HP Spectre x360

About to pull the trigger on getting this laptop. Just deciding if I want to get a protection plan or not... how many of you got some sort of protection plan with you Spectre x360 (MS Complete, HP Care Plan, etc)?

I'm basically deciding between getting a $150 student discount from Best Buy with no accident protection, versus getting it from the MS Store with MS Complete. Any suggestions?

 

Nah, its not really a bad driver. Just that the synaptics driver is old, and when looking at its settings it only has three finger tap. The only three finger gesture it has is flicking through pictures. Was just hoping they had new drivers for windows 10, but well we gotta wait i guess.

Yep, lets hope they crank them drivers up fast. My other older drivers seem to work well, at least for the time being. Jealous of the three finger gesture mostly, feels like a macbook but on windows hahaha. I use the touchpad 90% of the time though, thats why I'm really excited of the new gestures.

 

Btw my screen is not auto rotating when i'm turn it to the tent mode, was working fine in 8.1 What's up with that? Settings?

 

Yes, sort of. When you switch to tablet mode take a look at the notification center/action center and disable the rotation lock, that should immediately orient your UI to the appropriate view. Rotation lock is enabled by default by the way.
Oh and I dont think there is a way to auto rotate your screen when you are not in tablet mode, because the toggle is disabled when in desktop mode, but is enabled when you switch to tablet mode.

 

Just updating that I got my replacement machine and it's working well - touchscreen responds and the F5 light actually goes off when disabled in the BIOS. My refund processed with no problems, and they refunded me the difference in pricing (since I got the original on special). They had FedEx pick up the defective unit which was nice. It was a little tedious, but overall I'm pleased with the service and really like my machine.

Something I realized today was that there is no mic jack in the unit. I tend to use a USB mic to record a podcast I produce, so it's not a really big deal, but I was a little surprised. There's a headphone jack but no mic jack.

Been really putting it through its paces - it had been superb. No problems with Photoshop, Dreamweaver, Premiere (rendered out a 20+ minute tutorial video), and Audition. Wifi is nice and speedy. I'm using a QHD screen and though some apps are a little small, it works well. The only time I have an issue is when I want to record screen capture video. I need to scale down the display while I do that so that the recorder (Camtasia) works at the proper resolution for HD video. That makes things tiny during the actual recording but otherwise it's fine.

I've been playing with some art programs - I'm a newbie/hobbyist with digital painting, but Photoshop has worked well, and ArtRage too. I have had Corel Painter Essentials give a memory error and it BSOD'd with a memory error when that was running. So maybe that app just uses too much memory?

I'm really enjoying seeing the feedback on Windows 10. I have upgraded my little HP Stream 7 to Windows 10 and really like it, but I'm not pulling the trigger on this one until Plugable verifies that dock drivers are working very well with Win10 since I need to dock this machine using their dual monitor dock. I am really eager to upgrade though!

Overall very, very pleased thus far

 

One quick question - does anyone have a battery bank recommendation that works with the x360? I'll need to be mostly outdoors much of the day in a couple of weeks, but will need to work and I'm not sure that the battery will hold up through the entire day. Was thinking a battery bank might be good idea.

 

Thanks, is ok now.

 

There is also a BIOS update on the HP website that states it makes switching orientations in Windows 10 more accurate.

 

Yeah, You can charge it with external batteries. These are examples of these types of batteries:
http://www.amazon.com/Anker-20000mA...im_107_21?ie=UTF8&refRID=1D2J9BS4AXTHS3YSPJ9P
Or
http://www.amazon.com/RAVPower-2300...sim_107_3?ie=UTF8&refRID=1D2J9BS4AXTHS3YSPJ9P
But you might also need this adapter in case the included adapters don't fit your spectre's charging port:
http://www.amazon.com/iGuerburn-Charger-Adapter-Connector-Converter/dp/B00PGWICAC

 

Glad I could help, enjoy windows 10!

 

I'm finding gestures a little strange in Windows 10 too. I have version 19.0.12.95 of the Synaptics driver, and noticed that it does not correctly keep the "Three-Finger Flick" option unchecked on a reboot.

