This FLIR heat sensor map shows the hot spot that developed occasionally around the CPU on the HP Spectre Folio’s slender motherboard. The leather is soft and breathable, and its texture makes it less prone to sliding off my knees. My experience when the Spectre Folio is actually on my lap seals the deal. The leather edge made ports a little hard to access. The glued edges of the leather are potentially the weakest point, but so far they’ve held strong. I also appreciate how the Spectre Folio’s surface is easy to grip and doesn’t show fingerprints. After several months of use, it still looks like new. I carried the Spectre Folio in a laptop bag, as I would with any laptop, and I treated it just like any laptop. But t here’s also a somewhat less intuitive caution: “ HP does not recommend applying leather protectant or sealant products.” And notably, most of HP’s care instructions-such as cleaning with a soft cloth, and avoiding harsh chemicals and abrasive surfaces-would also apply to a hard-shell laptop. HP advises taking care of the Spectre Folio just as you would a leather jacket or handbag. It’s stain- and water-resistant, with a pebbly texture. To those who’d ask, “Why would you ever build a laptop out of leather?” it’s fair to reply, “Why not?” We already use leather for shoes, bags, athletic equipment, and riding tack because it’s durable and flexible. The Spectre Folio’s leather was made with a chrome-based tanning process that is also used for car seats.