ENVY 15-jXXX / ENVY 17-jXXX Notebooks (2013)

I would love to but didn't dare since I think i might screw up all the software for intel, graphics, touchpad etc. I just uninstalled those 3rd party apps that HP threw in there.

 

Dude you simply rock man !
What a dedication and I really appreciate your efforts in clarifying doubts of many people. I would say that this thread of yours was like an oasis in the desert to me.........I have been trying to figure out what is the difference between hp Envy 15t-j000 and j100 and you have been really helpful on this. I researched all over net but was hopeless....Probably yours is the only post that talks in and out about envy 15t-j100.
I am planning to buy this model (link below) and can I seek your help on clarifying some more doubts (you thread has already cleared 90% of my doubts that I had since past few days)

HP ENVY 15t-j100 Select Edition Notebook PC (ENERGY STAR) | HP® Official Store

It is HP ENVY 15t-j100 Select Edition Notebook PC.
But, I plan to customize the following default specs on this model and buy

1) I plan to upgrade default Intel HD graphics to NVIDIA GeForce GT 740M Graphics with 2048MB of dedicated video memory. Do you have any comments on quality/performance of NVIDIA vs Intel HD. Is the upgrade worth the money ?
2) upgrade from default 6gb to 8gb ram
3) Now this is important.... I am really confused if I should go for "15.6-inch diagonal HD BrightView LED-backlit Display (1366x768)" OR
"15.6-inch diagonal Full HD BrightView LED-backlit Display (1920x1080)". I have a strong feeling to opt for 1920x1080 display, but I have some doubts regarding this screen.
Some people have said that on 1920x1080 screen things tend to display real small (due to high pixel density)...like icons, text etc and it can be difficult to read/look etc. Is that true ? How was your experience about Envy 1920x1080 BrightView LED-backlit Display ? Do you have any past experience with BrightView LED-backlit Display (1366x768) so that you can compare the pros and cons of both. Which graphic card (Intel HD or NVIDIA) will be more apt/compatible for 1920x1080 display.

Few weeks back my friend got hp pavilion 15.6 laptop (Win 8) and it has Hp BrightView LED-backlit Display (1366x768). What I noticed was that somehow desktop icons and whole screen as such was disproportionate. Dont know if Win 8 was supposed to have bigger icons like that...Everything was somehow looking bigger than usual (at 1366x768 screen resolution). This difference was more prominent in firefox browser where websites were looking somehow awkward....icons... text.....etc were kind of disproportionate and bigger (as if zoomed out) and if I try to reduce/increase the window size (by pressing ctrl +-) it was not getting the natural aspect ratio feel.....either getting over stretched/compressed ........really don't know how to put in better words. But I could clearly feel the difference when I open the same webpage on my current Dell (win 7 and screen res at 1366x768) and compare side by side with display in my friends hp pavilion brightview 1300x768 screen.
This is the main reason I do not want to opt for 1366x768 screen on envy 15t-j100.
Did you observe/feel any such disproportinate screen on your new 1920x1080 envy 15t-j100 model. If you can share some images of your screen.... especially how icons..websites... looks in browsers like firefox, chrome it would be great.
Also I heard that in the past hp envy screens had problems displaying red and orange colors...it seems red looks orange....is that true ?

https://www.google.com/search?q=hp+...2OOm_sQTP-ID4Bw&ved=0CE8QsAQ&biw=1366&bih=604

My last question is how long does the battery last on your 15t-j100 ?
Sorry if I bothered with too lengthy post.....btw you said that keyboard was good and no Flex problem...that is surely a gr8 news for me.

btw I plan to use laptop for movies.....ppts....word.....etc...occasional gaming...
Thanks in advance.

 

Here is a coupon code to get 15% off of 999.99 or more. I believe it expires on 11-03 though

MU2713

 

thank you very much for all the info. I couldn't even find info on youtube about this model. and no flex! that's great news

 

I have something to answer your concerns.

