HP ENVY Sleekbook 4t-1000: Should I buy? Not sure if its right for me.

Hi all,

I've done some pretty extensive research on what I should get for a new laptop. I've looked at a lot of computers and for one reason or another they don't seem to meet the specs I think I need. However, I should mention that I am not super tech savvy, I'm learning. Right now, it seems that the best laptop for me is the HP ENVY Sleekbook 4t-1000. I'm wondering if anyone has an opinion on this particular laptop or the included components, and specifically if it is right for my needs. I currently own a 6-year-old HP Pavillion dv2000, and its just about had it. It's been a great computer with no issues, but its a grandpa now. A bit about what I'm looking for:

- Lightweight (my old HP pavillion is about 6lbs, I'd like to be around 4lbs or less which this one is.)
- Speedy (is the 32GB SSD Acceleration Cache going to help much?)
- Enough space for all my files, music, and photos
- I don't do gaming or watch movies on it
- I won't be doing any video editing or running any intense programs
- Needs to be able to handle having Photoshop, InDesign, Outlook, Firefox, Word, and Skype open at once without getting bogged down.
- Backlit keyboard since I work at night in the dark a lot.
- Minimum 13" screen
- Quality made, not flimsy feeling

This is the exact configuration I am looking at:

Genuine Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit
2nd gen Intel Core i5-2467M Processor(1.6 GHz) + AMD 2GB Radeon HD 7670M Discrete-Class Graphics
8GB 1600MHz DDR3 System Memory (2 Dimm)
500GB 5400 rpm Hard Drive
32GB mSSD Hard Drive Acceleration Cache
4 Cell Lithium Ion Battery - Up to 8.0 hours of battery life
14.0" diagonal HD BrightView LED-backlit Display (1366 x 768)
No Internal DVD or CD Drive
HP TrueVision HD Webcam with integrated dual array digital microphone edit
802.11b/g/n WLAN and Bluetooth(R)
Backlit Keyboard
HP 2-year Care Pack Accidental Damage Protection Service with LoJack for Laptops

I looked at the macbook pro and the price is just horrendous. I can't justify it. I just want a good computer that will last me the next 3-5 years, that I can do some design work on and travel easily with. I plan on getting a separate monitor for the design work so I don't mind the 14" screen. I'm curious if the AMD Radeon graphics card is a good option, and if so is it worth the extra $75? Also, is it worth the $170 for the 2-year Care Pack, I've never bought protection and never needed it but I am pretty clumsy.

I really want to buy my computer asap, especially if I go with this one since it will take nearly a month to be made and shipped. I'm just terrified that I'll have saved my money for months to buy this and find out that I hate it or it's crappy. If anyone has any advice on this model, or the specs I listed I would really appreciate the insight. Thanks to all in advance!

 

Just a few comments and answers to the post:

1.) The SSD Acceleration Cache, from what Intel says, will improve your boot times, hibernation/sleep to awake times and the launch times for your most used applications (office applications, internet browser, etc), much like what a normal SSD does at a speed similar to or slightly slower.

2.) I have heard from certain owners that they feel a bit of flex in the computer as it is not a full unibody aluminum design- however it is not a major complaint of all review sites, just a few people have mentioned it as a minor annoyance. Not sure if this will impact your use, just try not to bend your computer I guess. It still looks sharp and feels good to work on.

3.) Instead of getting the 2nd Gen i5+ Radeon 7670m, I would suggest getting the 3rd Gen i5 +HD4000 based on what you are planning to use the computer for. A discrete GPU (radeon 7670m) will reduce your battery life and is really only necessary for video editing/conversion and gaming. The HD4000 is more than capable of photo editing, watching HD movies, playing the occasional current gen games at low-medium settings- all with less battery consumption. (NOTE: I have heard from users that the dGPU (Radeon 7670m) option actually comes with a HD 3000 already on board, allowing you to automatically swap between the power hungry dGPU when needed to the low consumption iGPU (HD3000) when you're doing non-demanding tasks like web browsing. HOWEVER, HP doesn't yet allow you to get both the 3rd Gen i5 CPU with a discrete graphics chip, and I HIGHLY recommend getting a 3rd Gen i5 CPU- you're going to see better battery life and slightly better performance over its 2nd gen counterpart.)

4.) 8GB of RAM is just driving up costs. You only need 4gb for what you're planning to use it for- I would get 6gb just to "future-proof" it- but that's really only if you want to use the HD4000 for gaming (I won't get into why). To get a gauge of how much RAM you currently use, if you go into the Task manager and move to the performance tab, you can get a real time update of how much RAM you're using- but generally you will use between 1.8-2.5gb of RAM across a multitude of multitasking. With 8gb, you won't see hardly any performance increase over 4gb or 6gb.

