Truth be known, I think so to. The Lenovo Miix510 is a really compact machine that delivers for work or for play.  I’ve got Adobe’s Creative Suite loaded on its 500GB PCIe solid-state drive (SSD), and with 8GB of RAM, I’m doing serious photo and video editing without breaking a sweat.

First, the disclosure:  Lenovo sent me the Miix510 as part of the Lenovo INsiders program and did not provide additional compensation. All opinions are my own.

Lenovo Miix510

Let me assure you that this is a machine you can actually use to get big jobs done.  I’ve had 2-in-1, “wannabe a tablet / wannabe a laptop’s” that I’ve tried out before, but they just couldn’t cut it with serious editing programs. They were merely fat tablets with a keyboard accessory.

With the Miix510, you’ve got the complete package:

• Super portable – fits in my Scottevest pocket easily
• Sharp looks – but works like it’s supposed to
• Actual 2-in-1 – works as a tablet, and works as a laptop
• Up to 512 GB SSD for storage
• Up to 8GB LPDDR4 2133 MHz memory
• Choice of Intel Core i3, i5 or i7 processor
• 12.2” LED Multi-Touch 1920×1200 display – gorgeous
• More than six hours of actual battery usage
• Windows 10 Home

Two of my favorite features are the keyboard and the touch screen. Joined together, the keyboard is quick, accurate and feels like you are actually typing on a serious laptop.  With 1.5mm of key travel, you won’t find yourself cursing at cheaper imitations with their chiclet keyboards. Even more, the keyboard is backlit for evening use.

The keyboard folds up, creating a protective cover for the screen when not in use. The keyboard also detaches in an instant by just pulling the magnetic strip away from the screen.

With the keyboard detached, you’ve got a svelte but solid tablet.  On the back of the screen, you can’t help but notice and admire the beautifully engineered, watchband style, fold-out stand that is integrated into the case. Set the angle for watching videos or for reading – or anywhere in between. The hinged fold out stand works extremely well.

The touch screen is probably the most responsive screen I’ve ever used, and I’ve tried a lot of them from multiple manufacturers.

The Miix510 came with a nice slip case but did not come with a pen/stylus.  After hearing about all the people that loved their stylus, I knew I had to try one. Again, my experiences in the past have been anywhere from disappointing to totally dismal, but, I crossed my fingers and ordered one nevertheless.

Lenovo was out of stock on the Lenovo Active Pen and didn’t expect any more for over a month, so I ordered one through Amazon and it arrived in a couple days. With great anticipation, I tried it out taking notes and using it with Photoshop. Drum roll, please…… YES, it really works. I can now get hand-drawn lettering on my artwork, and actually take handwritten notes that I can read when I’m done. C’est manifique!

Be sure to check out the Lenovo Writing App – WriteIt.  It’s great fun and a useful tool as well.  Get all the WriteIt details here.

My other investment was a USB-C to HDMI adapter, so I could use it to push Netflix to a flat screen monitor.

Blluetooth and Wi-Fi worked flawlessly. Plus, the USB-3 port is an “always-on” port, convenient for charging your phone or other USB-powered devices even if your computer is off.

So, what’s not to like?

Like all its 2-in-1 brethren…lack of ports. There’s one USB-C, one USB-3, and one combo microphone/earphone jack. No card reader, HDMI port or DisplayPort. That means that if you have a second monitor plugged in your USB-3 port, you’ve got no way to import photos. Ditto for a USB powered mouse.

 

 

My only other complaint is that the holder for the Active Pen slips into the USB-3 port and it’s on the left of the screen. That’s a) awkward for right handers and b) unusable if you have need of the USB port for a thumb drive, mouse, etc.

 

Save for those two inconveniences, there is SOOOO much to like about the Miix510. If you’ve ever contemplated the need for a compact machine, you owe it to yourself to check this out. I’m confident you’ll agree that it’s a machine that’s bigger and more capable than its size would lead you to believe.