Category: HP

2018 is shaping up to be a great year for Chrome OS devices, especially tablets.  HP has jumped into the fray with their latest detachable design, the HP Chromebook X2.  The 12.3″ Chromebook starts at $599 and comes with the detaching keyboard and stylus.

Powered by the Intel Core m3 Kaby Lake processor, the Chromebook X2 comes with 4GB of RAM and 32GB of storage.  It has 2400 x 1600 resolution, stereo speakers, a 13MP rear camera, two USB-C ports, a MicroSD slot and has about 10.5 hours of battery life according to HP.

The number of services that have come to Google Assistant has grown exponentially in 2017 but really over the course of the last few months.  Dozens of new services have come to the digital assistant and one of the newest is HP.

When you link your Google Cloud Print enabled HP printer to Google Assistant, you will be able to have it print things for you without having to touch your phone or PC.  Admittedly, the service is somewhat limited now but you get a great idea of what can be done in the future.

First, you have to have an HP printer that works with Google Cloud Print natively.  The vast majority of their printers that have WiFi functionality do but double-check yours.  I have an OfficeJet Pro 8650 and it works with no problem.  Next, you will need to setup Google Assistant to link with your HP Printer.

The gulf of quality between the low end Chromebook devices and the high end Google Pixel is huge.  Most Chromebooks are under $350 but if you want a metal body device with a high end specs, you are going to have to shell out a thousand dollars for a Pixel.  That gulf has been bridged a bit today with the announcement from Google and HP for the new HP Chromebook 13 G1.  This mid-market device starts at $499 and while you can go up to $1000 for the top end, the entry level device is nicely spec’d for the price.

At the end of last year, HP announced they were updating the majority of their Chromebook lineup with improved processors and overall improvements.  Of those, the Chromebook 11 G3 was one that was upgraded and the new Chromebook 11 G4 was released in November 2015.  The smallest of the HP lineup of Chromebooks, the 11 G4 starts at a budget friendly $199 which puts it in the middle of stiff competition from the likes of Acer, Asus and others.

I have been using the Chromebook 11 G4 as my primary computer over the course of the last 10 days and in this price range, it is one of the best built Chromebooks I have used.  It feels like a proper laptop, not a plastic toy, and it has the performance overall to meet almost anyone’s needs.  While it isn’t perfect – the display and battery life are areas of concern – it is a solid enough performer for me to recommend it if you are looking for a 11″ Chromebook.

Here is my review.

This weekend at MWC, HP announced the all new Spectre x360 ultra sleek notebooks powered by Windows 8.1.  Now you can order yours on the HP Online Store starting at just $899.  This new lineup has been seeing some raving comments from those in attendance in Barcelona for the sleek design and look of the Spectre x360.  When it was announced this weekend there was some question as to when it would be available.  Those questions are answered it seems as both the i5 and i7 versions of it are now available for order.

Spectre X360 Ultra Sleek Notebooks – Starting at $899 – HP Online Store

At the Microsoft Store today they are once again running a promotion they ran last month on the HP Stream 7 Signature Edition Windows Tablet.  The promotion makes it one of those hard to pass up deals on what has been on a highly rated and well liked economy tablet.

Right now you pick up a HP Stream 7 for $79 which is a $20 savings off the regular price.  Keep in mind that this is the Signature Edition so there is no crapware installed on this model.  In addition to the $20 savings, you get a year of Office 365 Professional to run on this tablet for free which is a $69.99 value.  And if that wasn’t enough to tempt you, Microsoft is also throwing in a $25 Windows Store Gift card so you can buy apps and games online with your new HP Stream 7.

So let’s do the math shall we?

• HP Stream 7 Signature Edition:  $79
• One Year of Office 365 Personal Edition:  ($69.99)
• Free Gift Card from Windows Store:  ($25.00)

That means your cost is $79 when normally you would pay a total of $173.99 for all of this.  In fact what you are getting for free is of greater value than the price of the HP Stream 7 itself:  $79 versus freebies of $94.99

HP Stream 7 Windows Tablet – SALE $79 – Microsoft Store