*HP ENVY 14 (1XXX series) Owners Lounge, Part 1*

I think I am going to be purchasing my Envy 14 today. I just need some last minute advice. My two biggest hold ups are processor and hard drive. Whether I should pick the i3 or i5 and whether to go 320GB or 500GB. I originally had the i5 and the 500GB because I was thinking for the future. I am going to college (chemistry/math major) and hope to have this laptop all 4 years as well as having it for some time after school. Will the i3 and 320GB outlast my laptop, or should I upgrade to ensure good performance for the future? And lastly, I was on HP's website and comparing the Envy 14 with the Pavilion dm4 and dv5 and under battery life it said up to 2 hours? Is that correct. I do not want this laptop if that is how low the battery life is.

 

You can do a clean install but before you do, save a folder called swsetup. It contains all the drivers and software that came with your computer. If you decide to do the clean install, you can use the drivers in that folder and install whatever programs you found to be useful that were preloaded.

I've always done a clean install rather than bloatware delete. There is a noticeable boost in performance from a clean install.

 

I would go ahead and get the i5 and 500GB. That's what I'm doing, and I'm in pretty much the same situation (going into college, want it to last 4 years, chemE major, math minor). It's not that much more expensive, considering the price of the laptop, and if you were to upgrade later you'd be paying for the i3/320 PLUS the upgrade.

The Germans have gotten about 3.5 hours of battery life, as of a few hundred posts ago. It's definitely more than 2 hours.

 

Nope. Actually, the 4820TG is the best laptop I have ever owned. I'm really happy with it and it didn't even cost me that much money. It was $300 less than the base price of the Envy 14 and this is not including the upgrades on the Envy 14.

There are just a bunch of people on here who has no clue on what they are talking about. It's like they are spoon fed a bunch of information and their mind is set. "All talk and no proof."

 

Acer!? Acer?!

That's... ah... well that sort of like trolling now isn't it?

Don't let me catch another Acer post up in here.

 

Thank you, yeah I can definitely see upgrading to the i5 because that isn't easily upgradable. The hard drive though is a little more tricky. My desktop right now I think I am only using 30-40GB. So I am going to think a little bit longer on that one.

3.5 isn't too bad I guess. How much would it be with the slice battery? And how much would cost for the slice battery?

 

Sorry, just tired of people bashing a laptop they never seen or touched in person. Their opinions should be irrelevant.

 

That's the point.
I could live with a keyboard which has not the level like the Macbooks and Thinkpads.
I could live with a non aluminium case and non ultra slim odr good looking case but I cannot live with crap displays.

I had the timelineX(especially the 800$ version with SSD) and the Asus UL30 series on my list(and many others).

But it seems like that just a small amount of us are moaning about this displays, because alot of people think that's normal or usual.

I don't understand it, even Dell offer for small money better displays(mostly somewhere between 30 and 70$).

A good display is just a little bit more expensive. I don't understand why they don't purchase better displays for their laptops. If Dell for example just wants 50$ additional for a good display what will it costs when they order 100.000?
5$? 10$?

It could be easy but I think they are too many people out there without any idea, they just buy the cheapest of the alternatives(they don't know what is good quality or they don't care).

I abuse my eyes everytime I switch from 22" s-IPS to myLaptop.

 

I know right? No worries. Just let it go before it kicks into flame war status.

 

edit to let it go.

 

I included the slice with my original order. I called and asked them to price match to the price of the slice if ordered separately along with asking them to adjust for the CPU price difference. If you want the slice and are concerned about them sending the wrong one, just add it along with your order and ask them to price match after the fact. Just give them the part number: 602410-001, they'll look it up and give you the $50 credit.

My total credit came to just short of $75.

I stuck to legitimate pricing inconsistencies. I don't quite feel it's ethical to complain that I want to make a change I don't really intend to make and demand a credit to keep me from canceling the order.

 

PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT:


Since this thread tends to move fast, when you see a poster with fewer than 5 posts ask a question, could y'all try to answer it even if it has been asked and answered before? And be nice to them! (Or I'll throw you in a pool with sharks that have frikkin' laser beams attached to their heads.)

