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PC sales experienced annual growth for the first time in years
2019 was the first good year for the PC industry in a long while, according to both Gartner and IDC. It's the first time in seven years that the global PC market has experienced growth for the full year, Gartner says. IDC reported a similar finding, specifying that 2019's results show the first full year of PC growth since the market grew by 1.7 percent way back in 2011.
HP's gorgeous new Spectre x360 15-inch features 4K OLED screen options
Laptops are getting thinner, lighter and prettier, but lately they've been getting bigger, too. Just look at recent devices like the 16-inch MacBook Pro, the Surface Laptop 3 15-inch and the LG Gram 17! After years of largely neglecting 15-inch (and larger) machines, laptop makers are paying attention to them again and we're about to see more here at CES 2020. HP is kicking things off with an updated version of its Spectre x360 15-inch convertible, which is perhaps the prettiest laptop of its size.
HP Envy 32 All-in-one review: A PC posing as media center
All-in-one computers typically aren't that exciting, not when we've got ultra-thin laptops hogging the spotlight. But HP's new Envy 32 All-in-One might make you rethink what's possible with a large table-top PC. It's a multimedia powerhouse, with a 31.5-inch 4K HDR screen, powerful Bang & Olufsen speakers, and NVIDIA graphics. While it's not quite as inventive as Microsoft's Surface Studio, the Envy 32 shows there's still plenty of room for all-in-one PCs to improve without getting obscenely expensive.
HP updates its Elite Dragonfly laptop with 5G and Tile tracking
HP already made waves with far-out claims about its Elite Dragonfly when it launched last year, saying things like it was "lighter than air," and the "world's first business convertible with preinstalled personal wellbeing software." But the company is here at CES 2020 with a new version that has some new unique features. It's the "world's first laptop with built-in Tile," for example, so you can find your notebook if you misplace it by using an app. The new Dragonfly also features 5G connectivity, starting first with Sprint service and other carriers to follow later. For an update that is taking place just about four months after, the next-gen Elite Dragonfly certainly seems like a meaty update.
HP Spectre x360 13-inch review: Stylish, powerful and flexible
HP has been treating its premium Spectre line like fine jewelry for several years now, with an emphasis on flashy designs and thinness. They've looked good, especially for HP laptops. But now with the latest Spectre x360 13-inch, the company finally has an ultraportable that would look right at home alongside gold and diamond wear at the mall. In a word, it's stunning -- HP finally modernized the x360 with vastly thinner screen bezels and a smaller footprint. It's a high point for the company, and together with Dell's XPS 13 2-in-1, the new x360 is a sign that PC-makers are truly beginning to perfect their convertibles. I suppose I shouldn't be too surprised about how much progress HP has made with the Spectre though. Last year's leather-bound Folio was also a major design triumph that truly stood apart from every other laptop on the market. The new Spectre x360 isn't a dramatic reinvention like the Folio, but it builds on everything HP has been doing with the convertible since 2015.
The best gadgets of 2019
It's the end of the year, and everyone from Santa to Time is making lists. Engadget is no different. Each year, we take stock of the hits and misses from the past twelve months to inform us as we look ahead. But as we hurtle towards the close of a decade, our picks feel even more important and telling of how far we've come.
China bans all government departments from using US-made technology
It was only a matter of time before China started offering trade bans to US companies in return for the ban on Huawei's gear. The Financial Times is reporting that Beijing has ordered all government institutions and public bodies to get rid of their foreign (i.e. western) computer gear. According to the report, China will spend between now and 2022 transitioning off American hardware and software in favor of local alternatives.
