This year saw a surge in popularity for hybrid devices, particularly for laptop and tablet 2-in-1s. One particular model that has been generally well received is the Lenovo Yoga Book, which has a touchscreen display and hinged design. The same unit, however, is scheduled for a facelift and will make its debut in 2017.
Jeff Meredith, the company's vice president and general manager of its Android and Chrome Computing Business Group, confirmed that the Yoga Book will come in an option to run on Google's Chrome operating system. This will be an addition to the models that run on Windows 10 and Android that are already in the market. Meredith, as Digital Trend notes, confirmed in an interview exactly why Lenovo decided on this.
According to Meredith, the company took an interest in Chromebooks when these types of laptops were making their way into schools via the educational system. He then stated that Lenovo "had a lot of interest" in providing this same OS in a more flexible platform. This is where the Yoga Book running on Chrome OS will fit in.
The Lenovo Yoga Book is a 2-in-1 PC that has a 10.1-inch screen and a touch-based Halo keyboard, as well as support for a real ink stylus. The design itself has sat well with most artists, according to Android Police, but has had some trouble getting picked up by mechanical keyboard fans. Nevertheless, the new Chromebook option is surely to get the attention of the public - particularly in the US.
Meredith admitted that sales of the Yoga Book have been great in locations such as Japan, China, and Germany, but have only been average in the United States. Offering three options for the hybrid device - Windows, Android, and Chrome - is expected to pull the numbers up. As mentioned earlier, educational systems are expected to be the biggest driver in this growth once the model comes out in 2017.
