HP Split X2 – Review
With smartphones and tablets becoming increasingly popular, PC manufacturers have somehow had to adapt to the new market by releasing device’s offering performance, but that would offer excellent portability at the same time. An example is the HP Split X2, thanks to the grant of the producer, so I had to try in the last two weeks.
Let’s start from the first main feature of this notebook, which among other things also inspired the name. The HP Split x2 allows it to be used both as a tablet that as laptop, thanks to the base detachable. The coupling and uncoupling – that after having taken a little hand is quite fast – is done through a practical lever located above the keyboard.
Although the weight of the tablet, then the display, superior to that of the base, this fails to be perfectly stable thanks to a quick solution developed by HP: the hinge by its triangular shape can lift the device, making it very stable and also more comfortable during use.
HP Split X2 – Design
Like most of the tablet on the market, the HP Split X2 has a front frame, surrounding the display, allows you to perform various gestures related with the use of Windows 8. At the bottom, there is also a special capacitive button to bring up the Windows Start screen, while the upper part is the HP TrueVision FHD camera, 2 megapixel camera with dual digital microphones integrated.
The back of the tablet consists of a plastic panel show, in addition to the manufacturer’s mark, three main components: two buttons and a grid that time we will know better. Differently, from traditional laptops and major tablet on the market, the buttons for volume control and on / off switch are located at the back.
After a few minutes of use, I got used for the position should be little intuitive buttons, giving me the ability to adjust the volume and turn off your device in less than no time at all. At the top, between the two buttons, it is finally a thin perforated screen which allows the passage of air and the consequent cooling of the device.
With regard to the size and weight, the official page contains the following data: mode notebook measures 34 x 23 x 2.34 cm and weighs 2.2 kg while in tablet mode 34 x 21.6 x 1.13 cm and weighs 1 kg. During everyday use HP Split x2 in tablet mode is slightly heavy, especially when you cannot use both hands if you do not have particularly long fingers, due to the elongated shape of the device, you will be forced to use a Two hands reach for the items displayed at the center of the display. The weight is justified, as well as the hardware inside, by an important characteristic that we will see further on.
HP Split X2 – Hardware Features
Despite the possibility of being used as a tablet, which in this case could penalize, HP Split x2 is equipped with all the necessary hardware to be called a good laptop. The device is perfect for students, thanks to its low weight, and more generally for young people who use the PC for writing, surfing, listening to music or watching movies. But let’s see for more detail the technical specifications:
- Dual-core processor fourth-generation Intel Core i3-4010Y 1.3 GHz with 3 MB L3 cache.
- 4 GB of DDR3 RAM (1 x 4 GB).
- Touchscreen Display (1366 x 768) HD anti-glare UWVA by 33.8 cm by 13.3 inches.
- Intel HD graphics 4200.
- HP TrueVision FHD front camera (2.0 MP) with two digital microphones with integrated software (1080p).
- Beats Audio speakers with SRS 3D.
The HP Split X2 is also available with dual-core processor fourth-generation Intel Core i5-4200Y 1.4 GHz with 3 MB L3 cache, and 8 GB of DDR3 RAM. With regard to the various ports, their number is unfortunately limited, but sufficient without the use described above. If we want to transfer data from a USB stick, we will necessarily connect the tablet to the base. Below is the list of the ports:
- 1 HDMI port.
- 1 entry 3.5 mm jack for headphones and microphone combo.
- 1 USB 2.0 port.
- 1 USB 3.0 port.
- 1 multi-format memory card reader for SD and MMC cards.
On the tablet, the only two ports present are those of the microphone / headphones and power. In addition, there is the CD / DVD. Let us now turn to storage space: in the basic configuration, the one I tested, the HP Split X2 offers a 64 GB SDD. Although it may seem limited, space is easily expandable through the use of cloud-storage services such as SkyDrive, Dropbox or Box. It still possible to choose between three different configurations other (which of course, they’re going to affect the cost and the total weight of the device):
- 128 GB SSD.
- 500 GB HDD 5400 rpm 64 GB SSD.
- 500 GB HDD 5400 rpm 128 GB SDD.
The important feature mentioned earlier is the battery, or better to say the batteries. The HP Split X2 is well equipped with 2 batteries (not removable), one in the base and in a tablet, which provide an excellent and lasting autonomy, the use of the power cord, especially with the battery ” brand new “, will become almost sporadic.
As for the screen, as you may have read in the list of the specifications listed above, the HP Split X2 offers a touchscreen display UWVA HD anti-reflective 13.3-inch LED-backlit 1366 x 768 pixels, which can simultaneously record up ten fingers and change orientation automatically thanks to the accelerometer. Staying on the theme ” sensors ” are also the ambient light sensor, gyroscope and eCompass.
Review
- Design
- Hardware
- Operating System
- Value of Money
