HP Envy 14 (& Beats) sandy Bridge is real & POSSIBLE ordering

Removed.
Close thread too buck bickering/complaining.

 

Furthermore if a NBR official requires proof, I am willing to speak with an official staff member and reveal my source. However I would require the source to be kept SECRET.

 

big time FAIL and disappointment. without Radiance, not even USB 3.0, this Envy has no business sharing the same name as its predecessors.

 

Haha, I would agree but also thing about the massive performance given by the SB processor on a 14" platform.

Also keep in mind this is still in testing, I am fairly sure once released there will be changes. I mean these are probably not even pre-production models. Who knows maybe they are waiting to fully test the USB 3.0 firmware before releasing the envy 14 SB.

 

SB in a 14" form factor is nothing special. the screen is what made the envy special, IMO.

 

SB Quad core? I dont think there's a 14"~ laptop available in the market right now with a SB quad core processor.

 

My i5-580 and radiance will have to last at least another year it looks like.

 

Haha pretty much what I expected from HP. If this is true they totally dropped the ball on this and I think its mostly because of the CEO's lack of consumer products expertise.

They've already copied the envy style to lower priced notebooks so there's no reason to pay the premium for the envy anymore.

 

Alienware m14x and the EliteBook 8460p has sb quad core. Both of which can be configured with a hi-res screen. Looks like the next envy is just meh if your info is true.

 

Apart from the different design, better support(not like it's good anyways), better GPU's, smaller form factor (15.6" vs 14.5"), slot load optical and quad core options? No none at all.

 

how come you're ordering 2 Envys, given that the thread in your signature suggests you won't use HP again?

 

Im not ordering 2 Envy's I am offering to order an Envy 14 SB for whomever wants it.

 

Yes, the screen is what made the ENVY even when all current ENVY's do not have the "Radiance" display./sarcasm Honestly, I could care less about the Radiance display. Why would I buy a laptop just for the screen when I can just buy a much better performing HDTV, projector, or monitor that has better blacks and color reproduction?

So is the price difference between the ENVY 14 and Beats Edition still the same? What gfx card is in them? And do you have an estimate on when they are actually supposed to be released?

 

Any info on the GPU and is there going to be a Beats edition?

 

One of the most significant improvements on SB is the GPU power (which most will not use as often as the discrete graphics). IMO, the step from Nehalem to SB is not so great that it warrants an entire new notebook.

 

No info relating to the GPU's at the moment.
Whiteonline from my understanding the difference from mobile Clarksdale (Nehalem mobile quad cores) and mobile SB quad cores are pretty vast considering the mobile SB quad cores were beating the i7-920 desktop processor. In desktops, there is not much change.

 

I agree that it was a fail. The Envy is supposed to be HP's premium notebook, and I would understand if the prices were also premium. Despite being 14.5'' (omg 1'' smaller than 15''!!! incredible), it doesn't separate itself from the countless cheaper HP's, Lenovos, Acers, and Asus's that are out there with a standard screen, SB processors, and mid-GPU.

It needs a good screen!!!

 

What about the:
Metal chassis
Better support
Backlit island style keyboard
Quad core processors.
Adobe Elements/Premiere included (not very good but free)

Actually the Envy series is pretty darn fairly priced. Look up a Dv6t quad core edition, and do a price comparison with the speced one I listed in the OP.

Stop raging over an LCD. Sheesh it wasn't even that good of a screen my 17" Envy has better DPI.

 

Nail in coffin. Unfortunately.

 

Well, I'm of the opinion that they need to at least offer up a premium, high-res display as an option. Apple's MBP 15 comes with a 1680x1050 standard from what I hear. Premium=everything's upgraded a notch. Wifi card, chassis, keyboard, build quality and materials, and yes, even the screen.

That aside, I accidentally snapped my own touchpad cable and had to manually and with a lot of effort tape the end to the port. Haven't had any problems since then, but this puppy will need replacement around July 2013, which is when the warranty expires. I really hope by then I'll have a job lined up so I can buy a premium notebook to replace my current Envy.

 

Leo Apoteker's former CEO position was all about corporate software. So I am totally agreeing with you that he lacks the understanding of promoting consumer products for the regular consumer market (which is the majority of the market).

 

1680x1050 is hardly premium, it is more like mid range. 1920x1200 is premium.

 

Whether we'll agree on what is "premium" or not, my point still rests that 1680x1050 is arguably still a notch up from 1366x768, which is standard even among $500 notebooks.

