*HP ENVY 17 & 17 3D (1XXX series) Owners Lounge*

hey guys, i need your honest opinion, will the HP Envy fit my needs?

I'm wanting a laptop for a multipurpose reason. Be it entertainment, school, research (either school or independent) or gaming (as i might not take my PS3). So this is what I'm planning to do:
What I know I will be doing is 3D modeling, simulation, physics simulation, HE Physics, Quantum Mechanics, Data crunching, Algorithms, Programming (both High and Low Level), image/video analysis, conversion of natural algorithms (Image, Audio, Video into pure data), research/analysis maybe on the unknown/unseen/beyond (hard to explain ), being able to customize and create specialized functions, hacking/cracking/modifying, etc.


Also how is teh built quality, is it reliable, did HP fill it with bloat ware? I want best performance decent battery life and good price

 

Can't you just get the FBI to buy you a laptop?

 

Three cheers for 3D modeling, simulations, algorithms, and programming. This is from one AE major in training to whatever you may be.

 

thank you for all the great photos as well, i will provide some closer internal shots of the notebook while i do a cpu swap.

 

Build quality in the two days I've had it seem great so far. Machine feels rock solid.

HP didn't fill this thing completely with bloatware. There is some bloatware but it's not as bad as I've seen in other HP laptops. Nothing a clean install won't fix anyway .

For what you want to do you will probably want an i7 processor but you won't get great battery life. I believe Jaxxy observed only about an hour and 15 minutes before his battery alarm went off. You will get much better battery life with an i5 processor at least two hours depending on what you are doing.

Hope this helps.

 

Ok, when I first powered up the laptop for the first time, I was surprised that the system did not prompt me to create any restore disks....is this normal? So, I went ahead to to use the the Windows Recovery program to create a system image onto DVDs. Is this what everybody did?

Btw, The laptop is really quiet to me. Just powered up, did nothing so far. Just creating system image disks now.

 

Nah, do it via HP/Recovery Manager. The discs take hours to burn/verify.

 

25% BCB is ACTIVE at the moment at HP.com. Drop it while it's hot! Still not offering SSD's though.

 

Isn't what I am doing essentially the same thing? HP Recovery Manager just points you to the same program I think. The disks are going through the same format/copy/verify/burn...taking a long time. As I really dont feel like going through the process again, Anyone please let me know if you think what I am doing is incorrect....at this point in time, I am just starting on disk 3...

 

Don't worry, it's taking me forever to burn the discs too. I think it's already been close to an hour, yet I'm only just about to start my fourth dvd.

Haha, good eyes. Yeah, they're the Burton under gloves. I didn't get mine as a set with actual gloves though. They're so warm and wick moisture away fast. I also have a pair of Dakine under gloves that are thinner, but just as good. Are you a boarder/skier?

 

my second envy 17 [with $300 coupon] arrived this morning. (1st one I never opened and will go back this weekend) As I had suspected, hp had provided my the wrong fedex tracking #. They completely goofed the last two digits. I had ordered on may 26, shipped june 7 as promised, delivered a day late (I'll call and ask for my 2 day refund)

i7,1 4GB dimm, SSD, 1920

I should have done an unboxing video to show:
1. the hole in my box that make's nohm's look like a pin
2. the lack of QA that allowed my laptop to ship outside the sleeve.
yes, it was scrunched up below with the power cord bags. It doesnt seem possible that it slipped off in shipping...? some minor scuffs on the top of my laptop, but oh well

anyway, my notes so far:
1. yes, left palm is kinda warm. Its a little annoying. I had completely forgot about all the hoopla on here until 30 secs into powering up. I guess I will deal, no device is perfect.
2. build quality appears solid
3. screen is bright
4. doesnt rock; sits still on rubber feet
5. no funny noises, although I do hear the fan
6. I like the feel of the keyboard; backlight becomes apparent when it is needed

I've barely done more than log on here, but so far my 2 gripes would be fan noise and the warm palm rest. CAVEAT: my last laptop is an atom based fanless 2.7lb toy... I will still use it for trips, but no more scrolling around the screen and watching the "hourglass" icon.

