Skip to main content

HP’s Mike Nash on why new Spectre x360 15 is thicker, much more powerful

HP’s CES 2018 and late 2017 announcements include a couple of firsts that show off the company’s willingness to take chances on brand new technology. Its Envy x2 was the first detachable tablet announced that will leverage Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 ARM processors for long-lasting, always-connected computing, and it’s recently added an Intel version. And, its updated Spectre x360 15 beat packs in Intel new 8th-gen Core with Radeon RX Vega M graphics.

Mike Nash, HP’s Chief Technologist and VP of Customer Experience, Personal Systems, is high on HP’s ability to respond to customer requirements with modern computing solutions. And he had plenty to say as he stopped by Digital Trends’ booth at CES 2018, and discussed HP’s notebook and more.

Image used with permission by copyright holder

First up was a discussion of HP’s first Always Connect PC based on a Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 ARM processor, the Envy x2 detachable tablet, with Nash specifically touting the machine’s ability to remain connected to the internet and receive data while lasting for 16 hours or more on a charge. He also touched on the Intel version of the Envy x2 that brings greater performance, while maintaining around 12 hours of battery life.

Image used with permission by copyright holder

Nash went on to discuss some of the differences between the ARM and Intel versions, including HP’s decision to offer both in response to customer requests. He provided an overview of each, discussing relative strengths, and touching on what a buyer needs to consider in making a good choice between the two.

Next, Nash discussed one of the first convertible 2-in-1s to pack in Intel’s new Kaby Lake-G chips, which mate an eighth-generation Intel Core i7 CPU with AMD’s Radeon RX Vega M GL GPU. The 15.6-inch 2-in-1 promises gaming performance falling somewhere between the Nvidia GTX 1050 and GTX 1060 GPUs, with all the abilities of a pen-enabled notebook that converts to a (large) tablet for handwriting and drawing.

Image used with permission by copyright holder

If you’re wondering how HP makes its decisions on how to design its notebooks to meet customer needs, then this is the video for you. You’ll learn more about how HP listens to its customers, while picking up additional details about each of HP’s newest notebooks.

Editors' Recommendations

Mark Coppock
Mark has been a geek since MS-DOS gave way to Windows and the PalmPilot was a thing. He’s translated his love for…
HP Envy x360 15 vs. HP Spectre x360 15
HP Spectre x360 15 front view.

HP has not just one but two 15-inch convertibles, the Envy x360 15 and the Spectre x360 15, and while they share the same format, they're very different laptops. HP has been aiming the Envy line at creators and the Spectre at discerning productivity users, and so choosing between them can be a challenge. We've taken the time to break down the differences to help you decide which is best for you.

Both of these 15-inch, 360-degree, convertible 2-in-1s are interesting laptops. They work perfectly well as a traditional clamshell, are awesome in media mode for bingeing Netflix, and tablet mode is great, thanks to the expansive screen -- if you prop them up on a surface. Tent mode seems unwieldy, suspending such a large laptop on its edges, but it's otherwise a size and style that adds real value to a 15-inch laptop.

Read more
Samsung Galaxy Book Pro 360 vs. HP Spectre x360
HP Spectre x360 15 front view showing display and keyboard.

Samsung recently introduced the Galaxy Book Pro 360, a convertible 2-in-1 representing its most serious effort to produce a competitive Windows 10 laptop. HP has been a leading player in that market for years, and it's perfected the convertible 2-in-1 with strong efforts like the late 2020 Spectre x360 15. HP's strength is illustrated by its having machines on our best 2-in-1s and best laptops lists.

Can Samsung's upstart entry take on such an established player?
Specs

Read more
The HP Spectre x360 14 is my new favorite laptop. Here’s why
HP Spectre x360 14 front view showing display and keyboard.

Over the past couple of years, I've reviewed exactly 125 laptops for Digital Trends, and out of all those computers, the HP Spectre x360 14 isn't just one of my favorites -- it's my favorite laptop, period. There's a reason it made its way to our best 2-in-1s list, not to mention it's one of the best laptops for writers.

That last achievement should serve as a hint as to why I like this laptop so much. I'm a writer, and while I use other, more powerful machines when I need them, my writing laptop has its own extremely specific requirements. The Spectre x360 14, which I've used for about six months now, meets those requirements and then some.
It's the Goldilocks of laptops

Read more