HP Ultrabook: HP Folio 13

[tribalnoise]

review from cnet asia: HP Folio 13 (Core i5 2467M Processor 1.6GHz, 4GB RAM) Review - Notebooks - CNET Asia

[excalibur1814]

HP might as well have released a new refreshed Envy 13...

If the fan does stay off I'd probably give this one a try

[BigNerd]

Engadget review:

HP Folio 13 review -- Engadget

Had the longest battery life of the current ultrabooks... but is also the heaviest (and thickest?).

[SoundsGood]

Looks like the Toshiba Z835 is the Folio's biggest threat:

"All told, the Folio 13 meets its stiffest competition in the Toshiba Portege Z835..."

[weezintrumpeteer]

This is a seriously good ultrabook. I bought one for my girlfriend for Christmas and I was very impressed with it. As far as build quality, it beats the pants off of the Toshiba. Not even close.

[SoundsGood]

As far as build quality, it beats the pants off of the Toshiba. Not even close.

How so? Can you be more specific?

[weezintrumpeteer]

How so? Can you be more specific?

I found the Toshiba to be very flimsy and cheap feeling. The monitor flexed like crazy, the materials felt cheap, and I didn't like how the keyboard felt. I guess that these are personal things, but it was my impression.

On the HP, the palm rest is made of metal which feels very nice. The keyboard is (IMO) great, the touchpad feels good (although the button is stiff...but I dont use that). The keys on the keyboard are laid out very nicely (the function keys are all mapped to specific functions like changing the volume, etc...akin to the Macbook way of doing things).

I really like the rubberized underside of the HP, as well as the metal lid.

All in all, it just feels like a quality laptop, something I didn't get the impression from on the Toshiba. It looks good, feels good and is built well. And this is coming from a guy that uses the latest Macbook Air 13" as my main computer. If I wanted a windows laptop, the Folio would be it for sure. In fact, I'd almost go so far as to say that I like the build of the Folio better than that of my Air.

[SoundsGood]

Good to know. The biggest complaint I have about the Toshiba is that I'm not comfortable typing on it. It just doesn't feel quite right.

But one thing I like A LOT about the Toshiba is that it has dedicated Home and End keys. I *really* wish this Folio had included those keys.

[independent1]

Engadget review:

HP Folio 13 review -- Engadget

Had the longest battery life of the current ultrabooks... but is also the heaviest (and thickest?).

So HP gave out review units of the Folio and no the Envy. ... The Envy is supposed to be their top of the line model.

[vengance_01]

I think I still would rather have an IBM X220 when you can find them on sale. Longer battery life, better screen, and better build quality. Granted this ultrabook looks very nice. I really wish they would use a 1600x900 or 1440x900 screen.