HP Spectre x360 15t Review: A 4 Pound Convertible Beauty
User Experience and Software
Streaming Netflix videos and watching other media on the HP Spectre x360 is a treat, thanks to the bright, sharp display. The speakers are also excellent for small spaces and handled the subtle, spooky sounds in shows like “The Walking Dead” just fine. The sound filled a medium-sized room.
The Spectre x360’s keyboard is excellent as well. Vibration in the keyboard can be an issue in some ultrabooks but the Spectre’s keyboard is firm and doesn’t vibrate, even when we were pounding away. The keys themselves are responsive and spaced far enough apart to make for a comfortable typing experience.
The touchpad is a little wider than typical touchpads, giving you more room to swipe and use other gestures. We didn’t have any trouble with our palms triggering the touchpad while we typed either -- something HP handled well on the original X360 too. The touchpad is responsive and smooth.
As for software, the Spectre x360 comes with a remarkably light load. It has a small Bang & Olufsen audio app, a couple HP utilities and McAfee LiveSafe. The typical Microsoft Office trial setup software is also on-board.
The most noteworthy HP utility is the HP Recovery Manager, which helps you create backup content and helps with basic system maintenance. It’s also where you’ll go to reset Windows if needed, and it can help the less tech-savvy with certain driver issues.
McAfee’s LiveSafe trial is easy to navigate. It’s also just as easy to remove, if you’re not one for this third-party security software.
When configuring the Spectre x360, you can choose to add certain programs to your cart. You can bump your Microsoft Office trial to a paid subscription, upgrade your McAfee subscription, or pick up some entertainment software from CyberLink or Magix. Overall, HP handles the software on the Spectre X360 quite well in our opinion.
The Spectre x360’s keyboard is excellent as well. Vibration in the keyboard can be an issue in some ultrabooks but the Spectre’s keyboard is firm and doesn’t vibrate, even when we were pounding away. The keys themselves are responsive and spaced far enough apart to make for a comfortable typing experience.
The touchpad is a little wider than typical touchpads, giving you more room to swipe and use other gestures. We didn’t have any trouble with our palms triggering the touchpad while we typed either -- something HP handled well on the original X360 too. The touchpad is responsive and smooth.
As for software, the Spectre x360 comes with a remarkably light load. It has a small Bang & Olufsen audio app, a couple HP utilities and McAfee LiveSafe. The typical Microsoft Office trial setup software is also on-board.
The most noteworthy HP utility is the HP Recovery Manager, which helps you create backup content and helps with basic system maintenance. It’s also where you’ll go to reset Windows if needed, and it can help the less tech-savvy with certain driver issues.
McAfee’s LiveSafe trial is easy to navigate. It’s also just as easy to remove, if you’re not one for this third-party security software.
When configuring the Spectre x360, you can choose to add certain programs to your cart. You can bump your Microsoft Office trial to a paid subscription, upgrade your McAfee subscription, or pick up some entertainment software from CyberLink or Magix. Overall, HP handles the software on the Spectre X360 quite well in our opinion.