Reason I ask is because those with fewer than 5 posts can't PM anyone (even me) yet and likely they joined up just to ask a question.

Oh, and say no to drugs.

 

Even if the first hit is free?

 

Well, the hard drive is either way. I plan on storing movies, pics, projects, designs,videos, etc. on it. I have about 200 gigs full right now, and I thought the cost of 500 vs. 320 wasn't that big, so I'd rather just get it now instead of worry about transferring everything later.
Slice battery is supposed to double the life, but I'm not sure anyone really has had much experience with it. It's close to $200...not worth it imo. I'll probably get an extra regular battery later and just switch it when I need.

 

Well , umm, just don't inhale.

 

Yeah, I was looking at that gateway, the envy 14, and a mbp. Chose the envy 14 cuz it was cheaper than mbp, and had everything I wanted can't wait to get it finally!!!
Mines scheduled to ship out today, but I leave town tomorrow, so it doesn't matter. I want a delay just to get some money back I won't be back till the 20th so kinda want a delay. But it remains to be seen.

 

the battery is 4 hours and 10 min with battery saving mode at 60% brightness(which is probably more than enough with how bright this screen is) and lite internet surfing so i think you can squeeze out 5 hours if you lower the brightness.

 

I've seen and used this laptop in person and I can say that the keyboard features a noticeable flex and the screen is sub-par, not to mention on a 14inch laptop I'd want a higher resolution to begin with. It's a tempting laptop in and of itself regardless for sure. (although I'd probably get the 3820TG if I wasn't getting the Envy 14)

 

oh man!
I have 6 posts now please dont ignore me

I agree with u on both decisions
imo the slice price should be lowered sooner rather than later

 

Excellent choice in role model, good sir!

 

eh, where did you see this since nobody except a few select German individuals have them and no stores carry them... yet.

 

Well one persons E14 has shipped out (lucky you), anyone else? I ordered June 28th and mine is still "in production"..........................

 

The post I replied to was in regards to the 4820TG by Acer, which is on display at Microcenter.

 

My ship date was today, and so far nothing. I see nothing ethically wrong with calling for a credit because its been slow to ship.

 

2.0 I have a request. On the first page, where you're trying (and doing an awesome job) of keeping the pertinent information posted, could you add a little bit about expected battery life? I know nothing's set in stone yet until we get more reviews in, but that's something I (and I'm sure a lot of other people) are very interested in, and I think all that's on the first post regarding "battery" is what the deal is with the slice. Thanks man. This would be very helpful as I'm still back on page 175 of the thread...

At least it's 175 of 185... with 30 posts per page... sonuvab--

 

Someone that ordered July 1 got his shipped already Q_Q

 

thats not the TG, thats just the T. people were comparing the TG

 

Yep, I'll get right on that.

 

How is TG screen or build quality will be different?

EDIT: You can read the review of TG, it's no different:

http://www.trustedreviews.com/laptops/review/2010/05/17/Acer-Aspire-TimelineX-4820TG/p1

 

hey guys,

so the only thing keeping me from buying this computer is the less than stellar initial things I have been hearing about the trackpad, and clicker button or whatever you call it.

I had to return an Asus laptop because the clicker was absolute garbage, so that made me realize that the navigating experience is important to me.

Not sure I want to chance ordering from Ebay (where I can get the machine for the cheapest by about $150) and risk having to pay for return shipping.

Does anyone know what this synaptix based mouse pad/ clicker combo will be like on the 14?
Thx

 

From what I heard and read on different websites, they did not implement the same trackpad as the Envy 15 because of various complaints. Instead the Envy 14 trackpad has the 2 physical right and left click buttons.

 

My bad, sorry, I missed the conversation...

 

Good to hear about the left and right clickers, sounds like a passable navigating experience.

Lastly, should I get the i3 or the i5? I am going to be doing mostly very basic stuff as this will be a home computer, so things like microsoft office, web browsing, personal finances and bringing it on flights to watch music. Am planning to get the 160 SSD...

