ENVY14 Lemons

This is the 5th replacement exercise by HP due to various hardware issues(DOA). DOA rate here is 100% for HP laptops.

As a replacement for my first gen ENVY14 due to unsolvable issues,
HP has offered another set.

Original 1st to 3rd 1200
i5-460M
2GB
500GB 7200
5650M
Internal LAN

Original 4th 1200 (Free upgrade)
i7-740QM
6GB
640GB 7200
5650M
Internal LAN

Offered 2000
i7-2630QM
2GB
500GB 7200
6630M
External LAN

It seems like a ripoff to me. I've tried to get better specs, but they wouldn't budge.

The external LAN port is a mystery to me, can someone who has the new generation ENVY14 confirm if theirs is an internal LAN or external LAN?

 

Push for the memory upgrade as well. If you have gotten 5/5 DOA, then jump ship. I am personally going to be on my 7th Envy 17 (2090nr this time). If it has any defects, I'll be jumping.

 

wow you guys are seriously unlucky, I got 2 Envy's within a month and both were flawless (return 1st one when radiance came back)

 

dangggg, quality control really sucks.

 

my envy 14 from way back when they were rushing them out due to the factory being way behind (so the release) is working fine.


..I mean minus that toshiba hdd that broke down after a couple months. (hey, short DST failure let's lock up the computer randomly) 'course they sent me a replacement through the mail so it's all good.

 

Quality is really hit of miss. My E14 bought in Nov '10 was working flawlessly until June this year. Since then, HP has mis-diagnosed the problem once and they have the laptop again for a 2nd fix on the same issue. Meanwhile, I'm out of the E14 for about a month now and won't get it back for another 2 wks.
What really irks me is that I really get the perception HP is focusing on bottom line than customer sat. I mean, when a laptop powers off for no apparent reason, there are usually 3 things that could be causing the problem: mobo, CPU or HDD. If it's not the HDD, replace the CPU/Mobo.. get the unit back to customer. HP can then sort out (on HP's time) with Intel or the mobo manufacturer for warranty. It takes a reasonably competent technician 15 min to replace a mobo. There is no need to make the customer wait 2 weeks without a loaner.

Clearly I'm very frustrated with HP right now, and really having buyers remorse. I understand all vendors have problems (HP, Dell, even Apple), but at least I know Dell (laptop I had before switching to HP) can send someone on-site to replace the mobo which is 15min downtime. With HP, my down time is 15 days - FIFTEEN DAYS! Times two. Yes, even after I paid for extended warranty and on-site support. *MAD*

 

That really sucks. Last year my friend was complaining how her brand new Dell could not save anything like docs, vids, and music. I thought to myself, "obviously it's an HDD problem." Dell told her that it was a battery problem and she believed it (she's not very tech savvy).

I feel so bad for the common person trying to fix an easy problem. Customer service is a crap shoot.

 

If I could, I would have done so. I'm on a telco redemption programme.

Quality assurance is non-existent. How can a unit be tampered with before reaching a consumer?This happened to the 1200 i7. Being a loyal supporter of HP products since 15 years ago, I did not expect such issues. It is up to HP if they want my future money/purchases.

 

They insist on comparing the specs with my first 1200 i5 ENVY, which is ridiculous. Still missing eSATA port BTW. I have forwarded the case to the regional head over here and let us see how HP makes a mockery out of me.

That 1200 i7 had a stuck HDD and stripped screws with fingerprints all over. Tells a lot about quality assurance.

 

They took in my first ENVY for 6 times and parts replacement. Each time issues were unresolved and the exterior condition degraded with scratches and dents. There was a gap between the chrome trim and the top cover (Chrome trim was forcibly plied open) and then they would not even replace the set. Had to bug them till they relented.

 

I've submitted a request for ENVY 14 i7 8GB 750GB HDD. See how it'd turn out.

 

My envy 14 has worked flawless. It's been one of my most pleasant computer purchasing experiences I've had so far.

