HP Spectre 13.3 vs MacBook 12

[deeddawg]

It's just a small very well engineered underpowered notebook

Under/adequately/over-powered is a subjective matter. It may not have as much cpu as you need, but for the purposes the rMB appears aimed towards, it seems to do a fine job.

What tasks have you thrown at your rMB that it's failed to handle? I know that in my use it's had quite more than enough power for the things I need it to do. (you do have an rMB that you've used enough to assess it's capabilities, right?)
[doublepost=1459953994][/doublepost]

My Retina MacBook Pro has fans to keep the powerful hardware cool. They are inaudible.

Sounds like you're not really using that "powerful hardware" then if your usage isn't ramping up the fans to audible levels.

 

[tubeexperience]

It has 2 fans...

The nice thing about the 12", is that it doesn't have or need fans..

Or, you know... don't have a fast Intel Core i7 processor

I'm curious if it will do a Cube though and die within two years from overheating...

You mean like what Apple does with the MacBook Pro with dGPU?

Reviews. Benchmarks. The information is there, you just need to look for it.

Post some links.

The Retina MacBook is an innovative next step in laptops, not much different from the MacBook Air in 2008 (albeit with less radical features, we're pretty spoiled in 2016 if you re-watch the keynote from 2008). Fanless, iPad-like chipsets, dimensions and technology.

HP took the easy road by just making a conventional laptop a few millimeters slimmer with some tradeoffs like the display, doesn't make them the design leaders they so desperately want to be.

Ya, it's an Apple's netbook with an awful keyboard and one port.

HP put a more powerful processor into laptop that's thinner than Apple's netbook. I have to give credit where credit is due.

It's very well engineered because there's some innovation going on in that thing. The screen, trackpad, keyboard, battery, logic board and the one-port philosophy are next level (just look at all the conservative people hating it) and they are an indication of Apples future laptop lineup. It's pretty innovative IMO.

Apple made a netbook with an awful keyboard and one port while charging $1300 for it. It must be very innovative in the marketing department.

 

[Queen6]

I'm curious if it will do a Cube though and die within two years from overheating...

Just like the 15" MBP Am willing to see how the Spectre performs, HP does have a poor rep in some areas, equally HP can also pull the "cat out the bag" when it needs to. So I would not be surprised if the Spectre turns out to be a decent portable. I also tend to agree that the Spectre should be compared to more to 13" Air than the 12" rMB. The 13" rMBP is a class above with it`s 28W CPU.

Q-6

 

[noobinator]

What difference does it make not having fans? My Retina MacBook Pro has fans to keep the powerful hardware cool. They are inaudible.

1. Less moving parts = less problems
2. I had a MBA and could hear/feel the fan. It's nice knowing my RMB doesn't have a fan.

 

[keysofanxiety]

Post some links.

Why the blunt arsey attitude, it's not particularly difficult to do a Google search for the model and do a little reading, rather than just looking at the hardware specs/design and making a decision from there.

So in conclusion it's:

• heavier than a MacBook Air, let alone a Retina MacBook (which somewhat negates the advantage of it being thin)
  
• ugly as heck (my opinion of course)
  
• weilding a poor display colour contrast compared to rMB (fact, though very few Windows machines do have decent colour balanced displays compared to MacBooks)
  
• got a strange trackpad (unsurprisingly, as HPs have always been crummy in this department)
  
• running hot as hell on the base (which definitely isn't surprising, as historically HPs boil like radiators)

And these are just the tradeoffs mentioned/cross-verified with various reviews. Goodness knows what design issues it has in the bits that you can't see. Sure, the machine generally gets 4-4.5 stars. But you're touting it like it's an unrivalled beast.

Plus it's an HP. Terrible customer support, terrible customer service, and generally terrible machines. There are plenty of nicer, powerful ultrabooks from other OEMs if you're looking for a viable alternative to the rMB/MBA.

http://www.laptopmag.com/reviews/laptops/hp-spectre-x360-13t

http://www.engadget.com/products/hp/spectre/x360/

http://www.notebookcheck.net/HP-Spectre-x360-13-i5-6200U-Convertible-Review.153933.0.html

http://www.techradar.com/reviews/pc...s-and-netbooks/hp-spectre-x360-1297082/review

http://www.cnet.com/uk/products/hp-spectre-x360-13t/

 

[sunapple]

Why the blunt arsey attitude, it's not particularly difficult to do a Google search for the model and do a little reading, rather than just looking at the hardware specs/design and making a decision from there.

