About HP ENVY 14 ...

I am a long time Thinkpad user. Now thinking about trying HP. Have a few questions regarding HP ENVY 14

1. The HP website says it uses DDR3 memory. Is it

PC3-8500 DDR3 SDRAM 1067MHz

or

PC3-10600 DDR3 SDRAM 1333MHz ?

2. Can its backlit keyboard's light be turned off?

3. I know it is a gaming machine. Does anyone use it for software programming? How is your experience using it for software programming?

Thanks for any input!!!

 

Can somebody give it a yell?

Thanks!

 

alright.

1. the ram they gave me on my envy14 was samsung DDR3 1333mhz ram. So it says PC3-10700.

however the timings are set at 1067 mhz because the i3/i5 cannot run the ram at 1333mhz.

2. backlight is a fn+f5 thing. so yeah it can be turned on and off. there's no backlight sensor.

2b. fn+f5 isn't setup by default. hp uses something caused action keys in the bios. It turns the f-keys into say, backlight on, volume up/down whatever just by hitting the key instead of by hitting fn+the key


3. software programming really shouldn't be an issue. it's an i3/i5/i7. It should have the muscle for something like that so long as a 1366x768 resolution doesn't bother you. (I mean you could always hook it up to a monitor or something).

3b. envy14 has a mini-display port and a hdmi port for video. mini-display port at times is iffy (powered/active or nonpowered...sometimes it doesn't care, sometimes the screen requires a powered cable. whatever tht means)

hdmi dun care. hdmi is hdmi. There's audio output from the hdmi cable as well.

 

MagusDraco,

Thanks soooooooo much!

Regards.

 

Another quick question.

It seems HP is does not support higher resolutions as Lenevo does for simliarly-sized laptops. Is it a correct observation?

Thanks.

 

well.

there was a radiance screen with 1600x900, but that was a limited thing, and then the supplier for that screen went out of business or something.


so nah, no big resolution stuff unless you go business class for HP. If you want larger resolution on consumer laptops you may have to go sony (or stick with lenovo or something)


edit: I bought it while the radiance was available, it's nice. main reason I bought this laptop. kinda sad that it's gone. Hoping my laptop never breaks horribly

 

If it was 1600x900, I would definitely jump on it.

Not sure how much you paid. Now there is a tempting deal:

HP 14" Envy Laptop: Intel Core i7-720QM 1.6GHz, 4GB DDR3, 500GB HD, 14.5" LED (1366x768) w/ Camera, Radeon HD 5650, WiFi N, Bluetooth, 8 Cell Battery, Win 7 $850 + Free shipping at HP Home & Home Office Store $850

Coupon: NBA179471 ($400 off)

This deal is really tempting because I am able to get a very good config for about $1000.

 

I looked at HP business class laptops such as 8045p etc. But it seems a few hundred dollars more than comparable Thinkpads. Here is what I can get now for T510 for $1142.

INCR I7-620M 2.66GHZ,4MBL3
GENUWIN7PROFES.64
G.WIN.7PROF64US ENGLISH
15.6FHD DPY95%GM,270NILDBL
4GBPC3-10600DDR3 1333SODMM
KEYBOARDUS ENGLISH
CAMERA(2.0 MP)
500GB HDISK DRIVE7200RPM
MULT.RECORD.OPTDRIVE12.7MM
EXPCARSL+5IN1CARREAD
6CELLLI-ION BATTERY
COUNTRY PACK NORTH AMERICA
IN.CENTADV.-N+WIMAX 6250

I care about resolution because I do programming and often open a few windows at the same time.

 

well there are still a few radiance envys on the refurbished stuff.

http://h71016.www7.hp.com/html/hpre.../buspurchase-refurbished/computing/price-list

scroll down to home and home office, click on envy notebooks, look through the envy14 stuff

you'll have to order over the phone, I know the warranty is not the standard 1/2 years.


but a few of them do have the radiance screen.

 

that being said, if all you care about is programming and don't need a gaming video card, go with the thinkpad or something else comparable that has a good screen resolution and good build quality.


I dunno what that would be. could ask in the "recommend me a laptop" page.


you won't find a 1600x900 envy14 unless you go with the refurbished ones and they don't trump that thinkpad (i5 450m version was $1150 with a 500GB hdd. 1350 with 160gb SSD (intel x-25m))

 

One of the things I like Thinkpad is that it is relatively cool in temperature. I checked envy14's review on this website. It's temperature performance is not so impressive. Perhaps it is tested in gaming?

I dont do any gaming.

What is your experience with envy 14's temperature issue?

How does envy 14 look? solid? cool?

Thanks for the refurbished notebook link. I am checking it now. I hope that coupon could work on these refurbished envy14.

Best.

 

my temperature is, when in heavy use it gets up to the 70s/80s.


but heavy use means gaming. the heat is 95% isolated to the two vents that are in the mid-rear (bit right of the power button) and the back right (a bit to the right of delete, home, and pg up). the other spot that can get a lil warm is the hdd (right of the touchpad where your hand rests) but this is like...40 c warm not "whoamg gonna burn/make your hand feel like the thing is 60 c underneath there" warm.


idle it's just 40-42 celsius ish.

doesn't feel warm really anywhere at idle.

I wouldn't game with it on your lap though. It doesn't get too warm still except on the back right and back mid (where the vents are) but still. there are intake vents on the bottom.

 

also. I highly doubt you can use a coupon on the refurbished comps. Also know that the warranty is like 30 days/90 days or something (don't remember which) instead of 1/2 years.

though half the time refurbished means "dude decided to return computer/canceled order"

 

Notice that some envy is 15.6 HD. For example:

HP ENVY 15t Beats Limited Edition W7P-64 i7 820QM 1.73GHz 500GB 8GB External DVDRW(LS) 15.6HD(1920x1080) BV 1GB Cam NIC WLAN 2-in-1 Rmkt NB PC

But the HP home/home office website does not list it....Is this discontinued or something?

Does envy 14 have stick mouse? I cannot see it in HP's demo.


Thanks for the link, which opened my eye.

 

HP envy 15 and 13 were discontinued and were replaced by Hp envy 14 and 17.

 

Does envy 14 have stick mouse, in addition to touchpad? I cannot see it in HP's demo.

This is the question. Thank you so much for your info and advice. I will try to call hp about the refurbished ones.

Best.

 

no.

there's no stick mouse.

it's just the trackpad/clickpad.

which takes little getting used to (and/or some software to fix things up and stop it from being annoying. also the latest drivers help stop your fingers from triggering it when if your thumbs are lying on the pad while typing. but still, I have to use some third party software to use it perfectly)

 

also yeah the other stuff is the envy 13/15.

13 was apparently alright.

15 gen 1 had mad heating issues.

15 gen 2 was better.

 

MagusDraco and LegitAsian, thanks so much for your help. Good night!

 

MagusDraco,

Do you know how I can find out which E14 comes with the ATI 5650?

 

all E14s come with an ATI 5650

 

Oh yeah that's right, I was thinking of the Vaio EB >__>

Woot looks like I'm getting a Envy 14 after all! Hopefully the refurb won't break on me after 90 days, and I hope I can get my epp discount as well.

 

Damn some of those refurbs are damn expensive with soso specs