This has promise.
It is supposedly thinner than MacBook Airs. I am not so sure if that is a good thing. There is a limit to thinness.
Some specs and comments
A 13" MacBook Air with i5 and 256GB RAM is $1199.00 (Click Here)
... The Spectre 13 has a 13.3-inch, 1080p display, 8GB of RAM, and 256GB of storage in its base model. More importantly, it includes either a Core i5 or a Core i7 processor. That's the type of processor you'd normally find in the MacBook Air or a typical ultrabook — laptops this size usually get Core M, which is slower, but doesn't get as hot and allows for a smaller battery.
The base Specter 13" with i5 and 256 GB RAM is $1169.99 (about 29.01 less) (Click Here)
Seems to be better with connections. 3 USB-C ports.
I would have to check out speaker differences.
MacBook 12 HP Spectre 13 Macbook Air 13"
(with added costs to be comparable)Price $1299 $1169.99 (standard) $1199.00
(including extra costs to compare)RAM 8 GB standard 8GB standard 8GB
(upgraded for $100 over
4GB base for $1099)CPU Core M - M-5Y31 (base)
Minor upgrade possible for even more
Graphics HD 5300
(Clear loser - underpowered for this screen) Intel Core i5-6200U (base)
Intel Core i7-6500U
(upgrade for even $80 extra)
both 6th generation - Skylake
Graphics HD 520 best of the three
Definite WinCore i5-5250U (base)
Core i7-5650
(upgrade for even $150 more extra about $100 extra for the RAM)
both are 5th generation Broadwell
Graphics HD 6000Native
Display2304-by-1440
Retina quality
(Clear winner)
HD 5300
Can power an outside 4K monitor1920 x 1080
(Halfway between both)
HD 520
(Slightly better than 6000 and much better than 5300)
Can power outside 4K monitor1440 x 900
HD 6000
Can power an outside 4K monitorStorage 256 GB SSD PCIe 256 GB SSD PCIe 256 GB SSD PCIe Camera 480 p Not declared yet
Who knows?!
Maybe be a real loser or real winner
HP has good webcams on other slim laptops.
However, this has not been declared.720 p Ports Only 1 USB 3.0 - C
(clear loser)(3) USB 3.1 -C
[Two support Thunderbolt](2) - USB 3.0 - Thunderbolt - Mag Safe Power - SDXC card slot - Headphone Battery 10 hours 10 +/- hours 12 hours
None of these laptops have touchscreen, which may not be a disaster. I do not like touchscreen all that much on desktops or laptops.
The HP Spectre 13 trounces the Macbook Air 13" - depending on the still undeclared native face camera. The HP has better resolution than the Macbook Air 13, with more powerful CPU chips coming with better integrated graphics - and the Spectre has 3 newer USB - 3.1 C class ports. All for less money.
The HP Spectre 13 resolution is closer to the Retina Screen Macbook 12" than to the Macbook Air 13" The HP has around 165ppi. On such a small laptop, Retina Screen is not really needed, and the HP comes close anyway. The Macbook 13" loses badly.
THE HP WINS ON POWER
The HP has new Skylake chips with more power and better integrated graphics on the chips, to power outside monitors. HP wins this hands down over both the Macbook Air 13 and the Macbook 12.
THE HP CLEARLY WINS ON NEW PORTS
In terms of new ports: The HP wins over the Macbook 13". The HP packs (3) USB - 3.1 C, which are the newest. Two of the HP USB-C port can function as thunderbolt ports for monitors. THE HP beats the Macbook Air 13 on categories and number.
The HP Spectre also beats the Macbook 12" which has only (1) USB 3.0 - C.
THE AUDIO
The Audio is unknown. Bang and Olufson has a good reputation; but so does Apple. Until the laptops ship, and gets inspected, one cannot be sure about the audio comparison.
SCREEN RESOLUTION
Retina resolution is really unimportant on smaller laptops. With small laptops even the Spectre's 1920 x 1080 can produce around 165 ppi to a Retina 226 ppi . Unless one has the eyes of an eagle, that is quite sufficient.
While, in theory the Macbook 12 has a higher resolution, no one will run the full 2304 x 1440 resolution on a Macbook 12" laptop. In fact, one may need to download an resolution app to set up the full resolution. One could not read the print on a browser page. The retina resolution will only be used with Photoshop which works around the desktop resolution. While, Retina will make a difference with photoshop, no one will do serious final end photoshopping on a Macbook 12"- not with a Core M chip. In effect, the Spectre 13 graphics are more than sufficient, and better powered.
The HP clearly beats the Macbook Air 13 in resolution.
Oddly, even if Apple keeps the supposedly abysmal 1440 x 900 resolution on the MacBook Air 13, that is also truly minor. Even the Macbook 13's poor 1440 x 900 is more than sufficient on a small laptop. On a 13" screen you are looking at around 130 ppi, which is equal to or far superior to most desktop monitors. So, the resolution issues are minor.
BATTERY LIFE
Battery life differences are not that major a concern, but if important to you, goes to the Macbook Air 13". One of the Macbook Air 13" few victories.
WEB CAMERA
HP has not released the camera specs ... and that may be a breaker. It is hard to believe that the HP will not equal or better the Macbook Air's 720p camera. However, if HP did not install a web cam - highly unlikely - that will sink the model totally.
OUTCLASSED
The HP has the Macbook AIR 13" outclassed in CPU power, price, resolution, ports, and the HD 520 Integrated Graphics in their 6th generation Skylake chips.
THE HP has the Macbook 12 outclassed in CPU power, price, and integrated graphics - with the exception that the Spectre 13 has cooling fans, while the Macbook 12 is air-cooled. The fans may not need to run unless one does video or photo editting.
Practically speaking, the Retina Screen quality of the Macbook 12" is needed only for bigger desktops or laptops above 15" I mean it is nice and sharp, but not a major concern, especially since the Core M chip is underpowered.
RESOLUTION ASIDE
All of these laptops can power an outside external higher resolution 4K monitor.
So the resolution is issue is minor, since at 13" or less, no one will set up the high end resolution on the laptop.
CONCLUSIONS
The HP Spectre 13" is the winner on power, ports, and price, but its final draw will depend on the native web camera resolution. It will be hard to do worse than the 480p camera on the Macbook 12". But why is no one commenting on the camera? They are being fed specs from HP without actually seeing the product itself.
Let's see what Apple responds with during next upgrade of the Macbooks. Apple may go with Skylake CPUs, and will probably catch up to or surpass HP, then.
Of course, if the 2016 MacBook 12" changes to a Core i5, then Apple wins ... game over. Not likely, for heat reasons. Right now, it is running a Core-M chip. Very weak.
At this moment (Depending on the web camera) the HP Spectre wins by a longshot.
Can someone find the face cam spec for the HP Spectre?
Final NOTE: Apple is working on some killer A-Chips of its own, so we have to see.
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