Lenovo's Yoga remains one of the best computer designs to result from the release of Windows 8.

With its 360-degree flip-and-fold body, you get the look and feel of a regular thin-and-light laptop, but with the added flexibility to use it as a tablet just by folding the screen back. You can also tent it, which is nice for playing games, or use the keyboard as a stand, so the screen is better positioned for watching movies or having video chats.

Compared to the first Yoga 13, the Yoga 2's touchscreen resolution is higher at 1,920x1,080 pixels and it has a fourth-gen Intel processor, with the latter giving it better battery life than its predecessor. However, the size and weight and overall design are about the same. So if that was a turn-off for you the first time around, it's probably still going to be.

Plus, the price difference between the regular Yoga 2 13-inch and Yoga 2 Pro at the time of this review was about $200 (300). That's no small amount, but the extra money gets you quite a bit more computer including twice the amount of RAM (8GB total), a 256GB SSD, a QHD 3,200x1,800-resolution screen, and a slimmer, lighter metal chassis.

If you don't care about the higher-resolution screen or chassis, the Yoga 2 is available with 8GB of memory and a 256GB, but then it's only slightly less than the Pro. Also, the Yoga has picked up some nice competition since the first one launched, so depending on your budget and needs, one of them might be a better fit.

Regardless of which way you go, though, the Yoga 2 is an excellent hybrid for the money at $900 or 700. (The Yoga 2 is listed as coming soon on Lenovo's Australia site, but with no mention of how much it will cost.)

Sarah Tew/CNET

Available in black and orange versions, the Yoga 2 13 measures 13 inches wide by 8.7 inches deep by 0.7 inch thick (33 by 22.1 by 1.7 cm) and weighs in at 3.7 pounds (1.7 kg). The size and weight is perfectly manageable for commuting or carrying around campus. The body is plastic, but has a pleasant, slightly suede feel to it.

However, while I wouldn't consider the Yoga 2 thick or heavy, it's maybe not thin or light enough for regular use as a hand-held tablet.

On your lap or a table, it's fine, though the keyboard doesn't retract into the body like it does on the ThinkPad version of the Yoga. The keys are exposed when you flip the screen over, so you can certainly feel them if you're resting it on an arm or gripping it in your hand.

See more here:
Yoga's winning hybrid design, now available for less