I get the enchantment of Chromebooks — I actually do. Typically much less is extra, and an working system that’s easier can present a much less distracting expertise for the appropriate viewers. But it surely’s by no means been a very good match for me.
I’m fairly purchased into Microsoft’s Workplace suite, and I’m keen to pay a premium for top-notch {hardware}. I need my laptop computer to feel and look like a critical work device with out compromises — and that’s at all times made me suppose Chromebooks weren’t for me. Then I attempted the HP Dragonfly Elite Chromebook.
Chrome OS {hardware} actually may be top-notch
The Dragonfly Elite Chromebook didn’t do something to maneuver the needle a lot in my total impressions of ChromeOS when it comes to software program. But it surely did persuade me that there’s nothing stopping producers from making Chromebooks that match their Home windows and macOS counterparts when it comes to {hardware}.
To start with, the Dragonfly Elite Chromebook was exquisitely constructed. That’s not all that unusual, however I’ve definitely examined my fair proportion of flimsy Chromebooks. HP’s machine took issues to a brand new degree. Sure, the chassis is made from a magnesium-aluminum permit and isn’t as inflexible as all-aluminum machines, but it surely’s additionally very light-weight at 2.8 kilos. The hinge was good in my testing, permitting the lid to be opened with one hand however holding the 2-in-1 in place in clamshell, tent, media, and pill modes. And it’s skinny at 0.65 inches. It was a pleasant laptop computer to make use of and the equal of one of the best Home windows machines I’ve reviewed.
HP additionally used a 13.5-inch show with a 3:2 facet ratio, which isn’t as widespread on Chromebooks as on Home windows machines. The taller facet ratio is especially helpful in pill mode, the place the size extra intently mimic a bodily piece of paper. In order that’s one other test within the Dragonfly Elite Chromebook’s favor.
Chrome OS {hardware} will also be modern
You’ll be able to most likely rely the variety of Home windows laptops with haptic touchpads on the fingers of 1 hand. The Floor Laptop computer Studio was among the many first and was then adopted by the Dell XPS 13 Plus, Lenovo’s ThinkPad Z13 and ThinkPad Z16, and a few others. There’s one thing particular about haptic touchpads that work nicely, notably as a result of you’ll be able to click on anyplace on the floor and get a response. It’s also possible to construct in particular options as Apple did with its Drive Contact function on its MacBooks that provides one other layer of search and different performance.
HP utilized the software program options accessible with haptic touchpads by including suggestions for when a window has been snapped to both facet and when a desktop is moved in a number of desktop modes. There could also be extra options that I didn’t uncover throughout my testing, but it surely’s clear that HP is critical about making its haptic touchpad particular. And to see if arrive first on a Chromebook is outstanding.
There’s additionally a privateness display screen possibility for the Dragonfly Elite Chromebook. That’s not “modern” as a result of it already exists on Home windows machines, however like many of those options, it’s a primary for ChromeOS. Chromebook customers not have to go with out the power to dam their information from prying eyes.
Then there are the USB-C ports with Thunderbolt 4 help. Most laptops faucet out at USB-C 3.2 Gen 2, they usually don’t provide USB-A and HDMI ports. The Dragonfly Elite Chromebook proved that you simply don’t must compromise with regards to connectivity, and HP totally helps the Dragonfly Elite Chromebook with all of its varied docking choices. And HP presents 5G WWAN as an possibility, making it equal to Home windows on ARM and different Home windows laptops when it comes to always-connected web.
Lastly, HP inbuilt biometric login. Once more, that’s nothing uncommon industry-wide, however few Chromebooks have fingerprint readers to make logging in simpler. And HP totally helps the Chrome OS Enterprise function set due to Invel vPro CPUs. There’s complete reminiscence encryption (TME) and Keylocker to maintain information even safer, and the Dragonfly Elite Chromebook is totally manageable by IT departments.
There’s extra, however that’s sufficient to make it stand out
Efficiency can be wonderful due to Twelfth-gen Core CPUs, and you’ll even beef it up with as much as 32GB of RAM. That’s not new — many different Chromebooks additionally provide nice efficiency — however added to all the pieces else that’s nice in regards to the Dragonfly Elite Chromebook, it simply rounds issues out. Battery life could possibly be higher, and the machine is extremely costly for a Chromebook. It begins at $1,100 and goes up from there, which is quite a bit.
But it surely proved to me that, not less than when it comes to {hardware}, there are zero compromises to purchasing a Chromebook. Now, if I can solely discover a technique to make ChromeOS work higher for my workflow when it comes to software program. However hey, that’s on Google, not HP.
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