HP Spectre x360

Hi vnwhite, are you still happy with your laptop? How about battery life, and also brightness of the QHD screen? I've read a report that claimed that it was too dark, what would you say? Your answer would be appreciated, I need to order tomorrow, thanks

 

Hi Johny,

Thank you so much! Oddly, I had to uninstall the touchpad driver - 18.1.30.16Mar15 - and then use HP Support Assistant to update to 18.1.30.16Apr11. The setting for the right button zone appeared after the update and the touchpad is now working perfectly. Again, thanks for the help.

 

Well, i finally ordered the model i wanted from the beginning (i5, FHD, 8GB, 256 SSD) by a local store that imports from the US. I'm going to have it in about 10 days and i can't wait.

 

Congratulations!!

Best regards, Jim

 

Can I ask you if you're from Canada because I'd like to know how I could use a local store to import the same version as you because the only model available in canada is the i7, 128SSD, which is truly a weird configuration.

Thanks!

 

Hi

I'm nowhere near Canada, i actually live in Greece - quite funny... This configuration is truly weird, i would expect that in Canada you would have more options, or could buy easily from the States. I hope you find a way.

Greetings, Chris

 

Sorry, just got back from our ranch in South Texas where the internet is non-existent and just saw your question...

Yes, the QHD is somewhat dim, probably around 250-325 cd/m2, but I don't trust my Spyder4Pro's reading of 240. Anyway, full brightness is sufficient for very bright conference rooms. The screen is also a bit too reflective. Both of these issues make it less useable outside in sunlight, but neither of these issues have impacted my usage and the QHD screen has been terrific for editing photos in Lightroom. Battery life is great (I've never had to go searching for an outlet with my usage) and I'm overall extremely happy with the laptop.

 

UPDATE: My Spectre x360 arrived just today in Greece, to my extreme surprise as i was waiting it a week later. That means i will have it in my hands the day after tomorrow. I'm so excited!

 

I say until the box is firmly placed into your hands, do not make any attempts at tempting the shipping gods. They can smell early shipment anticipation from far away and they love turning that smile upside down.

 

Yeah, I had a Lenovo get to Salt Lake City, next stop my house. Then nothing for a couple of days. The next tracking status had it in Melborne, Australia! I hope this doesn't happen to Alkpit.

Regards, Jim

 

Subjectively I found the screen brightness of the QHD screen too low for my older eyes and I was not too keen on the smaller text ect. I returned my QHD for the 1080 screen and have been very happy with it. I'm in the UK.

 

Here in Greece we are a small country and luckily we don't have such problems - we have other bigger ones, you know! 99% i will have it tomorrow, i will be extremely happy to share my initial thoughts with you.

 

Ok, i just got it and opened the box. The machine is simply spectacular. Love at first sight.

 

How exciting. Look forward to a mini review soon!!

 

My early thoughts about the machine:

-The build quality is exceptional. Spectre x360 looks wonderful and sexy in your hands.
-The keyboard is very good. The notorious backlight key that is always on doesn't bother me but heh, i would prefer it if i was able to switch it off.
-Trackpad is good. I have some problems with clicks, primary and left, but it is my first time i use such a trackpad(i always had cheap plastic laptops) and i will have to get used to it
-Totally quiet, except for when the fan kicks in very rarely and for just some seconds, which isn't loud at all neither
-Runs a bit warm under but nothing to be worried about
-Display looks great. However, i find the touchscreen to be not as smooth as i would like it to be. I think it is a a bit hard to the finger, if you know what i mean.
-Battery life:i cannot tell for sure because i shut it down or make it sleep for some hours but i guess it can easily last for 9 hours.

Overall, i love it. I watched a movie in tent and tablet mode and it was great, really convenient. Ι am looking forward to start taking it with me on my trips.

 

important note: what browser do you use? I didn't try Chrome because many users say it drains battery so i played between IE 11 and Firefox. Conclusion: two-finger scrolling and touch in IE is vastly superior! The difference, especially in scrolling, is ridiculous and IE seems faster, too. It's the first time i use IE after many years and i'm impressed since everyone keeps *****ing about it.