1. I don't play much games so I'm not sure the improvement from intel to nvidia but I guess if you can afford it, you should get it (future-proof)
2. I uploaded some screen shots with display from original to scaled up in this link. (100% compared to 125%). I don't have any prob with reading the text at all and it looks sharp.
3. Also there is a video on the keyboard. The flex's not exactly 100% gone but it has been much better than the old j000. and If you're really expecting it to be like macbook line then you are day-dreaming :hi2:
4. I took pictures to compare the color reproduction on this thing with the ipad 3 (there's also attachment of the picture I used). Both at highest brightness so you can see for yourself.
5. Battery is average with careful usage. I get around 4:30 to 5:15 hrs at normal use and brightness set at around 45%. (You can barely see anything with the glossy touch screen so this is really good for my non-touch j100).
Here is the link with pictures and video: https://drive.google.com/folderview?id=0B2kP7zbvzkZBcktvd2VSZFFPSUE&usp=sharing
Hope this helps.

 

Is the 740M the GK208 version or the GK107 version? I would assume GK208, but I'm curious (GPU-Z will give you the relevant info).

I'm looking forward to getting mine hopefully tonight. So I guess I can check myself soon, but I'm curious if they use them interchangeably. I'm going to be attempting to do a clean install of Windows on a 128 GB mSATA that I bought separately (following the instructions from the thread on this forum, so I'll let everyone know how that goes.

 

I received the HP Select 15t-j100 with the 4GB 750m Graphics Card. Being a long term MacBook pro user was disappointed with the quality of the laptop. I had an old Envy from when HP had bought the company and there is a lot of deterioration in the build quality. Also, the TN screen is just hopeless, it has very poor viewing angles and a lot of color shifting. Orange --red -- yellow as u move your viewing angle. The quality difference between apple and windows oem is huge. In the end, I guess you get what u pay for.

For the +ve aspects: I wanted a machine that I could load up with 16GB and 2 drives, so this fits the use case at a low cost. I removed the 750GB 5400 rpm HDD and replaced it with a 1TB Samsung EVO SSD. Also, filled the empty mSATA slot with a 256GB Plextor M5M SSD. Used Rufus to create a UEFI compatible USB WIndows 8.1 install media. Loaded a clean install of 8.1 on the mSATA drive and it picked up the license key automatically, no worries. Installed all the drivers from the SWSetup folder on the original drive. Did not experience any issues. Machine is blazing fast, but the display, flex in the build, terrible keyboard and the constant whine of the fan makes me question this purchase every time I power up the laptop. I should have tried the Dell XPS 15 instead for additional 600$.

 

Finally got mine. First impression: The screen door effect on the screen is pretty terrible. Does anyone else have this on their 1080p display? Also, is there a good utility to see screen info?

Edit: According various hardware info programs my screen is an AU Optronics AUO32ED. What does everyone else have (particularly those with j100s)?

Edit2: To figure out your screen model number, http://www.hwinfo.com/download.php is excellent. Run the portable x64 version, click X on the CPU screen that first pops up, then click on the plus sign next to monitor, then click on the panel.

 

I have the same display...terrible screen. its TN panel

 

I'm trying to figure out if there are any other panels in circulation. I know the j000s had a Chei Mei panel that people complained about, but did everyone see a screen door effect on theirs? Do you see a screen door effect on yours?

 

So speaking as one who is a bit less on the technical side when it comes to hardware, does anybody like this laptop? or was purchasing it a huge mistake?
I have an older 17" envy and it got incredibly hot, even when doing day to day things... like being on. I couldn't work with my daughter around because just touching it would most likely burn her.
Is this one going to have that same issue?

 

I would give mine a solid 8 to be fair even though it deserves a 1 :thumbsup: for me (points off due to the misleading and misinformed IPS panel from the 2 reps). I personally liked the non touch screen ( it looks decent enough - you can see pictures attached in the links form my previous post) the light weight and thinness. Disliked the screen (shocker), and so-so battery life.
As for heat, if you only are a medium-heavy user, then it'll be fine.

