HP Envy 14 and HP Envy 14 Beats Edition Side by Side (PICS)

I decided to do this because I couldnt find any other comparisons online. Sorry about the camera quality, I lost my good one.

 

Thanks for the photos. I wish the beats logo wasn't on there...

 

Cover it with a sticker. That's what I'm doing. I have a nice rocket ship circle sticker, white emblem on black. It's a logo for a company that provides database services for companies...Whatever, sticker was free and it's a cool eblem. Fits perfectly and it shows how fast the computer is ha

 

Hmmm if you do not want the Beats logo, why are you considering buying it?

Is there something extra offered in the Beats edition not present in the E14?

 

sooo why does the front of the regular envy light up but the beats edition (as to what I have read) not light up?

 

Yes, the red backlit keyboard and the case. You won't have that weird floral swirly dented case. It's the ugliest case design I've seen from HP yet. Otherwise I probably would've gone with a normal ENVY. I was also considering the normal dv line, but really wanted the beats audio. Also the black case, but I'm not super keen on being a walking ad for beats by dre. If I get the headphones, that's advertisement enough.

It doesn't light up. It doesn't matter, I personally like it all "stealth" but to each their own. Why? Who knows.

Overall, and I've done a lot of research, the ENVY has the beats audio (IDT codec on their sound cards, similar to some Sony and Dell models, but it's really high end, not many laptops have that kind of audio) and the cool case and backlit keyboard. That's what you're paying extra for, but it's not that much extra, just between $100-$300 depending on your configuration and what you're comparing it to. Is it worth it for the case and audio? I think so at least for the audio. It truly is better. Anyway that's kinda off topic here. Just comparing the two...I went with the beats edition myself. It's good to have comparison pics though, even if blurry

 

If configured the same, the Envy beats is exactly $100 more than the regular Envy. I went with the beats edition also because I didnt like the flower design either. I read some reviews and they say that the beats logo isnt as prominent as it is in the HP pics..I also dont like the red backlight either but its not that big of a deal. As far as I know, the audio is only better because of some beats software that comes pre-installed, hardware wise its exactly the same as the regular Envy. I also heard that it comes with a slim power adapter ($100 value) but not sure if thats discontinued now, I get different answers from each rep I ask...guess ill just have to wait and see

 

The normal dv line does have Beats audio.

 

So I looked a little further, and the HP logo on the front of the Beats edition DOES light up, its just been painted over. theres a decent amount of light leak that you can see it in a dark room

 

you sure? I can't seem to find any sign of light on my beats edition..even in complete darkness

 

I just ordered a quad core one from the outlet store today, I can't wait for it to come in

 

the HP outlet ? I only see the Envy 13 there ... do you have a link ?

 

go to the business outlet not home and office

http://h71016.www7.hp.com/html/hpremarketing/daily.asp?jumpid=in_r2910_bizoutlet/remarketing/hhoclearance&a=a#HHO13

here's the best bets IF you choose to buy here:
There is a refurb envy 14, i5-560, w/ 256 ssd, 1366x768bv, 4g ram(doesn't say 1 or 2 dimm) for $1295.20
or
refurb beats envy 14, i5-450, 600g 7200rpm hdd, 1366x768bv, 6g ram for $823.20

 

Well I already have an i5-580 + radiance coming my way.
These refurbs are probably very fine, they are all i7's which people returned when they realised they didnt have IGP (I did that too).

Even though I think the $500 coupon is still a better deal, this is great for people that do not want to wait.

 

is return policy same for refurbs/quick-ships?

 

Jesus, light up logos don't have their own light, it's just the light from the backlight on the computer. So, as long as they put a translucent bit of plastic on the lid for a logo, it will light up.

 

The lady I spoke to on the phone said refurbs have a 10 day return policy with a 90 day warranty. I'm not too sure about the quick ships.

 

The quick ships are brand new computers configured and built that are ready to ship. they have the same return policy as if you configured one brand new and had it built and shipped which is 21 days no questions asked.

 

that's good to know~ thank you guys!

 

I love the beats black and red backlit keyboard, but the BEATS logo on the back is tacky. If anything the laptop should be cheaper, you're basically giving Jimmy Iovine and monster free advertisement! lol

 

Yes.

there are several possible resons you believe this.

