Some people just don’t have a lot of space on their home or office desks for a full-on PC setup. Sadly, laptop screens can get too small, but connecting a laptop to a monitor takes up quite a bit of valuable table real estate as well. So what’s the middle ground? Lenovo and its TIO (Tiny-In-One) technology bring forth modular computing that allows you to have all your PC components attached to just your monitor. With this, the setup’s footprint is minimized to just the monitor stand.
But wait, this isn’t the first time we’ve had all-in-one PC-monitor arrangements. Yes, it isn’t; in fact, there have been numerous iterations of this in the past. However, the difficult part here is swapping out components when the parts become outdated and borderline unusable. The installed parts are specially crafted for these systems, resulting in extreme difficulty or even making it impossible to replace your parts with newer ones. Bummer.
In order to provide a solution to this problem, Lenovo has innovated its TIO system and unveiled the ThinkCentre TIO Gen 5 monitor, available in two sizes: 21.5 inches and 23.8 inches.
So what’s in these monitors? They have quite the audiovisual setup with a built-in Full HD webcam, microphone, and dual user-facing speakers. That should make online meetings and Zoom calls that much more convenient. This 3-edge borderless display also comes with a Full HD resolution as well and is equipped with natural low blue-light technology to optimize eye comfort and keep your eyes safe even after prolonged use. Additionally, it supports stylus pen usage!
But where is the modularity? As they say, business at the front, party at the back. It has a rear compartment with a 3-in-1 connector port where the Tiny desktop unit can easily snap in and out, mounting to the monitor with no cables required. If you have multiple users sharing the same monitor at various times of the day, they can just bring their personal Tiny units. It’s plug-and-play without any of the hassles.
From base ThinkStation PCs to high-performance Tiny PCs built to shred through work and play, these monitors offer compatibility with them all. And you won’t have to fear your precious investment getting exposed to the elements because there’s a cover installed, as well as a Dual Kensington Lock for applications in public areas.
Other interesting features on this Lenovo TIO ThinkCentre family of monitors include a rear HDMI port as well as a DisplayPort, enabling expanded compatibility with up to two additional external PCs, whether it be a laptop, tower workstation, or another desktop. The ThinkCentre TIO Gen 5 monitors also include many of the generational design updates recently announced for Lenovo’s ThinkVision T-series line of monitors, including an ergonomically conscious stand with wider lift range, a new joystick button for configuring device settings, dedicated VoIP buttons on the front of the monitor for easy volume control, and a smart traffic light that turns red when the camera is on to alert people when the user is in a virtual meeting.
