HP Envy 34 Curved Release Date, Price and Specs – CNET
If you mean business, the HP Envy 34 Curved display is for you. Not only is the $899 ultrawide 34-inch panel a great canvas for multitasking, it’s the first certified Skype for Business curved monitor, meaning it’s built to have the best Skype call experience possible. (UK and Australian availability has yet to be announced, but the US price converts to around £710 or AU$1,200.)
New HP monitors are business- and budget-friendly
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Since the monitor’s stylishly narrow bezels don’t allow much space for a camera, it has a pop-up camera that’s sneakily hidden on the top of the monitor. Simply press the center and it slowly rises on its own. If you’re not using the camera (or worried about someone hacking into your monitor’s webcam) you can easily tuck it away.
A wide speaker on the bottom of the monitor for loud and clear conference calls.
Josh Miller/CNET
The HP Envy 34 Curved will go on sale for $899 from the HP website on December 12 and at select US retailers in February 2017.
Specs for the HP Envy 34 Curved
- 3,440×1,440-pixel resolution
- 12:9 aspect ratio
- 1800r curve
- 7-watt built-in speakers
- 720p pop-up camera
- DisplayPort 1.2
- HDMI port
- Three USB 3.0 ports (one upstream, two downstream)
If you’re looking for something more affordable, the HP Envy 24 should be up your alley.
Josh Miller/CNET
HP also unveiled the more modest HP Envy 24. The 24-inch monitor has supremely thin bezels that elegantly maximize screen space, despite it being on the small side for a monitor. (Especially when compared to the huge, ultrawide HP Envy 34 above.)
It has a USB-C port that lets you output video from a PC or laptop, or the port can be used to charge a phone or tablet.
The HP Envy 24’s USB-C port can be used to display video or charge a device.
Josh Miller/CNET
Starting at $279, it’s expected to be available on December 12 on HP’s online store and at select retailers in January 2017. Again, UK and Australian prices and dates are TBA, but the US price converts to about £220 or AU$375.
Specs for the HP Envy 24
- 1,920×1080-pixel resolution
- USB-C port
- DisplayPort 1.2
- HDMI port
- AMD FreeSync
2017 Mercedes-Benz S-Class review – Roadshow
The Good Like its S-Class compatriots, the 2017 Mercedes-Benz S550 Cabriolet stands out for its exceptional ride comfort. Sophisticated adaptive cruise control handles braking and acceleration even in stop-and-go traffic, and its Burmester stereo delivers detailed music.
The Bad Mercedes-Benz badly needs to redesign the S550 Cabriolet’s dashboard electronics from the ground up, as the interface has become a complicated mess. A problem with many convertibles, trunk room becomes very limited with the top down.
The Bottom Line The 2017 S550 Cabriolet maintains the strengths of Mercedes-Benz S-Class vehicles, showing off a luxury exemplified in driving character and cabin appointments, while offering top-down driving rarely found in its segment.
After a month spent flying back and forth to Los Angeles, my boarding passes a confused jumble in my Apple Wallet app, I finally broke free enough time to drive down from San Francisco. The occasion was the Los Angeles auto show, and my ride would be a 2017 Mercedes-Benz S550 Cabriolet.
Cruising down a California highway, over valleys, mountains and coastal terrain, compared to stuffing myself into an airline seat, shoulder-to-shoulder with some rando? I will take the former any chance I can.
And the S550 Cabriolet made the perfect vehicle for the trip, as it fit right in cruising top-down through Beverly Hills, or drifting over hundreds of freeway miles. Massaging seats eased the strain on my back, the Burmester stereo filled the quiet cabin with pristinely produced music, and adaptive cruise control handled the trials of stop-and-go traffic.
Most of all, though, the S550 Cabriolet, and all the S-Class variants, delivers what I consider the best ride quality of any car on the road today, even the ultraluxury models.
Mercedes-Benz previously delivered sedan and coupe versions of its flagship S-class, and now adds the drop-top Cabriolet.
Josh Miller/CNET
Mercedes-Benz gave its S-Class sedan a major update for the 2014 model year, in almost every way delivering a vehicle worthy of the brand’s luxury reputation. Following the sedan came an S-Class beautifully styled coupe and now the Cabriolet, the convertible version. To be honest, I prefer a hard top, and like the look of the coupe better, but the Cabriolet certainly earns points for its top-down demeanor. Like the coupe, the S550 Cabriolet gets by with two doors but also room for four passengers.
The comfort
The S550 Cabriolet’s unparalleled ride quality made me look forward to spending hours driving it down the coast, but the plush look of its cabin got my attention when I first opened the door. Prominently displayed Designo labels announce the Mercedes-Benz’s upscale interior brand, while ventilated leather in Porcelain, or white if you prefer, cover the substantial seats.
Door-mounted controls made it easy to adjust everything from headrest height to thigh-rest length. Climate control, helped by heated and cooled seats along with warm air vents in the headrests, made cruising with the top down perfectly comfortable through a wide temperature range. The seats offered a variety of massage types, including one that made use of the seat heaters to really loosen my muscles.
Sun times in the 2017 Mercedes-Benz…
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Although the S550 Cabriolet uses a fabric top, I could see there was more than just a simple sheet of canvas between me and the sky. Extra padding ensures rigidity against buffeting and does an extraordinary job limiting noise. Likewise, double-pane side windows keep the cabin serene.
Most of all, though, Mercedes-Benz’s Airmatic suspension does wonders absorbing the pounding produced by rough pavement and potholes. Like its name suggests, the suspension uses air-filled struts instead of steel springs, and continuously adjusts the air pressure to compensate for the road. It does a remarkable job of creating a smooth ride while at the same time avoiding excessive wallow. At the push of a button I could switch between Comfort and Sport modes, the latter stiffening up the ride a little yet never becoming hard.
On the road for hundreds of miles, I rarely felt a need to stretch my legs, to the point where the car’s own safety systems flashed a suggestion on the instrument cluster that maybe I should take a break.
The cabin of the S550 Cabriolet offers a high degree of comfort, complete with massaging seats and warm air blowing from the headrests.
Josh Miller/CNET
The drive
Complementing the very, very comfortable ride, the S550 Cabriolet’s throttle and steering worked with a buttery ease. 4.7 liters of turbocharged V8 may sound like an ingredient for a modern muscle car, but this convertible doles out its 449 horsepower like a cake boss applying frosting. Give the throttle a little tip-in, and the car responds precisely. Its 516 pound-feet of torque leads to stately acceleration, and it recovers from its fuel-saving idle stop feature without hesitation.