This setting affects the app-switching and minimising gestures, but I really liked the way it was in Windows 8.1, where I could use the three finger flick to browse backwards and forwards in web browsers, photo galleries, folder explorers, etc...

With "Three-Finger Flick" checked, Windows applies the app-switching three-finger gestures, appearing to override the driver setting. If I uncheck it, no more three-finger gestures, but after a reboot, "Three-Finger Flick" is automatically checked again. I have not tried reinstalling drivers.

So GX9, I have the opposite problem to you... I want to turn off the gestures, but I can't. You can always invoke the task view by either Alt + TAB (for the single desktop) or Windows + TAB (multiple desktop).

To add to this:
Disabling reverse scrolling didn't work properly for me either. Using the Synaptics driver setting meant that desktop apps would scroll the old way (two fingers down, scrolls down) but 'modern' apps still scrolled the new way (two fingers down, scrolls up). I can't find a setting for this in Windows.

 

Bummer, I hope they'll fix the driver bugs. You know i was hoping for a 2 finger scrolling (like macs, i know hehehe) not just for horizontal scrolling but also browsing forwards and backwards on browsers and photos, I have no idea why they cannot implement this since it doesn't really conflict with other functions.
I actually found a way for the task view and show desktop to work, it was actually already there as a 4 finger flick option. It seems to me like the default windows apps or universal apps are overriding the drivers since you can horizontal scroll your photos with two fingers, but it doesn't work on browsers.

By the way where did you get the updated drivers?

 

Styptic, after browsing the depths of the interwebs I actually found several articles regarding the 19.0.12.95 synaptics drivers. It seems like the problem is that its not actually saving the changes you make in its settings. HP actually recommends rolling back to the previous 18.x.xx drivers.

 

hey guys, after upgrading to windows 10, has anyone found their boot time and shutdown time has increased a few seconds? It's not a big deal but i felt that windows 10 seems to get stuck on the logging in screen longer than win8.1...

 

i have the same problem. i just updated to win10 and have that pop. Sometimes the audio starts distorting whatever i am playing. didnt have this before and wanted to ask if you found a fix?

thanks

 

I didn't go out of my way to install version 19, would have got it either through Windows Update or the HP Support Assistant.

I'll try downgrading when I get a chance, thanks for the tip.

I also remember the four finger flick options for app switching, they must have been in the older driver, I can't find them now.

I also notice this. It definitely takes longer to sign in under Windows 10, a few seconds...

 

Thanks, these look good! I'll be outside pretty much all day every day for 8 days so it'll get put through its paces.

 

I haven't updated my x360 yet, but my Stream 7 is definitely a little slower on the login. Hopefully something that will get addressed in an update.

 

Does anyone who has Win10 on the Spectre have any problem with sound?

 

What software do you use to play audio on? I find that playing stuff (audio or video) on the groove music or movies and tv app audio would not pop, but if I use other apps like vlc, mphc, or windows media player the cracking or pops occur. There was an updated realtek drivers right after I installed Win10, maybe updating would help?

Oh, I also found out that when I disable the Audio Enhancements on the DTS Control Panel thing the cracking or pops disappear.

 

Where do you check for updates?
And did it never occur to you that after some time the entire sound system crackles and distorts, doesnt matter what you play and which software you use?

 

Did my updates just thru windows updates.
Anyway I did notice that, but when I disabled the DTS Audio Control Panel Audio Enhancements(unchecked it) it never happened again, as far as I know or can hear. I usually use headphones though.

 

Yea it never happens to me with headphones. I just worry if there is something wrong with the hardware or software. Maybe I will return the laptop until Saturday and get a new one. But I kind of feel it is a software issue. I dont know.

 

I'm glad it's not just me! I was wondering whether it was just my mind playing tricks or maybe i was just expecting even faster boots from windows 10. A little bit disappointed but certainly nothing soul crushing.

In regards to the sound, i'm at the office (lunchtime) so i'm playing some music via itunes at half volume and trying to listen for any cracking or popping but i havent heard anything out of the ordinary. I usually listen to the music through a bluetooth headset and that is crackle free too. Maybe i would have to blast up the music to get it to crackle?

I have the DTS setting on music preset if that makes any difference?