 

Yeah so I actually had ordered the touch screen, so hopefully it's still ok (ordered it before seeing your warnings ), but thanks! I was most concerned about the heat, so I'm glad that won't be an issue.
Thanks again for all the info.

 

Many many thanks

 

Thanks guys for the feedback on the new j100 series. Sure is a bummer they still are using that crappy screen. I have an Envy 15-3200 series now and the 1080p screen on it is awesome! Wish I could order the new j100 series for the newer hardware and just swap out the screen! ha-ha What are some other good laptops that are similar but actually have a good screen?

 

Word! Now that someone mentioned screen door effect, I'm starting to notice it hah! Here are my wish list and top almost-buy list (I'm not sure if they have better screen or not but can't be any worse, right?):
- ASUS N550J
- Acer V7
- Dell inspiron 7000 7537
- Dell XPS 15 2013 (this is mainly because of the design, battery life and weight since spec-wise, it is the weakest one)
Honorable mention:
- XPS 13 2013
- Macbook pro 13 2013

 

why do you say the XPS 15 is the weakest spec wise?
thought it had the best graphics card of the lot: 750M GDDR5

Asus N550JV & Acer Aspire V7 :750M DDR3

edit: just noticed the Dell inspiron 7000 has a GDDR5 version too

 

I'm talking about the base one which is priced at 1500 already. If you want the 750M then you have to pay 1900 and that's almost twice as much. :>

 

I think most of us are interested in this laptop be cause we want a 15" or so laptop with 3 criteria: 1. Decent dedicated GPU 2. 1080p 3. Not crazy expensive.

To your list of contenders, I'll add the MSI GP60, the Samsung ATIV Book 6, and the Toshiba Satellite P50. The problem with all of the comparable laptops is that they either also have TN panels, are more expensive, or are much heavier (sometimes all three). I got 15t-j100 (i7, 1080p, 740M, AC Wifi, 2 batteries) for about $800. I'm pretty sure nothing with an IPS display is available for less than $950. And even the ones for $950 are at least half a pound to a pound heavier. Has anyone seen decent deals on comparable models?

 

HP sent me an e-mail, there's been a delay in shipping my j-100 out to me. instead of today, it would be shipped between now and the 8th. and they sent me a coupon for 10% anything on the site. what a bummer

 

Same here, mate. They delayed my j000 for 4 days and sent me a coupon which I used for the j100 I replaced that one. Biggest mistake of their life. Hah

 

I had almost the same list when I was deciding which laptop to get and I would still stand by my choice for the price:
1. My choice Asus N550JV-DB72T.
2. Acer V7/V4 482PG/583PG
3. HP Envy 15t
At the time, I was really hung up on the HP Envy 15t touchsmart but the screen is awful. Saw a review on youtube that totally swayed me against it.
HP ENVY TouchSmart 15t-j000 Consumer Review - YouTube

The build quality and screen leave a lot to be desired.
- The asus and the acer both have ips screens and a better gpu (gk107 gt750m DDR3 vs gk208 gt740m ddr3).
-The acer and the hp both have msata slots but I've switched out the optical drive on my asus for the hdd and put an ssd in the default drive slot.
-The acer and the asus both have mini displayports which can drive higher resolution displays 2560x1600 @ 60hz, the hp only has hdmi.
-The hp has 4 usb 3.0 ports, the asus 3 usb 3.0 ports while the acer has 1 usb 3.0 & 2 usb 2.0.
-The acer has better battery life due to its ULV processor while the asus and hp have similar battery lives with similar processors.
-The acer and hp have aluminium/plastic construction although the acer's build is better than the hp while the asus is all aluminium.
-Ncix US had the ulv i5 asus for $899 while the ulv i7 was about $1200 everywhere. The touchscreen asus is currently $1029 @ amazon, $1069 @ gentech,xoticpc and other resellers. Comparatively specced HP Envy touchsmart 15t is ~$1100, ~$950 depending on which deals/coupons available.
At the time (2 months back in september), the price/performance of the asus seemed obvious. The Dells also seem quite good but price isn't on their side.

