*HP ENVY 14 & ENVY 14 Beats (2XXX series) Owners Lounge*

Nope. I still need the super thin form factor. I've noticed that it often makes the difference between being able to jam 4 textbooks and supplements and 5. Plus there are days when I don't have an elevator that'll take me up a few floors. A few extra pounds can make a big difference.

 

all i want is an envy with GOOD BATTERY LIFE, i dont think i am going to watch any movies on a 14" screen , good graphics card is always welcomed since it will enhance the resolution via hdmi

 

Honestly I am really hoping that HP surprises us all with a 1600x900 option. Otherwise the more I think about it, the more I am leaning towards buying a Sony SA or cheaping out for a dm4x or dv4 since whats the point in paying the premium for the envy without the extra screen real estate. I refuse to pay over $1000 for a 13-14" and not get a 1600x900 resolution

 

lol, no. The intel HD integrated graphics alone can handle 1080p HDMI play back on it's own. You don't need a good graphics card to "enhance" the resolution. Unless you meant gaming, in which case a good card will allow you to play at higher settings and higher resolution.

 

Envy series is the gaming series of HP correct? therefore it is a team that has to be competent to play games, and therefore direct competition of ALIENWARE and ASUSROG series

who seek other equipment, soft cool, slow gpu etc, this is not your lappy, go to dv6, etc.

 

I wouldn't call the Envy line HP's gaming notebooks. I don't think HP really cares about the gaming notebook market. I would call it their premium consumer line

 

I remember last year, HP announced it as a game machine, showing in a private conference with the possibilities with the graphics on games, and Eyefinity on 3 screens etc etc.

 

I remember that, but I think that HP was just showing the "versatility" of their Envy line. They definitely are not aiming at the gaming line (I'm talking about Alienware's, MSI's, and Sager's which have Nvidia GTX's and AMD 6800-6900.)

I think they're aiming at the performance and style line like the MBP's. Obviously...
But they CAN'T COMPETE without a premium screen!!!!

 

Can't be more spot on.

 

A 6630? really this better not be true...not even a 6650?

 

This could very well not be true. The only source I see releasing that is CNET Asia. Doesn't HP often use different GPUs in foriegn models? They could very well use a different one in the States.

I could be completely wrong, but lets hope not...

 

Yea lets hope not, man I'd be so happy if they bust out with the 6750.

 

Plus, the old radiance should work with the new envy, right? I'm going to pick one up if it is...

 

Not to be self serving, but yes, it's swappable as HP kept the same shell.

 

That does not mean it will work. The Lenovo t61 and T400 are the same shell but the LCD is not interchangeable as the video connectors are different.

 

is the connection different at the motherboard or the LCD?
The BV has less pins at the LCD than the radiance. However the connectors at the motherboard is the same. I don't imagine HP would change the mobo connector out of nowhere.

 

well its quite common in the industry, like the T61 and the T400 had the same chassis but the connectors were different

 

If this drops and has a 1600x900 option for under $1,200 I'll be getting one and selling my MacBook Pro.

 

good luck!

 

Out of curiosity, why would you be willing to part with your 2011 MBP15 if you can acquire an E14 w/ Radiance (2011)? Any issues with your MBP?

My girlfriend bought the 2011 2.2 i7 MBP15 yesterday and it appears to have TERRIBLE heat issues. When I mean terrible, I mean absurdly hot for doing nothing...

First thing we did was run all of the updates, install firefox/flash/silverlight/etc. and she loaded up Bloons Tower Defense 4. The Bloons menu screen was the only tab open, only browser open (Firefox) and only program open on it and it literally reached skin burning temps within 5 minutes of idling there (haven't ran any temp diagnostics...probably just going to make them exchange it for another).

I owned a 2010 i7 MBP15 and know they tend to run a bit hot...but this is insane for how little the computer is doing. Does yours do this? I know they have "heat issues," but this is absurd. I couldn't place it on my lap through jeans without it feeling like I was literally going to be burned.

Long story short:
-GF's 2011 MBP15 2.2 i7 runs extremely hot doing absolutely nothing, normal?
-My E14 w/ Radiance has never felt hot to the touch before

 

No problems. I just prefer a PC. Mine idles @ low 40* if i remember. I'm not on it right now.