 

Haha, yeah. I probably wouldn't have spotted them if I didn't wear mine so much. They are the best thing I ever bought on accident =)
Yeah, I'm a boarder, although I can't get out to a mountain that much since I live in Kentucky >.<

 

Man, the windows system image creation is really slow.....am on my 6th disk now. I think this may be the final backup disk. Did everyone also have 6 DVDs created for image backup?

UPDATE: I am actually now on my 7th Image Backup disk...really? I remembered on my Asus G73, it only took like 5 Disks....So, let me ask again, did everybody also have 7 DVDs created from image backup?

I really liked how your pictures turned out. Really classy. Makes me want to buy the Envy all over again...hee

 

I just noticed that it had a subwoofer.

wow.

that's only the second laptop I've ever seen with one.

wonder if the envy14'll have one.

 

it won't. 10char

 

whelp.

I'll live. That's why we invented external speakers.


still the only other laptop I've seen with a subwoofer was my old giant alienware-clevo from 4+ years ago. That thing had the best speakers I'd ever seen on a laptop (4 of 'em, two on the screen, two below the arm rest) and then the subwoofer beneath.

 

Dang, what's a boarder doing out in Kentucky? Are there any good resorts there near by?

Whoa, you're on your 7th?? Mine only needed 5. I wonder what's going on

And thanks about the pictures. The camera did most of the work though

 

Is it possible if you get an i5, that hp could enable switchable graphics with a firmware update?

 

That's what I'm hoping. But I'm guessing it won't happen.

 

Yeah, not sure why it took so many. I am going to use the HP Backup Manager tomorrow as suggested by Jaxxy. When I opened the program, it informed me that the feature to create the backup to Factory Specs can only be used one time. I am thinking that it selectively backs up what HP configured as 'Factory Specs' onto the disks plus the oem windows keys.

I think when I went into the Windows recovery folder and selected the feature to do an image backup creation, it may have backed up some other files in addition to what HP determined as Factory specs. Thats why that process took 2 more disks. In fact, just at the end of the 7th disk, it recommended me to create a system repair disk too, which was an additional disk..so in total, I used 8 disks!

Anyways, just to make my mindset at ease, I will be using the HP Backup Manager program tommorrow to redo the backup... . I am fairly certain that process will probably end up only using 5 disks. Oh well.....

 

I'm actually reconsidering getting the 17. I am also planning on getting a notion ink adam later this summer when it is released and that would be the perfect portable system for school.

Is the envy 17's screen size and more powerful gpu actually worth it over the 14 with the same cpu?

 

Ah... The flex is worrying me. I had enough with keyboard flex... Could this be an isolated issue? Of course, very few people have gotten their Envy 17...

 

who reported the keyboard flex? Whats going on with these laptops?

 

Eh, I can't help where I was raised! We have Snowshoe, WV, but that's still a good bit away. There is always "Paoli Peaks" and "Perfect North Slopes" within a couple hours, but they are sad, sad excuses for ski resorts...

ANYwho, back on topic a bit. How bad is this Keyboard flex, exactly? That was one of the worst things about my UL80VT, and I am hoping to avoid this with the 14 (hopefully the smaller size will help it be a little bit more solid.)

 

I am one of the first Envy17 owners and I didn't notice this until it was reported here, maybe I am a light typist? There is flex if you press hard enough, but it's not going to break unless you really press down hard somewhere, so what's the problem?

 

does it bounce the whole board with a single type? or is it like the dv2000 in which you must press multiple keys in order to notice it? How is the update going on getting your laptop back?

 

Apparently there is a file (hpcd.sys or something like that) you can delete in order to fool the system into thinking that you have not already created recovery disks. So even if you screw it up somehow you can get around it and create them again.

The system image you have done today is, I believe, a moment-in-time snapshot of your primary hard drive. That is, it includes all the partitions (system,recovery,hp tools) as well as the master boot record, so if you have made any changes to your system (such as new drivers, personalisations, etc), they will be recorded in the image.

