By Joel Santo Domingo

If you were waiting for a full Windows 8 convertible tablet/laptop combo, the Lenovo IdeaPad Yoga 11S ($999) has potential. Its innovative design gives you a laptop full time that you can use as a tablet part time. It's a good leap of faith by Lenovo, but internal components and battery life in particular hold it back from being great.

Design and Features The IdeaPad Yoga 11S is the little brother to the Lenovo IdeaPad Yoga 13 ($999) we saw last year. The Yoga 11S looks a lot like the Windows RT-powered Lenovo IdeaPad Yoga 11 ($669) we looked at earlier this year, thought the Yoga 11S is a smidge thicker and heavier.

The Yoga 11S measures about 0.67 by 12 by 8 inches (HWD), and weighs in at 2.96 pounds. Like the other IdeaPad Yoga systems, the Yoga 11S is a convertible tablet that acts like a laptop. When you first open the system, it looks very much like a normal clamshell laptop. Once you swing the lid past 180 degrees, however, you'll be able to use the system's tent mode (like an a-frame), stand mode (screen out, but keyboard facing the table), and tablet mode (just what it sounds like).

The tent mode and stand mode are innovative, though limited to specific uses (mainly to present videos or presentations on a table without needing the keyboard). When in tablet mode, the Yoga 11S works like a somewhat heavy slate tablet PC. Compared to the Editors' Choice Microsoft Surface Windows 8 Pro ($999) or the Dell Latitude 10 ($749), the Yoga 11S is a little heavier and a little more awkward on account of its larger chassis. The Surface Pro and Latitude 10 have smaller 10-inch screens, and hence are easier to carry.

On the other hand, the Yoga 11S has a very comfortable and sturdy keyboard that is a joy to use in laptop mode. The keyboard isn't backlit, but the trackpad is multi-touch. The screen also has 10-point touch, so you have quite a few ways to interact with the bright IPS screen. The screen sports a 1,366-by-768 resolution, which is short of the Microsoft Surface Pro's 1080p screen, but the Yoga 11s' screen is bright and quite clear. You may not miss the extra screen space unless you're working on large spreadsheets or megapixel images.

When you swing the lid over past 190 degrees, the keyboard and touchpad automatically deactivate, but they are still tactile, i.e. they are not a smooth surface like on the back of a true slate tablet. If you think this will bother you, you may want to try the Yoga 11S out in a store first. That said, slate tablets above are a lot less comfortable to type on, even the Surface Pro with the Microsoft Type Cover. If there's any real nit to tablet mode, it's that the system vents warm to hot air right into the arm that's holding the tablet or on your supporting palm, depending on how you have the tablet oriented. This is a consequence of using a ultrabook-class Intel Core i5-3339Y processor instead of a lower powered Tegra 3 processor as in the Windows RT-equipped Yoga 11.

The Yoga 11S comes with a capacious 256GB SSD in this configuration, along with 8GB of system memory. This means you'll have plenty of space for files before you have to resort to using the SD card slot for additional storage space. The system comes with one USB 2.0 and one USB 3.0 port for connecting a mouse and external hard drive, respectively. The system also comes with a full-size HDMI port for connecting an external display. The Yoga 11S comes with a 2.4GHz 802.11 b/g/n WiFi adapter for connecting to your home router.

The system comes with an ambient light sensor to control the screen's brightness, but it's a little overly aggressive. The screen dimming and brightening frequently while in use distracted and annoyed us, often when we were reaching for the touch screen. The room itself was brightly lit, so it was the process of using the laptop that made the screen dim. Also, you may need to get used to the screen rotating due to the built-in gyroscope and accelerometer. Lenovo added its motion control interface to Windows 8, and while novel it's more of a gimmick than a useful interface, especially since the touch screen and touchpad are so responsive. Essentially, you can interact with the Yoga 11S in a plethora of manners, so if you're looking to develop an innovative software package, interface, or use for the PC, this is the system to get.

The Yoga 11S comes with quite a few pre-loaded programs, including McAfee Security Advisor, Accuweather, Kindle, Rara music, Evernote Touch, Zinio, Lenovo Companion, Lenovo Support, Skype, Encyclopedia Britannica, Merriam-Webster Dictionary, Enfeel Birzzle (a touch-based block puzzler), SugarSync, FilmOn Television, an ad for Microsoft Office, Intel AppUp, and eBay. The Yoga 11S comes with a one-year base warranty.

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Lenovo IdeaPad Yoga 11S

LOS ANGELES, June 27, 2013 /PRNewswire/ --Manduka, purveyor of high performance yoga gear and the #1 choice of yoga teachers worldwide, is guiding the community on a personal journey this summer with tools and inspiration to turn on their 'inner GPS' and choose their own adventure. Whether the journey lasts thousands of miles or just into the backyard, Manduka's new Summer collection supports all types of yogis, yoga practices and adventures while collecting community photos from the road.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130627/LA39459)

Because there's no place like a home yoga sanctuary, Manduka is launching the new PRO Squared Mat, a generously oversized yoga mat, big enough to host a healthy staycation for the whole family. Built with the same high performance material and innovation as Manduka's legendary Black Mat PRO, the PRO Squared is nearly 40 square feet of luxurious density for unparalleled comfort and cushion. Its superior non-slip fabric finish and extra, extra large coverage area allows for room to roam while staying grounded in the practice.

Taking inspiration from the peaceful shades of summer, Manduka's original Black Mat PRO is now also available in two limited edition options: the two-toned Black Mod featuring a heather grey top surface and misty blue bottom, and Black Bliss in a cooling misty blue. The Go-Getter mat carrier, an innovative mat strap with a handle grip for comfortable portability, is now offered in Heather Grey with misty blue accents while Manduka's Recycled Foam Block made of over 50% recycled EVA foam is available for the first time in two-toned Mod.

"Summer is a time to explore new adventures," said Sky Meltzer, CEO of Manduka. "Those adventures might take us across the country, or they might take us deeper inside ourselves. Our goal this season is to engineer functional new products that inspire yogis to go wherever their inner GPS, and their practice, might take them."

Inspired by summer travels, Manduka will encourage the yoga community to follow their inner GPS online, sharing where their journey takes them through an integrated Instagram campaign. Over the course of five weeks, Manduka will focus on five themes including Inner Peace, Back to Nurture, The Thrill of Adventure, Another State and Coming hOMe. Every week Manduka will share an image on Instagram related to the theme with instructions on how to reach that destination. Followers who share a photo capturing that week's theme with the hashtag #innerGPS will be entered to win a collection of Manduka Summer gear. Manduka will also share select images in a Facebook gallery and through their blog. The campaign will kick-off Tuesday, July 2.

Throughout the summer Manduka will host a suite of promotions and discounts on current product.

For more information on Manduka, prices and availability please visit:www.manduka.com join us on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/mandukayogaor follow us @MandukaYoga

About Manduka Founded in 1997, Manduka was built on the simple idea that a better yoga mat can make a world of difference. Manduka strives to support and enrich the yoga community by providing premium quality mats and products while respecting employees, customers, materials, and the environment. Created for and by yoga enthusiasts, Manduka's technical and purpose-driven product designs meet and often exceed the distinct needs of all practitioners. Today Manduka's products, which include yoga mats, towels, yoga straps, water bottles, and bags, are sold in more than 65 countries around the world. Not only focusing on superior design, Manduka also promotes their ethos of quality, thoughtfulness and sustainability in all realms of their business.

Contact: Marci Mollins Saeger Media Group marci@saegermediagroup.com310-464-0887

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Mandukao Turns On Yoga Community's #innerGPS With Fresh Summer Products And Transformative Social Campaign