When I stamped down on the accelerator to get all that power at once, the big V8 growled in accompaniment to the car’s leap forward. Making a pass on a two-lane highway, I quickly found myself approaching triple digit speeds.
OtterBox Bluetooth Earphones Release Date, Price and Specs – CNET
OtterBox’s new wireless earphones go on sale December 13.
OtterBox
A little while back I wrote about how OtterBox was branching out from protective cases into charging accessories. Well, now it’s getting into the headphone arena with a little help from Decibullz, which makes DIY custom moldable earphones.
The new OtterBox headphones go on sale December 13; both are in-ear models: The OtterBox Bluetooth Earphones ($100) and OtterBox Wired Earphones ($50). No word yet on international pricing but I’ll add it as soon as I get it.
We have a pair of Decibullz headphones in the office now and I can say these OtterBox models aren’t simply rebranded versions. While the moldable eartips are the same (you heat them up in boiling water and then fit them to your ears) the OtterBox headphones seemingly have a more rugged design, with metal housings and connectors, as well tangle-resistant braided nylon cords. It’s unclear if they’re sweat-resistant but you’d hope they are.
The wired version costs $50.
OtterBox
According to OtterBox, the sound is the company’s own and the eartips adhere magnetically, allowing you to wear them more securely around your neck when not in use.
We’re getting samples shortly and I’ll update this preview with more hands-on impressions later this week. We’ll also confirm battery life numbers. The specs say the headphones are rated for 3.5 hours of “play time,” which is pretty short. Decibullz headphones also have short battery life, so the two headphones may share similar guts.
Here are the OtterBox Bluetooth Earphones’ key features.
Custom Decibullz molds fit your ears for ultimate comfort and superior noise isolation (eartips are remoldable)
Sound powered by OtterBox
Metal housing and connectors for lasting durability
Extended strain relief to prevent breakage
Tangle-resistant braided nylon cords
Power on, power off, pairing and low-battery voice prompts
Magnetic controls for power/play/pause/answer call/end call
Button control for play/pause/mute/answer call/end call/reject call/redial
+ button: volume up/forward/Siri
– button: volume down/backward/Siri
Magnetic connect and control: Separate the earphones to answer calls, connect earphones to pause music
Battery life: Up to 4 hours talking, 3.5 hours playing and 150 hours standby
Includes three ear inserts (S/M/L), carrying case and charge cable
Price: $100
Fitbit Flex 2 review
If you’re reading this, you’re probably already aware that there are tons of different fitness trackers on the market that provide a wide range of tracking capabilities. There are plenty of high-end offerings, like the Garmin vívoactive HR and Polar M600, that are geared towards serious athletes. There are also a growing number of affordable, entry-level options for those who simply want to keep tabs on their daily activity levels.
The Fitbit Flex 2 is the latest upgrade to one of Fitbit’s more entry-level fitness trackers. At first glance, it may appear to be little more than a fancy pedometer, but that would be a very unfair judgement of a device that actually has a fair few tricks up its sleeve, or, up your sleeve.
Join us as we learn the ins and outs of this device in our full Fitbit Flex 2 review!
Review notes: I’ve been using the Fitbit Flex 2 as my main fitness tracker for over two weeks. The Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge+ has been my smartphone companion of choice for the duration of this review.
Don’t miss:
The best fitness trackers
24 hours ago
Design
First up, let’s take a look at the design. This is a little hard to judge, seeing as the design can be pretty much whatever you’d like it to be.
That is to say that the main ‘brains’ of the unit can be removed and then inserted into a range of different bands and even pendants. The device itself is absolutely miniscule at 31.7 x 8.9 x 6.8mm and weighs in at just 0.83oz, letting it fit into a range of different accessories. In theory, this means that everyone should be able to find something that they like the looks of and that will fit their lifestyle.
You can very easily wear the Flex 2 under a shirt sleeve, and it doesn’t get in the way while typing
In the box, you get two plain-ish rubber bands – one large and one small – with enough crossover in the middle for those with medium-sized wrists to happily wear either. The bands have some faint patterns on them and look stylish enough, but more importantly they are thin and light enough as to be completely unobtrusive. You can very easily wear these under a shirt sleeve, and it doesn’t get in the way while typing or if you choose to wear a watch with it. This is a very important point for a fitness tracker – you need to be able to wear it all day without it becoming a hassle.
If you purchase your Flex 2 from Fitbit’s website, you’ll be able to choose from Black, Lavender, Magenta or Navy color options. Fitbit’s accessory page also offers a handful of other colors, in addition to different styles of bangles and pendants. Amazon has a bunch of third-party bands, too, including different patterned bands, leather straps and even a clip for attaching the Flex 2 to your bra. And if you’re really creative, it would even be easy enough to create your own band with a bit of 3D printing.
As you’ve probably noticed by now, there’s no screen on this device like the one you’d find on the Fitbit Charge 2. What you do get, though, are five small LEDs on the top of the device. These can be used for very basic notifications (more on that below), or to show you how close you are to accomplishing your step goal. Double tap on the band and you’ll be shown a corresponding number of lights to indicate your performance so far. For instance, if your step target is 10,000 and you’ve done 4,000 steps, two lights will show.
See also:
Fitbit Charge 2 review
November 3, 2016
We do have a few criticisms on the design, though. For starters, attaching the band to your wrist is an absolute pain. As is the case with the Fitbit Alta, you’re not going to be easily tightening and loosening the band on the Flex 2. The clasps are a little difficult to put on at first, but it becomes easier once you get the hang of it.
Also, the fact that the Flex 2 comes with a proprietary charging cable means that if you lose it, you’re out of luck until you can purchase another one. Replacement chargers are available at Fitbit’s website for $19.95, or you can grab a third-party charger from Amazon for around $10. We would have much rather preferred a standard microUSB or USB Type-C charging method, but we understand why that wouldn’t have been possible due to the device’s waterproof rating. Basically every other fitness tracker out there comes with a proprietary charging method, too, so this isn’t really anything out of the ordinary.
Tapping the device to check our daily steps and dismiss alarms is also something we’ve struggled with. So much so, that we’ve often found ourselves wondering if it has actually run out of battery or is just being finicky. Maybe this is just Fitbit’s clever way of getting us to burn a few more calories…
Related:
The most common Fitbit problems and how to fix them
5 days ago
Features and performance
The Fitbit Flex 2 has no heart rate monitor or GPS, which means it isn’t going to be a good choice for serious athletes. But that’s clearly not who this is aimed at.
