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

So I'm getting quite a bit of keyboard flex especially around the "p" key. It is rather annoying but I can't say I notice it too much when I'm typing fast. Is this normal or could it be that the keyboard is incorrectly fitted or something like that?

I like the feature where you can disable the touchpad when you are typing but if the touchpad was moved over to the left slightly it would be in the center of the typing area and I wouldnt hit it with my wrist anyway.

Otherwise, the touchpad is pretty good but not as refined as the macbook pro I'm coming from. I'll be using an external mouse most of the time anyway so it's not really a problem, but as far as most touchpads go this one is definitely passable.

I took a screenshot of the windows experience index:
http://i.imgur.com/b1f3n.jpg
My specs are i5-520m, 160gb ssd, and 1 stick of 4g ram.

Screen looks wonderful. I prefer matte but I am not disappointed with this screen.

I did a fresh install immediately after saving all the drivers. I know there was some concern about touchpad settings but after reinstalling the touchpad driver, the touchpad is back to how it was before I did the fresh install. No concerns here.

After seeing the massive amount of bloatware HP had on here, I definitely say do a fresh install if you know how, and if not look up a guide.. it's not difficult at all.

Any questions lol?

 

SC2 Beta performance!

 

@ 2.0,

You did wonders for the Envy 14 forum with the new subject specific Envy 14 threads that allow a targeted focus of information which is effectively making this an easier / more user friendly space to dissect this machine we're all interested in, Kudos!

May I request you see what strings you can pull to enable a UI based button feature for the spoiler option?

Spoiler

How'd I get in here?

The wording Spoiler is catchy, but having Hidden Image would be a nice self evident optional button for us to use as well.

Until NBR gets a modern website that strictly adheres to proper code championed by Opera, FF, Apple, & Google through the W3C's guidelines, this website drags sometimes, not to mention the disruptive flow that large photo's can some time be on this older text heavy web-design that NBR still utilizes.

Just a wish buddy, I'm liking the space we have here to get together,
although I think 2.0 could help this website become more 2.0! :GEEK:

 

how is the noise?

 

@ erathostenes, StefanHT, ademmer, alaskajoel, Butr0sButr0s, Stirk, & others:

Would you please consider placing your Envy 14 specs in your signature so new NBR users, old users, and those who don't memorize everyone's specs can easily ascertain what machine type your talking about?

Thank you all for your kind consideration!

 

LOL. Thanks. OK I'll bring it up. It's a great idea actually. Almost a "duh" why wasn't this thought of before type thing.

 

Spoiler

This is awesome! Btw, this type of forum is kind of old school, time to go 3.0

 

I am trying to install Windows 7 64 bit (clean install) on my new Envy 14, but I am having a problem: I try to install windows, it boots up loading files, shows the windows 7 icon, and then just goes to a black screen and stays there.

Any advice?

edit: Oh, and I already burned back up DVDs and deleted the backup partitions (leaving them as unclaimed space on the drive). 2.0, if this is the wrong thread for this, please let me know where to post

 

Good deal, thanks again for your efforts in maintaining a nice place to chat all while puffing and tapping that as sh!

 

That happened when i used the windows 7 usb tool from microsoft. Just google for the manual method of creating a bootdisk/usb.

 

I tried using the tool for both a USB key and a DVD- failed on both. I guess it could be the tool. I will give the manual way a shot..

 

Question: When I first get my Envy tomorrow, should I boot it up plugged in or should I let the battery drain out first before I plug it in?

 

Hmm. Looks like I can just install my new version of Windows 7 over my old version while running Windows. It says it will have to "restart during the process," but I am fine with that.

I think these problems might be related to HP's QuickStart OS- maybe Windows 7 install is seeing another entry in the MBR and freaking out? Not sure.

 

+1

i was thinking of just turning it on and let it drain, then charge it overnight.

can anyone with experience answer it?

 

Thank you 2.0

Spoiler

@Droid, great idea for the Spoiler button addition!

 

That is interesting. Is HP's QuickStart OS placed in a partition on the HDD like older HP's laptops? I read that those earlier HP Quickstart Linux environments used a 214 MB partition separate from the Windows install.

Anyone want to do a QuickStart OS vs Windows 7 HDD boot vs Windows 7 SSD boot... in regards to getting on the internet?

That would be a neato comparison!

 

I posted my setup before:

I have a MDP to VGA adapter for an old LCD monitor and HDMI to DVI cable for the FullHD 20" Display.. So yes, I am counting the Screen of my envy as well..

At least with Autodesk Inventor, Bittorrent, several Tabs in Chrome, Picasa etc... its not breaking a sweat at all..

 

While I'm installing, a few comments on my use of the Envy 14 so far:

Very impressed with the build quality. The keyboard is good (previously, I was using a lenovo t61)- no weak spots. The screen is excellent- brightness and colors are as good as on my dell 22".

Doesn't seem to be running too hot, although I think I may be less picky than some of the people here. Trackpad is a little annoying, but from what I understand it can be tweaked in software, so no big deal. I got the 160 GB SSD and it looks like its an Intel G2.

Other than that, just going through reinstalling windows right now. I wound up starting the process in windows 7. I think there is a trick to doing it properly by fixing the MBR, but I don't really feel like mucking around with that right now. If anyone has any advice, I would be glad to hear it!

edit: envious, with a SSD booting to the default install of windows took only a few seconds longer than booting into QuickStart or QuickPlay or whatever it is called. And yes, the partition was 200 something megs. The fact that its a Linux partition (not sure what type though) explains why it wasn't showing up in the computer management/storage thing (where I went to delete the HP backup partition).