 

I uninstalled Driver like graphics, Audio, Card Reader and Thing like that.
Since yesterday there are new Driver for Windows 10 from Windows.
I dont know if the Sound bug is fixed. Maybe it depends on the Audio rate from music.
The touchpad works nice with new Driver. It works like it should !
Theres still a unknown device in the device Manager. Any idea?

 

HP threw up a bunch of Windows 10 Driver updates today, just a heads up. They don't show up in support center but do show up on the model's support page. Chipset, Audio, Graphics, storage controller.

 

I went through and looked at these updated drivers. Comparing the version numbers, I already have these installed. I assume they have installed through Windows Update.

During the upgrade to Windows 10, I chose to check for updates. Perhaps this was when it got the new drivers? Just check your installed versions before downloading.

The only one I haven't got is the BIOS update. I don't quite know what it would fix though, since the screen rotates and I get a message every time I fold the screen back asking if I want to put Windows into tablet mode. I think I'll skip it for now unless someone can tell us exactly what it changes.

 

There should be an option in settings to remember your choice when switching to tablet mode. When I flip my spectre to tablet mode, the pop-up shows up, but is partially covered.

 

Folks,

I picked up a 13-4102dx at Best Buy a few days ago, here's a quick report. This is the 512GB SSD / 2560 x 1440 / Windows 10 model. I paid $1,430 on Saturday, and then saw the price go down to $1,400 when I was looking something up about it on Sunday. Went back on Monday and got my thirty bucks back.

The machine is nice. Really nice design. I'm pretty much happy with everything (except maybe Windows 10) -- good screen, good keyboard, good keyboard illumination. The F6 light mystified me at first, but I learned it was by design, and I did check the BIOS to see that I could disable the light. But, I'm keeping the light as is -- when things go dark, it's just so super-easy to hit the right button and get the keyboard illumination. I guess the opposite of that is the keyboard in good lighting conditions -- with the illumination on, the key labels go white, and are pretty hard to see. So, turn the illumination off and you get good, visible, black key labels again. So, I expect I'll be going back and forth, as needed.

I have been installing software and such, and I certainly haven't heard the fan run, at all. I haven't paid specific attention to it -- perhaps it has turned on, and it's been at such a low level I haven't noticed it, but the bottom line is that I haven't heard a fan running yet, at all.

I'm not too concerned about the trackpad -- I generally despise them, and I'll use a Bluetooth mouse instead of the trackpad. What I'm more interested in is the trackpad's "palm rejection" for when I type, and that has been very good -- by far the best I've ever experienced.

Windows 10 is really kind of a bust -- as far as I'm concerned, all they did was make something resembling a Start Menu with tiles off to the side, which will pop up when you press or click the Start button -- rather than the full-screen tile display. Whoopee, big deal. I didn't see any way to turn the leftmost part into anything resembling the old Windows Start Menu -- it was just a list of recent programs or whatever. And I didn't see any way to really turn off the tiles to the right, as opposed to maybe just deleting them one-by-one. There is actually an option to return the action to the Windows 8-style full-screen thing, and I chose that, instead. Otherwise, I've been using the Classic Shell program ever since Windows 7, and it took me about ten minutes of playing around with Windows 10 before I just went ahead and installed it on the computer. And I should note that it's best to go to the Classic Shell web site and install one of their recent beta versions, which works better with Windows 10 than the current "released" version does. They have a note about it right on their main web page.

What irks me about Windows 10 is the continued removal of any means to control the colors of things -- stuff like the hue and brightness sliders in Windows 8.x didn't even make it to Windows 10. Just use the handful of pre-selected colors Microsoft provides, and shut the heck up about it, you whiners. Or so Microsoft appears to be saying. In the end, I see the reduction of options like these, the Start Menu nonsense I described above, and otherwise absolutely NOTHING different from Windows 8.x, beyond the tossing in of Cortana and the Edge browser, both of which I probably won't use. From what I've seen of Windows 10, I probably WON'T update any of my 8.x machines to it. On a technical note, I saved my old Windows XP color scheme (for title bar colors, menu colors, 3D objects colors, and so on) to a Registry file many years ago, and it worked just fine when I launched that -- so I have given Windows 10 my colors, that way.

