One PC trend that started strong last year but then seemed to lose steam is the tabletop PC. These systems straddle the line between all-in-one desktop and giant tablet, essentially taking a slim all-in-one desktop, adding a battery and kickstand, and making it semiportable. Fortunately, a couple of new models from Lenovo may be giving the tabletop a second shot.
One of our favorites from the first generation of these systems was the Lenovo Horizon, a 27-inch monster of a computer. It was fun to use, but probably too big to be a practical PC that you'd move from room to room at home.
The Horizon 2s is a thin-and-light (relatively speaking) tabletop PC with a 19.5-inch 1080p IPS display. The body is 0.59-inch thick, and weighs 5.6 pounds. Rather than a bulky built-in kickstand, the system has a small kickstand that I wouldn't use full time, but also accommodates a sold-separately charging stand. The entire setup looks and feels a lot like the Dell XPS 18 tabletop PC. That lightweight model was one of my favorites in this category, so that's a good thing.
Processors go up to current-gen Intel Core i7, with up to 500GB of hybrid hard-drive space, and Lenovo says the built-in battery can run up to 2.5 hours, which isn't a lot, but these systems are designed to move from room to room occasionally, not run all day away from a power source.
Both new Horizon systems include Lenovo's Aura software package, which is a user interface overlay that pops up automatically when the systems are positioned flat on a surface, in upward-facing tabletop mode. Aura uses multitouch controls to give you access to photos, video, and apps, but can be turned off if you prefer the regular Windows 8 interface.
The Horizon 2s will be available later in September, starting at $949, with the charging stand going for $89. The Horizon 2e is coming in October, starting at $749.