The recovery discs allow you to return the laptop to its factory shipped state, so booting up after a recovery you will be presented with the same screens you were when you first powered the thing on (name your PC, run through the HP welcome screens, etc.)

 

Thanks for your input.
I know it won't break but it really bothers me. Although, I bet the flex isn't as bad as my other laptops. I'm thinking plastic cases flex a little more... maybe I am wrong. I'm hoping the Envy 14 won't have that problem since it is smaller but there's another thread for that.

 

I noticed more flex than I had hoped for as well. It's only noticeable if you're looking for it, it doesn't bother me when actually using it. It's actually very pleasant to type on. I don't think anyone mentioned this yet but, if you look at close up pictures of the envy 15 vs the envy 17 you'll see that the keyboard area of the 15 has one piece of material around the keyboard and the 17 is two pieces of material. That's not a very good explanation but just look at the line around the keyboard of the 17 and notice how it is not there on the 15. I think this is why there is more flex, but I'm just guessing.

 

I started to type out a response but words are hard to describe this so...
Might be best explained with a video:

YouTube - Envy 17 keyboard flex

EDIT: I posted this video to show what the flex is like, it doesn't mean that it's an issue at all. In fact I had not noticed it in the few weeks of using this laptop until it was mentioned here. Please judge for yourself using the objective information in the video.

 

Thanks! it doesnt look too bad. How are you liking the laptop so far? Do you feel it is a premium laptop? Thanks man.

 

Ok, now the keyboard is been analized... go on with the other parts ok ?

For example :

- the screen is in glass ? Is it anti glare or reflects and how much ?
- the blu-ray is noisy when reads a disk ?
- how is clear the sound system ?
- the alluminium surface is easy scratchable ?
- the up/down keys are a problem in typing ?
- standards 3d benchmark in 1280x1024 values ?
- fan noise level in full load conditions ?
- etc. etc.

A full 15-20 minutes of complete review in youtube is not impossible to do...

Thanks to all.

 

What is the stand's product/part number?

I would keep the 8 disks and burn new disks using the HP Backup Manager. You can never have too many backups.

 

For those who have ordered the Amazon.com model, I pressed them for some insight on when they expect it to be available, pointing out there are a number of us comparing notes and receiving feedback that conflicts -- here is the response I got:

"I apologize for any misunderstanding about the delivery estimate for your order. We rely on the manufacturer for release date information. Our latest information indicates that "HP ENVY 17-1011NR 17.3-Inch Laptop" has not yet been released.

Please note that "HP ENVY 17-1011NR 17.3-Inch Laptop" hasn't been released yet and the expected release date is not known. We'll make sure to update our website listing when we know more. Many manufacturers, publishers, and record labels restrict retailers from selling or shipping their products until the official release date.

As soon as the items have been released, we'll be able to ship it to you. As per our standard policy, we do not charge you for items until they enter the shipping process, so you will not be charged for these items until it is available and we have shipped it to you.

While we are confident that copies will be made available, we cannot provide more precise information about the fulfillment of the order.
In light of this uncertainty, we will understand if you would prefer to cancel your order. As of yet we have made no changes."

This does not sound to me like they're going to ship anything soon.

 

Well, I broke down and ordered a 17 from hp with the bcb.

Intel(R) Core(TM) i5-540M
4GB DDR3 System Memory (1 Dimm)
500GB 7200RPM SATA Hard Drive with HP ProtectSmart Hard Drive Protection
17.3" diagonal Full HD HP Ultra BrightView Infinity LED Display (1920x1080)
SuperMulti 8X DVD+/-R/RW with Double Layer Support
50% OFF! One 6 Cell (standard) and One 9 Cell (over-sized) Lithium Ion Battery

Total before tax $1,749.99 + $119.87 utah tax
BCB got me $437.50 back

Estimated build date is June 24

I might call up hp and tell them I am thinking of canceling for the amazon deal and see if they will give me some sort of price match.

