HP Pavilion 11x360 Review

HP Pavilion 11x360
Price: Rs 39,990
Specs: 2.16Ghz quad core Intel Pentium, 4GB RAM, 500GB HDD , Intel HD graphics, 11.6-inch (1366 x 768 pixels) touchscreen, Windows 8.1, HDMI out, 1 x USB 3.0 + 2 x USB 2.0, 1.4 kg.

Taking on the Lenovo's popular Yoga series and other convertible laptops, the HP Pavillion 11x360 is a hybrid. It has got dual hinge that makes it flexible enough to convert it into a tablet as well. It has got an eye catchy design and a smooth finish. Our review unit was in red that attracted a lot of appreciation. It features an 11.6inch touch display with 1366 x 768 pixel resolution and weights 1.4 grams.

The keyboard was smooth to type. Running on Windows 8.1 operating system, it is equipped with the new Pentium N3250 quad core processor clocked at 2.16 GHz. It has got 4GB of RAM and 500GB HDD and Intel HD graphics. Setting up this machine for the first time took a very long time.

Designed to be an entry-level laptop, the performance is just about average and it feels slow overall as well. As this is hybrid, it can be used as a tablet too.

But for a tablet, it is too heavy to hold. A detachable keyboard could have been better, When the screen is tilted beyond the laptop mode, the keys and the trackpad get disabled. It even switches orientation in whichever direction the Pavilion is help in the portrait mode. The viewing angles aren't very good.

Ratings: 4.5/ 5 

Bag it or junk it: A basic machine, don't expect superfast performance. 

HP launches $250 Pavilion 10z laptop with AMD Mullins processor

 

AMD officially introduced its new Mullins processors a couple of months ago as part of its latest strategy to compete in mobile devices, whether low-cost laptops or tablets (though not low-cost ones). But so far the company hasn't had the chance to toot its horn much when it comes to design wins, though that may be about to change.

That's because AMD has scored a big "get" with HP's latest notebook, the Pavilion 10z, which is the first major device to ship with a Mullins chip. And at a price of $249.99, it's part of a trend of cheaper Windows laptops that will compete against the Chromebook insurgency.

The 10z features an AMD dual-core E1 Micro-6200T processor with Radeon R2 graphics powering Windows 8.1, 2GB of RAM, 500GB hard drive, and 1,366x768 10.1-inch touchscreen. No optical drive is included, though that's hardly surprising given the price point, form factor (0.89 inches thick, 2.5 pounds) and trend away from built-in DVD drives. At the moment, there doesn't appear to be an option to add more RAM or storage.

It remains to be seen how well the new Mullins processor performs, though it does include a Turbo mode to boost the clock speed in certain situations (which the last generation of AMD low-power mobile chips lacked). AMD is also touting its Enduro technology for improved battery life, but HP's own spec sheet is not encouraging in this regard, claiming that the 10z will only get up to 4 hours of battery life. (In AMD's defense, the 10z only comes with a meager 24WHr battery.)

It also remains to be seen if other manufacturers will embrace the Mullins processor lineup, though snaring HP is certainly a good start. 

Get an HP Pavilion 17.3-inch laptop for $299.99

When is a laptop not a laptop? When it's designed to spend most of its time in one place, like a desktop. In other words, when it's too big for travel, but great for when you want a spacious screen and keyboard.

Today only, and while supplies last, Best Buy has the refurbished HP Pavilion gcrf-17-e113dx 17.3-inch laptop for $299.99. Shipping is free, though you'll probably be on the hook for sales tax. (Pro tip: Offset that a bit by taking advantage of a cashback service. TopCashback, for example, is currently offering 2.5 percent back on Best Buy purchases.)

This particular Pavilion comes in anodized silver (pretty sharp, IMHO). It's stocked with an AMD quad-core processor, Radeon HD 7640G discrete-class graphics, 4GB of RAM (expandable to 8GB), and a 750GB hard drive.

