Unlike Apple, which sells the same hardware to individuals, small businesses and big companies, HP segments markets with consumer and business devices. Many of these devices are similar, but there are some differences. All other things being equal, the business models are a bit more rugged, have extra security features and come with group communications applications and tools to help IT departments manage devices. They are also generally more expensive.
There are plenty of businesspeople who would do well with a consumer-grade machine and some consumers who might want a business device. For the most part, HP’s high-end Spectre laptops and its EliteBook business series are pretty similar, as I can tell by looking at the newest 13-inch Spectre X360 sitting next to the latest EliteBook X360 3G. Both are onloan from HP for review purposes.
I wouldn't normally compare two laptops from the same company, but I find it interesting to compare a so-called consumer product with a so-called business product. Over the years I've seen many examples of business and consumer versions of the same product being nearly identical other than price and sometimes insignificant features. The most extreme example was during the eighties when I was running a computer training company. One of my staffers ordered several $2,000 Sony commercial-grade monitors for our training room, but I found a nearly identical Sony product at a TV store selling for about $600. A careful examination of the specs showed that the only difference between the two devices was that the $600 TV had a tuner, which was missing from the $2,000 monitor. We bought the TVs, which served us well for years, plus we got to watch TV on them.
These two HP laptops are not as identical as those Sony monitors, but they do the same thing and, like that Sony TV, there are aspects of the cheaper consumer product that are better than the commercial version. Though in HP's case, there are additional features on the business laptop that do make sense for enterprise customers.
Weight, size and keyboard
HP said that the EliteBook starts at 2.76 pounds with the Spectre at 2.92 pounds but I put both of them on two different supermarket scales and the units they sent me are practically the same weight (2.84 pounds for the Spectre vs. 2.81 for the EliteBook) and they're close to the same dimensions -- 12.16 x 8.58 x 0.57 inches for the Spectre vs. 12.04 x 8.07 x 0.62 for the EliteBook. Even though they have the same size screen, the Spectre has a larger top bezel, which makes the screen about a half-inch taller. To me, that's only an issue if you use it from a coach airline seat, but if you don't need the keyboard you can use it in tablet mode.
Both have excellent but slightly different keyboards. Both are advertised as "full size, " but the EliteBook's keyboard is actually slightly smaller than the Spectre's. When measuring from the left of the A key to the right side of the " key, the Spectre truly is full-sized at 8.063 inches. The EliteBook is 7.813 inches. That won't matter to most people and I actually found both easy to type on but, as a pretty fast touch typist -- given a choice -- I prefer a truly full-sized keyboard though I wouldn't call the 3.2% size reduction on the EliteBook a deal killer. It's still quite good. The Spectre has larger navigation keys and dedicated Home, Pg Up, Pg Dn and End keys while the EliteBook makes you press the fn key to access those functions.
Screens
Both have 13-inch screens (15-inch models also available) that swivel all the way back (hence the "X360" label) letting you use the device as a tablet or – by going half way – in tent mode. And both come with a 1920 x 1080 full high-definition display with an option for a 4K display. The EliteBook was the first to offer the optional SureView privacy screen which uses electronics – not a plastic overlay – to hide the screen from a “visual hacker” who might be sitting next to you on an airplane. Both the 4K screen and SureView option use more battery life, so I recommend the FHD for most users. The difference between 4K and FHD on a 13-inch screen is negligible.
Both also have 4 Bang & Olufsen-designed speakers, though the Spectre is louder. Both also offer LTE connectivity as an extra-cost option. The screen on the EliteBook is slightly brighter, but you'd only notice that if you view them side-by side.
Battery life
Both laptops are very energy-efficient. HP rates the EliteBook at 18 hours battery life and the Spectre at an even more impressive 21 hours. Of course, these are based on bench marks and, as they say with cars, "your mileage will vary." I haven't done my own benchmarks but I've used both machines all day without running out of battery. Either is good enough for a trans-Atlantic flight even if you're an insomniac who works or watches video from takeoff to landing.
Differences and prices
But there are differences. HP says that the EliteBook is optimized for businesses, especially large enterprises. They say it's designed to military specifications for ruggedness and they even have some dedicated communications keys for conferencing.
Another difference is design. The Spectre has a less industrial and more consumer feel to it, with beautiful design touches. Also, the Spectre's power key and one of its USB C ports have been moved to the rear corners of the chassis, making them easier to access. Both have a USB A port and two USB C ports, either of which can be used as the power port or a DisplayPort. The one thing the EliteBook has that I miss on the 13-inch Spectre is an HDMI port, which would matter to people who are frequent presenters or who often connect their laptop to a TV, but you can always attach an inexpensive HDMI dongle to one of the USB ports. The Spectre does, however, have two features not on the business machine: a Micro SD slot and a camera switch. That camera switch physically turns off the camera, assuring that it can't be hacked.
The Spectre is also less expensive. The business oriented EliteBook starts at $1,698 while the consumer Spectre starts at $1049, in both cases with an 8th Generation Intel Core i5 processor, 8 GB of memory and a 256 GB solid state drive. Both can be configured with more memory, faster i7 processors and higher capacity solid state drives and both can also be equipped with an optional SureView screen.
It's more about where you work than what you do
Either of these machines will do the job for both consumers and business people, which covers a lot of territory. People who work for companies are also consumers, even if the boss pays for their computer, so they will appreciate the good sound, excellent screen on either of these machines. Consumers are often on a budget, so -- even though the EliteBook is consumer friendly, the Spectre's lower price is more wallet friendly. Also, the Spectre is a more beautifully designed device -- one of the most attractive laptops I've seen. That's important for some consumers but it's also important to many business people.
So, yes, a business person -- especially someone who works on their own or for a small business, can easily get away with the consumer product. Some might actually prefer it. And while consumers can use either, there's no reason to spend more for the EliteBook, unless you really want that HDMI port or are rough on your machine and want that military spec on ruggedness. A professional or business person on a budget might be better off with the consumer product.
Also consider Lenovo, Dell, Apple, Microsoft and others
This post is not intended to compare HP products with those of other companies. I've been very impressed with notebook PCs from Lenovo as well as Dell's most recent offerings, Microsoft's Surface Pro and Apple's various offerings. Consumers should definitely shop around to see what works best. The other aspect of this story is that it focuses on thin and light weight devices. That's important to me, but not everyone. If you aren't carrying the laptop around, a heavier model may suit you well and may give you not only a larger screen and more ports but a better value for what it costs.
