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

I will definitely be getting the slice.. when it's not $200. I could be wrong, but I dont think the envy 14 has screws blocking removal of the battery. You will have to shut down your system however to switch batteries.

 

Seems to be a pop-off cover. I do agree with you that 2 standard batteries would be cumbersome though. It's not changing it that would be the problem. It's the fact that in order to charge the second, you'll have to charge the first and then take it out to charge the second. Now if HP has a way to charge it to a wall then I'm sold. ;]

 

anyone know a good bluetooth laptop mouse for this envy 14?

 

I don't like bluetooth mouses because :
1) they drain your battery
2) they can't be used on any computer
3) a USB wireless mouse has none of these flaws.

Here's an example of a very compact and small wireless usb mouse with nano receptor. I own one, the nano receptor can even be stored inside the mouse when you're on the go. Even if once it's on your laptop you literraly forget it's there lol. You can plug it into the e-sata port or any usb port you never use.
Amazon.com: Logitech VX Nano Cordless Laser Mouse for Notebooks (Black): Electronics
Nearly all logitech wireless usb mouses are now "Nano" even the bigger models.
http://www.amazon.com/Logitech-Wire...2?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1279217822&sr=1-2

That said, bluetooth + usb mouses do exist :< I like this one even if the usb isn't wireless http://www.amazon.com/Razer-Orochi-...5?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1279217962&sr=1-5

If you want cheap & small & wireless http://www.amazon.com/Wireless-Lase...?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1279218086&sr=1-17

 

This is true - but I have yet to determine whether or not the slice will charge at the same time as the main battery. I do know that it discharges from the slice before the standard battery when both are used.

Ultimately it comes to size for me. You're looking at a 14" laptop that's 1.5 " thick and weighs as much as the Envy 17.

 

As per the whine on mine for those that had questions (sorry, at work so I only read the board periodically on breaks).

It wasn't that loud, my work environment has a good bit of background noise and I couldn't hear it unless I turned my head toward the keyboard, however, I'm guessing I could hear it while doing work at home without any background noise. I also would consider it a whine as much as a buzz. It wasn't always constant, it seemed to come and go with processor activity - and came from the upper area of the keyboard. I had my asus sitting right beside it with a T9300core2 duo and it is much more silent than the envy, that's with the standard hard drive in the asus and ssd in the envy. Both have pretty whisper silent fans and which contributed nothing to the noise.

All in all, it wasn't a terrible problem and may have been something I could live with, but when I spend $1400 on a computer I don't want to have any buyers remorse. If the replacement (with the i450) comes in and has the same issue then I'll know its common to all envy's and if not then I'll know I made the right decision.

 

good points, I figured they would have made the blue tooth mouses much more battery efficient these days.

 

The charging setup is listed in the maintenance manual.

Main battery charges to 90%

Then slice to 90%

then main to 100%

then slice to 100%


I think.

it may do it in the other order (slice 90 --> main 90 --> slice 100 --> main 100)

 

I completely agree. I own the logtech nano mouse and have had zero problems (unlike my bluetooth mouse experiences).

 

Well I have my Envy 14! I currently have it charging..

For first impressions, it looks and feels beautiful. The right side of the keyboard does have flex when force is applied but I typed on it without noticing a thing.

Good balance of size and weight. I really have nothing more until I turn the thing on! I'm impressed so far at least.

 

Because someone pm'ed me with questions surrounding battery dimensions, here they are:

STANDARD BATTERY:
8" x 3" x .5" - 12.6 oz

SLICE:
9" x 14" x .5" - 1 lb 15oz (31oz)

 

Is there any lag with USB wireless mice? I'm thinking about getting the HDX Wireless Comfort mouse (which imo is prolly a rebranded logitech anyway) with my $25 accessories credit, but I'd want to use it for FPSing like l4d2...

 

This is the only reason I haven't ordered an extra standard yet. The convenience of the slice is appealing. I may try using my late shipping 25 dollar coupon on the slice, but I want to get my laptop first, maybe attach something that matches the weight and see how it feels.