 

True however that's 1680x1050 on a 15" 16:10 screen on a easily $2,000 laptop, hardly a premium screen considering most laptops in that price range are 1920x1080 or 1920x1200..
Perhaps a better comparison when speaking purely on the screen is the X220 with the 1366x768resolution 12"~ screen BUT with an IPS panel. That would be a good premium comparison. Even then the X220 doesn't offer the performance of the Envy 14 SB.

 

It's BECAUSE the MBP 13 is a premium notebook it's $2,000. But more importantly, the 1680x1050 resolution is forgivable because the display is a high-gamut one anyway!

And yes, the IPS panel on the x220 probably compensates immensely for the low-res.

 

Yea if they dont have the radiance screen then its pointless to buy! Like you may think that the screen is not a big issue but once you see on of superior quality you cant downgrade.

 

Base model MBP 15 has a resolution of 1440x900. Still better than 1366x768 but a bit weak for the amount of money they're asking for it.

Are you talking about US prices? The base model Core i5 MBP 13 is US$1200.

 

long story short:
1366x768 = not premium;
Envy 14 does not have premium screen.

 

this is how premium the 1366x768 is:
Amazon.com: HP G42-240US 14.Inch Laptop: Computer & Accessories
with "14.0 inch diagonal High-Definition HP BrightView LED Display (1366 x 768)"

 

That's what it comes down to really. If you're going to make a premium car, make sure its major parts, whether they be the exterior bells n' whistles or the parts that affect performance, be premium.

I'm still happy with my Envy 14 less than a year later. If I could one thing about it, it'd be being able to put an anti-glare coating on the screen. Glare can be kind of annoying. The only benefit I've gained from the glare was when on one occasion I could tell some chick sitting sort of behind me, diagonally to my right was checking me out.

 

hahah lmao its useful afterall

 

Do you have any info as to when it will be released?

 

Is it just me or is everyone just taking this guy at his word, when in reality we should all be questioning the crap out of his shady- claim?

 

I have agreed to release my source to NBR staff (preferably paid or staff with significant say) if needed.

Basically the way things are looking with the coupons/HP trying to clear Envy 14 stock it's pretty clear the Envy 14 SB are on their way out. Question is a matter of when. From what my source tells me (so far they have been fairly truthful) they have Envy 14's with Sandy bridge on their hands. I can and may order one myself, I am still wondering though it will be worth it because I have my eyes out really on the X220 from Lenovo.

No no real concrete evidence as to when it will be released, however I have a slight clue into when it may be released.

It is still being tested by my contact's department. One of my case managers told me testing usually takes a few weeks from when I asked her about the Cougar Point fix and when the Envy 17 with Sandy Bridge would be available. Now exactly what testing phase my case manager are referring to I am unsure, could of been a testing phase for the new silicone fix or it could have been HP's regular testing.
Now whether my contact's department handles the actual testing of products before release, and them being the last stop before production I am unsure.

So I will leave it at be, and say no I don't know when.

 

Wow. Id way rather have my current comp if all they did was add a SB. They shouldve at least upgraded to the new Synaptics clickpad 8.0 and worked out some build quality issues. Radiance would be nice too, but it can be assumed that they just cant get it anymore

 

Lol yea

Several weeks.... -__-

 

Well I am unsure because if my contact truly is the last stop before production, they could of had the notebook prior to me making contact with them. So who knows to be honest.

Edit: Yeah I would be questioning me as well. But hey I have the sources. I would record the conversation however that may be illegal where I live. If only I had a land line :<

 

I have noticed better build quality with these Envy 17 SB's from reading the Envy 17 SB thread, as well as my 2 Envy 17's SB I have received as replacements.
Here's what I've gotten so far in replacements.
1. Envy 17 Legacy (i7-720QM)- Had a few gaps, mousepad was raised quite a bit.
2. Envy 17 SB i7-2630QM- Much fewer gaps, mousepad was slightly raised.
3. Envy 17 SB i7-2820QM (basically flawless, only a very tiny gap, and the touchpad is about as flush as you can get). Overall good build quality.
4. I should be getting another Envy 17 SB, what specs are unknown. I will report on the Build Quality.

 

Any word on what kind of GPU it’ll include? That’s kind of the deciding factor for me. The only real fault I have with the current Envy is the GPU...well, and the screen, but I’ve accepted the fact that I’ll never own a Radiance.

 

No I forgot to ask but if anything it's probably 5650 equivalent, which would be the 6650M.

