HP unveils world's thinnest laptop, goes up against MacBook

A big question among PC and laptop makers for a while now has been whether there is anything left to be made in this market without coming up with a device that doubles as a tablet, has a touchscreen or does something not traditionally done by PCs and laptops. HP wants to say yes with its new Spectre 13, which now takes the crown as the world's thinnest laptop.

The laptop is nearly 3mm thinner than the 2015 MacBook, coming in at 10.1mm. It does not have a screen that bends 360 degrees to convert into a tablet. The device does not even have a touchscreen. It is simply a very nice-looking laptop.

HP's promotion of its new laptop says the product uses "artisan materials and striking craftsmanship." It also has a campaign video that talks up the design and calls it "more like a piece of jewelry.” It is clear HP is targeting Apple with a premium design and a price of $1,169.99, which is still less than the $1,299 MacBook.

The Spectre 13 adopts a Gorilla Glass screen and three USB Type C ports, and comes with an Intel Core i5 or i7 instead of the Core M used in the MacBook. It is packed with 8GB of RAM and has a 256 or 512GB SSD, which is the same as the MacBook.

HP clearly does not want to be seen as another inexpensive laptop manufacturer. Going head-to-head with Apple like this is an interesting move, though. In the last several years, Apple has nearly monopolized the premium, design-focused electronics market. The HP Spectre 13 could show if there is room for others at the top, showing that all it takes is a beautiful, thin and durable design.

See a comparison table of selected laptop & desktop suppliers on GlobalSources.com