New Dell XPS 15 or HP Elitebook 1030 x360

Lwongsun on 20/02/2017 - 16:31
Last edited 20/02/2017 - 16:31

Would appreciate some wise advice from the members in the forum.

I am looking at a laptop for work purposes. Most of the time the laptop sits closed, hooked up to an external monitor and wireless keyboard/mouse. I sometimes do some light gaming on it. I do take it out on the road occasionally and for client meetings.

I am looking at either the top of the line XPS 15 or the new HP Elitebook x360.

The XPS 15 has i7 7700 kabylake processor, 32GB RAM, 1TB SSD, dedicated graphics card + 4K monitor.
HP Elitebook X360 i7 7600 kabylake processor, 16GB RAM, 512 SSD, onboard graphics card, slimmer and better battery life.

I previously had the new HP Spectre x360 but had to return it as I was concerned about the heat being generated from the keyboard. Wouldn't be an issue if the laptop was used in conventional manner but like I said, I keep my laptop closed most of the time so this heat would be applied to the screen. Not sure if this is an issue with all the super thin laptops and if so then the elitebook x360 probably has a similar issues.

Pricing is not a consideration as they both work out around the same after various discounts I can get.

HP Elitebook x360: http://h20386.www2.hp.com/AustraliaStore/Merch/Product.aspx?…
XPS 15: http://www.dell.com/au/p/xps-15-9560-laptop/pd?oc=z511298au&…

Keen to hear your thoughts. Particularly if you own either of these two laptops.

Poll Options

  • 8
    XPS 15
  • 5
    HP Elitebook X360
Computing

Comments

  • blonky on 20/02/2017 - 17:16
    +2

    XPS has a graphics card suitable for gaming (1050), the X360 only has integrated - might be the deciding factor for you.
    XPS has the 4K screen (over 100% Adobe colour), X360 has FHD
    XPS has a quad core i7; X360 has a low power dual core version
    XPS has a 15" screen (though the laptop itself is the size of a 13"), X360 is 13"
    X360 has the folding screen to turn it into a tablet

    XPS (in my opinion) looks nicer

  • [Deactivated] on 20/02/2017 - 17:46

    Get the HP Elitebook if you don't want to game or if you are not a PROFESSIONAL photo/video editor

    • Elitebook will last longer and has premium electronic components (according to HP)
    • Elitebook has far better build quality and is indestructable
    • Elitebook has better keyboard and trackpad
    • Elitebook has bettery warranty service (NBD) and it's 3 years
    • Easier to change the battery on the elitebook and upgrade various aspects of it
    • Elitebook can be connected to docking station
    • 4k screen in a laptop is just dumb for everyday use and for gaming it's no good, because a GTX1050 can't drive new games at 4k
    • Elitebook has a matte display. Glossy displays are yuck especially in our sunny country
    • The ability to connect to 4G LTE networks using its WWAN card

    Dell XPS is mainly aimed at cashed up consumers. It's a very mainstream laptop like the Apple Macbook Pro.

    Stuff light gaming. You don't want a laptop for travel that has shit battery life.
    I've been there and done that. Get the one with better battery life and build quality.
    I am someone who has bought over 50 elitebooks for the workplace and they're just so reliable. However, I am Dell Latitude and Dell Precision user myself.
    If I was you, I'd dump both these suckers and get a Dell Precision Workmama.

    • blonky on 20/02/2017 - 22:06

      Actually, according the OP's link, the HP only comes with 1yr warranty, the battery is lower capacity (47Whr vs 97Whr in the XPS [assuming he opts for the 97Whr]), and neither has a replaceable battery, memory or hard drive, or a docking station connection (though both will accept a dock/port expansion device, just not a station).

      Other Elitebooks (like the one I'm using now) I would recommend, but it seems like the X360 is more consumer/prosumer rather than business like the rest of the Eiltebook range.

      In this scenario they are both prosumer laptops, so I would pick the dell for my above reasons.

    • wongsun on 21/02/2017 - 15:52

      My main concern is whether the Elitebook x360 is really like the other Elitebooks HP in terms of durability. Due to the design it seems to take more from the HP Spectre x360 design. I am also concerned about heating issues with super thin laptops as I mentioned earlier.

      • [Deactivated] on 21/02/2017 - 16:01

        Can't you just get a Dell Latitude 14 7000 or a Precision?

  • nubzy on 20/02/2017 - 18:21

    I don't think either of them! Both overpriced. Get a Lenovo, there are deals always being posted. X1 Carbon or Yoga are very good if you want something to travel with and long battery life.

  • EnterTheShiftKey on 20/02/2017 - 20:23

    Do you REALLY need a laptop? Why not buy a pro grade mini desktop instead? If your original intention of buying the laptop isn't for portable computing but instead having the same computer at home and work, a small pro desktop should be cheaper.

  • Tech and cars on 20/02/2017 - 22:40

    I would get the XPS 15 every time. I'm biased, as I am prepared to sacrifice battery/portability for power.

    The fact that it has the "HQ" CPU - means it is an actual quad core. Unlike the HP which is actually a dual core because it is a "U" series CPU.
    Dell - The 4K screen - Uses more battery - I would get the 1920x1080 screen.
    The GTX 1050 Graphics card in the XPS - Is an actual 1050, and not a watered down "1050M" - so I think that's amazing.

    Dell Alienware/XPS customers get treated like royalty, so I like that too.

    I think the XPS 13 (and they pop up from $1300 when the dell 20% off sale comes on) compares more to the Elitebook to be honest.

    Other considerations:

    Lenovo's/HP's etc have a huge depreciation. My Director at work bought an X1 carbon for $3500. About 6 months later, I saw it on sale for $1200 - 6th gen i7. Not that you buy technology with depreciation in mind. But the XPS 15 - still holds amazing value (even if you buy the old 9550). After 2 years, it's still worth 75% of the paid price - which I think is great if you can't write it off as a tax benefit.

  • Tech and cars on 21/02/2017 - 10:27

    http://www.ebay.com.au/rpp/dell-futu-sale/dell-futu-laptops?…

    a lot of really nice deals in here!

    • nubzy on 21/02/2017 - 10:47

      xps 15 FHD for $1839 is a little tempting, cant help but wonder if i should just spend a bit more for that 4k display though..

      is there any cheaper options between 1-1.5k that you can reccomend? I was going to get X1 Yoga for 1.5k but I dont think it makes sense buying older tech, I think i should get something with thunderbolt and USB-C.

      • Tech and cars on 21/02/2017 - 10:56

        Well to be honest - I think the 4K is not the best idea. It just means everything runs at 200% scale and uses more battery/resources. Wait 2 more years for windows to do a better job.

        For me - CAD software does not scale well. Older games on Steam - Age of empires 2 - doesn't give you an option to change resolution in game, so everyone looks tiny.

        When you run 1920x1080 on the 4k display - it still looks fuzzy compared to a native 1920x1080 screen!

        The gtx 1050 - can run almost everything at maximum settings at 1920x1080. It can't handle 4k as well.

        I really think the XPS 15 FHD for $1839 is amazing - it's the latest tech. This refresh 9560 only was released less than a month ago, and it is on sale from dell + eBay.

        In terms of alternatives - it all comes down to whether you need a separate graphics card or not. if you do need one - try buy this. You won't regret it - it's the most up to date hardware for the money.

        If you don't need a graphics card - some of those Lenovo deals that TA posts are amazing around the $1k mark.

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