5.) Don't buy HP's warranty, you can get 3 years from SquareTrade for less and they are widely considered one of the best, fastest, most helpful support team for computers out there. I personally have not used SquareTrade, but from what I have heard, I'm definitely using them to cover my next laptop (I had MicroMedics for my current computer as well as HP support for the first year and was okay with HP, very unsatisfied by MicroMedics).

6.) I share your anxiousness to buy a new laptop- I have a lot of international flights coming up pretty soon and I need a laptop that has spectacular battery life for them, so I'm in a hurry to get mine built and shipped. HP generally takes 3 weeks to build your computer (15 business days) plus your specified shipping time. From what I've heard HP will give you a refund if you're not happy with your laptop within 21 days, but I've never done this and cannot confirm it or whether or not they charge a restocking fee.

 

In all fairness if you have doubts then don't buy it, its really that simple. Although looking at it from this angle might change yor mind...

I have read your post although, and having the same spec unit I can tell you it is excellent. Everything you list will suit you but...
In your case I would drop the 7670M graphics and the i5-2467M. Change to the new i5 Ivy Bridge processor, as this processor is not only faster, new technology, has better power saving, and has a fast inbuilt graphics core or know as IGP.

One last thing, don't buy into less RAM is better. There is no easy access to get to the RAM, so get as much as possible now. With 2 dimms you will get dual channel performance, with a single 4GB module you will end up losing performance in single channel mode.

 

I agree with the other two, definitely go for the 3rd gen i5 as you don't need the dedicated Radeon graphics. It'll just reduce battery life and generate heat.

I've got a 4t (see sig) and I'm still debating on keeping it or not. I got it for a killer price - $420 + tax. I LIKE it a lot, but I'm just debating on whether or not I need it. The reason why is because I bought a refurb'd 14" Vaio (also in sig) for $295 + tax while waiting FOUR weeks for my 4t to ship and it basically does everything I need with longer battery life. My 4t lasts 5-6 hours while the Sony lasts 6-7 with the same dimmed backlight, WiFi on, light internet browsing, etc.

There's nothing that I really dislike about the 4t, except maybe the battery life (I was really hoping for at least a solid 6-7 hours but 5-6 is my average thus far) and the fact that you have to remove the entire bottom of the case to upgrade the RAM or HD. Doesn't deter me though, I had to do the same on my 14" eMachines. On the bright side, you definitely make sure you have all your upgrades in one shot so I did the CPU and RAM at the same time on that one.

Some people don't like the keyboard on the 4t but I REALLY enjoy typing on it. I love love love the backlit option. For $20 it's a no brainer. The HP "HD TrueVision" webcam is most definitely on the better end as well. I've got the same on on my dv4 and my Sony's webcam is a piece of crap in anything but bright light compared to the HP. Overall build quality is good. The metal lid is a nice touch but it's a fingerprint magnet for sure.

 

Thank you all so, so much for your input. @T2050, I'm the worst decision maker and I never feel confident, especially when it comes to tech stuff. I feel much better about this decision now though. I'm glad I asked about these specs because I would have over-spent by quite a bit and probably been disappointed! I now feel confident that I will be happy with this computer, making the noted changes of course. I'm going to purchase this weekend.

I can deal with the battery life not being as high since I will mostly be working somewhere that I can plug in if necessary. Since they haven't announced any plans (that I'm aware of) for putting the IvyBridge in these computers, I think I am going to go with the 3rd gen i5 because I don't want to wait another couple of months.

If anyone else has any other feedback, I would love to know!

 

Mispage, this might make your decision even more confident. The 3rd gen i5 is the Ivy Bridge processor!! Any of the processors you are looking at such as i5-3xxx is Ivy Bridge, as the "3" means 3rd gen.

Island Boy, you say you have to remove the bottom to get to the hdd and ram. How difficult was this for you? I plan on purchasing and installing my Crucial 256 SSD and 8GB of RAM. The HDD installed in this is the standard 2.5 correct? By installing my own SSD I wouldn't need the 32GB cache correct?

 

I would double check that. I think groovechild over on page 5 of the HP ENVY 4t (Sleekbook 14") thread confirmed it was in fact NOT the standard 2.5 HDD. You might want to wander over there and check.

 

I haven't actually cracked open my 4t, but it has a 7mm drive in it now, so you'll need one that can specifically fit into thinner laptops. And no, you wouldn't need the 32GB mSSD if your main drive was an SSD.

 

I had no idea that the 3rd gen meant it was an Ivy Bridge! That's awesome! Now I'm even more excited to get the computer. Buying it today, I just wish it wasn't going to take a month to get here.