So in conclusion it's:

• heavier than a MacBook Air, let alone a Retina MacBook (which somewhat negates the advantage of it being thin)
  
• ugly as heck (my opinion of course)
  
• weilding a poor display colour contrast compared to rMB (fact, though very few Windows machines do have decent colour balanced displays compared to MacBooks)
  
• got a strange trackpad (unsurprisingly, as HPs have always been crummy in this department)
  
• running hot as hell on the base (which definitely isn't surprising, as historically HPs boil like radiators)

And these are just the tradeoffs mentioned/cross-verified with various reviews. Goodness knows what design issues it has in the bits that you can't see. Sure, the machine generally gets 4-4.5 stars. But you're touting it like it's an unrivalled beast.

Plus it's an HP. Terrible customer support, terrible customer service, and generally terrible machines. There are plenty of nicer, powerful ultrabooks from other OEMs if you're looking for a viable alternative to the rMB/MBA.

http://www.laptopmag.com/reviews/laptops/hp-spectre-x360-13t

http://www.engadget.com/products/hp/spectre/x360/

http://www.notebookcheck.net/HP-Spectre-x360-13-i5-6200U-Convertible-Review.153933.0.html

http://www.techradar.com/reviews/pc...s-and-netbooks/hp-spectre-x360-1297082/review

http://www.cnet.com/uk/products/hp-spectre-x360-13t/

Yeah, that's not the same laptop. It's a year old.

 

[keysofanxiety]

Yeah, that's not the same laptop. It's a year old.

Whoops, don't I feel the fool

I'll chalk it down to HP's dodgy naming schemes

 

[Steve121178]

It's very well engineered because there's some innovation going on in that thing. The screen, trackpad, keyboard, battery, logic board and the one-port philosophy are next level (just look at all the conservative people hating it) and they are an indication of Apples future laptop lineup. It's pretty innovative IMO.

None of that is innovative. I had a Sony VAIO X series machine that did everything the 12" MacBook does from a technical standpoint, but in 2010:

So everything Apple did with the 12" Retina MacBook was done by Sony years ago! Nothing new.

Obviously the Retina MacBook is a very well designed notebook, I am not disputing that at all. I am just dispelling the innovation myths as it doesn't do anything we haven't seen before.

 

[tubeexperience]

Why the blunt arsey attitude, it's not particularly difficult to do a Google search for the model and do a little reading, rather than just looking at the hardware specs/design and making a decision from there.

So in conclusion it's:

• heavier than a MacBook Air, let alone a Retina MacBook (which somewhat negates the advantage of it being thin)
  
• ugly as heck (my opinion of course)
  
• weilding a poor display colour contrast compared to rMB (fact, though very few Windows machines do have decent colour balanced displays compared to MacBooks)
  
• got a strange trackpad (unsurprisingly, as HPs have always been crummy in this department)
  
• running hot as hell on the base (which definitely isn't surprising, as historically HPs boil like radiators)

And these are just the tradeoffs mentioned/cross-verified with various reviews. Goodness knows what design issues it has in the bits that you can't see. Sure, the machine generally gets 4-4.5 stars. But you're touting it like it's an unrivalled beast.

Plus it's an HP. Terrible customer support, terrible customer service, and generally terrible machines. There are plenty of nicer, powerful ultrabooks from other OEMs if you're looking for a viable alternative to the rMB/MBA.

http://www.laptopmag.com/reviews/laptops/hp-spectre-x360-13t

http://www.engadget.com/products/hp/spectre/x360/

http://www.notebookcheck.net/HP-Spectre-x360-13-i5-6200U-Convertible-Review.153933.0.html

http://www.techradar.com/reviews/pc...s-and-netbooks/hp-spectre-x360-1297082/review

http://www.cnet.com/uk/products/hp-spectre-x360-13t/

That's not even the same laptop.

