Monday, May 27, 2013
The HP Envy x2 is a laptop with an 11.6-inch detachable screen that becomes a tablet when separated from the keyboard.
The two are attached with a seamless magnetic latch, which keeps the tablet in the dock even when turned upside down. It weighs just 0.71kg, 1.4kg with docking station.
The Envy is powered by a 1.8GHz Intel Atom processor, backed by 2GB of RAM. It runs on the Windows 8 operating system and has 64GB of internal storage. However, of the 64GB, 10.4GB is reserved for data recovery. Roughly another 17GB is used for the operating system and files, so there is only 30GB for personal use.
The atom processor was used to increase battery life, but as a result the laptop cannot multi-task heavy duty applications.
With its brushed-aluminum finish the Envy resembles an Apple MacBook Air. Its (1366 x 768) IPS display provides good viewing angles.
The tablet holds the headphone jack, microSD slot and docking port, while the docking station has an additional battery, the full-size HDMI port, two USB 2.0 ports, a full-size SDXC card reader and a duplicate headphone jack. There is no USB 3.0 port.
The keyboard has chiclet keys and a decent Synaptics powered touchpad which is very sensitive and supports touch gestures. However, the keys are not backlit, ruling out typing in a dark room.
The dual speakers are on the bottom of the tablet and powered by Beats Audio. They are a bit of a letdown as the overall volume is poor. The headphone jack, needed to enjoy music, is at the bottom of the tablet and difficult to get to when it is connected to the keyboard. There is no option for an Ethernet connection.
The Envy comes with a lot of pre-installed software. I liked the: “Getting Started Windows 8 Tutorial”, a beginners guide to using the start screen, the charms menu and the new user interface. For music lovers, the HP Play embedded software gives access to Universal Music catalogue.
The tablet has an 8MP HD 1080p rear-facing camera with LED flash and a front-facing 1080p HD webcam with an integrated digital microphone. But, there is not auto focus and the camera options are basic with no additional enhancement filters.
It has WiFi, Bluetooth 4.0 and Near Field Communication (NFC) to connect to the web and other devices. This is one of the first tablets to have NFC, which is useful for sharing content - including photos, contacts and web links - with a simple tap.
The Envy has a proprietary HP power plug for charging the tablet.
One of the main advantages of Envy is its battery life. The tablet battery kicks in only when the one in the dock is depleted. HP claims the tablet and the docking station provides 19 hours of battery life.
During my tests, the battery on the tablet lasted more than six hours with intense use and the WiFi on. The laptop can last close to a day with light use. It is priced at Dh3199.
By Naushad K Cherrayil, Staff Reporter
Gulf News 2013. All rights reserved.
