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

Just a thought that came to mind. I was wondering why such a large pricing difference and than I realized that if you config to buy the 4G option, you may be likely getting 2 sticks of 2GBs(2x2GB) to make it 4GBs since the ENVY 17 has 2 slots. Most Laptop companies do this as it's much cheaper than give you a single stick of 4GB RAM.

However, you you buy the 8GB config, you will be getting 2 Sticks of 4GBs. So, if you decide to upgrade later for your RAM, you would have to rebuy 2 sticks of 4GBs of RAM if you want 8GBs, or you would have to remove 1 stick of 2GB of RAM, and replace it with the 1 stick of 4GB of RAM that you buy to only make it 6GBs....So maybe at the end of the day, it will cost you more if you want the full 8GB in your laptop.

That is why places like NewEgg sells 8GBs of RAM(2x4GB) for around $300+ to $400+.

With Bing Cash Back(25%) on purchases made from HP direct, even if you went ahead and bought the cheapest stick of 4GB RAM today from NewEgg, two of those will cost more than purchasing it through HP.

 

one question. So do you have to get the Quad core CPU in order to get the USB 3.0 port like in the Envy 15?

 

This is why I spent the extra $25 to get just one stick of ram at 4gb so that will leave the other dimm open to put what I want into it later. I mean isn't that right?

 

Yes, I did not see that.

 

Ok, disregard my previous post- it appears Costco warranty overlaps with the HP warranty, only giving you a max 2yrs warranty coverage. The addition of the separate 2yr LoJack+accidental damage protection totally negates the need to worry about the regular 2yr plans.

 

Questions for you guys:

- Will the BCB work with the "Bill me Later" function? Or do you have to pay in full to recieve the BCB? Is there word on how long the BCB offer will be available?

- What SSD is being used specifically if you choose that option? I read a reference to it being 400 some dollars on amazon, but haven't seen any links or model numbers.

- Has anyone actually seen the 9 cell? On the customize page it shows a bulky bar extending down from the back end of the laptop, but the picture does not show an envy laptop (afaik). Will the battery be the same fit on the Envy 17? Has anyone asked or seen?

Depending on these and a few other questions, I may be snagging one tonight. ;D

 

Haha good ok I got a little paranoid when you said that initially. Thought I was screwed!

 

damn I'm excited for you guys.

enjoy these machines. they should be fantastic!

 

Yes I used the Bill me Later option and I already have the BCB pending on my online account.

 

Hehe thx bro! If your excited for us, I wonder how all the other like myself are feeling who placed their orders.

 

1. No one knows which one it is, so it's a gamble.

2. This link should help you see the comparisons in battery sizes: HP Envy 14 and Envy 17 press shots - Engadget Galleries

 

Is there a photo of the bottom of the computer somewhere around the net? I've been trying to look for one but haven't had any luck. Reason is I'm trying to figure out what type of notebook cooler to purchase.

 

^ http://forum.notebookreview.com/6231130-post550.html

 

Thank you kind sir! Much appreciated.

 

I typed in HP Laptop in bing and no 25% bcb, I'm guessing its over?

 

Still works for me. Try typing in "HP direct" and see if the first link works.

 

just type in "hp".

click the hp website's cashback link.

 

Nope... https://webspace.utexas.edu/kkc295/bing.jpg

 

it's pretty random i think.

try the following:
hp direct
hp laptop
laptop

try these a few time with different sequence and you'll see it eventually

 

I can still see it, just tried this a minute ago.

 

turn off ad-block plus on Bing.

or use IE.

 

i figured it out.. hahahaha..

oh ad blocker, that might be it. thanks a lot guys.

 

no problem, n00bie.

let us know what you order!

 

I wonder if anyone was able or will be able to confirm if the SSD HD that can be confirgured with the ENVY is G1 or G2......

 

Ok, I just made the purchase (went with Koshinn's advice on the SSD, thanks):

• Genuine Windows 7 Home Premium 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)
• 160GB (Solid State Drive Flash Module)
• 1GB ATI Mobility Radeon(TM) HD 5850 Graphics
• 17.3" diagonal Full HD HP Ultra BrightView Infinity LED Display (1920x1080)
• Blu-ray ROM with SuperMulti DVD+/-R/RW with Double Layer Support
• HP TrueVision HD Webcam
• Intel Wireless-N Card with Bluetooth
• Full-size island-style backlit keyboard
• 6 Cell Lithium Ion Battery (standard)
• 50% OFF! HP Pavilion additional 120W AC Adapter
• No Productivity Software

I used my AmEx along with BCB, so I'll get the extended 1yr warranty + addition cashback. I'm excited :]

 

The configuration I wanted turned out to be $1550 with tax and bcb so I decided against it. I actually wanted the envy 14 more than the 17 but I was going to get it if the price was good enough.

