First Look: HP Envy 8 Note

By Gadjo Cardenas Sevilla

The HP Envy Note 8 could very well be the Surface mini we never got from Microsoft. A bona-fide 8-inch Windows 10 tablet, the HP Envy 8 Note is designed around note-taking and has a Wacom powered pen and another variant comes with an HP Folio Keyboard which gives it the ability to be a great note taking device.

2015 has had its share of interesting 2-in-1's like the iPad Pro and the Pixel C. These devices are tablet-first devices that can quickly convert to notebook replacements with partner keyboards. The Hp Envy 8 Note is the most compact and portable device we've seen in this class but how does it fare in real world use?

I was intrigued by the prospect of an 8-inch Windows 10 tablet that could take pen input as well as shape shift into a notebook replacement. These types of devices have appeared in the past but the small screen size and small accessory keyboard makes them tough to use.

The HP Envy 8 Note shares the same quad-core Intel Atom processor as the Surface 3, this Intel Cherry Trail processor is clocked at 1.44 GHz up to 1.84 GHz in turbo mode. It also has 2GB of RAM, which seems stingy and really limits performance even if the tablet runs a 64-bit version of Windows 10 home.

In terms of build quality, the HP Envy 8 Note is decked out in Gorilla Glass 3 the front and rocks a neat white and black two-tone look. There's metal trim on the border and buttons are solid and responsive. The HP Envy 8 Note also sports Bang and Olufsen mono speakers which are okay and do a great job of carrying sound for a small and light tablet like this one. The 1920 x 1200 FHD display is detailed and bright. I've used it at 17% brightness in a dimly-lit room and it didn't strain my eyes at all. 

Build quality is very good and HP seems to have leveled up in terms of materials, which I appreciate as a user who plans on travelling extensively with this tablet and keyboard combination. The HP Envy 8 Note also has a Verizon SIM card and access to prepaid data plans. I am not sure if it will work with Canadian carriers, but it is a thoughtful feature for a tablet designed for mobility, something I have appreciated on various iPad models through the years.

I was excited to try out the accessory pen, which is included in the package but the AAAA battery needed to power that pen was missing so I am unable to comment on how well that works until I can get batteries from Best Buy or a nearby Microsoft Store. 

The Bluetooth Keyboard case is one of the reasons why I bought the HP Envy Note 8. It is as close to a full-size QWERTY keyboard. It is made of metal, has great travel and is a solid premium keyboard that's similar to what you'll find with HP's Ultrabooks.

This keyboard case has a small recessed dock where you can lay the tablet in faux-notebook mode. You can use the keyboard on your lap or on a table but take note, it isn't at all secure. It is easy to lean forward or backwards and have the HP Envy 8 Note fall face down on the keyboard. Use of magnets to help secure the tablet might have been a good idea. Again, stability is the 2-in-1 device's biggest enemy.

The HP Envy 8 Note comes with 32GB of storage (15GB which is taken up by system and apps), you can add up to 64 GB via a microSD slot, which I did right out of the box. 

The Bluetooth keyboard pairs easily with the Envy 8 Note and even has a neat rear slot to stash the tablet for carrying. It likewise has a pen loop for the included pen. Typing on the keyboard is great. Not only are the keys well spaced, you get a lot of shortcut and control keys within easy access.

HP includes Microsoft Office Mobile for free on the HP Envy Note 8, which is ideal for my needs as a travelling writing tool. 6.5 hours of battery life also ensures that I can use the HP Envy Note 8 as a nice eBook reader, a newsreader for Flipboard and Microsoft News apps as well as for watching TV via the Slingplayer app and for Netflix while travelling.

Windows 10 on an 8-inch tablet does have some limitations. Dual screen snapping seems not to work at all, multitasking is a bit of pain beyond three or four apps open. Credit this to 2GB of RAM. I've also experienced poor WiFi connectivity and issues where the HP Envy Note 8 disconnects from a known hotspot. It is quite frustrating. I have been receiving regular software updates and since this device just came to market, I am crossing my fingers that updates will resolve some of these issues.

Still, the promise of running Windows 10 effectively on a small screen is possible and works quite well for Windows 10 universal apps. I don't expect to install Photoshop or Lightroom on this tablet and will see how far I can go with Microsoft Office Mobile before installing Office 365. 

I still have to spend more time with the HP Envy 8 Note but this early it has exceeded my expectations as a basic, portable and connected productivity and content consumption device.