It works well as a step counter and seems to be pretty consistent with the results from our vívoactive HR (yesterday the Fitbit counted 13,407, compared to the vívoactive’s 12,935). This information, along with some basic metrics such as height and weight, will then estimate your calorie burn for the day.
This is, of course, less accurate than using a fitness tracker with a heart rate monitor. We burned 5,767 calories according to the vívoactive on one particularly active day, but the Fitbit only counted 4,169 of them. It’s also worth mentioning that, like most fitness tracking companies, Fitbit does not ask for your body fat percentage. Without that information, any attempt at calculating your metabolic rate is going to be inaccurate, thereby skewing the final numbers.
- Garmin vívoactive HR review
- Polar M600 review
The Flex 2 also handles basic sleep tracking and will automatically detect when you doze off. We haven’t been overly impressed with this aspect however, as it often accuses us of having gone to sleep much earlier than we did or breaks our sleep up into small bits. When it does get it right, it’s still a little lacklustre in terms of the information it presents. It’ll only tell you you the number of times you woke up and the number of times you were restless, for instance.
Fitbit’s autodetection technology is really, really good
What it does do remarkably well though, and what makes this much more than just a pedometer, is autodetection for activities. If you go for a run or a walk, the Flex 2 will automatically detect that activity and log it for you. Fitbit’s autodetection technology works very well, and the algorithms it uses must be mind-boggling. Throughout our testing period, the Flex 2 has successfully autodetected walks, runs and even swims. I’m personally a pretty shoddy swimmer, so the latter was especially impressive. After 17 minutes of breaststroke at a local fitness center, I was able to review the number of lengths and the rough number of calories that would have burned. And yes, that means that the device is also waterproof.
This is actually a bigger deal than it seems, as the Flex 2 is Fitbit’s very first water resistant fitness tracker. Garmin, Withings, Polar, and most other big-name fitness tracking companies have been making water resistant wearables for some time now, so it’s nice to see Fitbit finally join the club.
Fitbit has finally made a water resistant fitness tracker
So we’ve already talked about automatic activity recognition, but exactly which activities can the Flex 2 track? With the Flex 2, you’ll be able to track walking, running, cycling, elliptical training, sports, aerobic exercise and swimming, though unfortunately there’s no option to log a weights workout. This means the Flex 2 likely won’t appeal to gym rats, which is a shame with a name like “Flex”. Other than that unfortunate omission though, we do believe that Fitbit is the best in the business when it comes to activity detection at the moment.
The Flex 2 will also remind you to move if you’ve been sitting for too long, which will definitely come in handy if you sit at a desk all day. This feature is par for the course in the fitness tracker world, but it is well implemented here.
While the Flex 2 doesn’t have a display, it does offer a very basic form of notification support for calls and texts. The device will light up and vibrate when your phone receives an incoming call or text message, but that’s it. Obviously there’s no way to respond to or even dismiss the message from your wrist, which means you’ll still have to pull out your phone for everything. After all, you’ll feel your phone vibrate in your pocket anyway, which makes notification support on the Flex 2 is pretty meaningless. Still, it’s there if you want it and easy enough to turn off if you don’t.
There is support for a couple of alternative messaging services like WhatsApp, but you can only set notifications for one provider at a time. This means if you have your wristband set up to alert you to WhatsApp, you won’t get SMS message alerts.
On a more positive note, the Flex 2, like most other Fitbit devices, supports silent alarms. While it may be a small feature, it is particularly useful if you need to wake up before your partner.
In terms of battery life, the Fitbit Flex 2 was able to last us roughly four days on a single charge. Fitbit says you can squeeze five days of battery out of this device, but we’ve found that to be particularly difficult, especially if you’re working out every day. This isn’t great news when you consider many other fitness trackers with screens can last significantly longer. Then again, it makes more sense when factoring in the tiny size of the unit. What we do find irritating, though, is that you only get a small notification to warn you when your tracker is running low on charge. This little notification is pretty easy to miss, and it actually led to us failing to record quite an active day when the Flex 2 was actually out of battery. It would have been nice to have a flashing light or something that would perhaps give us a little more prior warning.
| Display | LED display with five indicator lights |
| Heart rate monitor | No |
| GPS | No |
| Water resistant | Yes, up to 50 meters |
| Sleep tracking | Yes, automatic |
| Silent alarms | Yes |
| Notifications | Yes, calls and texts |
| Battery life | Up to 5 days |
| Sensors | 3-axis accelerometer Vibration motor |
| Compatibility | Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, Web |
| Interchangeable bands | Yes |
| Colors | Black, Lavender, Magenta, Navy |
| Dimensions | Small: 139.7mm – 170.2mm (11.2mm wide) Large: 170.2mm – 205.7mm (11.2mm wide) |
| Price | $99.95 |
Software
Fitbit has always had one of the best Android apps in the fitness tracking landscape, and that shines here with the Flex 2. The interface is clean, simple and intuitive, and is sure to delight casual and power users.
The app does come with a couple of caveats however, as one or two odd choices mar the experience. The biggest example for us is the fact that the swimming autodetection is off by default, so you’ll need to turn it on by heading to Activities>Settings>Swimming>Auto-Recognize.
I wasn’t aware the option was turned off by default, which meant the Flex 2 didn’t record my first swim. That meant I had to go again, but to be fair, it certainly achieved the goal of keeping me active.
While there’s no GPS built in, you can still track your routes by using the Fitbit app. This syncs with the footstep data coming from the band and thereby gives you a little more information, as well as plotting your route on a map. This isn’t as good as having a built-in GPS, of course, as it means you have to take your phone with you on a run. It also won’t give you as much detailed information as you’d get with a true running watch. It also won’t record your stride length, VO2 max or anaerobic threshold, but the app should provide enough information to satisfy users who are new to tracking their running and workout stats.
While there’s no GPS built in, you can still track your routes in the Fitbit app
Oh, and if you find that the Fitbit app isn’t as robust as you’d like in some areas, you’ll be happy to hear that you can pair your RunKeeper or Endomondo accounts with Fitbit’s app. This means that whatever your Flex 2 records during your workouts, that information will be sent over to your favorite fitness tracking services.
