Lenovo IdeaPad K1 Pro Reviews

The IdeaPad K1 is cute, (relatively) affordable, and easy to use, and we know it'll be a sensible choice for some shoppers. We're just not sure that's you, our dear, tech-savvy readers. See, the K1 has two big strengths: one, it's aggressively priced, starting at $449 for 16GB (granted, that version's not on sale, so if you buy today, it's going to be the $499 32GB model). The other major thing the K1 has going for it is simplicity. Lenovo's tweaked Android 3.1 so that settings are easier to find and apps are a cinch to kill. It also comes with an array of popular apps (or bloatware, if you're cynical). Factor in the attractive design, and we can recommend this, particularly for people with budget constraints, or those looking to give a techie gift to a not-so-techie person. Those things aside, the K1 is heavier than most tablets, and doesn't justify its heft with additional ports, extraordinary battery life or even zippy performance. If you didn't want ports anyway, and know your way around Honeycomb without Lenovo's help (thank you very much), why not just get something thinner, faster, and longer-lasting? Or, you know, at least stick around and see how Lenovo's geekier ThinkPad Tablet fares.

There is one reason to choose the IdeaPad over the other Honeycomb tablets on the market, and that’s Netflix. There are cheaper Honeycomb tablets with similar specs (ASUS Eee Pad Transformer), Honeycomb tablets with better hardware (Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1), and Honeycomb tablets with more inputs (Toshiba Thrive), but none can stream Netflix as of August 2011.

Though Lenovo's IdeaPad Tablet K1 isn't exactly a stand-out product, versus what we've seen from the competition, it does provide a few key optimizations that deliver tangible value to the consumer. Lenovo's subtle UI tweaks and enhancements definitely improve upon the Honeycomb experience. Furthermore, the K1 has a healthy assortment of pre-installed applications, utilities and games that aren't just bloatware but provide key functionality and features for an out-of-the-box experience that is as good as it gets these days for 10-inch Android slates. It may not blow the doors off other tablets (though it will keep pace), offer a razor-thin profile or feather-weight construction but what it does, it does rather well.

The IdeaPad K1 has been in development in one form or another for a year and a half, yet it still isn’t ready. And even if it had hit the market a year ago, it wouldn’t have been good enough (at least in its current form) to go head-to-head with the original iPad. The K1′s hardware is chunky and cheap-feeling, its screen is washed out, and the software is unstable to the point of being unusable at times. It sounds harsh, but when you can pick up the iPad 2 or the Galaxy Tab 2 for just $499, the $50 you save by getting a K1 doesn’t seem close to worth it — unless, of course, you think there’s some value in buggy software. Yes, it has Netflix, some added storage space for the price, and the bundled apps hide the fact that Honeycomb’s app selection is seriously lacking, but those things aren’t going to be enough to make you forget that we are well into the second half of 2011 and that the iPad 2 and even tablets like the Galaxy Tab 10.1 have caught up with the times.

Ultimately, the IdeaPad K1 provides a strong case for the prospective tablet owner. The K1’s solid specifications and affordable price tag safely put the tablet into the upper tier of current Android tablets. Thanks to Gingerbread’s growing pains, the K1 has some distance to go before taking on tablets such as the iPad, but budget-conscious consumers eager to dip into tablet computing will find much to like from the IdeaPad.

A good price for a reasonable Android tablet; some niggles, but nothing massively serious.

The price for this 32GB Honeycomb tablet may look competitive, but it can't offset the buggy behavior, display quirks, and heavy bloatware load of this initial version.

Lenovo plays it safe with the IdeaPad K1, delivering a solid tablet that does little to stand out from the Honeycomb herd.

The Lenovo IdeaPad K1 offers some unique features at a $499 price tag for a 32GB tablet that, for some, could make it worth the minor trade-offs. Plus, it does sport competitive specs that yield good performance and excellent battery life.

Those looking for a slimmer Android slate should opt for the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1, and bargain hunters should go for the $399 ASUS Eee Pad Transformer. However, if you're looking for a better interface than stock Honeycomb and want more storage for less money, the IdeaPad K1 is a pretty good deal.

The Lenovo IdeaPad Tablet K1 is as good as its Android Honeycomb tablet competition, but doesn't offer any game-changing differentiators that make it stand out in the ever-expanding tablet space.

In a sea of Android tablets, the Lenovo IdeaPad K1 stands out. It makes a strong case for itself with its usability enhancements and its snappy design. The inaccessibility of the microSD card slot, the poor speakers, and the unit's relative heft are all drawbacks, but they may be minor inconveniences, given the value you get with the useful preloaded apps.

Lenovo's IdeaPad K1 is a tablet with some bright ideas that can't manage to complete the basics. The strength of tablets is that they're computing without the friction or hassle – straight onto the web or email in seconds from picking it up. If the tablet doesn't reliably turn on, or if the web pages won't scroll properly, what's the point in a tablet?