 

If it's like their other HP lines (which the E14's touchpad looks exactly the same) then it's still one physical button, just outlined for a right and left so if you click those areas it will register right or left click. But no different than like say setting a designated area on the macbook's trackpad to "right click" when you hit the corner.

 

I've got some info about reviews for you folks.

Yesterday Engadget taped their weekly podcast and asked for Questions from us peons. I asked a question about Macs and it got answered, but along with that answer, Nilay Patel explained that they are trying desperately to acquire an Envy 14 for review, but that HP is not sending out review units and they are very hard to come by.
You can catch it at about the 1:11:25 mark
Engadget Podcast 204: Q&A Bonanza - 07.09.2010 -- Engadget

 

2.0 i saw your update

Preliminary Battery Runtime Results: (As executed by Stefan HT) Suggested insertion: jfk33

- WLAN = ON
- Display brightness 60%
- standby at 10%: disabled

Result: 4:10 hours

i take it that the result is without the slice right?

 

Yeah, with out slice.

 

Why don't they just order one and return it before the 21 day period?

 

Right, so I updated it to reflect that it is without slice.

 

Oh good, lots of folks are signed on...

FRIDAY RANDOM BAN DRAWING TO TAKE PLACE IN 30 MINS.

You didn't think I forgot did you?

Oh yeah, everyone is eligible.

 

BUT I DON'T WANT TO PLAYYYYYYY!!

 

Don't worry, my chances are 100 times more likely than yours... :cry:

 

large publications aren't in the habit of buying things to review unless they have to.

 

i didnt
glad to hear that everyone is eligible

first up, lets see what do we have here..

Oh

erm....

ahem!

 

nice user name, im from CS as well except im a student in another state

 

Lol. Each to his own, I guess. The only gripe I've personally heard about the TimelineX series is the keyboard layout. Some people just aren't into it. I haven't heard anything about build quality.

 

So I'm thinking of getting a Envy 14 for college, but apart from taking notes in class, I will primarily be using it for gaming.

I would like to be able to play Fallout 3, Dragon Age, The Witcher: Enhanced Edition, Empire Total War, and Fallout New Vegas; on med-high or even max settings at the native resolution 1600x900.

So would these specs: Be able to handle those games on high, or even max settings, on the native resolution?
* Genuine Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit
* Intel(R) Core(TM) i5-520M Dual Core processor (2.40GHz, 3MB L3 Cache) with Turbo Boost up to 2.93GHz
* 6GB DDR3 System Memory (2 Dimm)
* 500GB 7200RPM SATA Hard Drive with HP ProtectSmart Hard Drive Protection
* 1GB ATI Mobility Radeon(TM) HD 5650 switchable graphics - For Dual Core Processors
* 14.5" diagonal HD+ HP Radiance Infinity LED Display (1600x900)
* Two 8 Cell Lithium Ion Batteries

 

2.0 thanks for the battery life update, and thanks to everyone else who posted on my request. Can't wait to see what reviews come out when people start receiving and putting the comp through its paces.

Just by the way: I've been by microcenter to check out the acer. I mentioned this waaaay back in this thread, but the reviews are pretty spot on. I wasn't too impressed with the build quality (mostly with respect to how much you can flex the whole chassis... I mean anywhere you put more than a little bit of pressure you can make it dip several mm). However, if you can get past that, the build quality is good and it certainly would be passable if all you're doing is putting it in your bag for class. The screen is "eh". I looked at a vaio z while I was there to compare it to something with a good screen, and the difference was obvious. I currently have an asus n81 and I'd say my current screen is better than what's on the acer, but maybe the acer wasn't calibrated well?

Overall, the 4820tg is a solid bang for buck option, and is definitely in the running with the envy for my greenbacks. just gotta get a bit more info on the e14...

werd.

 

Yeah, I bought from eBay. You'll see a fair amount of people that bought from the same person. I'm in Toronto. Expected to get it at end of July or beginning of August.

eBay seller is opal_cadet. Link to a common model:

HP Envy 14T QUAD i5-450 14.5 ATI 5650, 4GB Mem on eBay.ca (item 140424593701 end time 05-Aug-10 20:11:55 EDT)

 

I'd love to do this as well just for aesthetics.