HP Spectre Laptop

HP Spectre x360 13-ae001na Convertible Laptop – 2017 Best Buy No. 1

16/01/2018 24 By Shelly

So, my favourite purchase for 2017 is my HP Spectre 360 laptop.  When I started this blog, I knew that I would need to purchase a new laptop.  I would be using it a lot and carrying it around with me, so wanted something that looked good, that was lightweight and had good storage. As always, I was aiming to get a very high spec for a very low price.  I didn’t want to spend more than about £500 but after exploring the options available, I found myself drawn to the more high-end laptops because of their functions, style and versatility. The Macbook Pro and the Surface Pro  definitely got my attention.  I was almost set on purchasing the Surface Pro 3 because of its size, weight, versatility and trendy appearance.  However, I soon realised that the spec I wanted and all the accessory features I liked the most (the detachable keyboard and the pen) would cost extra, thereby pushing it too far out of my price range, to about £1,500.

I continued my research and eventually came across a promotional video for the HP Spectre 360 laptop. I was actually surprised to see that HP would make a laptop that I would find so aesthetically pleasing and in the same league as Mac or Surface pro.  The price however was more reasonable at £1,249 all-in on the HP website.  As an added bonus I was able to get mine with an inclusive 3-year care pack for about £200 cheaper using my employees corporate discount.

I was immediately taken by its sleek and sophisticated design. The colour combination of Dark Ash Silver (more of a gunmetal grey), accented with shiny bright copper trims and edges made it look very chic.  The Spectre 360 not only looks good but the spec is quite impressive too: Bang and Olufsen speakers, Intel corei5 7th Generation processor. A 4k screen, Windows 10; office 365 pre-loaded plus Face and voice recognition. An active stylus (pen) and a sleeve were also included in the box. Check out the HP website for full specs.HP Spectre technical features

The other big attraction for me is it versatility. As well as being a conventional laptop, the Spectre can be used in 3 other modes.  It folds flat backwards 360 degrees (Tablet mode) for use as a touchscreen tablet; You can set it Tent mode to show presentations or photos, also Stand mode is perfect for streaming video or movies. After using it for a while now I can confirm that the battery life is extremely good too.

HP Spectre 360 Laptop mode

HP Spectre 360 Laptop mode

HP Spectre 360 Stand Mode

HP Spectre 360 Stand Mode

HP Spectre 360 Tablet Mode

HP Spectre 360 Tablet Mode

HP Spectre 360 Tent Mode

HP Spectre 360 Tent Mode

Despite the fact that I paid a lot more for this laptop then originally intended. I have absolutely no regrets about my choice. I am really enjoying using my HP Spectre 360. I am proud to carry it around and am confident that it will serve me well. HP now sells a version of the Spectre x360 with the 8th-gen Core i5 CPU, and it doesn’t give up much in performance. To save a bit on cost, consider that one.

Here are my top 5 purchases for 2017 at a glance:

  1. HP Spectre x360 Laptop
  2. Samsung Gear S2 Classic Rose Gold Smart Watch
  3. Camel skin Rucksacks
  4. Estee Lauder Train Bag
  5. Perfectly Pure Coconut Oil