This is also the case for tracking calorie burn. While Fitbit lets you sync with many popular services like MyFitnessPal, it also has the functionality built in, even allowing you to scan barcodes to automatically enter things you’ve eaten. Fitbit is one of the best brands when it comes to third party support.
The app will give you plenty of encouragement, too, with badges awarded for various milestones, weekly recaps and a strong social element. There are even challenges that pit you against other users.
Gallery
Conclusion
All in all, the Fitbit Flex 2 is a well-designed fitness tracker with a lot of neat features that serves as an introduction to Fitbit’s excellent software and ecosystem. It’s a small, convenient device that can take on any look to match your style and that will easily survive a dip in the pool. While it might lack advanced features, it is nevertheless smarter than you might expect thanks to the highly capable app and brilliant activity autodetection.
It’s not perfect, though. Serious gym rats will be disappointed at the lack of tracking for strength workouts, battery life could be longer and the notifications are essentially pointless. It’s also fairly expensive at $99.95 when you bear in mind that some fitness trackers will offer heart rate monitoring and other advanced features for not much more.
But if you like the svelte and versatile design and you’re just looking for something that will reliably track your steps and activity, then you might not need those extra features anyway. And in that case, the Fitbit Flex 2 is probably one of the best basic trackers available.
Ring Stick Up Cam review – CNET
The Good It’s weatherproofed for outside use and you can power it via its built-in rechargeable battery, the included USB adapter or a neat solar panel accessory.
The Bad Audio quality was spotty during testing. You have to pay for event-based cloud storage. Its 80-degree field of view doesn’t cover very much ground and the live video stream often looked grainy in testing.
The Bottom Line The Ring Stick Up Cam’s flexible power sources give it real appeal, but other standalone DIY cameras offer more for less.
Complete with 720p live video streaming, motion-sensing capabilities and an optional cloud storage service, Ring’s $199 (£159) Stick Up Cam is strikingly similar to the smart home startup’s Ring Video Doorbell, which comes at the same price. The only things that’s missing is, you know, the whole doorbell part.
The main benefit to the Wi-Fi-enabled Stick Up Cam lies in its portable weatherproofed design. You can install this camera pretty much anywhere outside, and power it with a rechargeable battery, a power adapter or an add-on $49 (£40) solar panel accessory.
But there’s a downside. Stick Up Cams were designed to complement Ring Video Doorbells. The idea is that you’ll have Ring’s buzzer watching over your front door and some Stick Up Cams covering any additional ground. And perhaps to ensure that you’ll need or want both products, Ring skimped on some key DIY camera features that would allow it to act as a solid standalone security purchase.
The Stick Up Cam is fine, but the Nest Cam Outdoor and Netgear Arlo are stronger DIY security cameras.
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Getting to know your Stick Up Cam
The Ring Stick Up Cam is a discreet outdoor-rated security camera with a black finish. It comes with a couple of different base attachments and related hardware. A screwdriver and a drill bit are included with your purchase, too, to help you with the install.
For simplicity and to avoid making permanent holes in the CNET Smart Home, I placed a Stick Up Cam on a flat surface during testing instead of attaching it to a wall or ceiling. You’ll want to go with something more long-term if you buy one, since wind and other weather changes can easily knock an outdoor camera out of position. They’re easier for someone to steal that way, too.
I wouldn’t say the Stick Up Cam has an especially attractive design, but it did easily blend in with the surroundings. Its hardware felt durable as well, and it survived wind and snow flurries without complaint.
Take a look at the chart below to see how Ring’s Stick Up Cam compares to other outdoor cameras:
Comparing outdoor security cameras
| Ring Stick Up Cam | Nest Cam Outdoor | Netgear Arlo (Pro) | Canary Flex |
| $199 | $200 or £150 | $180, £135 or AU$240 ($240) | $199 or £159 |
| Black | White | White | Black, white |
| Adapter, rechargeable batteries or solar panel accessory | Adapter | Four CR123 lithium 3-volt photo batteries (rechargeable batteries) | Adapter or rechargeable batteries |
| 720-pixel HD | 1080p HD | 720-pixel HD | 720-pixel HD |
| Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| No | Yes, with Nest Aware | No | No |
| $3 per month for six months of event-based cloud storage | Free 3-hour event-based snapshots (Optional 10-day or 30-day continuous recording and storage with Nest Aware subscription for $10 or $30 per month) | Free seven-day event-based video clip storage (Optional 30- or 60-day event-based video clip storage with Arlo subscription for $10 or $15 per month) | Free 24-hour event-based cloud storage |
| No | No | No | No |
| Yes, Android and iPhone | Yes, Android and iPhone | Yes, Android and iPhone | Yes, Android and iPhone |
| Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 80 degrees | 130 degrees | 110 degrees (130 degrees) | 116 degrees |
| Motion only | Motion and sound (Person Alerts added with Nest Aware) | Motion only | Motion only |
| Yes | Yes, with Nest Aware | No | No |
| -5 to 120 degrees Fahrenheit (-21 to 49 degrees Celsius) | -4 to 104 degrees Fahrenheit (-20 to 40 degrees Celsius). | 14 to 122 degrees Fahrenheit (-9 to 50 degree Celsius) | -4 to 113 degrees Fahrenheit (-20 to 45 degrees Celsius) |
| IFTTT, Belkin WeMo, Wink, Kevo, ADT | IFTTT, Works with Nest | IFTTT, Samsung SmartThings | Wink |
While the Stick Up Cam’s specs may look roughly comparable to other outdoor security cameras, it falls short in a couple of key ways. First, you have to pay for cloud storage. While select DIY security companies do charge a monthly or yearly fee for cloud storage, more and more brands are offering some sort of free option.
Netgear’s Arlo and Arlo Pro cameras, Canary’s Flex and Nest Cam Outdoor all offer free cloud video clips or photos of activity, with the option of upgrading to a paid subscription as needed. Ring charges customers $3 per month or $30 per year for its event-based cloud service. $30 isn’t a ton of money to spend, but I wish Ring could somehow include customers who either don’t need or don’t want to pay for six months of storage.
Second, the Stick Up Cam’s 80-degree field of view is pretty narrow. The competition ranges from 110 to 130 degrees, which can make a significant difference in how much of your front yard, driveway or back yard the camera is able to see.
