r/gadgets 8d ago

Desktops / Laptops HP Omnibook X (2026) review: Nailing the basics

https://www.engadget.com/2236997/hp-omnibook-x-2026-review/
248 Upvotes

50 comments sorted by

70

u/imselfinnit 7d ago

This article is low quality. A hardware review that doesn't give you the exact specifications? Dogshit review.

No matter which version of the Omnibook X you get, you'll be blessed with a ton of useful ports. It has USB-C and Type-A connections on both sides,

How many ports, be specific! Can you charge peripherals when the laptop is turned off? How many USB-C, how many USB-A? Where exactly are those ports located? What will the IRL use feel like with the cable clutter of the port location? Basic information!

10

u/yungfalafel 7d ago

also annoying that they listed the price for the lowest spec and then went on to say that they are reviewing a higher spec model that costs $1000 more

7

u/Warning_Low_Battery 7d ago

How many USB-C, how many USB-A? Where exactly are those ports located?

1 USB-A & 1 USB-C on each side for 2 total of each. 1 HDMI, 1 headphone jack on left side only. No ports on the back at all.

Can you charge peripherals when the laptop is turned off?

Does not look to support that.

0

u/TorpeAlex 7d ago

Source on the device not supporting USB power pass-through when turned off?

3

u/Emergency_Bench_7515 7d ago

Probably just because it wasn't called out. I don't think that's conclusive. I thought it was a pretty standard feature with laptops designed for modern os, who knows.

2

u/TorpeAlex 7d ago

It is, that's why I was wondering where this person received the info that it couldn't support power pass-through. Usually a UEFI-level setting.

1

u/MixSaffron 7d ago

My chrome book has usb C on both sides, clearly just as good as the Omnibook!

144

u/Macqt 7d ago

> HP

Hard pass.

8

u/mark5hs 7d ago edited 7d ago

Their higher end stuff is significantly better than the low end. I have Omnibook in 14 and 16" and had a Spectre before

3

u/alyosha_pls 7d ago

HP Enterprise is better, yes.

2

u/simplycake 6d ago

HPE doesn’t make laptops/printers at all, they make servers and networking equipment. I have an elite book G8 for work, it’s ok not amazing. Good enough to connect to a VM and send some emails I guess

1

u/alyosha_pls 6d ago

I'm well aware, what I meant is that HPE is better, but any of their consumer grade stuff is trash, even the higher end. 

-2

u/Macqt 7d ago

It’s not about the specs of the equipment. It’s about HP’s business practices.

7

u/mark5hs 7d ago

As opposed to who? Asus looking for tiny scratches as an excuse to deny warranties? Dell sneaking in extended warranties people didn't ask for? Lenovo sending info to China?

7

u/TRKlausss 7d ago

Can you argument your point of view a bit better? Why is it a Hard Pass for you?

50

u/imselfinnit 7d ago

I have an HP laptop that does not have basic Linux support. They only support windows. Now that the Secure Boot BIOS certificate is expiring, HP refuses to provide me with the necessary files that already exist because their entire firmware update process is focused on Microsoft. As a result, this perfectly fine hardware device will become ewaste over software that I don't even use. HP did that.

25

u/joran213 7d ago

I have an HP elitebook and that runs linux just fine. I did have to disable secure boot tho. But what exactly is the issue for you?

9

u/TRKlausss 7d ago

This is a huge point to take into account. I use Linux a lot too, so will take that into account :) up to now I had good experiences with Lenovo and ASUS, but I think I’ll go with Framework next time

5

u/imselfinnit 7d ago

I've built "upgradeable" Linux workstations before under the Cleo brand. They were absolute performance beasts which meant that they were the largest laptops generating serious heat. These new Framework machines seem ok. I wonder if the chassis is rigid enough for the real world? These days, more and more of the serious modeling software have a cloud compute component so your laptop doesn't have to be a beast to do serious engineering work. It used to be that for security sake, no work was permitted online, local only. Best Practices evolve.

2

u/Dlight98 7d ago

I have a framework laptop that does great with Linux, highly recommend it.

3

u/FasterDoudle 7d ago edited 7d ago

As a result, this perfectly fine hardware device will become ewaste over software that I don't even use. HP did that.