 

I'm thinking of ordering one of these laptops.
Could you maybe explain to me how you swapped out the optical for a HDD? or point me to instructions? I'd really want an SSD and that's the deciding factor.

 

For the asus n550jv? There's a thread for it http://forum.notebookreview.com/asu...16-asus-n550jv-user-review-owners-lounge.html
But I'll still post the links
How-to Asus N550 N550JV adding 2nd HDD / SSD using DVD / optical drive bay with HDD Caddy - YouTube

How-to Asus N550 N550JV remove bezel from optical drive - YouTube

Sorry for being off topic. Just helping.

 

Thanks and sorry for perpetuating the off-topicness

 

Hi Paul and everyone,

This is such a great thread to get an insight for Envy 15tj100.

I am planning to buy an HP laptop with config - i5 4th gen, gt740m, backlit keyboard, 6gb ddr3, wifi & bluetooth.

I have narrowed it down to 2 envy laptops
1. 15t-j100 . . . . . . . . . . priced at 765$ at HP website (2.5 GHZ)
2. m6-k015dx . . . . . . .priced at 735$ at Best buy (1.6 ghz, turboboost to 2.5 GHZ)

The problem is - j100 has a TN screen whereas m6 has a touch screen. M6 comes with a default intel HD4600 graphics whereas I can choose nvidia GT740M in j100.
One more issue that I observed by reading user reviews for M6 is - it has a very frustrating Wifi problem.
These things put me in a fix - whether to go for dedicated graphics or better screen. I am more concerned about the performance. . . .what do you think/ which laptop will perform better? and is the j100 screen really bad when compared to m6 laptop screen?

Please please help me make a decision on which laptop to buy and your views on it.

Many thanks.

Regards,
Guru

 

First of all, TN can be both touch and non touch so that's really not much different since HP only uses TN for laptops. The thing with TN touch screen is, due to its glossiness and average brightness, it is harder to see. if you are a brand new user and have no idea about screen technology, it wouldn't make much difference. Also for that price, you can't really get IPS along with its specs anyway.

 

Hello all,

I'm currently looking into purchasing a mid-range 14" to 15.6" machine for general use, engineering work (EDA, hardware synthesis/simulations), as well as some gaming. The HP ENVY 15t-j100 is one of the few non-workstation models that I'm currently looking at. I have a few questions on the 15t-j100 and would be super grateful if you guys could help me out with any of them:

1) Can I replace the included HDD with an aftermarket SSD?

2) I've seen some people remark that the display leaves something to be desired, with remarks of a "screen-door" effect. Does this apply to all variations, or just certain ones? I'm looking at both the TouchSmart and non-touchscreen options, as well as either the Quad or Select editions. Are the regular displays superior to the touch displays?

3) How is the airflow? Can it handle extended use under high CPU and/or GPU stress without reaching dangerous temperatures? If I'm gaming, I'll have it on a cooling pad to help facilitate good airflow, but I'd like to be sure I won't have overheating issues.

4) What is the general consensus on the physical build quality? How is the keyboard flex? I really would like something durable, and while I would prefer a fully-metal body, I realize that the 15t-j100 has a plastic bottom. This is one reason why I am also considering getting a workstation instead, even though they are bulkier.

5) Lastly, I noticed that the select edition offers some 37W CPU options vs the 47W CPU options in the quad edition. Any idea how big of an impact this will have on battery life? If it is worth getting a 37W CPU, then my question becomes, should I get the higher-clocked but only dual-core i5-4330M, or the lower-clocked but quad-core i7-4702MQ? Again, my usage will be a mix of general use, EDA work, and some gaming.

Thanks ahead!