I really don't expect to use the computer as anything other than "a traditional notebook," so I have no insight in the tablet modes and so on. Again, I don't care so much about the trackpad, so long as I can type with the thing laying there. And for sound, I'll use a Bluetooth speaker to get some decent sound. I haven't heard anything really amiss from the built-in sound, though I'll say that it doesn't get very loud at all -- perhaps the least volume I've heard from any notebook I've ever owned.

In the end, the hardware is just great -- I really like the 13.3-inch size for the overall computer, the screen, and the keyboard, and it's nicely thin and light. I haven't confirmed any battery life numbers, but it seems to be better than most other notebooks I have owned. It has plenty of ports, including the full-size HDMI port, and, rather importantly, the card reader port will swallow an entire SD card so it fits "almost flush" -- there's just the tiniest hair sticking out, which you pretty well need in order to get cards in and out of it easily. I bought a 256GB SD card that I'll keep in the slot "semi-permanently" -- it'll be the way I'll move files between the notebook and my desktop. Compare that to some other notebooks that have shallow slots that keep most of the card sticking outside of the slot, and it's great to be able to plug in so much storage on a near-permanent basis.

The only real problem I stumbled onto was the OneDrive situation -- I also have a Surface Pro 2 running Windows 8.1, and I absolutely did not comprehend that OneDrive would just automatically grab the things I was setting up on the HP, and synch them over to the Surface. So, all of the fighting I was doing with the Windows 10 lack of colors wound up getting automatically applied to my Surface -- man, that was a shock the first time I fired up the Surface after I had the HP all set up. I have since done everything I can to delete and destroy OneDrive as much a humanly possible -- I absolutely DO NOT want any kind of "cloud" nonsense going on, and especially all of the "automatic synching" with other devices, all set up to go without new owners (like me) even comprehending what might be going on in the background.

So, that's the story for now -- I hope it helps. And I'll be glad to try answering some questions, if you might have any.

 

Hi all,

Picked up the 4003dx model (i7/256/8/1080p) a few days ago and really liking it. I'm coming from a Yoga 2 Pro (poor battery) and have previously had MacBook Airs (poor screen) so really appreciate the Alu premium build, great battery and HD screen.

After disabling the F5 weird permalight, I'm just wondering if there's a way to dim the display to 0 or black, as in dimming to off? I've been used to doing this on the MBA and Y2P for times when I'm waiting for a long task to complete (downloading/syncing/copying across drives/streaming media to my phone and tablet) so save the display but keep the rest active.

 

To those of you who have the Dell Active Stylus (750-AAGN), how do you erase on OneNote 2013? One button is ink, and the other is lasso. From what I can tell, there isn't an easy way to erase mistakes...

 

There is a choice actually, well.... Kinda. You can select the dropdown when it asks you to do it automatically, so it will just switch to the respective mode without asking you. And yeah it bums me too with the oversight of having part of the selection buttons covered by that taskbar. Hehe

 

As far as i know the lowest setting isnt dim enough so it looks like its off. You could however set up a screen saver to blank, just a suggestion if you dont mind the hassle.

 

Hehehe, small world. I also have one very un-used Yoga 2 Pro sitting in a drawer.

As for the "screen off," there actually is such a function built into the "Classic Shell" program, if you're inclined to use that to nuke the whole Windows 8 "metro" interface and go back to a regular-old Start Menu that you can build to meet your needs. Just go into the Classic Shell's "Customize Start Menu" tab, and you'll find a "Monitor Off" or some such command (way down near the bottom of the dialog box) that you can drag over to the Start menu. This may well be something that's in newer rather than older versions, so you may need to update to a newer version if you can't find it.

At any rate, I understand your need exactly, I have the Monitor Off set up on my Classic Shell Start menu, and I definitely use it every now and then.

Good luck!

 

Nice Call on the updates. There was a whole bunch of updates and i hadn't seen anything of this type on Windows Update, so i just downloaded all of them. The only one i didn't install was the graphics driver because it said i already had a newer one installed.

