VIDEO: HP Spectre 13T X2 Hybrid Unboxing

Read the full content of this Article: http://www.notebookreview.com/video/video-hp-spectre-13t-x2-hybrid/

 

Thanks for the unboxing video! Can't wait for a full review. Thinking about getting one of these for myself later this year.

The unresponsiveness when you first touch-and-held on the desktop and when you first swept down to the app tray--is that something that happens every boot-up, or just the first time you booted the machine? With an SSD and Haswell, I'd be surprised if it was "still booting" for a while after the start screen first comes up. I'm wondering whether that was a symptom of initial setup, or a symptom of bad bloatware.

 

No Wacom or Ntrig active digitizer

 

I have recently purchased the regular clamshell version of this - the HP Spectre 13t-3000 - and it is a real honey of an Ultrabook. It hits all the high marks - vault-like build quality, easily equal to MBA, superb screen - available in FHD or QHD (gorgeous - only $70 extra) touch screen, 4-8GB RAM, i5/i7U Haswell cpu/igp combos, Intel 7260AC wifi for just $20 with CTO build, excellent keyboard and oversized track pad and just about everything a premium ultrabook can have but for a relatively modest price of $899 for the base model and only about $1,350 fully configured with i7/8GB/256GB SSD/QHD/AC wifi. Even better, HP has run a 20% off coupon for much of the time this model has been available making the top configuration available for a steal at $1,100, some $300-700 less than competing models from Asus, Acer and Dell, among others. There is a very active thread on NBR with lots of owner feedback and reassurance that the quality out of the box and user satisfaction is considerably above average.

The "X2" version of this product, shown in the unboxing video, appears to be a near duplicate of the clamshell product with two major differences"

1) the detachable tablet/screen and keyboard - somewhat dubious advantage given the size and weight of the resultant tablet, but still of some use to some

2) The cpus for the X2 hybrid version are of the "Y" variety rather than the "U" versions of Intel Haswell, the former being lower power (something like 8 watts vs. 15) and thus should provide better battery life at the cost of lesser performance. I think that HP opted instead for a smaller, lighter battery for the X2 vs. the 13t-3000 such that the battery life is a bit shorter than the 7-8 hrs attained by the 13t-3000, but don't quote me on the X-2's battery life without checking out some reviews.

The 13t has been extensively reviewed on commercial sites such as notebookcheck.net, laptop.mag, pcmag.com all with excellent test results and 4* and Editors' Choice awards. All in all in incomparable value with a 20% off coupon and an excellent contender even at regular prices. Most of the goodness baked into the clamshell product appears to apply to the X2 convertible - particularly the vault-sold build and excellent screen and both should be high on the shopping list for those in the market for these kinds of devices.

 

Thanks for your input on this Ultrabook! it really helps seeing someone's feedback who owns it. I'm thinking to gift this (haha) to my sister as a graduation gift and I'm trying to find the best deal possible because I want her to get the highest configuration. Also, is the SSD a 2.5" bay? Rather, is the storage upgrade able? I was just wondering just in case one of these days my sister wants more space, then I can just personally boost the storage for her.

 

Remember the normal 13t and the X2 are not going to be the same in this respect, as the SSD is housed in the base of the laptop but in the tablet portion of the convertible. Are you planning on getting your sister the X2 or the normal 13t?

 

I went ahead and ordered the 13t for my sister due to the better build options it has (being able to go up to an i7 and such). My sister told me that she doesn't have any use for the tablet, so the x2 is pointless and not as powerful anyway. She's looking for a standard laptop setup, but in the body of an Ultrabook.

I ordered for her the top build configuration:

Intel Core i7 4500U
8GB RAM
QHD+ Resolution
256 SSD (ended up not being 2.5" but it's an m.2 which is sold but not as popular -- I can live with that if she needs more space)
AC WiFi

I'm excited to give her a gift like this. I think I made a great decision. On top of that, I think the Spectre 13t's price is a steal in comparison to other premium Ultrabooks like the Ativ Book 9 Plus or the Macbook Air. The body of this thing is gorgeous. I think the champagne/bronze lid looks really unique.

Impressively, this baby actually beats some other premium Ultrabooks in some aspects and it packs great battery life too. The only thing I'm particularly neutral about is the exclusive touchpad. I've never seen something like it before, so I can't really say anything until my sister tries it.