The best 4K monitors
By Justin Krajeski This post was done in partnership with Wirecutter. When readers choose to buy Wirecutter's independently chosen editorial picks, Wirecutter and Engadget may earn affiliate commission. Read the full guide to 4k monitors. Anyone buying a monitor in 2019 should consider a 4K monitor first: They don't cost much more than non-4K models, and they look a hell of a lot better. After spending 50 hours researching nearly 60 monitors and testing six finalists, we found that the HP Z27 is still the best 4K monitor for most people. It's extremely color accurate, it can charge your laptop from its USB-C port, and it has a highly ergonomic stand. The HP Z27 is the best 4K monitor especially if you have a USB-C laptop or plan to get one, which is more and more likely in 2019. The screen is one of the most color-accurate we found, and its stand is more adjustable than most, with tilt, pivot, swivel, and height adjustments that make it easy to set at the correct height and position for your needs, especially if multiple people share the same monitor. The USB-C port means that if you have a compatible laptop, such as a recent MacBook or Windows ultrabook, you can use the single USB-C connection to connect to the screen, charge your laptop at up to 65 W, and power the monitor's two USB 3.0 ports for use with mice, keyboards, storage, or other devices, all at the same time; this dramatically reduces the number of cables around your desk. The monitor also has thin bezels, so the screen appears larger and the monitor takes up less space than some other models. (Thin bezels also just look better.) HP covers the Z27 with a three-year warranty and a dead-pixel policy that should be a comfort to anyone buying a 4K monitor. The Lenovo ThinkVision P27u is a good runner-up option if the HP Z27 is out of stock or too expensive. Its colors are a bit more accurate than the Z27's—albeit not in ways that are detectable to the naked eye—but its contrast ratio is a bit worse, which is noticeable. Its adjustable stand lifts, tilts, and pivots, but it doesn't swivel like the Z27's does. Nor is this monitor as aesthetically pleasing: Its buttons are on the front, its base is rounded instead of squared, and a thick neck connects the monitor to the base, in contrast to the HP design's thinner, dual stems. Like the HP, the Lenovo can connect and charge a laptop via USB-C, and it includes a useful DisplayPort connection as well as HDMI and USB 3.0 ports. Like the Z27, the ThinkVision P27u has thin bezels around the sides and the top, which makes its screen nice to look at. It comes with a three-year warranty, too. Although the Dell UltraSharp U2718Q offers an amount of adjustability similar to that of the HP Z27 to accommodate different postures at work, in our testing it wasn't as color-accurate—in particular, its grayscales were inaccurate, which could lend a colored tint to monochrome images. It also lacks USB-C connectivity. We think USB-C support on a monitor is worth paying more for in 2019, but if you don't think the same—for example, if you plan to use your monitor only with desktop computers that have discrete graphics cards, which don't usually support USB-C—you can typically save about $100 by buying the U2718Q instead of the HP Z27 or Lenovo P27u. The U2718Q comes with a useful three-year warranty, as well as a Premium Panel Guarantee that covers defective pixels; if there's even one bright pixel, Dell will replace the whole monitor. If you buy the Dell U2718Q, make sure it's running firmware version M2B102 or newer, and update it following these steps if necessary; older firmware versions produced visibly inaccurate greens and yellows that this firmware version fixes. If you want a physically larger screen, a monitor you can use with two computers at the same time, or one that can charge a 15-inch MacBook Pro at full speed over its USB-C port, we recommend the 32-inch Dell UltraSharp U3219Q. Its color accuracy is comparable to that of our top picks, and it has plenty of ports, including a USB-C port that can receive the video signal, provide a data connection between your computer and the monitor's USB 3.0 ports, and charge your laptop at up to 90 W. The U3219Q also has rare features such as a built-in KVM (keyboard, video, mouse) feature and picture-by-picture mode, which allow you to use a single keyboard and mouse to control two computers and even view both on screen simultaneously. The U3219Q costs nearly $200 more than our pick at the moment and takes up significantly more space, but if you want to avoid scaling or you're running a two-computer setup, it's an excellent choice. If you don't have room on your desk for a 27-inch monitor but you still want a good 4K screen, get Dell's P2415Q. The P2415Q's screen is 3 inches smaller diagonally than the HP Z27's, with extremely accurate colors and similar features. It has HDMI and DisplayPort connections plus four USB 3.0 ports, and its stand is just as adjustable as that of the Z27. The relatively thick screen bezel makes it look chunky next to newer 4K monitors, but it's still the best 24-inch 4K monitor we've tested. It comes with the same dead-pixel policy and warranty as the Dell U2718Q. It doesn't have USB-C support, but we can't find a 24-inch 4K monitor that does.
HP rejects Xerox buyout offer, at least for now
HP has been receiving buyout offers as of late, but it's not ready to lose its independence -- at least, not yet. The tech pioneer has rejected a Xerox proposal to buy the company for $22 per share, arguing that the current offer "undervalues" HP and isn't in shareholders' "best interests." It also cast doubt on Xerox's ability to pull off the deal in the first place, noting Xerox's declining revenue and the prospect of massive debt for the combined company.
The best laptops and 2-in-1s to give as gifts
For our holiday gift guide, we skipped straight to the all-purpose machines we recommend all year round, from ultraportables to gaming rigs to convertible 2-in-1s. We even have a Chromebook in there for the Chrome OS faithful (and also, people shopping on a budget, or people whose recipients require just the basics).
