Review Central speaks to Narayanan Venkataraman, the Country Category Manager for Personal Systems at HP about the 2-in-1 laptops market in the Middle East
How is the 2-in-1 laptops (detachable / hybrid) market in the Middle East positioned?
The market for 2-in-1 or hybrid laptops in the Middle East have been steadily gaining ground for consumers who are looking to bridge the gap between work and social experiences. Interest in this kind of laptops have grown significantly over the past few months with the newer, slimmer models in the market being easier to carry and double as both a home and work computer.
In addition to the use of smartphones at the workplace, laptops and tablets continue to be the core pillars of the accelerating BYOD trend in the UAE. As employees and employers continue to leverage new technologies to empower a new work-life balance, we expect the demand for hybrid laptops to continue to grow.
Narayanan Venkataraman, Country Category Manager for Personal Systems at HP.
Can you tell us about your range of devices that come under the 2-in-1 laptops category?
At HP, we have a wide range of devices that fall under the 2-in-1 laptop category, which includes our Pavillion, Envy and Spectre product lines. One of our latest additions is the HP Spectre, X360, which combines the excellent mobility of a tablet with the productivity and capacity of a notebook.
The hybrid laptop is craftily designed to be ultra-thin, and is equipped with a backlit keyboard and extra-wide glass trackpad. For the avid business traveller in mind, the HP Spectre X360 dual-wields USB-C ports for faster charging and data transfers. It is also powered with up to 15 hours of battery life and reliable performance with Intel’s 7th generation processors.
What are the top features according to you that users consider when buying a 2-in-1 laptop?
There are various features that a user will look for when buying a 2-in-1 laptop. At HP, we believe that two key features for users will include laptop size and screen resolution. The first step in determining which 2-in-1 is right for you is to figure out how big of a device you need. Ideally, the user could want a laptop that is easy to toss in a bag and carry on the move. Or this can be something with a big screen that can be used to give presentations without the need to connect to a projector.
In terms of screen resolution, while the most affordable hybrid laptops will have 1366 x 768-pixel displays, consumers have also started to look for sharper 1920 x 1080 full-HD screens. With these panels, they can enjoy better image quality and the ability to snap two wide windows side by side for some serious multitasking. Other models can have even higher-resolution quad-HD (2560 x 1440 pixels) or ultra-HD (3840 x 2160) displays, which offer more detail and are better choices for people who do photo or video editing.
What is the greatest USP of a 2-in-1 laptop?
The greatest USP of a 2-in-1 laptop may differ from product to product. For the HP Spectre X360, its greatest USP is the ability to seamless shift between 4 different modes that brings the balance between cutting-edge performance and ink-ready creativity. On laptop mode, the user can power through projects, email and spreadsheets with a backlit keyboard and extra-wide glass trackpad.
Media mode turns the HP X360 Spectre into a perfect device for watching movies and video conferencing. The laptop can also be used in tent mode, which makes it perfect for giving presentations and sharing photos. Lastly, there is tablet mode, which is ideal for web surfing and reading.