 

HP won't tell what kind of SSD - I asked today.

 

Just for giggles I'm noticing a pretty even split on going with the i5 vs. i7. Wondering why people went with what.

How much of a performance increase will you get with the i7?

What applications even take advantage of quad core?

What about battery life differences?

Also will the 1066 vs 1333 clock speed on the memory be an advantage?

I went i5 because I think it strikes a great balance between performance and battery life.

Thoughts anyone?

 

Does it have switchable graphics?

 

Envy 17 does not have switchable graphics.

http://forum.notebookreview.com/har...rmarket-upgrades/450403-i7-620m-vs-720qm.html

read that thread.

IMO, money is best spent on the dual core iCore products for now. but opinions differ. it really depends on if you extensively use apps that are optimized for quad core performance or not. if not, you may be throwing money away and getting a less impressive computer experience in general for your troubles.

I'd suspect that many who are ordering quads automatically assume that quad = better, when it's not necessarily true. that, or they think taking advantage of the 25% off means they decided the more expensive option = best option = deal!

 

Would something like this work? 12.7mm Slot in load SATA Blu-ray burner player Drive - eBay (item 390186202400 end time May-21-10 19:40:59 PDT)

 

So just confirming from the earlier posts. If you want the extra HDD Bay you may as well purchase the dual 500gb slots?

Or will the 640gb/single h/d have the extra bay.

And do you think the computer would be faster with dual SSD vs Single SSD of whatever.

Anyone know any american sites importing to australia

 

don't know. you'll want to find out if the drive bay is a 12.5mm drive bay or a 9.5mm drive bay.

 

I chose to stick with the 720qm because I'm already seeing its benefits when it comes to video rendering speeds. Besides, a lot more softwares are becoming multi-core optimized beyond just dual-core, so there is some merit in investing on further future benefits of quad-core despite its present minimal difference. Besides, who doesn't want that extra bit of power if you can afford it?

 

It's got to be 12.7mm. HP said they didn't put the blu-ray in the 14 because they couldn't find one that fit in it (9.5mm).

 

BTW, is there any possible way that HP could deny a return (within the return window) or is their policy guaranteed? (of course provided the product is in original condition, w/packaging and all parts, etc.)

 

Those are good points. I guess I paid a premium for the SSD and figured that the i5 would be a solid enough choice without spending another $200+. I used my laptop as a desktop replacement at work but at home I carry it around so battery life is still somewhat important for me. Besides some work in CS4 and light gaming I don't know how else a quad core would benefit me.

 

Thanks much guys for the responses to my questions. BCB did indeed work with the pay later function (yay!) though the sketchiness of it kind of makes me nervous (in pending state for 60 days, at any point they can negate it?)

So I caved it and snagged one. Ended up getting the 9-cell, I'm really not keen on the bulkiness, especially while carrying (seems like it would be awkward) BUT I do want as close to 4 hours as possible, and the 6-cell battery life is pretty abysmal. Fine for those of you not planning to move your laptops, but mine will be on the go.

Also went with basic ram and HD. Figure I can upgrade those for much cheaper should I want to (and I plan to for an SSD at least)

Now enter the waiting game...

 

it's not sketchy. have no fear. Microsoft supports Bing and let's be honest...Microsoft prints money.

it will take about 60 days, though. but once it shows up in your account, you can transfer it to PayPal or directly to the banking institution of your choice. it's never failed me once.

 

Thanks man, ya I hear what you're saying, it just seems like one of those "too good to be true" things. If everything goes right though, I'm gonna be quite the happy nerd in a few weeks. ;D

 

For those who opted for the SSD option, have you taken into consideration that the SSDs have a high chance of being G1, and thus not support TRIM?
I have read that SSDs that do not support TRIM will degrade in performance over time. Also, I have read that the SSDs supplied in the ENVYs are custom-made and do not look like the retail versions.

I am only asking as I am thinking of re-ordering with the 160GB SSD instead of the default HDD. With BCB 25%, the 160GB SSD will end up being about $280. This, compared to 160GB SSD in the marketplace being around $400+ is quite a good deal for an upgrade(although i think these are the G2 versions). I think even 6 months from now, $280 for a 160GB SSD may be a good deal, if not the nomal price than. If so, I would at least have enjoyed the speed of the SSD for this next 6 months, than waiting half a year and buying it at same price today with BCB at the HP site.

I am not too familiar with SSDs since I have never really considered it for the current time, but when I factored BCB and the price, it made me pause and reconsider.

In addition, will opting for an SSD make clean system installs alot more of a hassle? I usually reformat my harddrives once or twice a year. Will I need to do any special actions when I accomplish this with an SSD?

Thanks for all your inputs.

 

I've never done it myself, but from everything I've gathered, as long as you are running win7 (think you have to for trim anyways?), it adjusts your settings automatically on installation. There are a few tweaks you can make, google should help you out. Shouldn't be much of a hassle.