On the plus side, my bios now posts in 2 seconds compared to 4 seconds before the updates (checked the startup tab in task manager), and maybe it's me but maybe the login is a fraction faster too.
And after installing the touchpad driver, i find 2 finger scrolling in firefox to be much smoother which can only be a good thing!

 

The top button works as an eraser for me. Maybe you need to change functionality for the buttons.

 

Hi All ... New Owner of a X360/i7/8GB/256SSD/FHD . Purchased from BestBuy. Loving it so far! I've just spent the last couple of days reading this thread and I am so impressed with the information you all have shared here! I've got a ton of notes that I hope to maintain. I've truly learned alot and am even more pleased with my decision to get this model! Thanks to all the Posters and Contributors

After all the reading I had just about talked myself into returning what I have and upgrading to the QHD and 512SSD. The main reason I originally shied away from it was the reduced battery life with the QHD. I 'really' want the extra drive space but BB only had that option available with the QHD. The price point at BB seems better than I've been able to find any where else so far (even HP Direct)

I 'just' saw a post about getting a 256GB SD Card and keeping it in the system. I'm thinking that's a great idea ... I don't recall seeing anything in this thread about recommended make/model/speed, etc. that the X360 can take. Can I get some recommendations please.

TIA ...

***

Edit: A little research on Amazon and I see this for $89 - Any Comments about it's use in this way? I don't expect to use it to run programs - only storage ...
PNY Elite Performance 256 GB High Speed SDXC Class 10 UHS-I, U3 up to 95 MB/Sec Flash Card (P-SDX256U395-GE)

 

Why not just upgrade the SSD if you don't want the QHD screen?

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_2?url=search-alias=aps&field-keywords=m.2+512gb

 

How do you find the screen reflectiveness? I have only seen high spec X360 Pavilion 2015 (Full HD 13", i5, SSD) in person and that screen was quite dim/or very reflective so that I was seeing my self and stuff in the background even on the full brightness (and inside a shop).
Last 9 years I have been working only with laptops that have reflective screens but have not had an issue with it (since I work inside on full brightness usually). But this Full HD pavilion made me a bit unsure... Next to it was 15" and it was the same thing.
Did any of you see the spectre and 2015 Full HD Pavilion 13" side by side?

 

I have the FHD Spectre x360, and I don't have a problem with reflections. Yes, it can be reflective, as almost all touchscreens bar the one in the Toshiba Z20, and other odd models with matte displays. However, you can compensate reflection by raising the screen brightness. It is not ideal, but it works.

I am currently in a public library, with bright lights, using the screen at half the brightness. I think I just got accustomed to some level of reflection.

 

Still a consideration and a reasonable price point for sure ! I'm gonna give it a little time to see how I do with the 256 ... I'm mostly just continuing my research at this point.

 

I haven't noticed any problems with the reflection at all. I used to own the Lenovo Y50 UHD, which also had a reflective screen. I found the Spectre x360 had a better screen in all aspects, including reflection.

 

New Model with Bang&Olufsen speakers and USB-C at Best Buy:
Well i exchanged my laptop since I thought Win10 Usb C and B&O speakers. Nice. But it turns out that it is exactly the same laptop. No USBC no Bang and Olufsen. Only difference is that Win10 was pre-installed.

Anybody have similar experiences?

 

Are your referring to the 4101dx or 4102dx? Those things are exactly the same laptops with windows 10 installed. It was just an error on their data sheets that said something about a USB-C. I'm guessing its for a planned refresh with skylake later this year.

 

I was watching this model closely, because I wanted to see if the new Windows 10 models came with USB-C. The specs listed USB-C and B&O on both the HP and Best Buy sites, but HP updated their specs not too long after Windows 10 was released. Khaneric mentioned in an earlier post that the new model didn't have these features.

 

Has anyone managed to fix the Sound Problem in Windows 10?
It´s after a Minute or more Hearing Music or looking Videos with Edge.
It starts cracking and it goes away for a Minute again if I pause and Play the Video or Music.

 

Thank you both - I'll try both suggestions.

Really enjoying using this machine so far. I rarely like or use trackpads but do like the larger one on the Spectre and the customisation options so I may leave the mouse behind without fear now.


-- from my iPhone 6

 

Quick update from me, and some responses to a few things.....

