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

Well my only real option at this time is to get a 4820tg instead, but I think im going to give the envy 14 one more shot and replace this one. I really do like the design besides the little imperfections on my lemon. Hopefully most of them will be gone the second time around.

 

What driver do you have 13.1.1.1?

 

yea, 13.1.1.1 here too. Windows says it's the most up to date, however there may be something on intels website since 13.1.1.1 is 6 months old.

I'm probably out for the night now... it's like 3am im having too much fun with my new baby!


Touchpad software fixes would be nice to see on page one... I know some people said they tweaked stuff. This thing REALLY hates having 2 fingers on it, unless you are seriously in the very bottom corner.

 

I just updated to 13.2.1.5
See if that fixes it

 

So what's the general consensus on the raised parts/flexing? Return? Exchange and hope for best? Is the parts being not seated correctly/flexing reason for exchange/return?

 

I hope so, post if it does I'll read it tomorrow most likely, but still good to know.

I think everyone's "OP[" region has flex. If that's the only area with flex how did you even notice? (I checked after told about it here) If your WASD has flex you should either look into a double sided tape fix or a return. Assuming you game with it. But only if it's worth the time and effort to you. Now flex + raised part? Return it.

 

I also have the same problem as you. Every time I close the lid, it goes to sleep and when I open it again and try to go to any website, the wifi doesn't work and I would have to disconnect and reconnect the wifi every time. However I did find a driver update on Intel's website that should fix the problem as it had did for me. Here is the link, Intel® PRO/Wireless and WiFi Link Drivers-Only for Windows 7*

 

Thanks for the help I've followed your directions exactly, but I still have the hiss. I've noticed when idle, it's amplitude will increase and decrease on a fairly regular schedule. (about every 20-30 seconds)

I guess I'll just stick to my ipod for now - I haven't done a clean install, but I may try it just for kicks and giggles before I send it back.

 

Occasionally the software for intel's wireless cards screws up and requires a reboot, its been happening for years to me on my dell xps1210, but its fairly rare so it doesn't become too irksome.

 

Also, i'm becoming more convinced it's not related to a setting in windows... I've discovered the noise to still be present through the POST process, and in the quick boot OS.

 

this happens on my HP desktop. by any chance are you removing something from the USB when the wireless disconnects? sometimes, when i remove my external hard drive by pulling off the USB, powering off, or safely removing, the wirelesss card turns off and i need to reboot in order to get it

 

New poll and feedback thread:

http://forum.notebookreview.com/hp-...what-quality-condition-you-new-envy-14-a.html

Owner's be sure to visit and vote.

Link also on first page.

 

Boy, I'm feeling bad for you, that sucks. Have you tried to see (or hear I guess) what happens on battery? If the noise goes away then it is probably part of the charge circuit, or does it by chance, in any way, sync with the CPU whinning sound? Not that i know a fix for either of those but it may narrow down the source. One of the most amazing features of my envy is the clean audio out signal from the headphone jack

 

It's present on any power source. All I can really say is...I hope this first machine gets all the issues out of the way. I'm anxiously anticipating the replacement. (should ship early next week)

 

IEM's are generally more sensitive to noise than other devices. Have you tried speakers or other headphones? If the problem persists, you could always try an attenuator. UE provided one for me for listening to noisy sources such as airplanes with my triple-fi's. It does reduce the volume from sources so you won't be listening to music at higher volumes.

 

Wow, I didn't expect there to be any problems after the reviews from those who got their Envys in Germany. Now, i'm just hoping that HP didn't screw up the E14...

 

I actually just tried it with a set of ipod ear buds....same issue, just less defined because they sit in the ear lobe rather than actually IN the ear.

