HP adds a touch of glass with Envy 14 Spectre ultrabook

HP is the latest vendor to unveil an ultrabook laptop, but is looking to stand out from the crowd with a sleek glass design and features such as wireless audio.

Expected to go on sale in the UK at the end of March, the HP Envy 14 Spectre is 20mm thick and weighs 1.8kg, which is in line with many other ultrabook models.

However, styling is one way that HP expects to make an impression, with this model making use of lightweight, scratch resistant glass on the lid, display, palmrest and touchpad to give it a unique look and feel.

"Sleek, midnight-black glass on the outside and stark contrast silver on the inside make Spectre extraordinary, defying conventional notebook design," said Louis Perrin, director of consumer products for HP's Personal Systems Group, EMEA.

HP also claims it has managed to cram a 14in HD display into a chassis that would typically have a 13in screen, delivering more screen space for users.

In specifications, the Envy 14 Spectre is comparable to other ultrabooks, with the latest Intel Core processors, 128GB SSD storage, Intel Rapid Start Technology for fast boot-up and a claimed nine-hour battery life. It also has support for USB 3.0, HDMI and Mini Displayport video output.

Another interesting feature is HP wireless audio, which allows the ultrabook to stream music wirelessly to compatible external speakers, in addition to the laptop's own built-in speakers.

HP said the Envy 14 Spectre will be available through select distributors at an estimated starting price of £1,199.

The laptop will go head-to-head with the Toshiba Portégé Z830, Acer's Aspire S5 and Timeline ultrabooks and Lenovo's budget U310 and U410 models, all of which were announced recently.