Lenovo has tested the T450s to MIL-SPEC 810G specifications, so it will survive high altitudes, drops, wide temperature swings, oppressive humidity, and blown sand. The system can also famously shrug off a can of soda poured directly on the keyboard. The stainless-steel hinges located between the body and the screen look and feel like they could take quite a beating. The T450s should certainly be able to handle your daily office grind.

The 14-inch touch screen has a 1,920-by-1,080 resolution and an In-Plane Switching (IPS) panel, which means that images show up bright and clear, with excellent viewing angles. A matte finish quells reflections, and the screen tilts back 180 degrees to lie flat on the table. This allows you to share the laptop's display with a few people seated around a table. Touch sensitivity is excellent.

The lauded Lenovo ThinkPad keyboard is backlit and is as comfortable to use as ever, with slightly concave keys that cradle your fingertips during long typing sessions. The row of function keys on the top of the keyboard control multimedia (Play, FF/REW, etc.) and Windows 8 commands.