Lenovo ThinkPad C13 Enterprise is a Chromebook with a pointing stick

Kyle Bradshaw | Oct 12 2020 - 8:00 am PT

Lenovo ThinkPad C13 Chromebook pointing stick

Lenovo has announced the ThinkPad C13 Yoga Chromebook Enterprise, one of the only Chrome OS devices to offer a “pointing stick” cursor.

For those perhaps unfamiliar with the idea of a pointing stick, picture a very small joystick near the center of your keyboard. This joystick is able to move your mouse speedily and, with practice, surprisingly accurately, all without moving your hands too far from the normal typing position.

Update: As pointed out by readers, Lenovo has once before offered the little-known ThinkPad Chromebook X131e with a pointing stick cursor, making today’s ThinkPad C13 announcement not the first but actually the second. We’ve updated the post to reflect that fact.

While Lenovo has long offered Chrome OS devices in their ThinkPad line of laptops, they were long unable to offer a Chromebook with the series’ distinctive “TrackPoint” pointing stick to move the cursor. As noted by The Verge back in 2016, the reason for this had to do with Google’s own strict rules for Chrome OS hardware.

Since then, Google has loosened its restrictions, as today Lenovo is unveiling the ThinkPad C13 Yoga Enterprise Chromebook, which features a proper TrackPoint pointing stick. Of course, if a pointing stick is not your style, the ThinkPad C13 Yoga also offers a traditional trackpad and an optional, stowable stylus.

Another standout feature of this Chromebook is that it can be powered by an AMD Ryzen processor, being only the second Chrome OS device to do so after the HP Pro C645. Otherwise, the ThinkPad C13 Yoga is a fairly straightforward Chromebook, designed to accommodate both businesses and schools.

Up to AMD Ryzen™ 7 3700C Series mobile processors
Chrome OS (with Chrome Enterprise Upgrade)
13.3-inch FHD IPS or touch displays with narrow bezels
Less than 1.5kg (3.3 pounds) and 15.5mm thin
Webcam with privacy shutter and optional touch fingerprint reader
Optional world-facing camera for easy on-the-go snapshots
Optional garaged pen
2 x USB 3.2 Gen 2 Type-C and 2 x USB 3.2 Gen 1 Type-A ports with an HDMI 2.0 port
Wi-Fi 6 Wireless LAN and Bluetooth 5.0

According to Lenovo, the ThinkPad C13 Yoga Chromebook Enterprise will be available for purchase “shortly,” with models starting as low as $579.