HP's 13-inch Ultrabook: The HP Folio - First Look Discussion

HP doesn't get irony. Palm once created the Foleo, a proto-netbook, to pair with your PalmOS-powered smartphone. It got panned so hard it was never released. HP bought and killed Palm, and is now releasing the HP Folio, a 13-inch ultrabook. Can the Folio succeed where the Foleo didn't?

Read the full content of this Article: HP's 13-inch Ultrabook: The HP Folio - First Look

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Nice write-up, JR.

Interesting naming on HP's part, certainly ... "Folio" vs. "Foleo". Pronounced the same ... lol.

At any rate I haven't seen an Ultrabook get it 100% right yet. This one is heavy by comparison, and that's an understatement ... HP is taking a chance there. Otherwise I look forward to seeing this product in person.

#1 thing Ultrabook makers haven't gotten right yet - the keyboard.

 

I had a great time reading the article. Being an HP fanboy (even though I dislike them), I was hoping they would have the "perfect" ultrabook. I really like the design; the weight and thickness looks perfect to me.

I was hoping for atleast 3 usb ports, fingerprint reader, and higher resolution screen.

 

HP needs to release one of these in a 11.6" version. Then I'll have the perfect companion to my 8730w monster.

The thing I never liked about the original MBA (and most UltraBooks) was that it was 13". You can make a laptop as thin as you want, but if it still has a big foot print, it's not going to fit where you want it to. Not that I'm saying that 13" is a big foot print, but if you kept the thinness, and stepped the size down, you'd have much better portability.

That, and I don't like the buttonless touchpad. It aggravates me how much these are proliferating, and how terrible most of them actually are.

 

I'm glad I'm not the only person who thinks this.

Intel convinced PC manufacturers to start this "Ultrabook" category based on the 13-inch MacBook Air but most of the manufacturers have forgotten the appeal of the 11.6-inch MacBook Air.

ASUS has the Zenbook UX21, but that's about it.

I love the 11.6-inch MacBook Air but I have ZERO interest in the 13-inch model. As much as I like several of the new Ultrabooks, they're all a bit too big for what I personally consider "ultraportable."

If I want a large laptop PC it's going to have more ports and better specs than any 13-inch Ultrabook.

 

All these Ultrabooks really don't distinguish themselves from one or the other.
We need a performance Ultrabook with a discrete GPU.

 

dont you think the m11x would be the closest you could get to a gaming ultra portable. It has discrete graphics and an 11.6 inch screen.

 

The shockingly-low $899 price tag makes me nervous about build quality and corner-cutting. When things seem too good to be true, they usually are. But I like the features list and love the look.

There's not a 2/3" thick machine with a dedicated GPU at any price (not counting the Vaio Z2 since the GPU isn't inside the machine). I think there's a reason for that. You can't fit a cooling system appropriate for a dedicated GPU inside something two-thirds of an inch thick.

 

Indeed, a discrete GPU on a laptop that thin is mission impossible.

Then please give us a HD+ display, 1366*768 is not ok.

 

I think it's just fine on a 13" screen...it's not like you're going to be doing two pages side-by-side on a screen that small anyway. If you don't think it's adequate, you can get a Macbook Air 13 (1440x900) or an Asus Zenbook (1600x900).

 

Is anyone loving the back-lit keyboard?

I know I am
(drooling over pictures!)

 

Key design and quality of backlighting looks similar to my F23...but my F23 is a desktop replacement instead of an ultrabook. If HP managed to make keys that feel similar as well (crisp action, decent travel), it'll be sitting pretty indeed.

 

I know, the zenbook is what I was looking for but it lacks the backlit keyboard (and it is much more expensive). As for the MBA, I'm not a fan on OS X and again, the price is too high.
I guess I will have to see the screen myself before I can actually purchase anything. The toshiba did look like a good choice but the screen was terrible according to a couple of reviews..

 

Very nice, but I need a 11.6" version of the Folio.
Just call it Folio 11

 

There will be better graphics performance next year with Ivy Bridge.

That said, GPU performance in these ultrabooks is way improved as compared to ultraprotavbles 1-2 years ago.

Compare it to a high end ($2000) Toshiba R600 (2.5 lbs, CULV), Adamo or X301. Those all had 4500MHD graphics which scored about 700 on 3DMark06 and could barely handle 720P, let alone any games. In comparison, these ultrabooks score about 3500 on 3DMark06 and can handle many 3D games at low settings and drive multiple HD monitors.

I think 5X graphics improvement in 2 years is impressive. And if you go a bit heavier you can go for the p330 or 3820TG and get good gaming performance.

 

That's exactly what I do! That's why I got the Sony Vaio SA - 1600x900.

 

oops, 3 last notebooks in the image gallery are not folio

 

Great looking machine, do want! Hope HP can really deliver.

 

Played with this yesterday on an IT show here. It didn't feel much premium, it's like a thinner dm4. Keyboard is the same style as dm4 (with that black plastic sheet on the keyboard area) and shows some flex. I am quite disappointed as I was hoping this would be closer to my Envy 13.

 

That is profoundly disappointing. I guess they have to cut some tactile quality to meet that ultra-aggressive $899 price point (3/4ths the price of a MacBook Air 13).

 

You got that right! Ultrabook is a perfect companion for mobile workstations.

 

I went to a shop this afternoon to check out this HP Folio. It's good. Love it. So far it's the best value with the features compared to Toshiba Z830 (Malaysia Edition), Asus Zenbook UX31E i5 model, Lenovo U300 and Acer S3.

The keyboard is nice, with the backlight.

 

I ended up ordering a HP Folio 13 through OfficeMax (locally).

Should be here Monday sometime. Can't wait!

 

Does OfficeMax have a good returns policy?

 

Superficially, drop-in HP keyboards are very acceptable, but they are very flexible and bounce, especially if they've been bent during assembly or repairs. Flimsy. Cheap.

 

Their standard return policy is 14 days, but may be subject to a 15% restocking fee. If the item is defective I can get an exchange in the 14 days, so I plan on checking everything out over the first few days to make sure everything is in working order.

I plan on keeping the HP Folio 13, but if there are issues I can get an exchange within 14 days, after that I have a 1 year warranty with HP.

 

Received my new HP Folio 13 yesterday and am absolutely loving it.

 

My initial hands- on impressions of the Folio:

1. Better hinges than the Acer S3 or Toshiba Z830. The hinges are almost too stiff for single handed opening.

2. The keyboard looks like a typical Pavilion keyboard. Cheap.

3. Cheap feeling touchpad.

4. The screen has terrible viewing angles, perhaps worse than the Toshiba Z835, when sitting side by side, if that's possible.

5. The stability of the case might be better than the Z835, but it isn't as solid as a Macbook Air.

Overall, this feels like a very thin Pavilion. Typical HP.

 

Yep, by all accounts, the Folio's screen is nothing to crow about. Good thing HP offers the Spectre for people who want a multimedia-oriented ultrabook instead of a cheap-and-solid business ultrabook.

 

I layered my 2560P keyboard over a Folio 13. The width and height matched perfectly. Only problem is the 2560P has less rounded corners. The 2560P keyboard added about 30% more to the value of the thing

If anybody is seriously annoyed with the Folio 13 keyboard then they may consider a retrofit. Yeah.. 2560P has no backlit keys, hence the interest in the Folio 13 that does. It does have a touchstick but that requires a second connector to be attached. Doubt the Folio 13 would have it.

REF: QUESTION: Does a Folio 13 backlit keyboard fit a 2560P?

 

Does this mean that the current Elitebook line has the same drop-in plastic keyboard design as the consumer line?