 

It is quiet compared to my previous late 06 macbook pro. The high pitched whine some people were talking about is present but I don't notice it unless I put my ear next to the keyboard, so the laptop is almost silent. However, the CD drive is a bit louder than what I am used to especially when first spinning up. I tested out a DVD using the built in speakers and the cd drive noise mostly disappeared into the background, but I could still hear it (sounded kind of a fan). It won't be a bother for me since I usually use in-ear headphones or louder external speakers.

I would like to get rid of that high pitched noise though, I tried turning off the bluetooth radio like someone suggested but the noise is still there.

 

Someone'll figure it out eventually.


Also, do ya hear any sort of processor whine valismp?

 

It's about as loud as my old T61, which is pretty quiet. I usually have a fan (a large box one) running in my room, and I certainly couldn't hear it over that. I turned that off, closed my window, and I have to say that I find the computer to be pretty quiet.

edit: Just switched from the ATI to the Intel graphics card, and a fan powered down. Now my Envy 14 is basically silent. The T61 is definitely louder.

 

Alas - my computer is here

Unboxing (in photos) can be viewed here: Picasa Web Albums - Andrew Loomis - HP Envy 14

And the long awaiting answer to what is the 256 SSD: Newegg.com - SAMSUNG MMDOE56G5MXP-0VB 2.5" 256GB SATA II MLC Internal Solid State Drive (SSD)

Now then, I'm going to play with my Envy

 

You guys still jawin over here? Where's all the pics? I figured I'd hear champagne corks poppin and some celebratin' goin' on.

Bronsky

 

Kangu no need to wait for battery to discharge, you are good to go.

 

So the mystery of the 256 GB SSD has been solved.

Samsung huh.

 

Thanks for the reply Vicar! So is it just a myth that you have to discharge then charge to get optimized battery life?

 

Alas?! I'd being giving a WOOT WOOT!

 

Whippersnappers always wantin' newfanglin'...

 

On the first page it goeth.

 

How much RAM/what CPU did you order that got you that nice 7.4 index score? Stirk had 4GB 1 DIMM/i5-450M and got a score of 5.9.

 

Now that's more like it. 7.4 score for Ram - I7QM w.1333mhz?

 

Thanks for your quick note back to my question valismp! I suppose the combination of Windows7 + SSD may negate the speed advantage QuickStart environment provides using a regular HDD.

Id be interested ( after you get your new machine set up and have time to enjoy playing with it ) in a battery life comparison of browsing the web on QuickStart vs Windows 7, with any limiting factors (like if QuickStart only supports 1 tab, I dunno if its comparable to Chrome or other web browsers tab usage?) taken in mind & also background programs (fair comparison would be only start up services and web browser).

Glad to hear you received an Intel G2!

@ erathostenes, StefanHT, ademmer, alaskajoel, Butr0sButr0s, Stirk, Cory S, Stirk, valismp, aclbosox:

Do you have any idea what the Bluetooth specs are?

Could you provide us with some real world temperature scenarios?

Thank you cool guys & gals again!

 

2.0, you should add something about the whine people are getting. i think it has only happened to i5-520 people so far. not sure if anyone with a different processor has had this problem or not. one guy said turning off bluetooth fixed it completely but that same fix didnt work for another.

 

How much dedicated memory is the graphics card supposed to have? mines only showing 654 mb, isnt it supposed to be like 1gb?

 

Kangu used to be done thing ages ago, advances in tech has made it obsolete.

Glad to have been of help.

 

it should be 1gb.

but where are you getting the 654mb number?

It seems like most things can't even tell what a radeon 5650 mobility is

 

does the fan stay off when youre not doing particularly demanding tasks? Im used to my lenovo t61 right now, which is 100% silent maybe 80% of the time

 

from dxdiag under display

 

2x 4GB = 8GB

I'm set for a while!

 

check it with gpu-z.

see what it says. Dedicated is turned on, right?

GPU-Z Video card GPU Information Utility

 

this is the first time I use the SSD, does the intel G2 need an updated firmware before we do the clean install?Is there any difference (precautions,etc.) in installing win 7 on SSD and regular magnetic disc?

 

Hmm, I got 8gb too and my score is only 6.7

 

On my device manager for bluetooth it reads:

HP Integrated Module with Bluetooth 2.1 Wireless Technology

Not sure about Temps yet, so far pretty cool.

I'm about to stream an mlb.tv game which on my old laptop got very hot, will let you know how it goes.

For right now i've just been uninstalling the bloatware from my laptop.

 

Nope* and nope.

* It's really good to go, but it can be done if you want. You will have to check your firmware.

 

Your RAM must be 1333mhz for the i7 processors. Most people here opt for the i5 which has 1066mhz RAM because the heat issue that e17 having.

 

Yeah, gpuz says 1gb.. dxdiag and some tests i checked with online show 654mb though weird

 

Yes, I am on an i7 840 QM

 

It's sort of on my to do list. I'm waiting for a bit more confirmation, considering. CPU whine has been a bugaboo for a number of notebooks by various manufacturers with various fixes/workarounds.

Anyway, yeah.

 

Is the heat issue a problem for the folks who bought the i7 procs?

Just about to order, do folks know of any envy 14 discounts i can use to make the the price more bearable.