HP's Spectre x360 is the sexiest 2-in-1 ultrabook convertible ever

It's a great year to buy a new PC. Not only is Windows 10 coming later this year, but PC makers are stepping up their design game. Dell's XPS 13 is a real winner and now HP's joining the premium ultrabook game with its new Spectre x360.

HP's x360 is a 13.3-inch 2-in-1 hybrid laptop/tablet running Windows 8.1 that imitates Lenovo's Yoga 2 Pro. Like its rival, the 3.26-pound x360 can be folded in four modes: laptop, tablet, tent and stand mode.

But whereas Lenovo's ultrabooks are made from plastic, HP went the premium route with a precision-machined aluminum frame and jewel-cut edges. The result is a design that's gorgeous and sturdy.

The only plastic you'll find on this baby is the back-lit keyboard, which is full-sized and terrific to type on. The glass trackpad is extra wide, which is great for multitouch gestures, but I noticed some real lag while two-finger scrolling in Internet Explorer.

There are two IPS touchscreen resolutions: Full HD (1,920 x 1,080) and Quad HD (2,560 x 1,440). I didn't get a chance to look at the Quad HD model, but

the full HD model I'm currently testing looks pretty excellent and has vivid colors, despite how reflective it is.

The x360 isn't just a beautiful 0.62-inch slim body. HP made sure that it could also keep up with the latest and greatest ultrabooks with Intel's fifth-generation "Broadwell" Core processors that start at 2.2GHz and Intel HD graphics 5500.

Here are the four configurations:

Intel Core i5 processor, 128GB SSD, 4GB RAM, full HD display — $899.99

Intel Core i5 processor, 256GB SSD, 8GB RAM, full HD display — $999.99

Intel Core i7 processor, 256GB SSD, 8GB RAM, full HD display — $1,149.99

Intel Core i7 processor, 512GB SSD, 8GB RAM, Quad HD display — 1,399.99

HP also says it put a lot of work into boosting Wi-Fi reliability when the x360 is in its different modes, a problem other convertible ultrabooks apparently suffer from.

Port-wise, there's plenty: Three USB 3.0 ports, an SD card slot, a full-size HDMI port and a MiniDisplay 1.2 port. Together, the two video ports can drive two displays. You won't be able to do dual-screen gaming at any respectable settings with the Intel HD graphics 5500, but displaying two screens worth of websites and spreadsheets? Absolutely doable.

Battery life is up to 12.5 hours on a charge with "normal" usage. I haven't verified that claim yet, but so far the laptop's been able to squeeze out enough to last almost a full work day of browsing the web and watching videos. We'll have to do some more testing to see how the battery really holds up.

The x360 is available starting Sunday at HP.com. Best Buy will stock the laptop on March 15. The Quad HD model with 512GB of SSD will be available in April. HP's also selling a leather sleeve for $70 and the Active Pen stylus that'll work with its touchscreen for $45.

I've been messing with the $999 model, which HP believes will be the one most people buy, and aside from the iffy trackpad, it's a pretty solid Windows 8.1 laptop. Stay tuned for our full review.

Posted by : Gizmeon