What about you?

 

Yes, IE11 is very smooth with touchpad scrolling, it is the same with the Dell XPS 13 (2015), whereas Firefox is rougher. It's kinda forced me to use IE more now, so it's a good thing that IE11 is at least half-way decent.

I hope sometime in the future Firefox is able to have the same smoothness with touchpad scrolling. I don't know whether it's a Microsoft thing or a Mozilla thing as I'm not a computer programmer, so I hope someone else here can shed some light on this?

 

Yes, even finger scrolling is much smoother in IE11, after all. The overall difference in smoothness is almost unbelievable, even suspicious i could say.

I can't wait for W10 and Microsoft Edge, it will be probably very fast and smooth and perfect for W10.

 

I am getting about 9.5 hours of battery life using IE 11 in Metro mode, not in desktop mode. I recently switched from Chrome because of the hype about power consumption of Chrome. It has taken some time, but I am getting to like IE Metro mode a lot.

Regards, Jim

 

What is the highest resolution a 1080p version can output to? Thanks!

 

does anyone have an issue where the power section won't show the estimated time remaining? all mine shows it the percentage of battery left??

 

If by "power section" you mean the little battery icon, mine shows both % left and time left.

Best regards, Jim

 

Yea, I only have the percentage left.... I returned the 1st one I bought because it did this. Now second one is doing the same...

 

I think it tries to give an estimate based on what you're doing. I've noticed it doesn't always give an exact estimate, like you said, and just shows the percentage. I don't think there's anything wrong.

 

But it should try to give estimate? Otherwise just knowing the percentage is basically useless...
Does yours just always only show the percentage then?

 

It shows me both the percentage and the time left, but the time is usually wrong

 

You could install Battery Bar. It shows time left, % left, current power consumption and more. There is a free version and a low cost "Pro" version.

Power consumption does not work since I upgraded the bios to F.11 and still doesn't work with bios F.12.

Good luck, Jim

 

I finally bought the FHD version and I am quite happy with it. I have tested the QHD version a few times before and it was indeed too dim. So far I am quite happy with my choice.

 

What is the max resolution a 1080p version can output to?

 

Mine had no problem outputting full 4K resolution to a 4K TV via HDMI.

 

Hey, yea. I realized it must have been some update that removed it. I installed batterybar and it seems to be working well. Though I guess it has to learn before it can tell me a time. Thanks

 

Hi,

DP 1.2 (max. 3840 x 2160 @ 60 Hz) or HDMI 1.4a (max. 3840 x 2160 @ 24 Hz), see here: http://www.notebookcheck.net/Intel-HD-Graphics-5500.125586.0.html

 

Since it can't read info necessary to directly calculate power consumption, it has to use current battery charge over time to calculate power consumption and remaining life. So there is a significant lag before power consumption and remaining life can be shown. I am going to call HP today and complain about the BIOS.

Jim

 

is that possible? You should tell them about the backlight key, too

 

sorry, double post

 

Oh yeah interesting, the Windows battery thing will no longer show any estimates. I also updated to the F.12 BIOS.

 

I spent some time with HP Tech Support today. I was told how to revert to a "default" BIOS. Then I was told that the BIOS could not cause the Battery Bar Pro problem. She suggested that I completely un-install Battery Bar then re-install, which I did.

Bottom line. The restore default thing DID NOT change the BIOS version. A new install of Battery Bar DID NOT fix the problem. Oh well, I have a case number and the Tech Support call is free, so tomorrow is another day.

Best Regards, Jim

 

Hey alkpit, which service did you use for your order in Greece and how much did it cost in the end to order it from the US and ship it to Greece?

Did you pay any import taxes or VAT?

