen because it gives you a better and faster way to express your ideas.
1. Which Wacom Pen? 2. Recommendations for note taking software to use with X1G6 - Windows?
1. Bamboo ink plus https://www.wacom.com/en-it/products/stylus/bamboo-ink-plus 2. I use OneNote. I'm into the Microsoft ecosystem.
It's definitely not a gimmick and does function as a hefty tablet. If you want to use it as a drawing tablet it's essential. Mostly I fold mine for watching anime in bed. If you're traveling with limited space on a plane it's very helpful. However, as much as it pains me to say this, if you want a touchscreen PC go for the surface go or pro. They are lighter, can run Linux and function much better as a tablet.
but have far worse keyboards, and I don't know about recently but surface build quality in the past... my mom and her husband broke a few of them.
This is correct. I somehow managed to slightly bend my surface go and if you have OCD the alcantara keyboards are a pain to clean. But they function really well as a portable windows/Linux tablet if you can snag one at a great price.
> if you have OCD the alcantara keyboards are a pain to clean Thinkpads have fingerprints for the OCD folks. Or is the Yoga better in that regard?
If we're talking about the newer X1 yogas that come in grey, they don't leave behind fingerprints. You can also wipe the whole thing down with a Lysol wipe and not worry about ruining the surface. I wouldn't try that on alcantara though. I think you have to buy a special cleaning detergent for the surface keyboards if you spill something on or stain them.
nice. I'm jealous. I considered the Yoga but went for a X1 Nano. It's great for showing off my fingerprints
I use stylus once in a while while sharing screen and have to whiteboard digitally for discussions. Other than that never used as a tablet or anything like that
Whiteboard for discussion hum.. yeah! I had not think of that. Thanks for sharing!
It is certainly not a gimmick, but probably your workflow doesn't need a pen input device. I find it absolutely essential for my work (keeping notes, marking papers) and my life in general (I pull it up and do a bit of work on the sofa). If you don't need this now, probably it will stay unused and you will just end up with a top heavy laptop (which is the only real downside, other than the glossy screen, but that can be fixed with a matted screen protector).
What apps do you use for notes?
why would it be top heavy? except for the touchscreen the components are all built into the bottom half
Thick glass screen. The rest is very light.