 

[sunapple]

None of that is innovative. I had a Sony VAIO X series machine that did everything the 12" MacBook does from a technical standpoint, but in 2010:

So everything Apple did with the 12" Retina MacBook was done by Sony years ago! Nothing new.

Obviously the Retina MacBook is a very well designed notebook, I am not disputing that at all. I am just dispelling the innovation myths as it doesn't do anything we haven't seen before.

How is that the same thing? Can't tell from just that picture, other than the fact that it doen't look near as thin or light as the MacBook...

 

[Steve121178]

Sounds like you're not really using that "powerful hardware" then if your usage isn't ramping up the fans to audible levels.

I push the machine hardest when I have a couple of VM's running. The rMBP just does an excellent job at dispersing the heat.

I personally don't see the big deal about a fan. As long as it doesn't become a distraction to you or people around you, then what is the big deal?
[doublepost=1459956365][/doublepost]

How is that the same thing? Can't tell from just that picture, other than the fact that it doen't look near as thin or light as the MacBook...

http://www.notebookcheck.net/Review-Sony-Vaio-VPC-X13D7E-B-Subnotebook.35983.0.html

761g / 1.68lbs, quite a bit lighter than the 12" Retina MacBook as it was made from carbon fibre. I owned one, so I know how slender it was.

 

[keysofanxiety]

That's not even the same laptop.

Right you are!

OK, we'll try this again. Heh, I was properly embarrassed, wondering how I could mess up a simple search, and then had another look. Surprise, surprise: it doesn't look like anybody actually has any review models yet. So judging it on specs/design alone without it being properly in the wild is utterly ridiculous. There are only a few brief hands-on early tests, nothing more.

By the way, an i5/i7 processor would be completely useless if poor thermal design means it's constantly underclocking/throttling. Knowing HP's historical issues with cooling notebooks, I wouldn't be surprised if this was the case.

Until this is properly released, we can't say for sure how good it is.

 

[deeddawg]

I personally don't see the big deal about a fan. As long as it doesn't become a distraction to you or people around you, then what is the big deal?

That's just the thing; when they get going they can definitely be a distraction. Some can get downright loud, for instance my 2011 MBA13 would get VERY noisy when really pushing it. How much that matters depends on the individual and the environment they're working in. Clearly a fan will be less distracting when working in an environment with a lot of background noise, or if the individual is not sensitive to such thing.

 

[Steve121178]

Until this is properly released, we can't say for sure how good it is.

It's an HP so it will inevitably be badly engineered cheaply made mediocrity & all yours for >$1000.

 

[sunapple]

Ya, it's an Apple's netbook with an awful keyboard and one port.

HP put a more powerful processor into laptop that's thinner than Apple's netbook. I have to give credit where credit is due.


Apple made a netbook with an awful keyboard and one port while charging $1300 for it. It must be very innovative in the marketing department.

So it's just about the numbers ehh? Exact dimensions other than the thinness weren't provided, but I can tell for sure that the Spectre has a larger footprint than the MacBook. Also, the MacBook has a wedge shape and only the thickest part is under 2 millimeters thicker than the Spectre, while a large part is much thinner. And the Spectre weighs more. And the MacBook is over a year older.

We'll see how long this Spectre remains the thinnest, Apple has yet to release new Pros and MacBooks.

 

[keysofanxiety]

It's an HP so it will inevitably be badly engineered cheaply made mediocrity & all yours for >$1000.

Couldn't agree more in a month of Sundays, HP suck so hard as a brand and are the bane of my existence at work. I can't begin to articulate how many problems I've had with them: their crummy support, their poor build quality, and their pathetic 'diagnostics' that deliberately ignore hardware problems so they won't have to service the machine.

 

[Queen6]

Plus it's an HP. Terrible customer support, terrible customer service, and generally terrible machines. There are plenty of nicer, powerful ultrabooks from other OEMs if you're looking for a viable alternative to the rMB/MBA.

It`s good to see HP innovating and bringing such a product to market, however the biggest issue is after-sales. The OEM`s need to really start standing behind their product. Many may like, or dislike the new Spectre`s avant-garde styling, however for me the biggest turn off is the support issue.