HP Spectre x360 review (2016): Smaller, with more compromises
Here at Engadget, we don’t have the time to review every new laptop, but we wanted to make time for HP’s redesigned Spectre x360 convertible. After all, when the original came out a year and a half ago, we quickly named it one of our favorite Windows machines. So now that it’s finally gotten a full makeover, we need to see if the improvements are enough to help HP keep its spot on our short list.
Like the original, this new model ($1,050-plus) has a 360-degree hinge, allowing you to use it in one of four modes, but whereas the original was designed with extensive input from Microsoft, it’s unclear how much of a say Microsoft had this time around. This time, too, the x360 is thinner and lighter, with a smaller footprint. It also brings a new dual fan setup for improved cooling and an upgraded webcam that supports Windows Hello facial recognition. These improvements are all welcome, and yet somehow this new version doesn’t feel as polished as its predecessor.
Hardware
The original x360’s relative heft was one of the few things I found fault with when I reviewed it. Fortunately, then, the refreshed version really is noticeably lighter. And smaller, too. First off, we’re down to 2.85 pounds — an 11 percent drop from 3.17 on the original. (The first-gen version weighed slightly more if you bought it with a full HD panel.) Meanwhile, HP reduced the thickness by 13 percent — it’s now 13.8mm, or 0.54 inches, as compared with 15.9mm (0.63 inches) on the original. For reference, the upgraded 15-inch x360, which we’re not reviewing today, now measures 15.9mm thin, making it as thin the earlier 13-inch model.
As for that smaller footprint, HP pulled a page from Dell’s playbook and went with a nearly bezel-less display, allowing for a smaller chassis than you’d otherwise expect on a 13.3-inch machine. As a result of using this “Micro Edge” panel, as HP calls it, the design team had to retool the keyboard, extending it from edge to edge so as to take full advantage of the available space. It mostly works out — the backlit keys are well spaced and springy — and having just tested the Touch Bar MacBook Pros, I have a renewed appreciation for laptops with media shortcuts built into the Function row.
That said, being a heavy user of the arrow keys, I never quite got used to the tiny “down” button. Also, because the left Ctrl and Function keys have each been shrunken down to the size of a thumbnail, I frequently hit Fn when I meant to strike Ctrl. Which happens a lot when you’re a fan of keyboard shortcuts.
While I mostly enjoyed the keyboard, though, I was not impressed with the touchpad. Once again, HP went with a Synaptics clickpad — seriously, would it have killed HP to go with one of Microsoft’s own Precision touchpads? As spacious as the trackpad is, it’s also stubborn and unpredictable, with a high-friction surface that makes it harder to drag the cursor around than it should be. Also, it frequently rebels by registering phantom left clicks. This caused me to grab and reorder my pinned browser tabs when really I was trying to move the cursor around the desktop. I’ve noticed the same thing on other Windows laptops I’ve tested (many of which use Synaptics); it’s a telltale sign of a subpar trackpad.
Throughout, the machine is made of solid aluminum, with the hinge made of stainless steel underneath. Though the silver color and unibody construction have carried over from the original, you’d never mistake this year’s for the 2015 edition. For starters, HP swapped in the same new logo it introduced earlier this year on its Spectre 13.3 ultraportable; you’ll see that on both the lid and the lower bezel.
There’s also now a conspicuous Bang & Olufsen speaker grille stretching above the keyboard. In addition to the two speakers in there, there are two more on the bottom of the laptop, which means the total speaker count is double what it was last year. HP says the idea in separating the two speaker pairs the way it did was to ensure decent sound regardless of the usage mode.
The speakers are certainly loud — when listening alone in my apartment, I opted to cap the volume at around 25, but probably could have gone even lower. But like so many other laptop speakers that came before it, these can sound a bit tinny, depending on your musical selections. Frank Zappa’s “Son of Mr. Green Genes” and Motown songs like Jimmy Ruffin’s “What Becomes of the Brokenhearted” seemed to be missing some crucial bass and drum notes. Beyoncé’s “Crazy in Love” sounded better, but then again, it’s a tinnier track to begin with. All told, the audio here is acceptable, but it’s nowhere near as good as on, say, the new MacBook Pro, which I happened to be testing at the same time as the x360.
Also new this time: The addition of USB Type-C ports — two of them, to be exact. These ports also support Thunderbolt 3 accessories, and it’s also through one of these ports that you’ll charge the machine. Don’t worry, though: One of the original three full-size USB connections remains, meaning you won’t need a dongle to charge your phone or plug in any other peripherals you might have lying around.
Unfortunately, however, while the full-size USB port and headphone jack both live to see another day, the rest of last year’s ports have all been sacrificed in the name of a slimmer design. That includes the full-size HDMI socket, the Mini DisplayPort and the full-size SD reader. This isn’t a surprise, especially considering what competing laptops have to offer, but it might still be a shame, depending on your needs.
One thing that hasn’t changed much: the screen. We once again have a 13.3-inch, full HD panel with a 300-nit brightness rating and a color gamut that includes 72 percent of the sRGB space. The only difference this time is what isn’t offered: Whereas last time there was a step-up QHD screen option, this time it’s 1080p throughout, regardless of what the other specs are. An HP spokesperson declined to comment on whether the company might eventually bring back that sharper display option. While that might be a dealbreaker for people who were otherwise prepared to spend $1,500 or so on a high-end machine, the screen nonetheless offers satisfying viewing angles, with good contrast and color fidelity when you dip the screen forward.
