Lenovo ThinkVision LT1423 wireless touch display review

The Lenovo ThinkVision LT1423 wireless mobile touch display has been launched at CES 2013, providing a simple way to add a touchscreen to your existing PC or laptop.

Connecting via Wi-Fi (a cheaper wired USB3 version is also available), the Lenovo ThinkVision LT1423 gives you a no-hassle way of adding a touchscreen display to any existing computer. We were hands-on to take a look at the first pre-production models.

Both the wired and wireless versions require a driver to be installed on the host computer to get the display working. Currently that driver is provided separately, but we’ve been told that Lenovo’s looking at keeping the driver on flash storage on the monitor, so you can just connect via USB and get running quickly.

Specs wise the displays are largely identical, with both having a 13in panel with a 1,600×900 resolution, which is plenty for the size of screen. The panel has a rated brightness of 300 nits and certainly looked bright and vibrant in the brightly lit room we saw it demonstrated in.

The real difference in models is that the wireless Lenovo ThinkVision LT1423 has an extra module on the back, which houses the 802.11n Wi-Fi and a battery (charged via USB) that currently gives around four hours’ use, although the final model should last longer. The extra model adds to the weight, with monitor weighing 1.1kg, compared to the wired model’s 0.7kg.

Both displays are easy to carry, giving you the option of using them like a tablet with Windows 8 Start Screen apps, using your main computer for the actual processing. This is particularly true with the wireless model, as you can use it anywhere within range of your Wi-Fi network.

It remains to be seen if Windows 8 will make this kind of usage successful, or if the ThinkVision LT1423 will just be another Microsoft SmartDisplay.

Performance should be pretty good and we were told that the wireless model would be able to handle video smoothly, although it won’t be suitable for gaming. The pre-production model we saw was set up in mirrored display mode and lagged behind the actual laptop it was tethered to, although we were told that performance would be improved before launch. The USB3 model worked very smoothly and seemed to respond as fast as a monitor connected via a standard DVI or HDMI connection.

As well as being a standard touchscreen, the Lenovo ThinkVision LT1423 has a stylus. The screen supports 256 levels of pressure, so it’s suitable for use with some art and drawing applications.

The USB3 ThinkVision LT1423 will be out this quarter and will cost $349 (around £215), while the Wi-Fi version will be out by June and will cost $449 (around £276).

For all the latest news from the CES show, read CES 2013: In-depth, hands-on coverage from our team in Las Vegas