 

There is nothing to screw, one lever to pull, the battery to take out and replace..

 

There is no need to charge the laptop to full upon receiving it anymore. That has long been dismissed. Applies to all electronics. Just turn it on with the ac adapter plugged in.

 

You can set that up in the BIOS, its fast charging mode or complete charge..
The last few % take longer than the initial first %, so it makes sense to give you more charge for your limited charging time..

 

Okay, the Getting Started book told me to do it so I did.

When I'm done watering the plants outside I'll set it up I think.

 

I have no mouse lag with my nano MX. I played l4d2 with it last month and it worked like a charm. There's no lag like on the previous generation infrared mouses and keyboards

 

Yup The first thing I did was turn it off. The Z's brightness is great, but the Envy makes me want sunglasses.

 

Try it with polarizing sunglasses, its a very psychedelic experience! All kind of rainbow colors!

 

Side Note:

Buy some of these and view the iTunes visualization. Who needs 3d TV?

 

Thanks again for the measurements I would never have thought that the slice battery weighs twice as much as a normal battery!

 

Seriously on the slice weight? That's insane. That bumps this laptop up into the not so portable range IMO. It's about equal if not heavier than the sxps 16 I am considering replacing. I may just get two standard batteries when the time comes.

 

oops. ignore this

 

450m, 160gb SSD just arrived here in Cali, I have work in an hour but I should be able to comment on any whine/anything else by tonight

 

Mine was supposed to be here by 1030 am today. Sadly, it is still stuck in Anchorage

 

same as my config. Hopefully works as expected.

 

So, Can someone conform the method of switching the graphic card and how long it takes to switch ?

Thank you,
Xman

 

Right click on the desktop, and there's a switching graphics option. Select the card you want to use, and it'll prompt you to close all applications. It's default is to use the ATI when plugged in, and the Intel when on battery. It's pretty painless except for when you want to change graphics cards, and you have a lot of things open.

 

takes 4 seconds with just a browser open

 

Interesting situation here, anyone with HP experience please let me know your thoughts.

I've had my envy 15 since the beginning of april. It had a problem, and they sent a 2nd one (and allowed me to keep the first, but I still got billed for the 2nd one). The 2nd one had a problem... they said I could ship it back for a replacement. Turns out I shipped it back and they refunded the credit card. It is now escalated to a case manager (not part of "hp home and home office"). I said since the e15 is no longer offered with the i5 that I wanted the e14 instead. She said she would look into it and call me back.

Here's the problem... I ordered the envy 14 with 30% BCB... I got a call back today saying she could switch the e15 to the e14 for me, but I told her the issue. I asked if I could just ship back the e15 for a full refund, and she said since I've 'had the computer in my possession' since april, that they would only offer about 1400 to me for 'buy back' (specs below, I paid 1616 for it after $450 instant coupon). My argument was that I called within the 21 days the first time around and HP has been messing up and playing games so I shouldn't be penalized for it.

Now, I figure if I get the exact replacement for the e15 (which is still an offer on the table). I can call HP home and home office within the 21 days and just get a full refund.

I would really like to compare the e15 and e14 side by side for myself and everyone on these forums. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

The 14 has a glass coated screen correct? Is a microfiber cloth needed to clean this type of screen or will any moderately soft rag work?

 

I thought at last mention, that we were unsure of whether it was actually glass, or if it was plastic.

Was there ever a final word on this?

 

Great news for me guys. I reported having the whinning on my computer with the I520 but it looks like its not the processor. I can make the sound come or go by turning on or off the bluetooth receiver. I don't use any bluetooth devices so I simply have it off and my computer is completely silent.

 

I like your thoughts! (although I must see many more A+ build quality reviews)

Uh oh? Do you have capability to compare this issue with another laptop screen via photos? This is potentially a real deal breaker if the Envy 14 indeed has screen issues regarding clarity and fast rendering capabilities (LCD switching, etc., blah.... ).

Thanks for thoughts on the Envy14 vs Sony Z screens!