Performance and battery life
| HP Spectre x360 (2016, 2.7GHz Core i7-7500U, Intel HD 620) | 5,515 | 4,354 | E2,656 / P1,720 / X444 | 3,743 | 1.76 GB/s / 579 MB/s |
| Lenovo Yoga 910 (2.7GHz Core i7-7500U, 8GB, Intel HD 620) | 5,822 | 4,108 |
E2,927 / P1,651 / X438 |
3,869 | 1.59 GB/s / 313 MB/s |
| Microsoft Surface Book (2016, 2.6GHz Core i7-6600U, 2GB NVIDIA GeForce GTX 965M) | 5,452 | 4,041 | E8,083 / P5,980 / X2,228 | 11,362 | 1.71 GB/s / 1.26 GB/s |
| ASUS ZenBook 3 (2.7GHz Intel Core-i7-7500U, Intel HD 620) | 5,448 | 3,911 | E2,791 / P1,560 | 3,013 | 1.67 GB/s / 1.44 GB/s |
| HP Spectre 13 (2.5GHz Intel Core i7-6500U, Intel HD 520) | 5,046 | 3,747 | E2,790 / P1,630 / X375 | 3,810 | 1.61 GB/s / 307 MB/s |
| Dell XPS 13 (2.3GHz Core i5-6200U, Intel Graphics 520) | 4,954 | 3,499 | E2,610 / P1,531 | 3,335 | 1.6GB/s / 307 MB/s |
| Razer Blade Stealth (2.5GHz Intel Core i7-6500U, Intel HD 520) | 5,131 | 3,445 | E2,788 / P1,599 / X426 | 3,442 | 1.5 GB/s / 307 MB/s |
| Microsoft Surface Pro 4 (2.4GHz Core i5-6300U, Intel HD 520) | 5,403 | 3,602 |
E2,697/ P1,556/ X422 |
3,614 | 1.6 GB/s / 529 MB/s |
As I write this, I’m sitting on my couch in shorts, and the Spectre x360 is burning my thighs. I periodically have to shift the machine or even put it on a coffee table to give my legs a rest. The fans are whirring loudly enough for me to hear over my TV, though, so at least I know they’re working. So much for that improved cooling setup, I guess — all I’m doing is typing in Google Docs with a dozen open Chrome tabs. Spotify is open, but not streaming. None of this should be enough to send the machine into a tizzy.
This seemed odd to me, and indeed, I brought in a second x360 for additional testing. That one didn’t get quite as hot, but it was still warm, even when all I was doing was working in a browser and Slack while streaming music. Even so, the intense heat I felt that one time is concerning. After all, that laptop was a production unit, coming off the same factory lines as any laptop you might buy. If it could happen to me, it could happen to you.
The heat and fan noise are a shame, because as loud and hot as it is, it’s otherwise a strong performer. For starters, the x360 is, for now, one of the only laptops available with Intel’s seventh-generation Core processors, code-named “Kaby Lake.” It’s also available with up to 16GB of RAM on more expensive configurations, though PCIe solid-state drives are standard across the board. The model I tested had a 2.7GHz Core i7-7500U CPU, 16 gigs of memory, integrated Intel HD 620 graphics and 512GB of storage.
In everyday use, the machine boots in a brisk seven seconds. Speaking of log-ins, the webcam here now has a 12 percent wider field of view and supports Windows Hello facial recognition. Setting this up was quick and easy, and the camera recognized me every time — so long as I wasn’t wearing glasses, anyway. To be fair, I had this same problem recently with Microsoft’s Surface Book, which also supports Windows Hello. Hopefully, future iterations of the technology will take into account that even regular contacts wearers wear spectacles sometimes.
As for disk speeds, its NVMe-made PCIe solid-state drive achieved average max write speeds of 1.76 gigabytes per second, according to the ATTO benchmark. Its write rates weren’t nearly as fast, but still solid at 579 MB/s.
| HP Spectre x360 (13-inch, 2016) | 13:36 |
| Surface Book with Performance Base (2016) | 16:15 |
| Surface Book (Core i5, integrated graphics) | 13:54 / 3:20 (tablet only) |
| Apple MacBook Pro 2016 (13-inch, no Touch Bar) | 11:42 / 3:02 (tablet only) |
| Surface Book (Core i7, discrete graphics) | 11:31 / 3:02 (tablet only) |
| Apple MacBook Pro with Retina display (13-inch, 2015) | 11:23 |
| Apple MacBook Pro 2016 (15-inch) | 11:00 |
| HP Spectre x360 15t | 10:17 |
| Apple MacBook Pro 2016 (13-inch, Touch Bar) | 9:55 |
| ASUS ZenBook 3 | 9:45 |
| Apple MacBook (2016) | 8:45 |
| Samsung Notebook 9 | 8:16 |
| Microsoft Surface Pro 4 | 7:15 |
| HP Spectre 13 | 7:07 |
HP rates the battery life at up to 15 hours and 15 minutes on the 13-inch model — up from 12.5 hours last year. (The 15-inch version we’re not reviewing today promises a max of 13 hours.) The company says that’s thanks to both more power-efficient processors and a larger 57.8Wh battery, up from 56Wh last year.
Though I never hit that 15-hour mark, I did indeed get longer battery life than on last year’s model: 13 hours and 36 minutes in Engadget’s standard rundown test, which involves looping a video at fixed brightness. That’s hours longer than with some laptops this size, like the 13-inch Touch Bar MacBook Pro, and it’s about two hours longer than on last year’s x360.
Obviously, your mileage will vary, but HP says the machine will recharge consistently fast regardless. In particular, the company claims that its “Fast Charge” tech can return the system to a 90 percent charge in 90 minutes.
Configuration options
The new x360 starts at $1,150 and is available on HP’s website and at Best Buy here in the US. For that base price you get a seventh-gen Intel Core i5 processor, 8GB of RAM and a 256GB SSD. For $1,159 you get similar specs, except a Core i7 CPU instead of an i5. From there, you can step up to a $1,299 model that offers a Core i7 chip and doubles both the RAM and the storage (so: 16GB of memory with a 512GB SSD). The top-end model, which goes for $1,499, maxes out at 1TB of solid-state storage.
Either way, as mentioned earlier, the screen resolution tops out at 1080p. The graphics are the same across the board too: Intel’s integrated HD 620 solution, though the i7 models have a higher Turbo Boost clock speed.
The competition
The Spectre x360 always has plenty of competition, with many of its rivals also being brand-new releases. The most direct comparison might be the Lenovo Yoga 910, another laptop with a 360-degree hinge, a $1,050 starting price, and similar specs (up to a seventh-gen Core i7 processor with 16GB of RAM and a 1TB SSD). Superficially, the biggest differences are that this has a larger 13.9-inch display (and therefore a slightly larger footprint) and it has a higher-res 3,840 x 2,160 screen option. (I’ve been testing the 910 alongside the Spectre x360, so you can expect to see a full review of it on Engadget soon.)
There’s also Microsoft’s refreshed Surface Book, which also can be used in various modes. (It has a detachable screen, though, not a 360-degree hinge.) I reviewed it recently and was generally fond of it, my major complaint being that it’s relatively heavy, at 3.68 pounds. In exchange for that heft, at least, you get 16-hour battery life, fast performance and lots of ports. Think: two full-size USB 3.0 connections, a Mini DisplayPort, a headphone jack and a full-size SDXC reader.
