Lenovo supports its M-Series Tiny Desktops with a special monitor
When I recently covered Lenovo’s M73 Tiny system, it also sent me this device, the Tiny-in-One 23. At first I thought this was an all-inone system, but it’s actually something subtly different that’s designed to work alongside the M73 Tiny, and all the other M-Series ‘Tiny’ models that Lenovo makes.
However, it will just work as a monitor to any system, should you feel that £210 is the right price for a 23” TN tech LCD 1080p panel with only DisplayPort input.
It’s a nice enough monitor with a built-in USB hub, but even business users might think that it’s a little on the steep side.
No, the real party trick of this device is that instead of VESA mounting the Tiny computer to the back of this screen, Lenovo built a precisely engineered pocket for it to nestle. Access to this receptacle is via a small lever that opens one side, allowing you to push a roof panel out and retract a block containing the USB connectors and power transfer. The Tiny is fed in vertically and then engaged with the port module before the side door is shut, completing the exercise.
Once installed, the Tiny system is powered via the Tiny-in-One 23, and all the USB ports are distributed to side and front. To power the system on, you use a ALT-P hotkey sequence, as the power button is no longer easily accessible.
For paranoid IT managers, a Kensington lock feature allows the machine and monitor to be securely bonded together until such a time as they need to be separated again.
There’s an additional pocket on the left side looking from the rear, which can house a Lenovomade optical drive accessory, should you still need access to disc media. What it does quite effectively is make a Tiny system into an all-in-one, but with the option to hang a second system (laptop?) off the display and separate the two should you wish to repurpose it.
The downside of this method of providing an all-in-one is that it doesn’t provide for features like a touchscreen or an integrated webcam. However, this needs to be balanced against the advantage that should this fail the computer can still be used with another screen. And, vice versa, this can still have a life as a monitor if the Tiny breaks.
The upgrade potential will only last as long as Lenovo doesn’t redesign the Tiny, because making it a different size or altering the placement of the ports would undermine this concept entirely.
Personally, I like Lenovo’s thinking, because I’ve seen enough broken all-in-ones that are unrepairable to know that bundling hardware into a complete package can go badly wrong.
The problem I have is with the price. Where it might be acceptable for an IPS screen, for a TN panel it’s way too much, even if it does have a very sturdy support arm with inherent screen rotation. Mark Pickavance
A monitor made specifically for Lenovo’s M-Series computers.