Laptops Get into Touch: SpectreXT TouchSmart, ENVY TouchSmart 4

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I’ve gone deep into what the genre-busting ENVY x2 is all about – a hybrid PC that’s an awesome touch-screen laptop one minute…and a big, beautiful tablet with the flip of a toggle. Maybe you need a little more juice, though. That’s where you step up into a full-blown laptop like the Spectre^XT TouchSmart or ENVY TouchSmart 4. Both give you portability and new ways to grab your files. (yeah, I went there.)

Spectre^XT TouchSmart

The Spectre line is that it’s all about amazing designs and no-compromise computing. So what’s the deal with the Spectre^XT TouchSmart? Parked underneath a crisp 15.6-inch multi-touch Radiance Full HD IPS screen is a thin, all-metal chassis Ultrabook-class computer. Offering up a 3^rd-gen Intel Core processor you’re going to still get good performance from that…and the on-board HD4000 integrated graphics. Honestly, I continue to be impressed with how integrated graphics have improved. It wasn’t so long ago that it was all about paying extra for a discrete GPU or you suffered for not using one. But I’ve gone on about how far Laptop graphics has come along in recent years….and how the market continues to evolve.

Now, under the hood, you’re going to find a couple things: an mSATA SSD for rapid boot times.. It’s rocking a couple USB 3.0 ports, HDMI out….and….wait for it…this is HP’s first laptop to feature Intel’s Thunderbolt technology. “What is Thunderbolt,” you ask? Imagine a single turbo-charged port that’s a versatile enough to handle 10GB high-speed data transfers or connect a   HD-resolution display. (If you want to go deeper down the Thunderbolt nerd-hole, just check out Intel’s site for more details.)

Also offered up, full versions of software, not bloat. You get full versions of Adobe Photoshop Elements 10, Premiere Elements 10, a year of Absolute Data Protect, two years of Norton Internet Security as well as sMedio 360 and HP Connected Music powered by Meridian to quickly, easily share media across PCs and myriad mobile devices.

Oh, and for those that don’t relish being tech support for their entire extended family, know this: The Ultrabook also includes 90 days of complimentary HP SmartFriend Setup Service that offers expedited, one-on-one assistance to help customers get their new PC up and running fast. All that, crammed into the 4.77-pound Spectre^XT TouchSmart when it ships this December with a starting price of $1,399

....annnnnd video break!

ENVY TouchSmart Ultrabook 4

Remember the ENVY 4 and ENVY 6 that we released not-that-long ago? Well, now you can get the same performance partnered with a 14-inch touch-screen, if you want. Now, to refresh your memory a little bit, what’s cool about these machines – besides the newly incorporated screen - is that you have the flexibility to trick out an Ultrabook with 2GB worth of AMD discrete graphics to supplement the 3^rd-generation core processors under the hood. It does all this while simultaneously jamming in Beats audio and balancing out the system to last up to 8-hours on a charge.

If you want a mobile touch option with some horsepower to match, this little guy has some guts. You know, how about we get a little more into the details with a live demo? Just hit play....

So, where is your head at? You tempted by the ENVY x2? You eyeballing the SpectreXT TouchSmart? Or do you want a mighty mite that offers up a graphics kick in the pants?

If you have other questions, feel free to ask. I’m not sure I’ll be able to answer everything right off the bat, but I’m more than happy to fill in the blanks for you.