I live in Mexico and was using a Microsoft Surface Pro 6 which was starting to get a bit quirky and was interested in a Surface Pro 8. I ordered an SP8 online from B&H Photo but it got stuck in Mexico Customs and was returned to B&H. I found a eBay vendor who pre-collected customs duties, so figured they were confident about getting it through customs, but nope, it was returned to the vendor, too.
At the same time, I became aware of the HP Spectre X360 14 and was impressed with the specs, and the price was comparable to an SP8 with a Signature keyboard. I wanted to do a hands on comparison, so I flew up to New York City to buy a new computer about ten days ago. Best Buy price-matched a Spectre X360 14 with i7-1195G7, 16 GB RAM & 1TB SSD to hp.com’s $1499 price, so it undercut the SP8 by over $200. Sold. (It was the last one in stock at that BB store.)
Took the Spectre X360 to my hotel room and it booted up to a hardware error in BIOS – battery issue. Returned to the BB store and they authorized an exchange at another BB store downtown, so I Uber’d there and picked up the new one. Took the new Spectre X360 to my hotel room and it booted up to the same hardware error in BIOS. Back downtown I go to exchange again. I booted up the third one at the Customer Service counter and – voila! – no BIOS error. At this point my confidence in HP was a little shaky, but I brought the computer back home to Mexico anyway.
A few days ago I resumed a project: digitizing & retouching ~1,000 family photos. Photoshop isn’t fully compatible with my new HP Spectre X360 14! I can’t even apply a simple Smart Sharpen filter without PS crashing. PS troubleshooting gives a workaround: disable Graphics Processor acceleration. WTH? I buy a pricy laptop with 11th-gen Intel Iris Xe graphics and I turn it off?
PS suggests that the graphics adapter drivers are out of date:
However, Intel Driver & Support Update Assistant reports everything is up to date.
I really don’t want to fly back to NYC to return this computer, but it is an option. Before I do, do any of you have an HP Spectre X360 14 with an i7-1197G7 and run Photoshop with no issues? If I do return it, I will probably buy a MS Surface Pro 8, the original apple of my eye, although I am eyeing a MacBook of some flavor. Apparently, Macs “just work,” and at this point that is alluring.
I am reluctant to pursue the Photoshop issue with Adobe & Intel as I assume they will each point a finger at the other. <sigh…>