It’s hard to build a cheap two-in-one PC that doesn’t have something fundamentally wrong with it. Believe us, we’ve looked — lower end convertibles usually have bad screens, flimsy hinges or sell essential accessories separately. Then something like the new 10-inch HP Pavilion x2 comes along. It’s small, costs only $US300 and, at first blush, seems to do almost everything right.
Don’t be too surprised if the name sounds familiar: HP released a detachable with the same moniker late last year, but that thing had a flexible keyboard which became detached a little too easy. HP fixed that: the new model has a proper hard-bodied keyboard with a firm magnetic connection and a proper hinge.
OK, that’s pretty common for a detachable notebook, sure — but did I mention that the x2’s new keyboard is reversible? It is, and it’s pretty awesome:
The x2’s tablet half looks similar to its predecessor, but there are plenty of changes here, too — including a USB Type-C charging connector, a micro HDMI port and a purported 10 hours of battery life. The keyboard is a little cramped, but it’s not bad for a $US300 Windows 8 tablet. Not bad at all.
HP is refreshing a few of its other laptops, too — specifically its 14, 15.6 and 17-inch All of these machines are set to debut next month — with the entry level Pavilion x2 starting at $US300 and and the Envy selling for $US700-1000, depending on size and configuration.