Im auditory sensitive as you are, my ears are hurting for you.

Sounds ok! ( I wish it were a magical 7 hours as HP advertised )


THANKS ALL for reporting your PRO's & CON's on the Envy 14!

 

Thanks, that looks to be the best option Ive seen to date for a portable laptop table considering my value for quality materials, thin profile, and integrated & retractable external mouse tray. Nice find!

Im an Architectural Designer so its neat to hear about your setup. While I use Pro machines at work, the Envy 14's GPU should suffice while I creatively play in Maya etc. at home. I assume you've got your three display setup via the HDMI, MDP, and USB?, or is your "3rd monitor" your actual Envy 14 screen?

Could you gestimate CPU and GPU temps running AutoCAD 2011, REVIT 2011, Photoshop CS5, Opera with 25 tabs (with active Bittorent usage), iTunes, while rendering in the background? Yeah, thats a load of stuff, but we designers tend to work that way!

Thats one of my primary concerns about the design HP chose. I hope the Envy 14 is usable on any surface, just like a MBP.

Im only aware of 2 Envy 14 owners who have posted a set of photos that can greatly help us judge if its build quality is par or above. Im sure we'll soon see many more thoughtful posts like our German friends once our American friends get time to do this should they choose. As of now, HP's ability to make and deliver a consistent top notch A+ quality laptop construction remains to be seen. The Envy 15 & Envy 17 forums are more than enough to see HP has pervasive issues concerning quality design methodology for consistent construction technique. I earnestly hope HP gets it right for the very first time on the Envy 14.

Awesome analogy!

Hard surface only? Will the Americans beat the Germans to an Envy 14 hard surface vs soft surface temperature test? Stay tuned... !!!

Funny guy! Envy 14 Keg party in Alaska... who's hosting?

 

Great News. Lets hope that works for others too.

 

Indeed. I ordered the 430m when it was still available. And, I understand this can be an issue for those as well.

 

Exactly! If it takes around 4 hrs to charge each battery that means I can't just leave it plugged in all night to charge up. I'd have to swap after 4hrs just to charge both.

 

completely silent?? that is fantastic news. i dont use bluetooth either.

 

indeed. ill be sticking with the slice option.

 

Does the slice would block some airflow from the bottom of E14?

 

I wish this worked for me

 

ah, bummer.

 

Is the entire thing metal? ie, the material with the keyboard cutouts

 

No. The Slice battery has vents that pass through to the vents in the bottom of the E14. So, you still will have unobstructed airflow.

 

When you come back home just plug it... that'll load your second battery, and 2-4 hours later, right before going to sleep put the first one to charge.

 

alaskajoel, Butr0sButr0s, erathostenes have stated that the Envy 14 has some sort of CPU Whine/Beeping/Morrse Code noise issues and users have stated various mute guides do not always work.

Yet Butr0sButr0s gives us some good news here regarding this via an updated trick as seen below:

Yet alaskajoel responds to Butr0sButr0s's CPU noise Bluetooth trick saying it does not work on his Envy 14 with Intel i520 as seen below:

Yet Blammage mentions the CPU noise issue possibly effecting CPU's other than the Intel i520 as seen below.

Do users StefanHT, ademmer, Stirk, Cory S, Stirk, & other unannounced owners have similar noise issues as well?

Its like a tennis match here!

 

my computer right now is completely silent. The fan is 100% OFF and there is absolutely zero noise from the computer. I'm currently updating windows, updating a game, and writing this. I've had the fan come on twice while uninstalling and installing software, and it was very minor in my opinion.

 

It seems that most current computers have a small amount of cpu whine. The difference seems to be how loud this whine gets on the Envys and certain Lenovo and dell setups. I can hear the same faint sound on my old asus if i put my ear to the keyboard. Lenovo and dell users can get relief by disabling certain sleep states in their bios. Users of non-icore cpus can use RMclock to disable certain cpu modes.

Us HP Envy owners are -outta-luck, unless HP finally gives us a more customizable BIOS. Or until someone writes software able to modify icore functions.