 

Okay so now we just need someone with a 450m to run the same test :
CineBench 10 download from Guru3D.com

 

I'm perfectly happy with mine. I came from 2 budget laptops to the ENVY which is by far the biggest change I've ever seen. I reinstalled windows home premium with the key they provided to rid myself of bloatware. this thing is FAST. sound is great. i think the source does sound a bit thin even with ear monitors it's very bass shy. What HP does to increase bass is they lowered the higher frequency channels to emphasize the bass more. which is why your speakers sound like they're whispering when you switch to the beats tour setting. Other than that, with a flat EQ this thing is perfectly acceptable. I do think theres a common misconception on his forum. Everyone has standards they want to live up to. Some have VERY high standards but the average consumer who's typing an essay may not feel keyboard flex as bad as others do. While a consumer won't be bothered with white noise in the audio, an audiophile would scream blasphemy for a "tainted" signal. I come from a desktop that sounds like a jet engine is running. I don't notice any CPU whine at all. Your laptop is what you make of it. If you want it to have problems, you'll quickly spot them. If you enjoy your laptop then you won't notice a thing.

 

Pics of my envy 14:

Picasa Web Albums - danny tran - envy 14

 

What are the specs on your Envy?

 

Anyway I don't see why people are complaining for minor issues like keyboard flex around two keys ? I mean, the only alternative you got for this setup is actually the ACER TG series on which the same flex will be ALL OVER the keyboard. On which the screen quality and chasis flex will not even be a quarter of what it is on the envy... The only + for the TG over the envy is the battery life. 8 vs 4,5 hours.
Further down the road 99% won't notice any flex after getting accustomed to their keyboard. Worser than that you may even bend some pieces and create more flex when you guys are pressing like madmans on keys to check for actual "flex".
Again cpu whine ? 99% of laptop have the cpu whine but at a non audible level, this means you have to put your ear onto the keyboard/laptop to actually hear the normal whine.
Earing a whine while not having your ear on the laptop on the other end is not normal, and is the "intel whine defect" we talked about.

A lot of people here are posting comments that are actually "lol there's flex when I press like an elephant" "lol there's a whine when I listen with a stethoscope on the laptop" and a few people are extrapolating it as "lol all envy 14 have 30db whine and icecube flex keyboard" like only 1 or 2 users are reporting. Yet so far cosmetic issues were minor compared to envy 17 and 15 releases. Better be happy than sad about it.

Somewhat I'd also like to add that there is no new laptop (read with new island or chicklet style keyboards) with 0 keyboard flex, even the mbp gets some keyboard flex... Get real guys...

So far the only major defect we've got are :
The lemon mashed envy 14 (probably a dropped unit or refurbished prototype ? which sucks)
The 520m that whines to a audible level
Some units with what looks to be having windows installation or driver issues on wifi or graphic switching, until proven to be hardware.

To me it's still a darn pretty good release and not a failure, 0 heat issues, very good cooling system, beyond our expectations even, unchallenged screen quality... the list goes on... Those are the points that are really important for a laptop everyday use, not the little flex you'll notice by pressing darn hard.

 

^agree 100%

 

Those are some classy pics dannybht, makes the Envy 14 look real "premium", how are you find yours?

 

i5 430m
4gb(2dimm)
320gb
everything else is basic

 

I agree that complaints about keyboard flex and such are whatever, but you have to also consider what my E14 is doing and the problems the other guy (i forget his name, but a few pages back) is having.

Mine already has a dead pixel after 1 day, freezes when I switch GPU's and freezes when I resume from sleep. I absolutely love this laptop don't get me wrong and maybe I got super unlucky, but the one I got is a lemon. I'm just hoping that my replacement for this one isn't a lemon as well or I'm ditching HP and going Apple. I think HP is close to finding a MBP killer but they really need to work on quality control if they're going to compete.

I love the weight, size, look, audio, performance, price, basically everything about this laptop but mine wasn't made correctly.

 

I agree with Pdissel all the way, Paulytran awesome pics man really enjoyed looking at them, i would like to see some more nighttime ones with the backlit keyboard. it truly is almost a macbook killer just sucks you can't run switchable graphics with a core i7 720 config which is what i am thinking of. What is the screen maker for this radiance screen? I am thinking LG Philips or Samsung thinking the latter though. Sometimes you get the good ones and the bad ones it happens.

 

hey sorry guys I can't remember what page it was that somebody listed what the 1x4gb memory was in the envy 14? Thanks

 

Got my new Envy 14 yesterday, and I love it so far. The build quality is far superior to my last PC (Dell Studio XPS 1340 -- bleh!). Also, I have the i5-520m, and there is no whine.