 

Damn I was hoping for the 6750..thats what they have in the dm4ts overseas

 

Oh, of course the higher resolution screen is better than the lower one! Who could have guessed? Unless you meant the higher resolution is standard. The 1366x768 is not premium but you aren't paying a premium for it. When the Radiance was still available as an optional configuration, didn't you still have to pay $200 extra for it?

And what makes the MBP a premium product to be worth the $2000? The lighter weight and better screen (of course there's other things)? But for the extra $1000, I could buy a 42" 1080p plasma or possibly an extra higher performing desktop.

I honestly have no interest in this SB refresh unless it includes a better GPU. I'm wondering why it will take so long for it to release if they're already clearing out Beats Edition stock and if they are selling pre-release units not on their site. I'm also kind of upset that after 1 week of receiving my laptop, there was a chance to save $150 (or possibly $300) for the same config but was lost to slickdeals users that will likely not even use the laptops for their personal use. Oh well, what's done is done.

 

If the HP Envy 14 with 1366x768 screen and no USB 3.0 is the only SB sub-17" Envy offering on the horizon for the foreseeable future, I predict that the Envy brand will be dead within a year or two.
The reveal is probably on May 5th, a year after the reveal of the current Envy 14.

I really regret not getting the Envy 14 with Radiance when I had the chance, HP just doesn't care about customers, as long as they sell products.. it's disgusting!

They should have realized that the Envy 14 is not going to sell nearly as well without a high resolution screen earlier. Why didn't they just change strategy and make a new Envy 15 with a Full HD screen instead?

 

Regardless of whether or not any of the information you've been given is true:

Radiance or better should be their number one goal in releasing an SB Envy 14, and they need to make sure it's from a reliable manufacturer.

A better touch/clickpad should be the next goal.

USB 3.0 really ought to be included as well.

If they can't manage the first two - shame on them - I hope the Envy line dies a harrowing and expensive death, so that HP finally gets their you-know-what together when they next try to tackle the premium consumer laptop market.

 

Right. It's only the top quality of any Envy that is always praised, from the introduction of the Envy 13/15 to the Envy 14/17. Okay, it may not have been called Radiance across the board, but every one of them had a top notch screen. Just because you have low standards, doesn't mean the majority of us do too. If your Envy is going to be tied up to your monitor all the time, why not get a budget laptop like the Acer Timeline X? For the rest of us that actually use a laptop... as a laptop... we're stuck with whatever screen is on the laptop 90% of the time, which is why most of us demand a high quality screen from a "premium" laptop.


Everyone keeps throwing words around about premium and higher res display. A premium screen doesn't necessarily have to be high res, though it is an added bonus. Look at the HP 8440w, it has an optional 1600x900 screen, but is lacking everywhere else (brightness, contrast, color reproduction, viewing angles). While the Samsung Series 9 and HP Envy 13 have a 1366x768 resolution or MBP 13 1280x800, but excellent quality.

 

The problem is in the perceived detail of the monitor. 1366x768 is fine for anything smaller than 14". But when you go bigger, it just starts to look grainy/pixelated. I'd prolly have purchased the dm6t quad if there was a higher res monitor, but 1366x768 on a 15.6" is simply unacceptable. I used to have a Dell 600m, bought 7 years ago, that had a better monitor than what is available now. 1440x1080. Now it was a 4:3 screen instead of the 16:9 of the envy, but it was a joy to work on. I ask, in 7 years since I bought that comp, has the industry become incapable of producing the same or better quality on a premium laptop? If so, Envy14SB = FAIL.

 

I think one of the issues with USB 3.0 is that Intel hasnt yet integrated 3.0 into their chipsets so everything must be done as it has been with an alternative board and controller.

As far as the Radiance display goes, I really don't know if they will add an alternative or not. As far as I know such an alternative is not available at this time.

 

damn right, i hope HP dies and crumbles.

 

How childish.
You do realize if HP dies, that means the largest computer manufacturer dies. That means other companies will have complete free reign in prices and will more then likely increase prices across the board?

 

My point was... screen resolution is not the only factor in a quality screen. But yes, I agree... 1366x768 on a 15.6" is absolutely unacceptable IMO. Actually, anything that's not at least 1600x900 or 1440x900 on a 13"+ is a deal breaker for me.

consumer demand for low priced computers = cheap components
I wish more manufactures would at least give us the option of choosing screen quality for most laptops. Take a look on alibaba and you'll find quality screens that consumers can buy for less than $100. If purchased in bulk, pricing drops significantly. Charge customers $100 for an optional higher quality & resolution screen. That way, everybody wins. Non demanding consumers get their cheap laptop, we get a quality screen, and the manufacturer makes a sale that they would've otherwise lost.