If you don’t actually need that convertible design, Dell’s XPS 13 ($800-plus) remains our favorite traditional laptop, even two years after it was released. Though it starts with just a Core i3 processor and 4GB of RAM, Dell uses seventh-gen Intel CPUs throughout, with options running as high as i7. You can also go up to 16GB of RAM and a 1TB SSD, with a 3,200 x 1,800 screen offered on higher-end models instead of a lower-res 1080p panel. Whichever configuration you choose, we’re fans of the nearly bezel-less screen, comfortable keyboard and compact design.
I might normally have you look at Acer and VAIO too, but we weren’t thrilled with ASUS’s ultraportable ZenBook 3, and it seems VAIO hasn’t updated its 13-inch “Z Flip” to the latest Intel processors.
That leaves Apple. Though the new 13-inch MacBook Pro doesn’t have a 360-degree hinge or even a touchscreen, for that matter, it’s similar to the Spectre x360 when it comes to weight, size, specs and starting price ($1,299 without the controversial Touch Bar). At 3.02 pounds, it’s in the same ballpark, but the battery life is shorter. Though both systems have comfortable keyboards, Apple wins as far as the touchpad is concerned. It also has a sharper display and clearer audio. But not so fast: HP keeps the convenient Function buttons, as well as a full-size USB 3.0 port. The refreshed x360 might not be as well rounded as its predecessor, but I suspect it still ticks off more boxes for more people than the MacBook Pro.
Wrap-up
As we’ve just established, then, the updated Spectre x360 is one of several recent laptops that is now thinner and lighter and smaller. It was a similar story with the redesigned MacBook Pro that came out earlier this fall, as well as the new Lenovo Yoga 910. But while HP isn’t the only PC brand to make concessions in the name of portability, that doesn’t mean the company deserves a free pass. In exchange for that more compact design, we’re left with fewer ports and a keyboard that feels more cramped than it used to. (HP also needs to get better at making touchpads, but that’s neither here nor there.)
That’s not to say there are no improvements — Windows Hello is a treat, as are the faster SSD speeds, longer battery life and wide viewing angles. But if our main complaint about last year’s model was that it was slightly heavy compared with the competition, it would seem that HP accepted some compromises in the name of shedding a few ounces.
These are the Snapchat Spectacles
Snapchat Spectacles is the first wearable from Snapchat. It basically looks like a regular pair of sunglasses, but comes with a built-in camera lens that lets you record up to 10 second videos and then share on the social media platform. These aren’t the easiest to get your hands on, but we were finally able to do so. Here is our first impressions as we unbox the Snapchat Spectacles!
A lot of people enjoy using Snapchat, and the Spectacles offer a new and fantastic way to share things from your perspective, quite literally. You can record 10 second snaps using the glasses, and the video will then be sent to the app, from where you can either send it to anyone on your Snapchat or share it to your “My Story.”
As mentioned, the Spectacles are really hard to get, given that they are sold via vending machines, called Snapbots, that pop up around your city. The Snapchat Spectacles website features a “Find a Bot” section with a countdown timer, and once the timer hits zero, a random location is mentioned which tells you where you can find the Snapbot. I’ve tried three times to get to the vending machine and have waited in line for hours on end without success, and I was finally lucky enough to get one.
The Spectacles come in a yellow case that also doubles as a charging dock. Once you run out of battery on the glasses, you can put them back in the case, that has connector pins on the corner, to charge them.
In the box is the setup guide, which says that you need to hit the button on the glasses and then open the Snapchat app and connect to it via a code that it generates. It uses Bluetooth or Wi-Fi to connect, and the Spectacles are compatible with both iOS and Android devices. Also included in the package is a cleaning cloth which takes the shape of the Snapchat ghost, as well as a proprietary charging cable.
Once the glasses are paired to the phone, you can start taking 10-second snaps with it by using the button on the top left side. As far as comfort when wearing the glasses is concerned, something to keep in mind is that only one size is available for the Spectacles, so it may end up being a touch small and in my case, I do feel a slight pinching on the sides. There are also black bars on the insides that tend to block your peripheral vision, which isn’t necessarily distracting, but something you definitely do notice.
In the Android app, you will find all the snaps you’ve taken using the glasses in the Memories section. There will be a new section just for the Spectacles, and you will be able to select what snaps to send out to other users or share on My Story.
When you look at the video in the Memories section, you will see a snap that is full screen and traditional looking. However, if you save it to your Gallery or send it to other users, it will put a circular crop on the video, which is a little bit distracting. I would have preferred being able to send the full video without the circular crop. Hopefully this is something that will be included later on, because the camera obviously takes full video, and it is in the app that the circular crop is added.
On the right side of the spectacles is an indicator that tells people when you are recording something, which helps alleviate some privacy concerns, with them not having to worry about being recorded without their knowledge. You get to see a light as well on the left side, so you know when the glasses have stopped recording.
Tapping twice on the side will also tell you how much battery is left. I haven’t been using the Snapchat Spectacles long enough to arrive at a definite conclusion, but from what I’ve seen so far, and from what I’ve heard from other users, the battery life is pretty good.
These are sunglasses, so it isn’t a good idea to wear them when the sun goes down or while indoors, where it will obscure your vision. Of course, there will definitely be situations where you will want to take snaps, so the best idea here will be to just hold up the glasses and take a shot, instead of wearing them.
So there you have it for this first look at Snapchat Spectacles! Stay tuned as we bring you the full review that will be coming up shortly, and until then, you can also follow me on Snapchat over the weekend too see what the snaps from the Snapchat Spectacles look like.
Bose SoundLink Color II review – CNET
The Good Like its predecessor, the Bose SoundLink Color is a compact portable Bluetooth speaker that delivers impressive sound for its size (the sound is improved) and 8 hours of battery life. It’s now water-resistant and adds speakerphone capabilities.
The Bad Soft-to-the-touch finish attracts dusts and lint. No AC adapter included.
The Bottom Line Modestly redesigned, the next-generation SoundLink Color is an excellent compact Bluetooth speaker that’s water-resistant and has speakerphone capabilities, as well as improved sound.
I was a fan of Bose’s original SoundLink Color Bluetooth speaker and praised it for being relatively affordable — by Bose standards anyway — and sounding good for its compact size. Its mostly improved sequel, the SoundLink Color II, also comes in a few different color options and is similar in shape, though it’s slightly shorter and squatter, and weighs a tad more (1.28 pounds. or 581g vs. 1.20 pounds or 544g) while costing the same price: $130, £120 in the UK, and AU$179 in Australia.
