Convince me to keep my Envy 14

A little over a year ago my good friend bough a loaded Envy 15, and we were both impressed. Near Macbook quality chassis (and inspired design) with awesome power. This year, I wanted to give the 14 a shot.

If I had never owned a M11x R2, I would not be writing this post. That laptop showed me that I don't have to compromise just to have a portable computer. While its styling is a matter of personal taste, the chassis itself is built like a tank, with a magnesium alloy frame and heavy duty engineering plastic and soft touch accents. No keyboard flex, no monitor wobble...solid solid solid. My only complaint is that the screen sucked...though for work on the road it was fine and it had the guts to drive my 27" monitor at home.

The Envy 14 (2020NR) seems not to have the magic of the first 15, nor the ruggedness of the m11x:

First thing I notice is that the "aluminum accent" top and hand pads feel like the same plastic HP uses in their middle-end laptops this year. It does not feel like my wifes 2011 Macbook Pro, nor does it feel like a solid brick of material from the m11x. The keys, while easy to hit and are reasonably solid, also do not scream quality at me immediately.

Second thing is the audio. I have held my judgement in reserve regarding Beats Audio, as there is only so much magic you can provide using software and the audio sets I have used at demo events have not impressed me for their price, but the first thing I noticed when plugging in my "mr prissy brand " earbuds was a good amount of electrical noise of all flavors. Even when listening to softer music the noise is still prevalant. I noticed some potential fixes for this, but out of the box this is not something that makes me smile.

Finally the screen makes me a little bummed. It is not bad by any means, but it is far from even _good_. The pixel grid is quite apparant, and the contrast is not ideal nor the colors vibrant as I am used to. It is nice and bright, and the viewing angle is not problematic. The major issue I have with the screen, is that it wobbles back and forth while I type. This is what I expected from my laptops when I bought 600 dollar models each year. Not from my 1300 dollar (after coupons) lapop.

Yes, this was partly a rant--rants help people feel better about their situation. I got all the bad out and into the open. I expect harsh comebacks pointing out the good. I do not want to pay $500 more for a Macbook of similar specs, or wait an entire month to get a M14x from Dell. I want to see the beauty in this beast and be happy and get on with my life.

So lets here where I am wrong, and point out what I am NOT noticing about this laptop. Also, so we are clear on how I feel about it overall--its "MEH", not "its trash." 7/10.

Thanks!

 

Will note that it is a blazingly fast laptop. =)

 

I'm thinking about getting the envy because its so similar to the macbook but i've been reading about all the same cons. The wobbling does concern me though. Does that happen when its on your lap or when its on a solid flat surface? I really want this to be my dream computer but there is way too many faults. Are there any other laptops that you would consider if you were to return the envy?

 

I don't think many people have wobbling.

You might want to get that hinge checked out...

(unless this is a common envy 2xxx issue, in that case I would have no idea)

 

i was in the same boat as you. I didn't want to pay a lot for a macbook pro so I bought an envy SB 14 on impulse and sorta regretted it at first but I love the touchpad too much (with reil's software) and the backlit keyboard has made my job a lot easier.

 

To answer some questions that were asked and add some new points:

1. The overall quality of this 2020NR Envy 14 is pretty good compared to most of the laptops out there (I am in a position with my work where I get to use 90% of the machines I am interested in before I make a purchase). It is nowhere near the same build quality of a Macbook though. I am by no means a fervent Apple disciple (I bought a Envy remember?) but it is not as solid in materials and the screen is not near as good in terms of crispness and color saturation.

A. My screen wobbles on a flat, solid military style desk while typing. I found it is pretty good opened 90% to 100% all the way. This would be awful if it weren't for the fact that the viewing angle is actually best with arms level to keyboard and the screen opened this far. The colors are deeper and more saturated. This is interesting because it is much farther than you would expect from using other machines.

B. Keyboard flex is minimal, but certainly present. It is most apparent toward the P and [ ] keys with the right shift and enter being marginally affected by it. Flex is about the same as the ProBook 4530s, though the keyboard is certainly inferior. I am not sure WHY this is, as they look very similar, but the keys have a much better feel to them on the Probook.

Finally a comparison of "solid" compared to other laptops I have used (for work, not a Fry's demo) or owned recently:

Sensory aesthetics can be subjective, but I think anyone could tell a difference between a Macbook Pro and a 2020NR by typing on it, picking it up and looking over the body in person. The Envy feels much less solid, more plasticy (regardless of materials) than the Macbook. It feels less solid than my Probook, though it does look more expensive in that you cant tell which parts are actually plastic on it (besides the keys which are inferior).

This laptop is a league above the Asus competition in build quality, and I will leave taste and design up to you guys and gals. Asus has some tempting machines for the price, but build quality is something I prefer to pay extra for.

All in all, excluding Apple and only looking at Windows machines, after owning a M11x R2, (which is the El Cheapo model of the Alienware laptop line), I am spoiled. The design is was well executed, though definitely not my style, but the moment I opened the box and held it in my hand I was impressed. It was extremely well build with hardly a flaw to point out. The keyboard was very rigid with only a *tad* bit of flex around the W key and the screen wouldn't budge from where you set it. The underside of the system was as well build and styled as the rest. Besides from the Aliensense control panel, there was not any bloatware. The machine, heavily used, had zero issues unlike my many Asus machines over the past three years. If I could trade this Envy for the m14x I would do so based solely on my experience with the m11x r2...though the near month wait time is just not going to happen (one of my original deciding factors.

SHORT AND SWEET:

My Envy 14 2020NR (all options) is good laptop that edges into great considering the price. My only qualms lie in the build quality, which does not match expectations based on my previous experience with the original Envy 15 or the internet hype.