Mark Hurd, former HP CEO, has died at 62
Mark Hurd, the now-former co-CEO of Oracle has died, according to CNBC. Oracle has yet to comment on Hurd's death, and the email that the company sent to employees provides few clues. However, just last month, Hurd announced a medical leave of absence from the company. He was 62.
HP targets businesses with its latest Chromebooks
Much like Dell did recently, HP has unveiled a couple of Chromebooks and a Chromebox for enterprises, touting the cheaper, simpler and more secure nature of Google's cloud-powered Chrome OS ecosystem. The most powerful of the trio is the Chromebook Enterprise x360 14E G1, a convertible with Intel Core i5 and i7 processors that can run up to 13 hours on a charge. The elegant, but bland device has a 14-inch touchscreen, an aluminum chassis with narrow bezels, USB-C docking and B&O audio with dual speakers.
HP’s Spectre x360 packs a 4K display if you want it
HP is once again tweaking its popular Spectre x360 convertible lineup with a new 13-inch model. While the new x360 maintains the overall look of its predecessor, it's 13 percent smaller. It also has less noticeable display bezels, with the top half of the computer featuring a 90 percent screen-to-body ratio where the 2018 model was only 78 percent display. At 2.8 pounds, the new Spectre is also lighter than both the 2018 MacBook Air and 2019 MacBook Pro.
HP’s latest x360 Chromebooks ship with universal stylus compatibility
HP has announced its updated x360 Chromebooks, which feature a 360-degree hinge, 4GB of memory and 32GB of storage. More notable, though, is the Chromebooks' compatibility with the Universal Stylus Initiative's standard. USI 1.0 enables stylus compatibility across any touchscreen device that has integrated the technology, meaning you'll be able to use the same stylus for your smartphone, tablet and touchscreen computer.
HP's new ultrawide monitor can show two device's screens at once
In addition to a super light laptop, HP also unveiled an intriguing new ultrawide curved monitor today. Creatively named S430c, the 43.4-inch screen isn't the sharpest or most attractive external display I've seen, but it has some compelling features. You can hook up two devices to the S430c at once (via USB-C) and power both their screens side by side, so it's like you have two 24-inch monitors in one. Not only that, thanks to the display's processor and software called HP DeviceBridge, you can also transfer files between the two machines by drag and drop.
HP Elite Dragonfly hands-on: A really light business notebook
HP is chasing superlatives again. Last year, the company launched the Spectre Folio -- the first laptop made out of leather. It also trotted out the first 15-inch laptop with an AMOLED screen at CES this year, and battled rival Dell to be the first to deliver a gaming notebook with a 240hz display. It's continuing its mission to collect a bunch of "firsts" with the new Elite Dragonfly. With that name, you'd be forgiven for thinking it's the latest Avenger, but no. HP is claiming it is the "world's lightest 13-inch business convertible." That's right, it's the lightest laptop with a bunch of caveats attached!
How to buy a gaming headset
Today's games boast stirring orchestral scores, realistic-sounding weaponry and high-caliber voice acting. But none of it means anything if your headset is crap. Same goes for well-laid plans in co-op games: You draw up the best tactics with your teammates, but if they can't hear you because of a bad mic, it all goes to waste. So the headset you buy is key to getting the most out of your game. But with so many companies getting into the market, how do you find the one that best suits your cranium?
HP CEO Dion Weisler will step down in November
Following four years at the helm of HP, CEO Dion Weisler will step down in November. The Palo Alto-based PC maker today announced that its Australian chief executive will be leaving his role due to "family health" reasons. Enrique Lores, the current president of HP's printing and imaging solutions arm, will take Weisler's place.
HP's latest gaming headset delivers active cooling, noise cancellation
HP has unveiled a host of new gaming products for Gamescom 2019, starting with the Omen Mindframe Prime, a high-end gaming headset with features that should make competitive play more comfortable. Your ears will heat up less thanks to HP's "Frostcap" active cooling that features a new graphite heat spreader tucked into the larger earpads. It's also got built-in 7.1 surround sound that enhances spatial awareness so you can pick out where sounds are coming from.
HP Omen X 2S review: A dual-screen curio
A dual-screen gaming notebook sounds like a smart idea at first — who wouldn't want another display to keep an eye on Twitch streams and Discord chats? But is worth taking a gamble on unproven tech? That's what I've been asking myself as I've tested out HP's Omen X 2S, the company's first notebook with two screens. It certainly looks intriguing at first, but it's clear HP still has plenty of work left to do to make the extra display worth it.