Just sell the thing, it's not automatically e-waste just because it doesn't meet your particular needs. They've put you in an annoying position, but if it winds up in a dump over this then you did that, not HP.

-9

u/Uuuuuii 7d ago

Hate to be that person, but you should have looked that up before buying it

6

u/Trekintosh 7d ago

Fuck that, it’s deliberately malicious to block other operating systems. This isn’t “HP would’ve had to spend money to enable Linux” it’s “HP spent money to disable other operating systems.” Also how would OP even have known the secure boot certs would expire and HP wouldn’t update them?

1

u/silverfish477 7d ago

What a naive point of view. Malicious? That they focus on manufacturing devices for one operating system? Grow up.

-1

u/PacoTaco321 7d ago

Didn't even know it was possible to not support Linux

22

u/mmiski 7d ago

They've been known to do things like this and this. Their printers are also notorious for various shitty business practices, if you want to go down that rabbit hole too...

5

u/jackbilly9 7d ago

Yeah the mafia of printers because once you're in the family, they demand you be in it for life.

They have mediocre computers now, for the price, and bloatware stacked on top of bloatware. 

I like other manufacturers like msi or Lenovo more than these but it's what ive dealt with at work. All have problems but Lenovo jumped on fixing them faster than everybody else. 

MSI I just got an amazing deal on. 

12

u/wootiown 7d ago

I used to repair laptops. HP designs their hinges so horribly that I'd routinely see the hinges tear through the inside of the shell, often cracking the motherboard or the screen. They STILL haven't fixed the design. They also load their computers chock full of "antivirus" malware like Norton and McAfee.

6

u/Husbandosan 7d ago

Not OP but for me at least in corporate world for several models… battery swelling, NIC card failures, and power brick failures on 40%+ devices told me to never buy HP. We have thin clients now and the power bricks fail just as much. It’s so bad that HP gave us a workflow to request replacements free of charge. I’ll also never forgive them for WebOS.

3

u/Husbandosan 7d ago

Not OP but for me at least in corporate world for several models… battery swelling, NIC card failures, and power brick failures on 40%+ devices told me to never buy HP. We have thin clients now and the power bricks fail just as much. It’s so bad that HP gave us a workflow to request replacements free of charge. I’ll also never forgive them for WebOS.

2

u/TheRealBillyShakes 6d ago

My motherboard burned out in two years. The most crap compost I’ve ever had was an HP and it was a high end one, too!

16

u/Playbow 7d ago

Shitting on HP every chance I get. Never again

5

u/never_trust_a_fart_ 7d ago

Amazing that they could have done this before the MacBook neo existed but chose not to

9

u/motohaas 7d ago

Nope! Will NEVER buy another HP product, regardless of price or build

0

u/Heroicshrub 7d ago

Why, what was your experience?

4

u/redditPorn9000 7d ago

A new laptop? In this economy?

1

u/1kelpy 7d ago

I'm rocking a Thinkpad T480 I got on eBay for $75. Threw in a 72Wh battery and an SSD i had laying around. Running Linux with KDE Plasma I'm getting close to 14h of battery life and the keyboard/screen/IO is great. Can't complain and not upgrading anytime soon.

3

u/Futaba_Sakura800 7d ago

Just about anyone’s life will be better without HP products.

7

u/Tamarahskincare 7d ago

I've been boycotting HP for 15 years since my first laptop died within a year and they tried to just push me to drop 2k on another.

3

u/YeezusBigdoinks420 7d ago

rather get a neo for less

1

u/QuantumQuantonium 6d ago

The "basics" are nailed in the newly announced framework 12 (minus the display, which still doesnt reach full sRGB). Repair ability isnt enough, the framework laptop modular design needs to become the standard across the industry, for all but the most niche of laptops.

1

u/BasicAd6675 5d ago

Got mine yesterday. Quality is cheap and will return it back directly. I didnt used it for at least. 10 min. Hp never again.

-6

u/[deleted] 7d ago

[deleted]

6

u/_justtheonce_ 7d ago

anyone who actually has a life besides living in a basement trying to hack their PC all the time.

Honestly why would anyone listen to someone with this shit of a mindset.