Thanks

 

I purchased the Spectre 13t-4000 CTO from Hp.com with the i7 8GB 512SSD QHD configuration

Pros:
+ Trackpad feels/responds just like my MacBook Retina Trackpad. Well done, HP!
+ 4-1 design(Laptop/Tablet/Presentation/Tent)
+ i7/8GB makes this PC fast
+ Aluminum Unibody gives it a solid feel
+ All USB ports are 3.0 charging ports. No wondering which is which
+ Full HDMI port. No adapter needed.
+ Ample ports that are well integrated into this sized PC (3 USB/HDMI/MiniDisplay & SD Card)
+ Webcam has great high resolution when using YouCam app that comes installed
+ Tablet mode has accelerometer so I can enjoy Temple Run and driving games. Kid in me appreciates that.
+ Absence of usual HP bloatware
+ Keyboard is very responsive. Love the chicklet style.The back-lighting works well for me. Was a must have for my next computer. The F5 key being lit all the time doesn't bother me.

Cons:
-QHD display knocks battery life to average of 7.5 hours. Hoped for more, but not a major loss to me.
- Making Recovery media has been difficult. Doesn't work for me. Used a Windows workaround.
- No memory expansion possible due to soldered memory. Glad I got the 8GB config.
- Heat/Vent. After a few hours of work, it's uncomfortable to hold in tablet mode due to very warm air coming from left side vent.
-Left side USB is too close to the power button. I've accidentally shut down the laptop when going to plug into that port.

I started out as a PC User. Moved to Mac when MS Vista gave me a final headache/frustration. 7 years later, I'm moving back to PC because I actually like Windows 8.1 and have seen the Windows 10 preview. MS is going in the right direction.

When I started seeing these convertible laptops, I was intrigued as I wanted a new PC and a new Tablet....never thought I would find them both on the same device. Looked at the Yoga 2 Pro and placed an order for one, but after reading all the negative issues with the build and WIFI, I promptly cancelled my order...and feel like that was a good choice. I came across the HP website and decided I wanted top of the line convertible and after the reviews and hands-on videos, decided on the Spectre x360 13t-4000. When it arrived, the packaging gives it a Deluxe experience. This PC is light, it's fast, and I've had no major issues other than trying to make recovery media.

One of the biggest issues I've read about is the Trackpad. Since I come from using a Mac Trackpad, the Spectre's trackpad works the same and feels the same. I like the bigger space. Sometimes the double clicks take a second pressing, but it works. The screen resolution is phenomenal and I've dialed down the brightness and the resolution a bit to save battery and to see better on it. The touch screen is very responsive for typing, Temple Run, and other gestures. Looking forward to getting an Active Stylus for note taking. Looks like from the posts here, the Dell I ordered should do it. One of the best experiences I've had with the Spectre is a recent flight I took and the ability to use it in presentation mode to watch movies. The 13.3" screen is perfect for that along with having it in laptop mode and not feeling like it's crammed on the tray table. For flights with WIFI, this will be a great workhorse or play station.

Overall, I am very pleased with how well HP designed this machine with Microsoft's input. This very well could be/should be the Window's answer to the MacBook Air....and then some. It's light, has great battery life, is dual purpose, and has plenty of Windows Store apps to enjoy the tablet experience with.

Well done, HP!

 

(Deleted duplicate post)

 

7.5 hours with QHD actualy seem great. I agree with you: the last days i've been watching movies in tablet or tent mode and it's marvellous.

I'm looking forward to W10 and the new browser. I've been amazed so far that in IE11 the scrolling and the touchscreen is so much smoother than in Firefor and Chrome. It's a huge difference, i am thinking maybe MS did something on purpose to make us use Internet Explorer (seriously or not)

 

Hi

I ordered directly from the Greek store and paid just like i would in any other situation, that is i paid the normal greek VAT 23%. I guess the import taxes were paid by the store and were integrated into the price, which was not ridiculously high so i can assume the store has some kind of agreement with US stores and brings all kind of electronics here in Greece (for example, i could buy if i wanted the Samsung Ativ Book 9 plus, which isn't even available in Europe since last year). I understood by the store's owner pronunciation of some English words that he must have lived in the US fos many years.