 

Hi everyone, I had bought an HP Envy Touchsmart 15t-J000, but returned it because it was configured wrongly. Then, when I got my replacement, it would stutter when I would listen to audio with the charger plugged in. Now, my third replacement is coming albeit delayed, and this time it's the HP Envy Touchsmart 15t-J100. I never got to test the audio on my first laptop because I hadn't even opened the box before I returned it, I returned it on the day I received it. So my question to all of you is, does your audio stutter when you have your charger plugged in? It would be great if when someone's laptop needed a charge, they could listen to let's say a 10 minute song and see if it'll stutter. I'm trying to find out if this was an isolated incident or if they all have this flaw.

 

question for everyone here. do you use a laptop fan/cooler? and if so, which one?

 

I don't really have one but my bro has this Amazon.com: Cooler Master NotePal X-Slim Ultra-Slim Laptop Cooling Pad with 160mm Fan (R9-NBC-XSLIA-GP): Computers & Accessories and I try it whenever he's not home. It's is a little noisy but not annoying. and extremely strong and cool.

 

1. Yes, you can replace the Hdd with an SSD or you can use mSata as well
2. I would say non touch for now since I don't see much productivity in touch and it looks better for me as well. If you put this screen right next to any other screens, you would prob see the difference. However, when alone, it is kindda decent. You wouldn't really tell it is bad unless you always think it is bad (that's my opinion).
3. with normal use, the fan runs here and there now and then but not loud whatsoever. the heat coming out is pretty warm and you can feel it if you put it on your lap. There's only one vein on the bottom left.
4. It looks great but it still has flaws. You can't really expect Macbook pro quality at this price range (that's also why macbooks are priced at that level) so it's worth it if you know what you pay for.
5. it depends if you move around a lot or you say in one place. When I'm home, I just take out the battery and set it to high performance to get the most out of it which is also when I do most of the intensive work. While at school, I just take notes, browse, youtube, mail etc so the battery might last longer. I experience around 4:30 hrs at 40% brightness ( I have the i7 4800MQ at 47W)

PS: since I don't really utilize all the power of this thing, I might return it and get the high-end Z510 instead ( Lenovo Z510 Laptop | 15.6" Multimedia Notebook PC | Lenovo (US)) If you are interested, I will compare them two. The screen on that Z510 is also TN but might be a better based on what people say about the Y510p (which I guess has the same panel). Will arrive here on the 15th. Stay tuned.
PSS: also since I started thinking about upgrading my old lap with a new one. It's been a really eye-opening journey with how little I know about computers and how helpful people are suggesting and recommending options for others on this forum in general. You guys are doing a better job than those reps sitting in a cubicle staring at the pamphlets all days giving out useless information. That's why I want to give a real honest opinion on as many models as possible 'cause we are all in the same shoes here. Cheers. Happy weekend everyone.

 

thanks for that link. I have a few in mind, but I've read reviews from people saying that their fans don't hit the areas where the laptop is at its hottest. so I thought I'd ask the people that own the very same laptop I'm about to own.

 

It doesn't happen to me even though I hear some weird sounds while watching movies with an earphones sometimes. Maybe, software issues. I have a non touch j100 anyway.

 

then that one might not be a good choice for this model i think because the fan is placed in the middle while the fan on the lap is on the bottom left (where you can feel the heat coming out) - I might be wrong about that though. You can check its position in the user manual.
When I said "noisy" I mean you can hear it running/spinning (of course, duh ) but it's very stiff.

 

I have heard some not so happy things about the Y510p screen. And FWIW, I'm seeing reviews of the Toshipa P50 mention the same screen door effect issue.

As far as whether all of the models have it, both the touch and non-touch use the same screen, its just that the touch version has a capacitive digitizer on top of the screen that degrades the quality further (and makes the laptop almost a pound heavier). At least based on my research so far, all 1080p j100s have the same panel (an AU Optronics AUO32ED. If anyone has gotten a j100 with a different panel, please let me know). The screen door effect is the sort of thing I think that either you notice and it bothers you immensly or you don't or barely notice and its not a big deal. For me, it bothers me every time I look at the screen. My wife says she can barely tell the difference.

