HP Envy 14 Spectre - Connectivity and Price

Looking at connectivity, on the right-hand side you'll find two USB 3.0 ports, an HDMI port, a Mini Displayport and a headphone jack. There is also a Gigabit Ethernet port with a retracting half-cover to allow for network cables of different sizes.



The keyboard is backlit and has a nice action, though we would have liked a little more response from the keys. One strange decision - and one taken for aesthetic reasons only  - is a very noticeable step down between the glass-covered palmrest and keyboard and its surround. While not something which is a complete disaster, it does seem a little pointless.



HP laptops have become synonymous with the Beats Audio technology and the HP Spectre is no different. Below the red Beats Audio logo on the left-hand side of the laptop you'll find a volume dial and mute button which can be used even when the laptop is closed.

Another button gives users instant access to the Beats Audio equalisation settings menu. HP has placed the two speakers on the bottom of the laptop at the front. This means that the sound from the laptop will differ depending on what surface it is placed on.



We listened to the laptop while it was placed on a soft table cloth which did nothing for the sound and we'll have to wait until we test it properly before deciding if the speaker position is a success or not.

The HP Spectre will come with an SSD option only of up to 128GB, which isn't much when you consider this is a media-focused laptop. It will be offered with Intel's second generation Core i5 or Core i7 processors, which can be paired with 4GB or 6GB of RAM. With Ivy Bridge Ultrabooks already on the horizon, HP may be missing a trick here, but for most people the Sandy Bridge processors should meet their needs.



The HP Spectre will be available from March with prices beginning at €1,299, which is a lot more than the sub-£1,000 prices Intel were promising when it launched the Ultrabook platform. With Intel now promising £600-£700 laptops in the second generation of Ivy Bridge processor-powered Ultrabooks, the HP Spectre could look very expensive when it finally launches, though the premium materials and feel of the laptop will appeal to some.

Verdict

Unlike the evil villains of the James Bond movies, this Spectre is not scary at all - it is a beautiful-looking machine but could launch at the wrong time as its price and processors mean it could lose out to cheaper Ivy Bridge Ultrabooks.