On a side note, I reinstalled Intel Rapid Storage Technology with the updated version (9.6.4.1002) per justinkw1's helpful post, but now it takes about 5 minutes for IRST to start after the system startup. Anyone know a troubleshoot/fix for this? I haven't been able to find anything online. :-\

 

u own a 4820tg with flex all over? feel bad for u

 

I think the problem is that the few people that have slight issues with their envies keep going on about it, on the other hand there's the people with envies that have no problems and love them which don't go on about it. And people also expect their laptops to be absolutely perfecto, this will NEVER happen, and it's not just with laptops, it includes cars, houses, phones etc. People will always find things they either don't like or things that are wrong with stuff they have. I have never had, or heard of a laptop with 0 problems. I like my current laptop but there are also things I don't like about it.
And then people that hear of one problem with a laptop think "Oh it's a crap laptop don't buy it". People, stop worrying about it, when you get it, look for yourself. Sure there shouldn't be massive problems with it like that guy that got a lemon but expect SOMETHING wrong with it. And don't go out of your way to look for a flex or a whine, because if you hear the slightest whine (which every laptop makes) then you will keep on listening for it and it will bother you forever. Every laptop makes some kind of whine or buzz every once in a while, it might be the hard drive, processor whatever!?!? Don't worry, be happy with what you got and enjoy your envy.

 

dannybht very good pics

 

Nah I don't own a 4820tg. But in reviews the quality and flex is said to be worst than the asus UL80vt I own and which already has moderate keyboard and screen flex. Getting a 4820tg over a envy 14 when there's only a 200$ gap to get a good build quality, awesome screen, awesome touchpad (when configured apparently) and better cooling is a no brainer to me. Anyways I already ordered 3 envy with BCB I just hope none of them will have any major defects when I get back home to finally put my hands on them in two months.

 

The poll (link on first page) seems to correspond to what you are saying here.

 

Someone in the forums mentioned that it is Samsung M471B5273CH0-CH9. Perhaps 2.0 will put it on the first page.

 

Strangely that poll sticks perfectly with the 20% RMA rate over 2 years of HP.

 

Anyone got any battery life numbers yet? HP's specification page for the E14 says 2 hours now

 

Core i7 owners, any comments on battery life and heat?

Your comments would be greatly appreciated.

 

Don't know if it is prudent to do so since there may be some variation in RAM used over time. A user simply has to either open their unit up or use software like SIW, SANDRA, or CPU-Z to find out.

 

Is it really region-free? I've had drives let me watch whatever for the first 5 uses, then force the selection of a region.

 

Every review of the 4820tg I have read says build quality is bad and keyboard flex in plentiful

 

For me the poll is the most useful part of the owner's lounge so far. It shows how current owners view their machine and can help the rest of us decide whether to pull the plug and buy one or not. Congrats for that 2.0.

 

u must have a different internet then i do i suggest contacting ur isp

 

unsure. I haven't watched something 5 times.

we'll see. when we get there.

and if so...well I'll just be screwed and/or set it to region 2 since that's the only type I'd be watching on here (for awhile).

 

Just a sidenote. The antenna for the wireles is in the lid

So, it kinda makes sense that it will lose connection if you close the lid.

 

Loving everything about my Envy, but how do I turn the touchpad off?

It says to tap twice on the circle in the top left corner, but that does nothing. I tried clicking but the clicking is almost impossible on the top corners.

Did I uninstall something when I was removing HP bloatware? I still have my other touchpad settings.

 

I just tapped like 4 times just to the right of the light.

you also may have to turn that option on in the synaptics settings if you clean installed

 

http://forum.notebookreview.com/acer/499204-acer-aspire-timelinex-4820tg-review.html

Acer Aspire TimelineX 4820TG - Laptop - TrustedReviews

Notebookcheck: Review Acer Aspire 4820TG Timeline X Notebook

I suggest that you contact your ISP

 

Aha! You can't disable tap to click or it won't work. Works perfectly now.

 

makes sense.

you have to register taps for stuff to work