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HP Split x2 Hybrid Notebook ~ Review

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Ever since reviewing the HP Envy x2 earlier this year, I have been excited to see what HP was going to come up with next. This past month, I have been testing out the HP Split x2 notebook/tablet hybrid and have included my thoughts below.

The Split x2 is a larger and more powerful version of the Envy x2, that acts more like a standard laptop but also has the functionality of a tablet. My first impression was that, based on the 13.3″ screen, the tablet option was going to be wasted. That was until I removed it for the first time during a presentation I was giving. It was nice to be able to hold the screen up in the board room, knowing that everyone would be able to see the message I was trying to get across. Since that time, I have found the tablet portion excellent for watching movies at home and while travelling, as well as using the touchscreen as a learning tool for the kids, by visiting educational and puzzle websites.

With a dual battery system, HP claims a 10 hour battery life and I was averaging between 8  and 9 hours, which works for me. I’m guessing that battery life is also dependent on frequency of use and being in social media, I am on there almost all day long. The power of the Intel® Core™ processor is also very noticeable over it’s Envy x2 counterpart and with a price point of around $749.99, the Split x2 definitely delivers a lot of bang for your buck.

I have heard mixed reviews on Microsoft’s Windows 8 operating system but I have become accustomed to it and couldn’t imagine using anything else at this point. As a Windows phone and XBox360 owner, I like being able to access all of my data from one device. The live tiles are easy to manage and with Beats Audio™ and dual speakers, the sound quality is amazing.

One of the few knocks I had on the Split x2 is that it is a fairly heavy device. As someone who tends to bring my laptop everywhere with me, it took a couple days to get used to, but the functionality it offers for the price makes that flaw easy to overlook. So if you are looking for an affordable alternative to a full sized laptop this holiday season, whether as a gift or for yourself, I would definitely recommend the HP Split x2 as a device that gets the job done.

You can check out more HP devices by visiting Their Online Shop and you can stay up to date by visiting the HP Canada Facebook Page.

Disclosure: I received compensation in exchange for my work on this program.

 

HP Slate 7 Tablet ~ Giveaway

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While I’m working on my review of the HP Split x2, I thought it would be fun to give something back to my amazing community of readers! I convinced the folks at HP to give me one of their new Slate 7 Tablets, so that I can turn around and give it to one of you. I have previously worked on the HP Envy x2 laptop/tablet hybrid and with the Split x2 review going well, I have no doubt that this product will be amazing as well. Here is some info about the Slate 7:

The HP Slate 7 tablet (available on HPShopping.ca for CDN$169.99) is a sleek, 7-inch diagonal touchscreen tablet that weighs just 13 ounces, making it an ideal affordable device for people on-the-go. Stay on top of your busy schedule with onboard apps and capture photo and video to share with the video webcam on the front and 3 MP camera on the back. Running on Android 4.1 (Jelly Bean), the Slate 7 provides access to the Google Play Store which offers a multitude of exciting apps right at your fingertips. The Slate 7 is also the industry’s first tablet to feature Beats AudioT for the best-sounding richest audio available on a tablet. Printing is a breeze with the built-in HP ePrint app that allows you to email important documents and memorable photos to any ePrint-enabled HP printer and have them waiting for you at home or the office.

HOW TO ENTER:

I’m giving you two chances to win this time around. To enter, leave a comment telling me what you would use the HP Slate 7 Tablet for the most.

For a 2nd entry into the draw, use the form below to sign up for my mailing list and then leave a separate comment with the email address you used to sign up. Easy!

Draw closes Friday, November 8th at 9pm EST and is open to residents of Canada, excluding Quebec. Winner will be chosen by Random.Org and will have 48 hours to respond to email notification or a new winner will be chosen.

Congrats to our winner, Andrew P.!

My Thoughts On The HP Envy X2 Tablet/Laptop Hybrid

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HP ENVY x2

I’ve been testing out the HP ENVY x2 tablet/laptop and the HP ENVY 120 e-All-in-One printer and what follows is my very untechnological review of these devices. I say that because I often read reviews that are filled with fancy terminology that I just don’t understand. I figure if I get confused by all that, then there must be others who feel the same way I do. That said, I am going to speak to functionality of these devices as they related to me.

I have never owned a tablet before but after learning how to use Windows 8 on my smart phone, I felt I was up to the challenge of navigating the ENVY x2. The first thing I noticed about the tablet/laptop hybrid, is that it is very comfortable to carry around. I do a lot of my writing in local coffee shops and I immediately noticed the difference between the ENVY x2 and clunky mess that is my regular laptop. It might sound trivial but there is a lot to be said for comfort and personal space, especially when you are writing on small cafe tables.

Although I’ve heard complaints about the Windows 8 functionality, I happen to think it’s great to be able to slide the screen and customize the live tiles any way I want. I especially enjoyed the Netflix tab and the HD touch screen made watching the new season of Arrested Development that much more exciting. I think if you give Windows 8 a chance, you’ll see how cool it really can be.

One of my favourite things about the HP ENVY x2 is the battery life. On my recent road trip, I got almost 11 hours of use out of it before I needed to recharge and as someone who travels to conferences now, I can tell that this is going to become one of my favourite features. Another thing I loved is how easy it is to convert between tablet and laptop, with my only real complaint being that there is no USB port on the tablet portion of the device.

Overall, I loved the sleek design of the HP ENVY x2 and most of the features it offers. I am learning to really like the Windows 8 design as well, but wish there were more apps available for it. As a blogger, this device suits my needs for writing on the go and that’s all I can ask for, so I am incredibly happy with it. The added bonus of the HP ENVY 120 e-All-in-One printer has been amazing for the quick printing my photos and invoices as well.

Disclosure: I received compensation for my participation in the HP Loves Dads program.