Price: $1,557
Spec: Windows
8,13.3-inch HD+ IPS touch panel, Intel Core i7-3517U, 8GB DDR3 RAM, 128GB SSD,
Intel HD Graphics 4000, Wi-Fi, SD card reader, HDMI, W13.lxD8.9xH0.67 inches,
1.54 kg
Lenovo
Ideapad Yoga 13
It's taken its own sweet time coming, but
the Lenovo IdeaPad Yoga is finally here. What could have been the first Windows
8 convertible has been launched in India after most others have come out with
their versions.
DESIGN: The
color of the IdeaPad Yoga is the first thing that you will notice, for the
devices otherwise looks like any good Ultrabooka bright, but metallic, orange
the Yoga is really slim and lightweight. So when you open the lid and fold the
display 360 degrees to bring the screen on top with the keyboard facing the
ground, the Yoga feels like a very manageable tablet. There are at least two
other postures in which you can use this device and hence the name.
But we thought the keyboard which is now
facing your lap or a table should have been disabled in this mode. For, even a
crease in your pants can get the cursor moving on the screen. Given the fact
that the Accu-Type keyboard will also be the base, the Yoga has a matte-finish
hard rubber frame running all around the keys. The keys are good and the smooth
trackpad responsive. Many one-touch controls like airplane mode have been added
to the function keys. The power button is on the front edge so that you won't
have trouble switching on or off in tablet mode. There are two USB ports, an
HDMI port and a SD card reader.
PERFORMANCE:
Some convertibles have FullHD displays, but the HD+ IPS (1600x900p) panel on
the Yoga is good enough for you not to find anything amiss. The touch response
is good too, but when executing the touch gestures on Windows 8 it is a bit
tough to gauge where the bezel is ending. The speakers are just behind the
hinge and very good.
The
color of the IdeaPad Yoga is the first thing that you will notice
The Yoga 13 we tested was powered by the
3rd generation Intel Core i5-3317U processor. It had no trouble with our
regular hi-res image, video and browser tests. This is also a very cool device,
even after hours of browsing and video watching. This is crucial if you want to
use the Yoga primarily as a tablet. Lenovo has preloaded the device with some
handy apps like its cloud storage service,
Evernote and RaRa. Plus, the Yoga has
camera-based motion control support for some apps like Windows Media Player,
which make good sense when you are using it in the tent or desktop modes.
A minor quirk kept niggling us though. When
you hold the Yoga in tablet mode and try to log-in, the virtual keyboard just
keeps minimizing. This meant we had to flip the screen back and type with the keyboard.
This problem did not use the keyboard for other stuff in tablet mode. Anyway,
the Yoga tablet among the convertibles we have seen and this is because it is
and sleekest.
Bag it or junk it?
Very balanced device overall, so buy it for
style and power.
NIKON D5200 - Sturdy Star
Price: $867
Specs: 24MP
CMOS sensor, 1/4000 max shutter speed, ISO 25600, 1080p 30fps, SD card, swivel
LCD
Some cameras give you a feeling of power,
the power to create art in a fraction of a second. The Nikon D5200 is one such
camera, absolutely sure of itself and the power it POS-
The D5200 does not look much different from
the D5100 or the D3200 and has a very compact body. The matte finish extends to
the flip-out screen too. The screen can fold face in, and this protects the LCD
when you don't need to use it. The grip is good and gives you a feeling of
control even with heavy lenses.
The interface is easy to navigate, though
the icons make you want to touch them. But that would be of no use as there is
no touchscreen here. Still, you can change the settings using the mode dial on
top and the control ring below it. Like other new Nikons this one too gives you
loads of tweaks and settings, the entire range of which would take some time to
master.
One of the first things you will notice,
and be pleasantly surprised about, is the click of this camera's mechanical
shutter. That is like music to any photographer, a sound of assurance. I still
don't like the fact that there is no separate ISO switch in most Nikon DSLRs.
But thankfully this one has two Info buttons that bring on the settings- one
accessed by the thumb, the other by the trigger finger. Near the trigger finger
are also the record button for video and exposure adjustment, both thoughtfully
placed. The Menu button is hidden away on the left of the LCD and this throws
open a confusing array of detailed settings. You can also use this to do some
basic editing of the pictures.
The
D5200 does not look much different from the D5100 or the D3200 and has a very
compact body.
We tested the camera with a Nikkor 18-55mm
VR lens and the results were as good as we expected. The color reproduction on
this 24MP camera is top-notch and pictures look the way they are supposed to.
The 39-point auto-focus too did not trouble us and is ably assisted by an
illuminator so that you can compose pictures even in near darkness. In fact,
the camera offers superb results at high ISOs and you can actually click
pictures even in extremely low light conditions without ending up with just
noise.
The auto-focus works equally well while you
are recording 1080p video at 50fps. There is, however, no separate mode for
video and this is a bit of an irritant, especially since you have to go to menu
to tweak settings while shooting. But then the results will make you overlook
this minor glitch.
The D5200 is among the best mid-level DSLR
options in the market offering great results and amazing versatility.
Bag it or junk it?
Best mid-level DSLR option