 

I've put the Win10 Tech Preview on another HP Pavillion I have and will say, I'm SO TEMPTED to put it on the Spectre. I really like what MS is doing with Win10..such as:

1. Multiple Desktops. Coming from the Mac, I'm so glad to see that.
2. Cortana. The first built-in OS virtual assistant. Beta experience is limited, but each release adds feature.
3. Hopeful of better battery life
4. Start button menu. Wow....it all I can say.

 

Oh no....I did the Intel Driver Utility and installed the PRO Wireless/bluetooth updates and it messed up my WIFI and deleted my Bluetooth. Kept dropping my connections and turning off WIFI. Had to uninstall the 7265 Device and then re-link it to the older OEM WIFI Driver in the C:\SWSetup folder. For now, I'm going to just rely on the HP Support app to put my drivers in. If it's working, I wont try to "fix" it from elsewhere.

 

Oops, sorry about that.

For Intel's wifi drivers I always download and install the drivers only package, never the PROSet software package. I am fine with the built-in Windows stuff for network management.

And I didn't update the bluetooth drivers because I don't really use BT on my laptop. Glad that reverting to the OEM drivers seems to have cleared things up for you. I've also kept the SWSetup folder around for that reason, just in case.

 

Mad, it's all good. I learned a good lesson....and how to revert back to the original drivers. Glad I chose to not delete that SWsetup folder after all.

 

Hey!
I'm seriously thinking of buying x360 and I've read almost everything here about its pros and cons.
I have a trouble choosing between the FHD and the QHD display.
I generally prefer dimmer matte screens and I usually work in lower brightness levels since I'm mainly writing. Although I watch some movies too so I would like to crank up a bit the brightness there or when I need to work (rarely) outdoors. Finally since I work with B&W pictures and movies I need an excellent black (I know that it is not really possible in non-AMOLED displays)

According to the German reviews at Notebookinfo.de:
FHD has 370 cd/m2 max and 260 cd/m2 min brightness with 943:1 contrast
QHD has 225 cd/m2 max and 130 cd/m2 min brightness with 875:1 contrast

I think that QHD's 200 nits would be OK for work but I would like to have more if that's needed due to the glossy panel and other circumstances. Also FHD doesn't go any dimmer than 260 nits that could be a problem when I don't need that much of a brightness.

Unfortunately living in Greece I can't see the laptops and decide also I will have to buy the German QHD or the French FHD version.

The French FHD is i5 with 4GB RAM and 128 GB SSD for 950 euros (I need min 8/256)
The German QHD is i7 with 8GB RAM and 256 GB SSD for 1300 euros (Almost $400 difference)
I could also buy the US imported BestBuy version (FHD/i5/8/256) from a local store but this would be around 1400 euros

Do you have any other suggestions or comparison between these two displays?

 

Γεια σου, πατρίδα! I was having exactly the same problems with you and you may have seen that I bought the bestbuy model, which didn't cost me that much since I paid as a company so I took the VAT back. In the end, I paid about 1100 euros. Here in Greece, among others, we are unlucky when it comes to electronics.

If I were you, I would go for the german QHD. If I paid 1300 for that I wouldn't feel bad, because the QHD panel is supposed to compensate.

The device is great, go for it. Καλή τύχη

 

I agree with alkpit..go for the German QHD. I have the QHD i7 8GB 512 X360 and I am in varying light conditions and haven't had any issues with it not being bright enough. The screen itself is very reflective, but that's on QHD and FHD so I ordered an AntiGlare film off Amazon to give it a Matte cover. Should arrive shortly. I won't link it here until I try it and KNOW it will be beneficial.

For some, 256 SSD is ample, but I do a lot of music and video and find 256 to cramp my style.

 

reflection doesn't bother me much, but if this film is a good implementation I could give it a try. Let us know ❗

Something strange I noticed: after 3 days my spectre started booting in 3-4 seconds❗ in the beginning it was taking some 14 seconds. Peculiar but amazing.