I bought the 13-4102dx -- the 512MB/UHD version with Windows 10. But the more I learned about Windows 10, the more I despised it. Without going into details, Windows 10 just advances the progression of taking the user out of all sorts of decisions about the machine, from simple stuff like choosing your own colors, to really big stuff like having no control over Windows updates and such. So, I returned it and got the 13-4005dx -- essentially the same notebook, but with Windows 8.1 instead of Windows 10. That's much better, from my perspective. I really wouldn't recommend Windows 10 to anyone, unless you like drinking the Microsoft kool-aid. And if you have Windows 10, well, just start poking around to see what's going on if you log in with a Microsoft account, from all of the synching it's set up to do by default, to how it's all set up to serve updates and gosh-knows-what to other computers that can see it on your network.

Anyway, I see no differences between the hardware at all. And yes, the screen is quite reflective. I don't know that you'll find much of anything else with a less-reflective screen, though.

In the end, I've had smaller and I've had larger screens, and the 13.3-inch size really meets my needs well. I find the keyboard to be excellent to type on, and I like the specifications -- the UHD screen, the fifth-generation i7, the 8GB, the 512GB, and so on. Plus there are very good things about it such as the form factor, the size and weight, the excellent keyboard illumination, the SD card slot that swallows the entire card, and so on. It's what I wanted at a price that I felt was entirely fine.

Finally, I should report that when I took the Windows 10 machine back to get the Windows 8.1 version, I got a turkey the first time -- it absolutely, positively wouldn't boot up, right from the beginning. The white light in the power button just blinked on and off, slowly. This happened from the first time I tried pushing the button, while the machine was charging, and after it had charged up fully. There were two physical differences I noticed about it as compared to the Windows 10 machine and the second Windows 8.1 machine I ultimately got, which is working just fine: On the "bad" machine, the power button was more "flush" than on the "good" machines -- the power button on the others is raised just a very slight hair, while button on the bad one was flush and you had to push it "into" the machine. Also, the bad machine had a different power adapter -- the information label on it was in "landscape" orientation instead of "portrait" as it was with the good machines, and the mickey-mouse-ears plug on the power cord that plugged into the adapter didn't go in as "deeply" as it did on the other two -- its plug was about half as long as the other plugs. It was very strange to get a DOA machine, but very interesting to see how it was truly different in these areas. I'm very glad that it was DOA and I got rid of it, as I've been completely happy with the two good ones. With the exception of the pre-installation of Windows 10 on the first one. ;-)

 

I am certainly not drinking the MS koolaid and I enjoy Windows 10. Of course, I am using 10 Pro and am quite familiar with gpedit and regedit. Early adopter bugs aside, I've lost no freedoms. I get that some people don't like 10, but to say if someone likes it they are drinking koolaid....not cool.

 

Pro and gpedit might help. Neither of which are available on the 13-4102dx. Without them, you're pretty limited in regards to doing away with whatever Microsoft decides to install onto "your" computer via Windows updates. And I was really quite shocked to see how much synching via OneDrive was going on -- you don't so much "decide what you want to synch," as most folks won't have any clue whatsoever what's going on in the background. You have to understand what's going on, and then you have to go and "undo it" if that's not exactly what you had in mind to do with "your" computer. And then the bit about how it's all set up to be a server for Microsoft's updates to other computers on your network -- again, with no documentation provided with the operating system at all, how are average users going to even begin to comprehend stuff like that?

I started using computers back in the early 1980's, installed my first hard drive back when it was a 40 MEGABYTE drive to go along with the existing 20 megabyte drive, and for decades, I have set up my computers to be "the sharpest knives" to meet my needs. To do exactly what I wanted them to do, and virtually nothing else. Forgive me for referring to it as "kool-aid," but Windows 10 is really just heading farther down the road where the computer does what Microsoft wants it to do, and Microsoft keeps on taking away any means to set it up any other way. Sure, you can spend hours editing the registry, but personally I will continue to rail against how Microsoft has moved this operating system that used to let me set things up exactly the way "I" wanted them, to one wherein they are actively trying to keep me from doing such things, and to keep me from trying to undo what they have decided that my computer must do for "their" needs.