Getting your
Trinity Audioplayer ready...Over the course of my career, I’ve tested portable computers dating back to the 25-pound Osborne 1 that barely fit in an airplane overhead bin. When I carried one into a New York hotel, the doorman asked what it was. After I told him it was a computer, he said the hotel engineer would have to approve it before I plugged it in. The Osborne sold for $1,795 in 1981, about $6,600 in today’s dollars.
Since then, laptops have become much lighter, faster, and far less expensive.
You don’t have to spend a fortune
Dell, Lenovo, Acer, and HP all make excellent laptops, but before discussing the high-end HP OmniBook X Flip 2-in-1 that I’ve been testing, it’s worth noting that you don’t need to spend $1,000 or more to get a capable laptop.
As I wrote a few weeks ago, Apple’s MacBook Neo starts at under $600. HP has a page devoted to laptops under $500, including a 17-inch Windows 11 model selling for about $450. It comes with 8 GB of RAM and a 256 GB solid-state drive, similar to the entry-level Apple Neo. Upgrading to 16 GB of RAM adds about $110, a 512 GB SSD costs another $110, and a touch screen adds roughly $110 more. Even fully upgraded, the price is about $670 plus tax.
Prices cited may have been discounted when I checked and are subject to change.
Why I like touch screens and 2-in-1s
I’m a fan of touch screens and 2-in-1 laptops whose screens fold all the way back for tablet or tent mode. I don’t use those features every day, but they come in handy when watching videos, giving presentations or marking up documents. Touch screens are also useful for tasks such as resizing photos or drawing on the display.
These features used to carry a hefty premium. Today, HP sells a 14-inch OmniBook 5 Flip 2-in-1 with a touch screen for about $529.
The entry-level version includes 8 GB of RAM and 256 GB of storage, but HP offers options for additional memory and storage.
And, sorry Mac users, Apple doesn’t make any MacBook laptops with touch or foldable screens. For that they want you to buy an iPad.
Think before upgrading
Whatever laptop you choose, think carefully before paying for upgrades. Extra memory is useful if you run many applications at once, keep dozens of browser tabs open, or use demanding software. Additional storage may be less important if you rely on cloud services such as Dropbox or Microsoft OneDrive and keep only frequently used files on your device.
A premium laptop for frequent travelers
Spending more on a laptop typically gets you a better display, more memory and storage, a faster processor and often a lighter design. It can also get you a better design and an overall more pleasant experience. And size and weight matter. I travel frequently and attend conferences where I carry a laptop all day, which is why I favor 13- and 14-inch models. More screen space is nice, but not at the expense of my back.
On a recent trip, I carried an HP OmniBook X Flip 2-in-1 Laptop Next Gen AI with a 14-inch touch screen that folds into tablet or tent mode. It weighs just over three pounds and comes with a compact power adapter that’s easy to carry.
HP offers numerous versions of the OmniBook X line. Some are traditional clamshell laptops while others are 2-in-1 models. Many can be customized with additional memory, storage, touch screens, or faster processors from both Intel and Qualcomm. If you don’t find an off-the-shelf configuration that meets your needs, look for a customizable option on HP’s website.
The OmniBook X Flip model HP sent me starts at about $1,400 for 16GB of RAM and 512GB of storage but can be configured with additional memory, storage and screen and processor options. Mine had an Intel Core Ultra 5 processor, which is more than fast enough for my needs.
Impressed
After using it for about a week, I’ve come away impressed. It has a premium feel reminiscent of a MacBook Pro, along with the flexibility of a touch screen and 2-in-1 design at a lower starting price. It includes a full-size keyboard, three USB-C ports, a USB-A port, all-day battery life and an HDMI port for connecting an external monitor. At just over three pounds, it remains among the lighter premium laptops.
AI built in
Like many new Windows PCs, the OmniBook X includes hardware designed to accelerate artificial intelligence applications. There is a dedicated Microsoft Copilot key and a neural processing unit (NPU) capable of handling AI workloads more efficiently than the main processor.
According to HP, the NPU helps power Windows features such as live translation, video-call enhancements and local image-editing tools while consuming less power. A dedicated graphics processor can also assist with more demanding AI tasks involving images and video.
HP’s website says it includes an AI application called AI Companion, but it wasn’t available on my review unit. After down it from Microsoft’s app store, I received a message saying it wasn’t supported on this device. HP later told me it is replacing AI Companion with a new application called HP IQ, which is expected to perform certain AI functions locally on the PC rather than in the cloud. When it becomes available, I’ll be interested to see how well it works.
Do you really need a laptop like this?
For many people, the OmniBook X is more laptop than they need, which is why I began this column by discussing less expensive alternatives. Many modern budget laptops are remarkably capable. Still, there is something to be said for a beautifully designed and well-crafted computer. Like a luxury car or a fine piece of furniture, a premium laptop can be enjoyable to use every day, even if a less expensive model would get the job done.
Mac users shouldn’t be afraid of switching
If you’re a Mac user concerned about switching to Windows, take it from someone who has moved back and forth between the two platforms many times and still uses both. In my experience, Windows 11 is every bit as stable and reliable as macOS. It rarely crashes, receives regular updates, and has evolved to be at least as intuitive as macOS. The reverse is also true. Switching platforms always involves a learning curve, but not a steep one. Both platforms are mature, capable and easy to use.
Whether it’s a Mac or Windows machine and at almost any price point, whatever you choose will be a lot more capable than that 25-pound Osborne I lugged into a New York hotel more than four decades ago.
Larry Magid is a tech journalist and internet safety activist. Contact him at larry@larrymagid.com.