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

Yeah, me too then. But I'm still doubting what a sales rep says...
To me the usb 3.0 with quad core ? What the hell usb 3.0 has to do with the processor ?
Also not soldered for sure, but by "replace motherboard" she probably means "not bios supported".
Damn sale reps, they'll tell you anything that could lead you to going for the most overpriced cpy upgrade anyway... I think the best thing to do is get a review of the envy 14 bios and see what cpus it supports other than all the ones hp lists as options. And as time goes by hp will refresh the envy 14 line with the next wave of i5... So bios support will come anyway.

You could change processors at will on the envy 15 why would be the envy 14 bios locked ? Seriously...

 

Regarding the thing about upgrading the CPU - they aren't using embedded CPUs, but they might have soldered the CPU screws... Then again, that would serve absolutely no purpose other than limiting upgradeability. You'd think that after charging us more than necessary for a better CPU and voiding the warranty if it's swapped out, they'd at least leave manual CPU upgrades available to us...

At least, I think they aren't using embedded CPUs - I thought some of the available options didn't support embedding as per Intel's sheet...

 

nah. that's sager's job.

 

Again tho, of course everything she said COULD be wrong. She did seem like a computer enthusiast after a while (could also have been a subliminal sales pitch, i admit) Although several times she did go to double check with the product manager (USB 3.0) and to hearken back to the envy 15, when the revision happened, the i7s got the USB 3.0, but the i5s didn't.

But they work on commission? oh dear... I didn't know that...

Good advice, thx. She did also say that the return policy is you have 21 days to evaluate it after it arrives to either return it, or to claim any discounts that weren't there before. So it's not so bad I guess. They even cover return shipping.

 

Went with the i7-720 instead of the i5

HP ENVY 14
VX756AV

• Genuine Windows 7 Professional 64-bit
• Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-720QM Quad Core processor (1.6GHz, 6MB L3 Cache) with Turbo Boost up to 2.8 GHz
• 4GB DDR3 System Memory (1 Dimm) (will upgrade to 8 later)
• 320GB 7200RPM SATA Hard Drive with HP ProtectSmart Hard Drive Protection (will upgrade l8r)
• 1GB ATI Mobility Radeon(TM) HD 5650 Graphics - For Quad Core Processors
• 14.5" diagonal HD+ HP Radiance Infinity LED Display (1600x900)
• SuperMulti 8X DVD+/-R/RW with Double Layer Support
• HP TrueVision HD Webcam + Dual Digital Integrated Microphones
• Intel Wireless-N Card with Bluetooth
• Corel(R) PaintShop Photo(TM) Pro X3 + Corel(R) VideoStudio(R) Pro X3
• Full-size island-style backlit keyboard
• 8 Cell Lithium Ion Battery
• Microsoft(R) Office Starter 2010
• FREE Upgrade to Norton Internet Security(TM) 2010 - 3 Year from 2 Year (activation required)
• FREE Upgrade to Computrace LoJack for Laptops, Four Years from One Year
• HP Home & Home Office Store in-box envelope
• Estimated build date: July 7, 2010
• Free standard shipping on this item

Pity there is no BluRay option for such a good screen - Give it a year or so and I'll probly swap one in myself.


Total = 1638
Tax = 115
(round numbers)

If anyone has any Verizon offers lying around, it does work on the Envy 14:
minus Verizon coupon $300


Grand total = 1453

-Cheers

 

I assume this is some sort of coupon available to Verizon customers, correct? If not, could you enlighten me.

 

What verizon coupon?

 

Wait... what Verizon code? If there's a $300.00 off coupon floating about, I'll be ordering my Envy 14 tonight!

 

Is it silly to ask when it will come out in stores?

 

Do you guys think the average user uses all 160 GB within 4 yrs of use. Estimate a person whom might use SC2 and basic applications/web usage. Again, the average user. Im trying to justify the large $$ upgrade to the 256 GB SSD.

 

Why do the coupons on TechBargains say stackable when Hp only let's you use one. Not to mention the "stackable coupons" don't stack with student discounts. So what the heck do these stack with?

 

?

Wouldn't a Verizon coupon only be valid if you're buying with the Verizon wireless option?

If not, share that code!

 

what is this verizon coupon?!?! O_O

 

They stack with the discounts that are applied as you configure a PC, i.e. free/discounted upgrades, instant rebates, etc.

 

oh snap, verizon? I'm a wireless and FiOS subscriber.. do want coupon!

 

Dang, well that's not worth a crap.

 

If you had ordered any Verizon line during early spring, they had a promotion of a "free HP Mini" (or apply to an HP purchase), along with the DSL or Fios order.

I knew the Envy 14 was coming out and had saved the coupon 3 months, hoping it would work during check out - and it did!
Last day to use coupon was 06.30

 

well usually there's free/discounted upgrades and instant discounts *glances at the stuff that isn't an envy*

 

it's very easy to use up 160gb. i'm on 120gb and every two weeks i move stuff to an external or else i'd be out of space. if you get a SSD, be prepared to use an external.

 

OOH damn I just signed up for FiOS I'll have to ask if they have that promotion somewhere available to me. Since you've used the coupon, mind posting it up to see if it's available to others?