Q-6

 

[tubeexperience]

So it's just about the numbers ehh? Exact dimensions other than the thinness weren't provided, but I can tell for sure that the Spectre has a larger footprint than the MacBook. Also, the MacBook has a wedge shape and only the thickest part is under 2 millimeters thicker than the Spectre, while a large part is much thinner. And the Spectre weighs more. And the MacBook is over a year older.

We'll see how long this Spectre remains the thinnest, Apple has yet to release new Pros and MacBooks.

Oh, so suppose you drive an 18-wheeler and you see a low bridge.

Do you measure the hood to see if your 18-wheeler can fit under the bridge?

 

[sunapple]

Oh, so suppose you drive an 18-wheeler and you see a low bridge.

Do you measure the hood to see if your 18-wheeler can fit under the bridge?

All I'm saying is that it's very close and not a completely fair comparison.

 

[tubeexperience]

All I'm saying is that it's very close and not a completely fair comparison.

So if we were watching the Olympics and one athlete finished milliseconds faster than another athlete, that's not a fair comparison?

 

[sunapple]

http://www.notebookcheck.net/Review-Sony-Vaio-VPC-X13D7E-B-Subnotebook.35983.0.html

761g / 1.68lbs, quite a bit lighter than the 12" Retina MacBook as it was made from carbon fibre. I owned one, so I know how slender it was.

That's an awesome machine for its time! But I feel like it's easier to just focus on weight than actually reducing both the weight, footprint and thickness. And of course, not making compromises. The MacBooks keyboard might feel like a compromise to those who don't like it (it's a matter of getting used to IMHO), but it was engineered to be both full-size and slim instead of simply making the keys too small like your VAIO had.

HP made an impressively thin laptop, but the MacBook has more engineering marvels and does more things right than just the thickness. Sure, Core M needs a boost which it will inevitably get in the future, but that's why the MacBook is not yet replacing the MacBook Air.
[doublepost=1459957675][/doublepost]

So if we were watching the Olympics and one athlete finished milliseconds faster than another athlete, that's not a fair comparison?

Of course it is, comparing laptops with different footprints isn't.

 

[keysofanxiety]

So if we were watching the Olympics and one athlete finished milliseconds faster than another athlete, that's not a fair comparison?

You're ignoring the glaring elephant in the room here.

1) There are no real released/reviewed models of this laptop. You can't say with any certainty how well it performs against the rMB, in either benchmarks, build quality, or longevity.

2) Your arguments for why it is good is based on conjecture due to the specs and design. However a poor thermal design will immediately undermine everything that you claim is good about it.

3) It's HP. The onus is on you to prove that it won't be a piece of junk like the rest of their products. And pray it doesn't fail, otherwise you'll have to deal with their crummy aftersales team.

 

[deeddawg]

So it's just about the numbers ehh? Exact dimensions other than the thinness weren't provided, but I can tell for sure that the Spectre has a larger footprint than the MacBook.

HP stated it has a 13.3" 1080p screen. BY DEFINITION that makes the thing bigger than an rMB. Look up the dimensions for a 16:9 13.3" and compare to the dimensions of the rMB. (I'd done this in a prior post, so you can look there too)

 

[tubeexperience]

HP made an impressively thin laptop, but the MacBook has more engineering marvels and does more things right than just the thickness.

Shoving a slow processor into a netbook with an awful keyboard and a single port is definitely an engineering marvel.

Sure, Core M needs a boost which it will inevitably get in the future, but that's why the MacBook is not yet replacing the MacBook Air.

Oh, the future! Who knows where the Core i-series processors will be by then!

Of course it is, comparing laptops with different footprints isn't.

It's thinner and has a faster processor. The comparison DEFINITELY isn't fair.
[doublepost=1459959966][/doublepost]

Anyone who knows what CPU is inside? It just says i5/i7 everywhere..

Intel Core i5-6200U or Intel Core i7-6500U

 

[Nychot]

There are now for 2016 a whole slew of thinner, faster ultrabooks with more ports, abd equal or better screens than the rmb. while i like mine and it does all i need it to do, it's dated and getting more dated by the day. apple's gonna have to do a whole lotta updating and refining to make it compete in the marketplace with the new sleek breed of windows machines. at te moment they are getting away with robbery charging $1299 and more for the outdated rmb.