You also get the usual DVD burner, webcam, SD card reader, and USB ports (two 3.0, one 2.0 -- though I don't understand why PC makers don't just go all-3.0).

The display resolution is 1,600 x 900, which some may find disappointing, but I think that's sufficient for a screen of this size.

And, let's be honest: you shouldn't be looking at this system if you plan to do high-end image editing, massive spreadsheets, or other tasks that would benefit from higher resolution. This is a fairly entry-level PC, one that happens to have an extra-large screen.

It also has a full one-year warranty, courtesy of Best Buy's Geek Squad Certification. That's a big plus, as most refurbished laptops are covered for just 90 days.

Consequently, I don't know how long these will last at this price. Here's hoping you're able to snag one before they're gone. (If not, I apologize -- very often deals like this vanish before the morning is out.)

Bonus deal: If you'd rather upgrade your old PC than buy a new one, Amazon has a deal on one of the best upgrade options ever: the Kingston Digital SSDNow 240GB solid-state drive for $99.99, shipped. This top-rated 2.5-inch SSD can seriously boost your PC's performance, at the same time making it quieter and lowering its power consumption. Kingston backs it with a three-year warranty.

HP shows up with new Pavilion notebooks, a convertible and an AIO for India

Earlier this month, HP unleashed a fresh lineup of devices in India and now, it’s adding more products to its portfolio. The fresh lineup includes the Pavilion 14 and Pavilion 15 notebooks, the Envy 15 laptop, the Pavilion x360 convertible and the Pavilion 23 AIO desktop.

Let’s start off with the Envy 15. This notebook is a high-end one designed for business users. It packs a 15.6-inch FHD display with a multi-gesture trackpad that supports Windows 8 gestures. Along with options of fourth generation Intel Core processors, the notebook features discrete graphics from Nvidia, up to 1TB of HDD storage and 8GB of DDR3L RAM.

Next up are the affordable HP Pavilion 14 and 15 notebooks which come in a variety of colors such as aqua blue, vibrant red, natural silver and snow white. Specs-wise, they feature HD displays, third generation Core processors, Intel HD Graphics 4000 and other decent components.

The most attractive laptop in the new series is the Pavilion x360 convertible which falls in the mid-range. This notebook has a flip-hinge design which allows you to push the display back by 360 degrees for use in multiple modes such as stand and tablet. It dons an 11.6-inch LED display and packs a quad core Bay Trail processor on the inside along with 4GB of RAM and a 500GB HDD.

The HP Envy 15 is priced at Rs 62990, but it isn’t the costliest option. The Pavilion 23 AIO desktop will set you back by Rs 67990, while the Pavilion 14/15 and the Pavilion x360 have starting prices of Rs 39990.

HP Launches Four New PC In India; Prices Starting At Rs 39,990

In an attempt to increase its share in the Indian PC market, HP has launched four new devices across segments, with prices starting at Rs 39,990. The company's new range includes the Pavilion notebook series, the x360 convertible PC, an all-in-one PC and a new Envy 15 laptop.

The new Pavilion 14 & 15 range of notebooks feature a unibody design and come in four vibrant colours to attract younger buyers. The devices will be priced starting at Rs 39,990 and come with Beats Audio speakers that the company claims will deliver a rich sound quality.

Next up was HP's Pavilion x360 convertible that features a 360-degree hinge, allowing the device to transform from laptop to a weird tent like form and finally into a tablet. The x360 runs on Windows 8 and is powered by a quad-core Bay-Trail processor coupled with 4GB of RAM. It also was launched at a price of Rs 39,990.

Moving into the more high-end laptop segment, HP unveiled its new Envy 15 that features a touch screen and is optimised to run on Windows 8.1. The new range of Envy 15 devices will go on sale starting July 20 and prices will start at Rs 62,990.

For desktop customers, HP also unveiled its new Pavilion 23 all-in-one PC that features a large high-definition touch screen. It too will hit shelves in India on July 20, with prices starting at Rs 67,990.

Apart from these four new devices, the company also launched a range of accessories in shades to match its colourful new products.