New ThinkPad and other tablets, convertibles, notebooks, world’s lightest Ultrabook

Lenovo calls ThinkPad X1 Carbon, the world’s lightest 14-inch Ultrabook. The company is taking the wraps off not only its revamped ThinkPad X1 Carbon, but a whole raft of tablets, convertibles, and other notebooks.The new ThinkPad X1 Carbon will feature Intel’s fourth-generation Core processors (with Intel vPro management features), up to 8GB of memory, and up to a 512GB SSD.

The standard display is a TN (twisted nematic) screen with a resolution of 1600 by 900 pixels, but buyers can step up to an IPS (in-plane switching) screen with a resolution of 2560 by 1440 pixels. Touchscreens are optional in both cases.

An “adaptive” keyboard is one of the highlights of the new X1 Carbon. The top row of function keys has been replaced by touch-sensitive buttons that dynamically adjust their purpose based on the application being used. If you’re using Microsoft Word, for example, the function keys will configure themselves to execute common Word commands. Switch your focus to a media player, and the function keys will transform into media controllers.

If you’re a computer junkie craving PC and tablet news at CES, Lenovo has you covered this year. Like the original X1 Carbon, the new model is fabricated from carbon fiber, which Lenovo says is both lighter and stronger than aluminum or magnesium.

Lenovo says that the updated X1 Carbon will deliver 9 hours of battery life—a 70 percent improvement over the original—and that its battery will recharge to 80 percent in less than 1 hour. Prices will start at $1299 when the X1 Carbon ships later in January.

Lenovo is sure to give the Dell Venue Pro and Toshiba Encore a run for their money with its ThinkPad 8. Based on Intel’s quad-core Atom Intel Z3770 mobile processor, Lenovo’s design will be available with 2GB of memory and up to 128GB of storage. Its 8.3-inch touchscreen boasts a resolution of 1900 by 1200 pixels.