HP Envy x2
The
Envy x2 impressed us. Its outstanding industrial design really shows the
potential of a tablet/laptop hybrid. The HP Envy x2 has a clean, comfortable
design and feels lightweight in tablet form. It has excellent battery life, and
works just as well as a laptop as it does as a tablet.
Performance: Unfortunately,
as soon as we start talking performance we’re confronted by the fact that
Clover Trail is still Atom, and Atom is still not in any way, shape or form a
performance chip – and that 2GB RAM maximum doesn’t help here either.Don’t get
us wrong, for navigating through Windows and average daily use such as browsing
the web and running apps or light programs, the Z2760 in the HP Envy x2 runs
smooth as butter. Performance is consistently superior to that in the netbooks
of yore, especially when it comes to HD video playback and light multi-tasking,
and most non 3D-gaming apps you’ll find in the Windows store should run without
a hitch.
However, proper multi-tasking;
running intensive HD video simultaneously with another program; or using
demanding programs like an image editor can still quite easily bring this kind
of machine to its knees. In other words, as a tablet the x2 performs admirably,
but as a laptop replacement you have to be prepared to put up with its
limitations.
3D gaming in anything but the most
casual titles, meanwhile, is also a big no-no. Even at minimum settings our
test games simply refused to run or crashed after getting through the menus.
Mind you, this is not surprising given that Intel’s integrated GMA 3600 chip
paired with the Atom Z2760 is derived from an old PowerVR design the benefits
of which Windows drivers don’t fully bring out. Hopefully updated drivers will
eek out more performance. Battery
life: Battery life is impressive, living up to HP’s claim of
seven hours when we streamed video from BBC iPlayer. And, of course, there’s a
second battery in the keyboard, which provides an additional seven hours of battery
life. No ultrabook that weighs a similar amount can claim to last this
long. But, The laptop mode is top-heavy, and the awkward tablet detachment
mechanism isn’t perfect; it has limited ports; and a slower Atom processor
means in performance it's far behind most ultrabooks, even though it’s priced
like one. The bottom
line: The HP Envy x2’s capacity to be a full Windows 8 tablet or dock with a
keyboard works as well as advertised, provided you’re willing to live with
slower performance at a high price. You’re paying for style.
Windows 8 (32-bit); 1.8GHz Intel
Atom Z2760; 2GB DDR2 SDRAM 1,066MHz; 747MB (Total) Intel GMA; 64GB SSD Processor 1.8GHz Intel Atom Z2760
Memory 2GB, 1,066MHz DDR2
Hard drive 64GB SSD
Graphics Intel GMA
Operating system Windows 8
Dimensions (WD) 11.9x8.1 inches
Height 0.6-0.7 inch
Screen size (diagonal) 11.6 inches
System weight / Weight with AC
adapter 3.1 pounds / 3.6 pounds (tablet + keyboard)
Category Ultraportable hybrid Price;
$849
VS Microsoft Surface Pro 3
Microsoft might
not be the first company to break into 2-in-1 laptop, but it's one of the few
to get it right. The first Surface was a suave new device that worked both as a
laptop and tablet. Thanks to an ergonomic kickstand and excellent magnetic
keyboard, it easy to use whether you're at a desk or even laying down. The
Surface Pro 3 is thinner and lighter than the previous two versions, despite
having a larger 12-inch display and higher screen resolution. A new kickstand
makes it easier to set up and use, and the keyboard cover remains a
best-in-class example. The Surface Pro 3 is now optimized for a digital pen, which
is included. Performance Despite its remarkably slim
and light frame, the Surface Pro 3 is a powerful machine. In benchmarks it's a
match for pricey ultrabooks like the Toshiba Kira. Its 1.9GHz Core i5 processor
scores 5,532, more than Toshiba (5,424) and the 2014 MacBook Air (5,401).
The MacBook and Surface Pro make an interesting
comparison here. Apple favours a slower processor, but a faster PCI-e SSD and
Intel's faster HD 5000 graphics. It's a trade-off that makes the MacBook very
snappy, but the Surface Pro 3 is no slouch either.
That faster processor gives it an edge in processor
intensive tasks, too. This is no workstation class processor, of course, but
anything you can throw at an ultrabook works fine on the Surface Pro 3. That
means any task or application you use in everyday work and life. It's an
efficient and effective replacement for a work laptop or ageing desktop.
It isn't noisy, either. If you're just watching video or
doing some other simple task, it's rare to even hear the fan spin up. Even when
it does it's an unobtrusive whir. You'll notice it in quiet surroundings, but
it's barely discernible over the hubbub of an office. It's another reminder of
the incredible industrial design in the Surface Pro 3.
But
That excellent keyboard cover is not included in the base price, and its
improved touchpad still doesn't measure up. The chassis lacks pen storage, and
even with tweaked kickstand and keyboard hinges, the Surface Pro 3 still
doesn't fit perfectly on the lap. The Bottom Line
While the new Surface Pro 3 is Microsoft's best PC to date, it's more
successful as a tablet than a laptop replacement. CPU:
1.9GHz Intel Core i5-4300U | Graphics: Intel HD Graphics 4400 | RAM: 8GB |
Screen: 12-inch, 2160 x 1440 multi-touch display| Storage: 256GB SSD $649.99
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