 

*waves to all the other almost 8740w owners*

 

That's part of the reasoning I used when I opted for the SSD at the last minute. If it fails to please me, then I can just get rid of it at a respectable price and find other alternatives.

As for clean system installs... isn't the process same as on HDD?

 

A clean install on an ssd is the exact same thing on a hdd if you are using windows 7

 

You will physically have 2 hdd bays regardless of what you order, but you may only get certain mounting hardware if you order 2 hdds. You should, however, be able to order those parts separately later through HP Parts.

No difference - the HM55 chipset does not support firmware (matrix) RAID nor hardware RAID (although I can't think of any laptop with a dedicated hardware RAID controller). You might be able to run RAID0 via software, which isn't bad, but I've never done it before, so I don't want to comment on the possibility.

My Envy15 came with G2 SSDs.

Clean system installs are no different on an SSD than a HDD.

*wave*

They haven't dropped in price very much in the last few months, not sure why. But technology always gets cheaper over time as manufacturing processes mature and newer technologies replace older ones. You have to eventually put your foot down on just buy something. With 25% discount and a fair starting price, now's a good time.

As stated earlier, a lot of Envy15 owners, including myself, got G2 SSDs. And G3 intel drives are coming out either in Q4 2010 or Q1 2011 to compete with sandforce and indilinx, but we're already reaching the edge of the SATA specification with current SSDs, so it doesn't matter that much. Even RAID0 vs single SSDs aren't a huge boost in real world performance.

 

However, if, by luck of the draw you get a G1 SSD, will the lack of TRIM support prove to be a bad thing? As stated, i read that without TRIM support, the SSD performance will degrade over time. Maybe even lead to failure? Do enlighten and correct me.

 

Operating system:
Genuine Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit

Processor:
Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-720QM Quad Core processor (1.6GHz, 6MB L3 Cache) with Turbo Boost up to 2.8 GHz

Memory:
6GB DDR3 System Memory (2 Dimm)

Hard drive:
1TB 7200RPM SATA Dual Hard Drive (500GB x 2) with HP ProtectSmart Hard Drive Protection

Graphics card:
1GB ATI Mobility Radeon(TM) HD 5850 Graphics

Display:
17.3" diagonal Full HD HP Ultra BrightView Infinity LED Display (1920x1080)

Primary optical drive:
Blu-ray ROM with SuperMulti DVD+/-R/RW with Double Layer Support

Personalization:
HP TrueVision HD Webcam

Networking:
Intel Wireless-N Card with Bluetooth

Keyboard:
Full-size island-style backlit keyboard

Primary battery:
6 Cell Lithium Ion Battery (standard)

Productivity software:
No Productivity Software


Quoted Price: $2,374.99 USD Which is $2,486.0207 CDN.... I tried to add parts that I could always change later.

I looked at the difference between the i5 and i7

i5 - Intel® Core? i5-540M Processor (3M Cache, 2.53 GHz) with SPEC Code(s) SLBPF, SLBPG
i7 - Intel® Core? i7-720QM Processor (6M Cache, 1.60 GHz) with SPEC Code(s) SLBLY

I do a lot of VMware with new stuff, like SharePoint, Exchange and IIS Webservers for fun. (And because I am a Technician)

The i7 will suit me better for the VMware plus the extra memory so I can run more of a "forest"

This is a lot for a laptop, but then again my last HP (DV7) ran around $2,200 CDN.

Also, on the SSD. This scares me. SSD is like having a kingston drive. The way they work more like a ROM/FLASH drive where when it writes it "Burnes" it. So you only get so many Burns until it dies. Unless you throw your C:\Program Files to E:\Program Files (External Drive). And install your game locally for performance.

my $0.02.

Really looking forward to getting the money to get one of these bad boys (but a house came first)

 

Yeah, and I wanted to thank you for pushing me to try SSD this time. I ordered mine with a single 160GB SSD. I also decided to just keep using the i7-720qm, so I didn't have much of a budget left to go for two drives T_T

 

Lack of TRIM is entirely unrelated to failure rate. Without it, SSD will degrade from brand new to a certain level, but won't drop further than that. I think, but might be mistaken, that G1 SSDs can do a manual TRIM?

ROM isn't the same as FLASH drive. But yes, MLC SSDs (like the one in this laptop) do work by "burning" the drive and there are a limited number of "burns", although it's not actually burning. The limit is 10,000, so that means you have roughly 1,600,000 GB of writes to the drive before it will on average fail, and that number is not used by reads. To put that in perspective, if you write 439 GB every single day (or nearly 3 times the maximum size of the SSD), the drive should fail in 10 years. If you haven't gotten a new SSD/computer in 10 years, a failing SSD isn't your main problem. My math might be wrong somewhere, but I don't think so.