 

I received my Envy 17 yesterday (after it was delayed about a week), and here are my initial impressions:

• The build quality is EXCELLENT. I’ve owned many laptops over the years, most recently, an HDX18t, and this far surpasses any of them. Quality design, no creaky noises when opening this rather large screen, and just an overall SOLID feel to the machine.
• The screen is beautiful. I got the best upgrade option available. The screen is very bright and very sharp. It’s very glossy so I imagine it won’t do well in sunlight or very bright conditions.
• The SSD is awesome; Very quick and worth the money. The best option is to buy the SSD/SATA combo if available. I think it was only about $425 ($318 – BCB) and that gives you a blazing fast 160GB SSD, dual drive mounts, and a 500GB Sata drive. Now you don’t have to worry about ordering a $100 drive kit from HP. And you can upgrade your drives at your convenience. Very much worth the expense.
• The keyboard is great. Nice tactile response and laid out well. An improvement over the Envy 15 is the placement of the quick keys are across the top. So no more accidentally hitting something else when trying to press Shift. The Page Up/Down keys are a bit difficult to find without looking and the arrow keys are more useable than I would’ve thought.
• The fan is not noticeable unless you are running videos or gaming. Very quiet and comfortable. I do notice a lot of heat from the left rear port under load, but nothing different than previous laptops. Overall, the bottom and left wrist rest gets slightly warm, but not unbearably so.
• The USB ports are shallower than most laptops I’ve used. It makes my tiny Logitech USB Receiver stick out more than I prefer. I just ordered a Bluetooth mouse so that’s not an issue anymore.
• Audio is awesome. Crisp and clear. Seems louder on the right, but I’m sure easily adjusted.
• Coretemp is showing high of 78 and low of 47 across all cores (55 under normal use). Seems high in that my desktop 2.8 quad overclocked to 3.7 is hitting 65, but it’s not causing problems with this laptop.
• HD Webcam seems to work well – but haven’t spent much time with it.

The Bad:

• The trackpad is just crap. In fact, I spent 20 minutes typing up this review last night only to have to get nuked because of the wonky pad. In order to type, your hand has to hover above the pad and it WILL make your arrow jump around. The left/right clicks are still hard to control with accuracy. Overall, very disappointed in the trackpad. I’m looking for alternative drivers if anyone has experience.
• Scores in Sandra are a bit off. It’s not scoring like other i7-720s in the database. I’ll have to do more research to figure out the problem here.
• I just noticed a small glitch in the sound while playing music. You can hear a little ‘blip’ every few seconds. Happening with all my MP3s. Anyone else experience this?

That’s all I got for now. Overall very pleased with this laptop. Good luck all with your delayed orders!

 

just found the high pitched noise. Cleared it using the method before. I also noticed it went away when the recording tab was selected in the sound box. I guess you can either leave that box up or select listen & mute and actually close it.

Hitman - what are you using to playback mp3?

 

If I were to call up HP and see if they could give me a price match on the amazon model, would that void my bcb?

Also, I'm a bit curious about how the battery is situated in the laptop. Is it like most other laptops where the 6 cell is flush then the 9 cell sticks out?

 

See these pictures from the post below for how far the 9 cell sticks out. The 6 cell does sit flush.

http://forum.notebookreview.com/hp-...-hp-envy-17-owners-lounge-84.html#post6321686

 

Yes, 9 cell sticks out annoyingly. I'll probably never use it because of that. I'd prefer a slab like the Envy 15.

sdslayer - I'm using the HP Mediasmart app for mp3 playback. Also, I just tried headphones and I get this annoyingly loud hiss in the background. Will try another media player to see what's up. If I can't get rid of the hiss (almost sounds like electronic interference from the laptop itself) I'll be very disappointed since this thing is supposed to have EXCELLENT audio with the Beats system.

 

When did you place the order? I thought the BCB was over with. I just got my delay email yesterday(was originally anticipating delivery today) and wondering if I can use the additional 2 weeks to get a better deal.

