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HP Spectre 15 x360 2019 review: Carving a niche in a crowded space

arstechnica.com

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Re: HP Spectre 15 x360 2019 review: Carving a niche in a crowded space

#41

Post by martronthrow »

NotSammyHagar wrote: post #33
jgunsch wrote: post #27

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I experienced the same, but have had little luck finding more data about it. Got any details on where they've indicated that firmware update is coming? In my case, I set up dual-boot on my 13" Spectre. The Macbook USB-C charger has never once locked up the machine when I'm running Linux, but 100% when I'm in Windows, which makes me suspect a Windows driver issue.

I have a google pixelbook which only has usb-c for everything, including power. I have used many different usb-c chargers, including an apple usb-c that I'm charging right now. My android essential also seems to charge on any usb-c charger. Do you think this problem is found on other laptops outside these hp laptops?

I tested the Dell XPS13 9380, the new thinkpad x390, and the razer stealth 13 - all based on almost identical chipsets.

None of them had the same issue, although Dell did ship a bad TB3 driver which needed to be manually fixed.

I have other USB-C devices, including phone, that charge just fine on any charger.

Re: HP Spectre 15 x360 2019 review: Carving a niche in a crowded space

#42

Post by pascoej »

pedrocr wrote: post #34

The specs look great except for a maximum of 16GB of RAM. Unfortunately higher-RAM options have been going away, particularly as manufacturers have moved to soldered RAM. The same has been happening with Thinkpads. I have a T460s with 20GB of RAM (4 soldered and 16 added). I could easily get a 32GB DIMM and have 36GB (it's been confirmed to work) and maybe 68GB in the future if 64GB DIMMS show up and work. And yet a…

To be fair, the 16GB of ram limitation is mostly Intel's fault. Low power memory in the typical laptop is still limited to 16GB. Adding non-LPDDR memory affects battery life significantly and most manufactures are unwilling to do it.

Re: HP Spectre 15 x360 2019 review: Carving a niche in a crowded space

#43

Post by smittywerben »

I ordered a Spectre x360 in 2018 and the screen had dead lines on it. I RMA’d it and the second unit had screen blotches and dead pixels.

I assune this was because I got the 1080p instead of 4k screen. I wanted 50% more battery life, less fan noise, and not deal with linux HDPI issues. The graphics card was integrated. It was spec’d for 12-16hr battery life. It was a linux laptop of the gods, but I couldn’t risk being stuck with 3rd bad unit.

I’m back on my early-2013 macbook for the time being.

Re: HP Spectre 15 x360 2019 review: Carving a niche in a crowded space

#44

Post by ppseafield »

panpanna wrote: post #31
smoyer wrote: post #23

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Our typical developer laptop is a Dell XPS 15 max'd out on RAM.

How do you like the xps15? I have not bought a Dell since I discovered Thinkpad X and T series but it's always good to have options

I also have an XPS 15 from work, and I run Ubuntu on it. It's a pretty solid laptop.

At first there was a problem with suspend only working sometimes, but after a firmware update it doesn't seem to happen anymore.

At first I didn't like the keyboard and used an external one, but after typing on it daily I really enjoy it. It has a good travel distance and feel, and it's plenty large. I'm glad it doesn't have the 0-9 numpad on the side either, so my hands are centered. The palm rest areas feel comfortable.

Battery life is pretty good. The screen is fantastic and bright. I generally don't use the trackpad, but it seems to work just fine when I have had to use it. I don't ever use the touchscreen.

If you do have a significant workload, the left side of the keyboard heats up rather unpleasantly. (Around the S key.) Sometimes after suspend or otherwise reconnecting on wifi, network-manager gives up, and I have to reboot.

Overall I would recommend it!

Re: HP Spectre 15 x360 2019 review: Carving a niche in a crowded space

#45

Post by snaky »

pedrocr wrote: post #34

The specs look great except for a maximum of 16GB of RAM. Unfortunately higher-RAM options have been going away, particularly as manufacturers have moved to soldered RAM. The same has been happening with Thinkpads. I have a T460s with 20GB of RAM (4 soldered and 16 added). I could easily get a 32GB DIMM and have 36GB (it's been confirmed to work) and maybe 68GB in the future if 64GB DIMMS show up and work. And yet a…

Soldered RAM is default option on lightweight laptops, but there are 'mobile workstations' like Thinkpad P72 (up to 128 GB non-ECC or 64 GB ECC RAM, 4 sockets 2400MHz DDR4 SO-DIMM).

Re: HP Spectre 15 x360 2019 review: Carving a niche in a crowded space

#46

Post by pedrocr »

snaky wrote: post #45
pedrocr wrote: post #34

The specs look great except for a maximum of 16GB of RAM. Unfortunately higher-RAM options have been going away, particularly as manufacturers have moved to soldered RAM. The same has been happening with Thinkpads. I have a T460s with 20GB of RAM (4 soldered and 16 added). I could easily get a 32GB DIMM and have 36GB (it's been confirmed to work) and maybe 68GB in the future if 64GB DIMMS show up and work. And yet a…

Soldered RAM is default option on lightweight laptops, but there are 'mobile workstations' like Thinkpad P72 (up to 128 GB non-ECC or 64 GB ECC RAM, 4 sockets 2400MHz DDR4 SO-DIMM).

Unfortunately that has happened, but it's not for space or weight really. The T4x0s line has a very similar form factor to the X1 Carbon and used to have only half the RAM soldered. My ideal laptop would use that same form factor and have 2 RAM slots and 3 or even 4 SSD slots. There's plenty of room.

Re: HP Spectre 15 x360 2019 review: Carving a niche in a crowded space

#47

Post by ken »

byproxy wrote: post #9
phreenet wrote: post #2

Is there anyone else that cannot stand the numpad being put onto a laptop keyboard? The laptop looks good enough but the keyboard layout means I would never get one.

I love having the numpad available. It's just such a better way to enter numbers and do calculations.

That's what an Fn key is for. You can add a numeric keypad right under where the user's hand already is. No need to make everyone type with their hands way off to the side.

Re: HP Spectre 15 x360 2019 review: Carving a niche in a crowded space

#48

Post by mclehman »

dhimes wrote: post #4
Ndymium wrote: post #3

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Me too, I use tenkeyless keyboards on my desktops and don't have a need for a numpad in a laptop. I know some people type a lot of numbers but personally I have no use for it, and doing without it allows for better positioning and sizing of the normal keyboard.

I'm on the other side. I like the numpad, but I wish there was another place for it. But then, I also use a mouse!

>I wish there was another place for it.

There is! With a programmable (preferably grid-layout) keyboard, you can have a numpad accessible from the homerow.

Edit: I do realize this can be inconvenient at times, but I primarily use an external keyboard with my laptop.

Re: HP Spectre 15 x360 2019 review: Carving a niche in a crowded space

#49

Post by kkarakk »

ken wrote: post #47
byproxy wrote: post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I love having the numpad available. It's just such a better way to enter numbers and do calculations.

That's what an Fn key is for. You can add a numeric keypad right under where the user's hand already is. No need to make everyone type with their hands way off to the side.

Context switching overhead

Re: HP Spectre 15 x360 2019 review: Carving a niche in a crowded space

#50

Post by rbanffy »

jdhawk wrote: post #17
rbanffy wrote: post #15

Earlier quoted context omitted.

In my past few companies, 15" Macbooks were standard for engineers. 13" for the rest of the staff.

I think this was more to do w/ the internals than the screen real estate. I'd prefer a hot 13" something over a 15

I used to, but I got addicted to the extra screen real estate. The usually beefier configurations (the new 6-core, 32 gig machine is very comfortable).
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