Hands-on impressions of HP’s detachable PC
Earlier this month, we pondered whether the HP ZBook x2 might just be the most powerful detachable PC in the world. While we can’t provide a definitive answer to that question, we recently got a chance see the ZBook x2 in person—and from our initial impressions, it certainly seems worthy of the hype.
Without reiterating all of the tech specs of the ZBook x2, it can be stated that this computer is powerful. HP built the ZBook x2 to be a mobile workstation, but it’s much more than just a beefed-up laptop. Following the trend set by Microsoft’s Surface lineup, the ZBook x2 is a laptop/tablet hybrid with a kickstand hinge, stylus and detachable keyboard.
Not everyone is a fan of this form factor, but for the right user, having the option to switch between laptop and tablet is a killer feature. As a Surface user myself, I was impressed by the attention to detail HP put into this design. Though the x2 is essentially a Surface Pro made by HP, it improves on the concept in a few small but important ways.
For one, unlike the soft fabric-coated keyboard of the Surface Pro, the ZBook x2’s keyboard feels like it belongs on a real laptop. It’s sturdy and comfortable to type on, but the best part is that it continues to work even when detached from the screen. You heard right: a Bluetooth connection means you can use the keyboard even in tablet mode, which is essential for those of us who frequently use keyboard shortcuts (Microsoft, if you’re reading this, it’s about time you implemented this too).
Another small, but useful feature, of the ZBook x2 is that on either side of the screen there’s a column of user-configurable buttons. These are reminiscent of the shortcut buttons on a Wacom tablet and allow users to map common shortcuts on an application-by-application basis.
The ZBook x2 also offers a better selection of ports than the Surface Pro, with two USB C ports, one USB 3.0 port and an HDMI port—compared to the Surface’s one USB 3.0 and Mini DisplayPort.
The stylus, made with Wacom technology, feels good in the hand and writes comfortably. When not in use, it fits in a snug loop attached to the keyboard, although it would have been nice to have it magnetically attach to the side of the screen like in the Surface. Other than that, the stylus is comparable to the Surface’s with a button near the tip and an eraser on the end.
Possibly the biggest drawback of the x2 is its weight. It comes in at 4 pounds, twice the weight of the Surface Pro, and you can feel it. While the Surface is light enough to use as a tablet for extended periods of time, the weight of the x2 means you’ll probably need to rest it on a table or your lap when in tablet mode.
Overall, the HP ZBook x2 is an impressive take on the detachable PC, edging out the Surface Pro in its attention to user-friendly features such as the Bluetooth keyboard, customizable hardware buttons and multitude of ports. However, it can’t quite match the Surface’s slim and light aesthetic, and leans a bit closer to the laptop end of the tablet/laptop spectrum. However, this is a fair trade off if you’re looking for a detachable PC that doesn’t compromise on performance.
To learn more about the HP ZBook x2, read The HP ZBook x2 PC: Is This the World’s Most Powerful Detachable PC?