 

try resetting the smc
Intel-based Macs: Resetting the System Management Controller (SMC)
FYI the fan doesn't kick in till it's 85c

To stay on topic, I'd also be selling my mbp if the new envy comes with a nice screen. I can't stand crappy screens after using using a macbook anymore.

 

i think it might be an envy 15 sb and not an envy 14...
High Performance Laptops w/ Free Audio Software | HP Envy Features

unless they're doing both? i've just never seen this before with these specs.

 

I'm afraid that you're wrong, as much as I want you to be right.

HP lists future laptops with Intel next-gen chip | Nanotech - The Circuits Blog - CNET News

The Envy 15 line has been discontinued. If you compare the page that you linked to the Envy 17 and 14's pages, you'll notice that there isn't a purchase option.

 

yeah i thought i was... unlikely, to put it mildly. i just wasn't aware that the 15 came with the i cores- thought it was a much older model.

 

I see. It's really too bad that they discontinued it. Before the new Sandy Bridge processors came out, it's last revision was by far HP's best laptop, IMHO. They had managed to drop the price and offer great hardware at the time, all while maintaining better temperatures than the HP Envy 17. The Envy 14 is great, but due to it's optical drive, it can't possibly fit components demanding more power/giving off more heat, as it has no space for them or a decent cooling system. It will have to be more underpowered than a hypothetical SB Envy 15.

 

Well, in 4 days we should know what GPU the Envy 14 is getting. If the dv4 comes with an AMD 6750, then I would take it to mean that the Envy 14 is getting a 6770.

 

So if we buy an Envy 14 we end up envying EliteBook owners with Dreamcolor displays?

And what would a Pavillion owner envy when comparing their P.O.S. screened laptop to the Envy? They both have the same screen with the same crappy resolution and viewing angles.

The touchpad is going to be improved? So it will work like Apple's?

Huh!

Epic Fail.

 

then I would simply say that the dv4 is one thick pc, and that the envy 14 is supposed to be thin, although its thicker than the e15, so for me no dice on the 6770m

 

The dv4 is only a quarter of an inch thicker, at its thickest, and the Envy is almost a full inch wider.

 

interesting where did you get the dimensions? is there a review?

 

http://h20424.www2.hp.com/campaign/consumer_notebooks/ap/en/resources/HP_Pav_DV4_Brochure_FA_web.pdf

 

ouch its the same thickness as my 2006 laptop, if only the keyboard was good...

 

You just gave me a ton of hope!

 

The thing with the dv4 is that it has SB DUAL CORE processors while the Envy 14 has quad core. Same chassis but different internals I guess. The dual core makes it capable to put in AMD 6750 (in terms of heat and cooling).

Personally, I would take the dual core and 6750.

 

do we know if the new envys are packing quads for sure? It has in the past, but its no guarantee that it will in the future

 

As of right now we don't know what processor options the Envy will have but I assume it has dual-core options.

I just cannot fathom HP putting something so much weaker in the Envy when it is supposed to be their premium notebook.

 

Hmm, does anyone know if it's ABSOLUTELY SURE that the new Envy won't have a better screen, and that battery life improvements are negligible?

 

Well unless they change the battery, the only way to make the power better would be to add a lower power GPU, and CPU. The Sandybridge helps, but I'm not sure its enough to help more that 15min or 30min.

Maybe GPU;s already do I'm not sure but I'd like to see them have smart power states to rump up as needed unless told to go full bore by maybe a command that a game or other program makes when its loaded.

 

I think we're all forgetting that the Sandy Bridge processors come with integrated graphics that will be used MOST OF THE TIME, thus saving battery life. Whenever a more graphics intensive task is at hand, battery life will be sacrificed over performance, but not all the time.

 

I've seen a number of analyses that show that all other things being equal, an SB cpu using HD 3000 exclusively for graphics will improve battery life by about 25%, a bit more with extra power management steps, a bit less to the extent the discrete gpu is in use. That would add about an hour to the base i5-2520 Envy 14, rule of thumb. YMMV. One more factor: better battery technology, which could probably add another hour +. Also, I would expect the new Envy 14 will have a more efficient slice battery, based on the ones they are using on the business class produucts, that will probably add 8-10 hrs of battery life over and above what would be obtained without it. Taken all together, That could be over 5 hrs. actual battery life with the base battery, as much as 14+ hrs. with the slice. I sincerely doubt HP will release a new Envy 14, particularly if they don't have a high res screen surprise for us, that didn't have closer to 6 hrs. battery life to boost its attractiveness.