 

My 1200 i7 died (no power) while waiting for the new set to arrive. Lemons!

 

edit:

wow I posted in here twice without realizing it.

whoops. Also yeah, ripped touchpad cable due to my own screw up, keeping that in this post.

 

I received my ENVY14-2006TX just now. Will post the differences I spot.

 

So the case manager and product specialist brought the new unit (2nd 2006TX) to my house and what do you all expect?
Same old problems, DOA again and they have brought back that unit for further diagnosis.

6 ENVY 14s, not 1 good set.
EDIT: Lemons are nice to have ya?

 

Strange. Are you sure your house is not haunted or something like that? Maybe your sockets are and when you plug a laptop in it gets a fit?

 

Yeah. Like I said in the other thread, what are you going to do? You've got about 10x as much patience as I do. They personally came over and brought it? What did they say when they saw it was DOA? How is HP going to make this up to you??

 

Due to the request of the management, they brought the unit here to check out and witness the factory condition of the new ENVY as I opened it. Needless to say, we only checked for cosmetic issues before they packed the new unit and took it back.

Issues:
Bottom panels are loose (due to missing pads not applied to the chassis, and of different shades of grey with some visible scratches.

Keyboard in a wave shape; popping out at the top right and depressed at the top left. Touchpad is installed at an angle, causing the right side to pop out from the top cover.

Missing SSD connector yet again.

Black trim has areas unpainted.

Screws are old and a little rusty, battery is from April 2011, which is a tad old for a unit built on August 29.

Yes, the screen is still covered by a thin plastic

It is totally ridiculous and now they will feedback to the relevant team. Furthermore, they would not give an indication what would occur next. So I'm left with my cracked screen ENVY.

 

I cannot do anything except to keep requesting for new units due to HP Singapore's policy (no refunds). At this rate it will be a year from when I first received the first ENVY 14 (Dec 10).

The Quality Control for ENVY14 is really poor.

 

I can't believe there's zero way for them to make an exception. I'm definitely not familiar with Singapore's laws, but can't you sue them or anything? Does Singapore have an agency or organization that you can complain to publicly, like the Better Business Bureau in America?

I can't believe that this is happening to you. You're getting more than screwed. Unbelievable.

LOL where'd you get your inspiration for your new avatar???

 

Precisely because the laptop was a so called "gift" so they will never ever do a refund.

Anyway, they have been trying on the Singapore side, but the factory keeps on shipping lemons which is out of Singapore HP's control.

EDIT: Water wally is Singapore's Newater mascot.

 

Personally, my Envy 14 experience has been pretty good. Everything but the GPU has worked perfectly since I bought it about 14 months ago. The GPU crapped out after a few months, and unfortunately I couldn't get the service in China so I had to wait until I went back to the US 7 months after the crap-out to get it replaced, but the repair went well and was finished quickly.

Aside from the GPU issue, though, it's been great. Of the four laptops I've owned, this has been the least troublesome and best-performing by far. I know not everybody has had the same experience, but I'm pretty happy with my Envy 14 purchase. If they do another refresh next spring or summer with Ivy Bridge, a proportionally better GPU (7650/7730/7750 if they keep the same naming system), and a worthy successor to the Radiance display, I'd happily upgrade my Envy 14 with another of the same in 2012. Of all the laptops I've seen, nothing seems to come close to fitting my wants better than the Radiance Envy 14 (not even the current E14 thanks to the Brightview...): portable but not undersized, high-quality construction, good battery life, decent GPU, good heat management, good screen. HP seems determined to fall short of a home run on the Envy 14 with the underclocked 5650's, poor touchpad drivers on the first-gens, the void left by the Radiance manufacturer going out of business, and ongoing QC issues, but it's still a very good PC in the end.

 

There may be a fundamental flaw with the Sandy Bridge ENVY 14s, as my product specialist suggested. He would not tell me what the flaws are, but said he would give me a report.

 

What does the flaw pertain to? Components, construction, software, batteries?

 

likely construction and hardware