I'm going to spend tomorrow shopping for an alternative. I don't think any option with an IPS screen exists that isn't either massively more expensive or much heavier. I really liked the idea of a 4.8 lb 15" laptop with a decent GPU, but since it's stationary I think I'd rather trade weight for a better screen.

 

Wanting the best avai display on the market? Asus N550Jv all the way bro! Awesome laptop but a little more expensive than this envy line. Similar battery life and great build quality

 

So I have been doing some seriously extensive research (spreadsheets and everything), and I've concluded the N550JV is pretty much the only other decent option in this price category. I'm really annoyed about the screen in the Envy, particularly because, as others have noted, the 15-j063ei, which is only available in South Africa, I think, has an IPS screen. I'm seriously considered finding some vendor that sells the IPS panel, buying it, and swapping it out. The problem, of course, is that that will blow my warranty to a million pieces. Other than the screen, I think this is the perfect laptop for me. Aside from the price, the N550JV is almost a pound heavier than the non-touch j100.

 

finally received HP's e-mail, that my envy has been shipped. looking forward to this laptop

 

I wonder how hard would it be, and how expensive, it would to replace the Envy's non IPS screen with a N550JV IPS screen? Is it even possible to buy a N550JV replacement panel?

 

It's unlikely that a panel from another manufacturer would be compatible. Much more likely would be the ability to replace it with the south africa only Envy 15 IPS screen. As for how much that would be, I'd ballpark the cost of the screen at $100. If it's ever available. I have done screen replacements on HP laptops before. It's difficult but not impossible to do on your own. Of course, by doing so you shoot your warranty to pieces.

 

According to this post on the N550JV forums, the N550JV without touch is only 5.08 lbs, which isn't much more than the 15t-j100 non-touch (4.81 lbs). For my money (the extra $100 appromixately) its worth it.

 

Since I'm returning my Envy j100, I don't really have need for the mSATA drive I bought. If anyone wants to buy it for me, I'd be happy to sell it to them for the price I bought it for ($69.99). It's a Crucial M4 CT128M4SSD3 mSATA 128GB. PM me if you are interested. It was a great deal, so I'm happy to pass it along. If not, I'll just return it.

 

EVERYBODY! The option for the two 6 cell lithium ion battery is 2 separate batteries! It's a $40 addition, but an extra battery separately is $120.00!
Future proof your laptop and buy that extra battery, I made the mistake and did not.

 

Just tried the Envy 15t j100 at the Microsoft store. The build quality is so much better than my Envy 15t-3200. Everything is better except for one thing: the 1080p screen! Holy smokes, the screen door effect is no joke. I could notice it with my eyes 1 feet away from the screen, and my current 15t-3200 doesn't have this drastic problem. I've never been a nitpicky guy about screens but I'm glad I held off on the purchase. Going to wait until HP finds a better display supplier.

 

Yah, the new screens are some of the worst I have seen in some time. I have the 15t-3200 as well and that screen rocks! I wonder why HP decided to use such a crappy screen on their "flagship" laptop? Only thing I can think of is better profit margins since it is not, obviously, quality. They lost my business this time around. Too bad as the rest of the laptop's hardware/specs are good for the price.

 

I'm afraid to ask what this screen door effect is. but what is it?

 

http://forum.notebookreview.com/ideapad-essential/736931-anybody-have-z510.html#post9449464
My thoughts on the z510 compared to the envy 15t

 

I think the spectre is the new flagship. The crappy screen in the current envy's will never be in the envy's of old. Hp knows that screen is garbage.

 

If you have the laptop already, don't ask. Once you see it, you can't unsee it. But if you haven't bought it yet, this is a pretty good demonstration from the occulus rift (the reason behind the effect is different on the rift, but its a good visualization): Oculus Rift Dev Kit Screen Door Effects Illustration 1 - YouTube