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[Becky]

T Break have reviewed the HP Envy 14 Spectre Ultrabook, but does the performance match up to the glossy looks?

"Probably the most remarkable thing about the HP Envy 14 Spectre is the design – this Ultrabook simply oozes ‘posh’ and certainly stands out from the dull matte laptops you’ll see people carrying around (including mine). The Spectre is the first laptop I’ve seen which incorporate glass into its back panel – that’s right, glass. This does bring about two things – firstly the Spectre weighs significantly more than the usual Ultrabook, and secondly it’s glossy finish is nearly impossible to keep clean. Having said that, the laptop just looks absolutely stunning, and the dark black finish will certainly turn heads wherever you go.

Opening the Spectre up is a bit of a challenge – the laptop’s hinge has certainly been designed to hold up the glass display securely, but it’s just way too tight to open the lid comfortably with one hand. There’s a very small lip at the bottom that you’re supposed to grab onto, but you need to dig a fingernail under it in order to pry open the thing. But once it’s open, you’re greeted with the silver metallic and glass finish of the Envy 14 Spectre.

The Envy 14 Spectre continues the glass finishing on the palm rest and trackpad, which is a bit of a mixed bag. On one side it gives the trackpad a better feel to it, but on the flip side it’s a bit uncomfortable to rest your hands on the palm rest area for an extended period of time, because the abrupt edge of the notebook will certainly start digging into your palms."

You can read their full review here.