What I would buy if I returned the Envy...

I would order the m14x from Alienware based on my experience with them. They look like cheap plastic in the pictures on the net, but in person they feel like solid blocks of rubber-coated delrin. My second choice (because of price) would be the 15" MacBook Pro. $500 is alot of extra money for _less_ computer guts than the m14x (though Apple does include fantastic software).

There really isn't anything else on the table for me. I have a new HP ProBook strictly for work, and a powerhouse desktop for at-home gaming. I just wanted something that combined both since I spend half of my work week in hotel rooms.

 

So the real question is then... if the ENVY 14 is 90% of a comparable MacBook Pro, but well-optioned costs about 60% or the Apple, is that a good enough ratio for people? I think so. I've hated Apple products (and owned a few) since I was in middle school in the early 1990s, and hardware-wise, I'd take a 15" MBP (and live on Boot Camp) for the price over any other machine with the exception of a current Vaio Z for the same price. For years MBPs were well constructed but behind the curve CPU and GPU-wise but the current generation is just tough to beat now spec-wise.

But I still have no idea why people try to compare the ENVY 14 to the 15" MBP. Why? The cost difference is so huge that it's like trying to compare a Camry to a Lexus IS. They aren't the same. For the same price, I'd take a Vaio Z with that 13" 1920x1080 screen, < 3" thickness, and < 3 lb. weight and laugh at all those MBPs. Each has its pros and cons for sure, but for equal price, the Z > 15" MBP.

So why again do people keep comparing the ENVY 14 to a 15" MBP? If HP spent a bit more on quality control, engineering to put in a better GPU, and a bit more on design, would it equal the MBP in quality for the same or similar price? Even more, using the analogy I put above, is the ENVY even a Camry? No. A plasticky, integrated-only graphics laptop would be. The ENVY provides much (but definitely not all) of a higher-priced luxury machine for less than $1000 starting price. Sounds like a bargain to me! Sure you might get a lemon, but in the big scheme of things, go look at Consumer Reports... all major PC manufacturers are within 2-3% of each other for reliability. Anybody might get a lemon at any time buying any machine.

ENVY 14 may attract the same people as MBP but they are not equal. People pay 60% of the cost and want 100% of the same product? Is my ENVY 14 perfect? No! Does do it what I want it to? Yes! Is it nice at the same time? Yes! I'm pretty dang happy with it.

EDIT: Sorry, not necessarily aimed at anybody's post specifically, just tired of reading on these forums and in reviews on the internet where people say that the ENVY 14 isn't as good as a MBP but they bought it because it cost less. What do they expect? The MBP isn't even perfect by any means. I can get almost 2x ENVY 14s for the price of 1x 15" MBP.

 

Wetwilly, I agree with your post and think it is highly relevant to this thread.

You are 100% right that comparing the Envy to the MacBook Pro 15 is inane based on the price, and your analogies are great. I personally do not think the two should be compared in class, and I wasn't trying to. The thing is, HP was trying to do this when they started the Envy line, not just from their CEO and his quotes, but the vision of what Envy is. This doesn't even include the obvious similarities in inspiration.

The part I may differ on, is that anything less than perfection cannot be appreciated FOR perfection. Some forms of art, such as marble sculpture, are dependent on this notion. Glass that is 90% clear can be fully serviceable in its function, but cannot be appreciated based on its perfection. 90% of the sanding process before applying paint will give a good paint job, but will not be perfect and thus will not be special based on its perfection. That being said I do _not_ agree that the Envy is 90% of the MBP...80% maybe.

I'm not comparing the MBP to the Envy using a scorecard, I'm just someone who appreciates holding something beautiful and awesome in my hands. The 2020NR was one of the few machines that I thought could give me that feeling. Turns out I have to pay for for it, but no big surprise there...

 

Sorry... again, I didn't mean to insinuate that my post was directed at anybody or any particular post. I'm just sick of people trying to compare the ENVY line and Apples in general. My ENVY isn't perfect, but I definitely got my moneys worth. FWIW, I paid < $900 for mine with the combo drive, so I got a bang up deal... but even for $1050, it would still be a bargain for what I got, spec-wise and materials-wise. Maybe not $2k worth, but definitely for around $1k.

 

The ENVY is an insult to me. 5 DOAs already, and the 6th set is nowhere near being produced. Yes, the screen wobbles a lot and is thinner than those on the 1000 series. HP has cut cost with the 2000 series and as a result the quality is plain bad.

 

After maybe 3 DOAs I'd be taking my business elsewhere. I had luck like that with iPhones (before I swtiched to Android)... Over a 2 year period, I had 7 iPhones. They were usually (though not always) good about replacing them for me, but didn't change the fact that I needed 7. Some earpieces didn't work, others had random rebooting problems, one wouldn't charge...

Yeah, if I were you I would have just moved on from HP a while ago.

 

And yet to this day, my original iPhone (2G) is still going strong (even after being submerged!). Actually I upgraded to an iPhone 4 last year but my original is in the draw as a backup unit (or iPod).

P.S. My first iPhone 4 would crash whenever the camera was activated, but Apple replaced it and I haven't had a single problem since.

 

Dang. Did they decide to go and make the aluminum lid thinner?

 

I think that makes sense...I used the original 15 more than 6 months ago (after it had already been out for a while) and it just felt great.

After I pulled this 2020NR out of my slip I could tell it wasn't the same laptop. Granted, it is MUCH cheaper.

All in all, great performance, good price for what you get...but it is not the system it started out being or the vision HP had envisioned and presented with the original release.

 

I'm going to keep this all in mind. I considered the Envy 14's rigidity to be just about good enough. I've learned over the years that you get what you pay for except for the occasional generous discounts.