While the original’s finish was mostly smooth, hard plastic with some rubberized trim on top of the speaker and sides, this new model is entirely covered in soft-t0-the-touch rubber, which has a little give to it and seems better designed to withstand drops. The new speaker is officially water-resistant, too: Its IPX-4 certification makes it splashproof, though not waterproof. Or to put it another way, it should be able to spend some time out in the rain and survive.
The speaker has a soft-to-the-touch rubberized finish and is water-resistant.
Sarah Tew/CNET
Other bonus features include a microphone for speakerphone capabilities, as well as NFC tap-to-pair technology for devices that support it. The SoundLink Color II can remember up to eight devices paired to it, while its eight hours of battery life — at medium volume levels — is the same as the original’s. (That’s decent enough but not exceptionally good).
I personally don’t think the design is an aesthetic upgrade, but the speaker does look a tad more understated and mature. I like the soft-to-the-touch finish, but the one downside is that it’s a magnet for dust, lint and carpet fibers, so you may find yourself having to wipe it down from time to time (as I said, it is water-resistant, so taking a wet cloth to it isn’t a problem).
Note, too, the USB-powered speaker does not include an AC adapter. That may be an annoyance to some, but I was fine with it — any standard phone or gadget charger you have will do the trick.
Omega Juice Cube juicer review – CNET
The Good The Omega Juice Cube neatly packs away into a compact package that’s easy to store. It also slowly crushes produce to make juice without frothing or aerating. Equipped with a powerful motor, the appliance can tackle a wide variety of items including citrus, leafy greens to hard vegetables and nuts.
The Bad It makes less juice than ordinary horizontal slow juicers. It has more parts to keep track of and is heavy.
The Bottom Line While perfect for those seeking a kitchen juicer able to hide away in plain sight, serious juice drinkers should pass it up for a machine that performs better.
Visit manufacturer site for details.
Thanks to a compact design which packs away neatly for storage, the $350 Omega Juice Cube removes one huge hassle to juicing at home. That is how to squeeze a juicer into your kitchen where it won’t be an eyesore. The Juice Cube is powerful too and will easily crush just about any type of produce you throw at it.
Still, there are some tradeoffs to the Omega Juice Cube’s unique approach to juicing. To take advantage of the machine’s space-saving design, you must assemble and break down its numerous parts each juicing session. The Juice Cube also yields less juice and is a lot heavier than its standard horizontal juicer sibling, the $300 Omega J8006 Nutrition Center, despite its transformable shape.
Juice Cube morphs from mysterious box to…
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Design and features
With sides that are all roughly 10.3 inches long (10.24 x 10.43 x 10.24, inches; H,W, D), the Omega Juice Cube’s appearance definitely matches its name. Rounded corners help disguise the juicer’s true size which is slightly larger than your average 4-slice toaster.
The Juice Cube can hold all its parts inside its body when not in use.
Tyler Lizenby/CNET
Nothing can mask how heavy the Juice Cube is though. It tips the scale at a whopping 20 pounds. That a full 7 pounds heavier than the Omega J8006, a product I would never classify as lightweight.
Before you can start juicing you’ll need to unpack all the Juice Cube’s parts and assemble them. It’s a task that at first demands some practice and a bit of patience. Including the clear front cover and plastic containers for juice and waste pulp, there are nine components you’ll have to contend with. That’s a four more pieces to keep track of compared with the less complex Omega J8006.
When assembled the Juice Cube looks like a normal horizontal slow juicer.
Tyler Lizenby/CNET
Once properly built, the Omega Juice Cube has parts you should recognize if you’ve owned a horizontal juicer before. There’s a hopper and vertical chute to accept food. This feeds into a large auger that slowly spins to smash liquid juice from produce pulp. Juice then collects inside a container below while fibrous pulp is pushed to the side to land in another container.
HP Stream 14-ax010nr review – CNET
The Good The inexpensive HP Stream 14 is an attractive, lightweight 14-inch Windows laptop with a long battery life and performance good enough for basic productivity and streaming media. Plenty of expansion ports. Includes 1TB of OneDrive cloud storage and Office 365 Personal for one year.
The Bad Paltry on-board storage capacity. The screen quality isn’t good and the keyboard and touchpad are merely passable.
The Bottom Line With the Stream 14, HP once again shows that a Windows laptop for email and online apps can be attractive and inexpensive.
A low price on a laptop can make up for a lot of shortcomings. That is, as long as those shortcomings don’t interfere with you getting stuff done.
The 14-inch HP Stream, for example, is only $220 in the US and £200 in the UK and as long as your needs don’t leap too far beyond watching YouTube clips, sending email and using web apps, you’re golden. (HP doesn’t offer the Stream in a 14-inch size in Australia, but there is the HP 14-am034tu for AU$500, which is similarly configured, but with a 500GB hard drive instead of a 32GB eMMC.)
HP Stream 14 (14-ax010nr)
| $220 |
| 14-inch 1,366 x 768 display |
| 1.6GHz Intel Celeron N3060 |
| 4GB DDR3 SDRAM 1,600MHz |
| Inte HD Graphics 400 (128MB) |
| 32GB eMMC storage |
| 802.11ac, Bluetooth 4.0 |
| Window 10 Home (64-bit) |
| One USB 2.0, Two USB 3.0/3.1, SD card slot, mic/headphone jack, HDMI out |
The 14-inch body is thin and it’s light at about 3 pounds (1.4 kg), but if you were hoping for something smaller, HP makes an 11.6-inch Stream for $20 less. It has the same internal components as the 14, but has one less USB 3.1 port and a microSD card slot instead of the 14’s full-size slot.
The Stream is a nice-looking laptop, too, assuming you’re cool with the bright blue color. It’s all plastic with ridges on the lid that give it texture and added grip. The blue continues inside except for the bright white keyboard.
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Plenty of ports for peripherals.
Sarah Tew/CNET
With its meager 32GB of storage — only about half of which is available to use — it’s nice HP didn’t skimp on expansion options. An SD card fits almost entirely in the slot, too, so you could easily leave a card in there for files and applications.
You can, of course, use those ports for a keyboard and mouse to avoid the laptop’s touchpad and keyboard. The latter isn’t altogether unpleasant, but there’s very little travel and the keys feel thin and flimsy like they might pop off or stop working if you type too hard. The touchpad is generally OK, but I recommend shutting off most of the multitouch options like pinch-to-zoom and turning up the palm rejection setting.
AIVAnet 