For those mobile lawyers who need a full Windows OS machine as their travel companion (probably fewer than you’d imagine given the increasing utility of Chromebooks, iPads, and Android tablets), an Ultrabook has been the standard choice. There are some great Ultrabooks on the market in addition to the computer on which the Ultrabook concept is based, the Macbook Air (which can be configured to run both Mac OS X and Windows). Now there is a new competitor that challenges the traditional choices on quality, style, and performance—but at a reduced price.
The HP Spectre x360 is a stylish and well-equipped Ultrabook that starts at $899, undercutting competing models by a couple hundred dollars. The other top choices are the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon, the new Dell XPS 13, or the Acer Aspire S7.
Microsoft expert Paul Thurrott reviewed the HP Spectre x360 and found that its strengths meshed well with his needs—needs not unlike a lawyer’s. Thurrott values an excellent typing experience, a good screen, and top-notch battery life along with a highly portable form factor. Thurrott recommends taking a step up to the $999 configuration, which includes a Core i5 processor, 8 GB of RAM, and 256 GB SSD.
This makes the HP Spectre x360 also cheaper than a comparably equipped Microsoft Surface Pro 3 ($999), to which a $129 keyboard cover must be added to replicate Ultrabook functionality. The Spectre x360, like the Surface Pro 3, has a tablet mode. The Spectre x360’s keyboard folds all the way around to the back of the touch-enabled screen, resulting in a 13-inch tablet.
With all these pros combined with a reduced price, make sure to consider the Spectre x360 if you’re in the market for an Ultrabook.