 

yeah they give away 300$ coupons with 1009 uses.

be real

 

I really don't understand why people drop $275 on a CPU and then don't get the 160gb Intel G2 SSD. You do realize that subjectively speaking your notebook will feel much faster with an i3 370m and an SSD than it will with a mechanical HDD and an i7 right?

Not to mention the i7 option means your going to be tethered to the wall because you lose switchable graphics. Might as well get a desktop replacement at that point.

Do you have over 15000 MP3's you plan on putting on your notebook?
Do you plan on storing movies and/or large amounts of video content on your notebook?

IF the answer to these questions is "No", then you will not need anything larger than 160GB.

My "gaming rig" only uses around 50gb of storage. I keep my MP3's and video's on external NAS.

 

hey I doubt it'd work but you never really know. Did it hurt to ask, naw it didn't.

 

so, REALISTICALLY, how long should it be before theres either a good coupon, or 25% BCB?

 

If you could build a envy 14 for around $1600...what would you upgrade it with? Also, it doesn't seem like a lot of people are buying the warranties...is there a good reason for that other than it is very pricey?

 

BCB is dead (officially june 30? )

and a coupon. ide say next month.

 

it isnt dead until july 30th!

 

Can you share verizon coupon please?

 

BCB is deal July 31st iirc, so there is still a chance for one last 25% before it closes shop.

Edit:beaten

 

If it takes us past July 4th or an estimated 1st week of August ship-date, I won't care anymore...

If they're selling as fast as one would expect such a hyped machine to, probably a couple weeks at best, as the rep said...

 

If it's a one-time use and already used, probably no use.

 

$1600?

1100 Base
+75 i5 450m
+25 4gb ddr3 (1dimm) (then buy a second dimm from newegg for $125)
+315 160gb Intel G2 SSD (85 less than retail at newegg)

Including the second dimm from newegg, that's just over 1600 not counting any discounts.

As for the warranty, it's usually cheaper to just pay to have it fixed when it breaks unless your extremely clumsy.

 

no warranty for me, I am nice to my laptops =]

 

For those going with the single 4GB Dimm, which stick do you plan on upgrading with? Or will you upgrade in a long time?

also, anyone considering upgrading to this 750gb WD Scorpio http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136546 as its the same price after discount as the upgrade to 640gb? I'm probably gonna do that if I don't go with the SSD...it's hard to spend so much on the ssd, and then would have to spend more on a big external HDD

 

lol at the title of this article, "Envy 14 laptop now available on HP Web site starting at $1,0999"

 

G.Skill 4GB for $115

Currently out of stock, but it'll be back soon.

 

I'll upgrade when I find I'm regularly running out of available memory. Not before. I have a gaming PC with 6GB and the most I've ever used is 4GB.

 

4 gigs is plenty for 95% of people these days. I doubt I'll ever put more in my future envy14. I bet four years from now we will all be wanting 8 gigs standard

 

how much RAM would you need to run windows 7 and linux at the same time possibly using VMWare?

 

this.

only had one laptop die on me prematurely. And that was more a design failure imo. that or florida + p4 + geforce 6800 ultra = fried geforce

 

The price of warranties are usually too dang high to warrant (no pun) purchase. I mean a lot of times they're like 30-40% of system price. In 12-18 months your laptop will probably be at 50% value anyways. I can see a one year accidental, and three year manufacturers warranty. Other than that it's a waste of money IMHO.

 

I don't think BCB will go back at 25% on hp ever again, maybe 15% at best, if they are really selling this good, the best they'll do is maybe release a 200$ coupon for 1400$+ envy orders.
Remember that previous 25% BCB and huge coupons were to wave goodbye to the old envy 13 and 15 stocks while hyping the new 15 generation...
If they put the slice battery or warranty at a realistical price in the next weeks, that's as good as a coupon for me.

 

If I use the slice battery everyday to almost full drain, how long do you think it'll last before battery life goes to the crapper?

 

If I don't play all the new games like BC2, MW2, Crysis, I shouldn't opt for turbo boost, and just stick with the i3 right? The main things I will be using my laptop is pokerstars, and DJing which I will be using a program that only needs 1 gig ram, and 1.6ghz core 2 duo.., AND photoshop (very very minimal, nothing high graphic) I'm just trying to save money and not purchase something I don't need, like an i5 blah blah with solid state drive... because I read here that the i5 520 is basically the same as i3 just no turbo boost, and all the programs I use prob won't even need it.

 

Wasn't there just a big coupon that worked with the envy 17? And that just came out, so I'm hopeful that there will be one soon.

And yea, $200 is ridiculous for the slice battery...the Envy 15's is $125 so I don't see where they came up with $200

 

Wow i spent a lil much on this laptop . I'm happy though. But I almost feel I shoulda just got a Sony vaio z or something lol.

 

My hope too. Without the coupons, this is a bit expensive for me since I'm looking at getting a warranty. I'm not confident there will be any notebook repair places in my area or that HP will be able to fix my notebook affordably.

 

The average for li ion batteries is 1000 cycles before going to the trash bin. With a loss of 15% of remaining capacity every 100 cycles.
But that's in optimal conditions (20°C)
Heat (quad core/gaming /texas), more than cycles, is what kills the batteries.

 

Thanks man! I'll be using it for hours everyday and charging at night. Hope it will last a year atleast.

 

Any ideas when there might be a review out?