IMO, I think the combination of the here again/gone again Radiance display fiasco, plus what seems like an interminable delay on the refreshed 14, to some HP's "flagship" consumer product, means that there will have to be a number of "goodies" (eg, usb3, thunderbolt, WIDI, multiple displays, a higher end gpu option, better on-board audio, possibly a premium screen, if not high res, at least with better specs and possibly an IPS/AFFS+ design.

Ok, I admit, the above is something of a wish list for me, but I also believe that HP has their back to the wall on this, and to release a product at the same price point with only incremental improvements, based largely on the benefits of SB architecture, would be brand suicide of sorts, and I think they are too marketing savvy to do that. On the other hand, I can imagine the new model may have numerous operational bugs for 3-6 months, based on HP's "SOP" with new models, especially those requiring new drivers, operating software, etc. IOW, par for the course HP: great looking, great features, a "steal" at the price, the "must-have" computer in the size class (especially tall order with the Dell XPS in the market) giving early adopters lots of headaches for months to come! then .

 

I'd need more information. Is it too hot because it's dissipating heat efficiently? How are the CPU temps?

I'm assuming that the new generation Envy still pushes heat out through the sides and that coolsense only makes things cooler.

 

I'm going to write the high res screen off for now. Until HP decides to man up by marketing the Envy better and making the high-res screen standard the way Apple does, we won't be seeing its return for a while. Apple made a risky bet years ago when they decided to make the high-gamut, high-res displays standard. It paid off after they marketed the Mac so well. See "High I'm a Mac, and I'm a DC."

 

The MacBook pro doesnt come standard with a high res display for the 13 or 15 inch, the latter requiring a more expensive price tag for a 1680 by 1050 and the 13 inch having no high res display option.

 

Ya know, I was seriously considering an SB Envy 14...but the more I read the posts on here, I'm having some serious second thoughts.

Honest opinion...will the new Envy 14 be worth getting or are there other, better options?

 

I'm not really a fan of NVidia's Optimus architecture, so i don't include those options...

HP DV6t has a better CPU + GPU, but a crap screen.
HP Dm4 (international) apparently has the 6750, but crappy CPU + screen.
Sony SB is smaller, GPU/Display is good for the size, CPU is weakish IMO.
Dell 15z is a wildcard right now.
If you are willing to entertain the OSX, the MBP is the best piece of hardware on the market... Quad-core CPU, AMD 6750, high res display.

Current points of contention on the Envy14...
1. Screen Resolution = 1366 x 768
2. GPU is not equal or better than the ATI 6750m (non-nerfed)
3. CPU is not quad core. (i7-2630, 2720, or above)

If any of these conditions are not met, HP wont get my money unless i can figure out a way to put a high res screen in a Dv6t. Will prolly wait until i can get an Ivy Bridge MBP. =( That will be 1.5 years since i gave my Popz my 600m.

 

If anyone is considering getting an current gen envy or SB envy keep in mind that people on this forum tend to get super enthusiastic about things and they tend to overreact.

Like a few month ago people were going insane over the whole radiance issue and everyone was trying all they could to get a radiance. That fervor is pretty much gone.

Until its officially announced everything here is pure speculation and shouldn't influence your purchase decision.

 

You're pretty much right about everything, including what you said about the Macbook Pros, except for one little detail; the 15" Macbook Pro with a decent display and graphics card costs $2200. If it weren't for that, I would have purchased one as soon as they came out.

 

The MBP might be a good piece of hardware, but it'll never be worth it until apple decides to stop screwing their customers

 

I love my new 15in MBP. But i would still rather have an Envy14 with the 900p display. I've had so many HP's in my life I just sort of feel at home with them.

I'm the same way with Ford. I've had so many that even when I drive a BMW, or a Chevy or Audi. I keep finding myself back in a Taurus or Mustang.