I already got the separate 4GB dimm and Corsair P256 SSD waiting at home to upgrade my current order when it comes in:
Core i7 820QM
1080p screen
500GB Drive (will become secondary so I won't even bother with recovery disks when I do clean install onto SSD)

I'm tempted to call them and upgrade to the BluRay drive even though I don't think I'll ever use it.

 

FWiW, lots of laptops have subwoofers: HP HDX 16, 18, dv7, dv8, Dell studio xps 16, Acer 894X series, Toshiba Qosmio, probably quite a few more. They are/were all known for excellent audio.

 

I'm an idiot. BCB is good until July 30 and I ordered direct through HP using a coupon code that saved me a whole $25! Any suggestions on getting the discount now? Cancel order and then re-order and wait even longer to get the Envy? Bummer.

 

yep, cancel your order, if you can't cancel, return the notebook as soon as it arrives (you can refuse the delivery, make it a return to sender). Tell HP you are planning on doing this first of course. I did this when I ordered 2 Envy 15s, one limited edition and one regular. Kept the limited edition of course.

 

Gents, sorry to keep harping on about this, but, anyone had a chance to try the webcam yet? incandescent = purple?

David

 

I tried the webcam in a bar setting - low light. It looks great, but I don't think it's true HD. Resolution options peak at 640x480. Since when is that HD?

BCB was briefly at 25% last night, but now it's back to %15.

 

Not likely? It's different drivers and webcam components for the envy 17. Correct me if I'm wrong though!

 

was there not another member in which this same problem occured? Can anyone else confirm if this problem is consistent across the line?

 

I just called hp and they said that June 24th would be the latest date that I would receive me envy. He told me that my order looked good and there were no delays on any of the components (I got an i5 540). I'm so exited that I could receive my envy before the 24th!

 

Ok, I went ahead and used the HP recovery Manager to create the recovery media instead of the Windows Recovery System Image Application that I used last night and I can confirm that the HP method only used 5 Disks instead of the 7 disks the Windows Program used . Total time taken to burn recovery media was about 2hrs.

Conclusion: Everyone should used the HP Recovery Media to create the set of Factory Spec image recovery disks.

More daily snippets of impressions:

1) When the laptop is first turned on,the fans go in full blast for about 1 sec, than turn down immediately. I had owned a G73 before, and at idle, it sounded just as quiet to me. Have not run any intensive 3D apps yet.

2) The sound system of this laptop is pretty impressive for laptops. I put in an audio CD and blasted it to very close to the maximum level(80%) and the sound filled the room very nicely. I was worried to crank it up any louder for fear it may disturb the neighbors.

3) My laptop came with the Intel X25 G2 SSD from HP, and at stock with no SSD tweaks or system optimization yet, with all 'bloatware', it takes about 33 seconds to get to the desktop, able to open any applications. It takes about 11 seconds to shut down. I am certain these numbers will go down once I do a clean install, and tweak Windows to optimize it for SSD usage.

4) I am sure alot of you have seen comments about the keyboard flex,and what I can say about it is that the flex is definately overated. I mean, if you are going to use substantial force and press down on each key individually in a test scenario, yes, you are going to see some slight flexing. BUT, if you, like me, are just typing on it like a normal human being, no flex will be apparent. In fact, the normal human force used to be able to type at a reasonable rate, will not allow you the time to individually press each key down with the force required to cause the slight flexing. I am quite picky about flex too, believe me, and I am fine with the keyboard as is. SO the question you need to ask yourself is, if this was a make-or-break deal for you, will you be using the keyboard under test scenario conditions everyday? Or will you just be using it under normal conditions daily. Your call.

5) For the backlit keyboard, I will say that the lit keys are easier to define/see than the external backlit Razer Lycosa keyboard that I own. Both are not overly bright, but I can tell you that the brightness level of the ENVY 17 keyboard is enough to allow you to see the keys in all conditions. Would I like it a little brighter, maybe just a tad. But this is still acceptable to me.

Any buyers remorse yet after having a night to play with it, and waking up in the morning? No. As long as this laptop continues to perform as I expect it to.

I will continue with my observations in the days ahead. So far, I still give it a thumbs up!