1.you have a learning disability
2.you havent taken a laptop apart
3.you havent owned a high end gaming laptop

take your pick.

the logo on the front of the beats edition is self lit, and painted over.

this picture was taken in complete darkness in my bathroom.

 

so you've taken the laptop apart and seen the actual light source?

 

First off, on a NORMAL Envy 14, there is a separate light source that lights the logo, and if you do ever manage to open up the display unit (one will probably never do that due to how they manage to install the E2E glass), you can unplug the cable that makes it light up.

That being said, the BEATS Edition, DOESN'T have a light source and it is not painted over. The beats top LCD cover is different from the normal one as it is never laser-etched. I don't think any idiot in the factory would install the logo light source all wired up PRIOR to laser-etching the surface. The BEATS Edition is again, never laser-etched and instead is painted matte black. Since HP knew the Beats Edition was going to be painted, there is no incentive for them to add the logo light source, especially when it is already painted before the cover is even used for display assembly.

It is all logic folks. You many THINK the light source is painted over, but based on that picture, the light reflecting on the logo is not blue-LED-ish. It looks yellowish and maybe it is due to your camera's compensating for whatever trace of light it can acquire to enhance the shapes it is recording from the dark surroundings onto the sensor. So yeah. Envy 15 BEATS has no logo light source at all.

PS: One more point, why would HP use BLUE LED lights for the Envy Beats, when literally every LED lighting on that thing is ALL RED???

 

because its the same lid they use for the regular envy, jut painted over. Thinking they have a completely different lid assembly for the beats edition is crazy. The lids go one way to be laser etched and another way to be painted for the beats edition. You have clearly never worked in manufacturing or parts ordering if you really thing they have a completely different assembly for two differently painted models of the exact same size and shape lid. It would cost 100x as much to have a separate press for the same size and shape part as would to just include an LED in the ones that were painted over. Its the same white LED tats in the regular envy.

 

Gotta say, I like the idea of the red backlighting on the keyboard and red lights... but is the red easy enough to see when typing in lower light? It seems that the white light would have better contrast and visibility.

 

I've had both and the red is just as easy as the white. The red looks a lot cooler as well.

 

So is that why the Beats lid is thicker than the original too?

 

an adding of material (beats paint/coating) vs a subtraction(envy laser etching) of material? Makes sense to me.

edit: what can I do to prove to you that I am right and that my hp logo is slightly lit up? would a video of some sort suffice since a picture taken in the darkest possible settings with the cameras lcd off didnt?

double edit: any Denver member is MORE than welcome to come check it out for themselves and tell me I am wrong, but I'm not, and would be willing to wager money on it.

 

The red is clearly visible, I actually like the red better because it's easier to see in the light. Backlight keyboards are usually harder to see in light (when backlight is off) because they're not painted over in white, they're translucent, so the red color makes it a lot easier.

A video would be good..honestly it really doesn't look like a light, it looks like a reflection of some sort. A video would make it easier to see

 

I just got my Beats in yesterday and I must say I'm very impressed. The keyboard feels amazing and so does the rubber material that runs on the inside of the laptop. It may not be a radiance screen but I'm still impressed with it, the resolution works for me. If it were any larger I would have trouble reading the fonts. It's very fast too, this thing can handle anything I throw at it. I'm very happy with my purchase.

And I haven't noticed the logo glow on the back, then again I'm more focused on the front of the computer, rather than the back

 

I have seen a Beats Edition myself in person, and that HP logo is so dark that there was no trace of light anywhere leaking out from it. I really think you are just having a placebo effect. I really don't see why they would assemble LED connectors to the top cover before laser-etching or matte finish painting is going to be done.

 

If I put my brightness all the way up in a dark room, the light shows through the logo on the lid quite sufficiently.

 

I had a beats for almost 2 months and on mine i can assure you that not one spec of light could be seen coming through the spot that the hp would be. I checked several times thinking the beats had a lit up hp on the front.

 

Maybe HP did source extra "normal" top covers to cover the production of some Beats units? Is it safe to say that both variants has been used on Beats units?

I still think there is no light leak from the logo. I have seen two Beats edition E14's in person and neither of them has any sign of LED presence. However, I guess it is not that too unexpected that normal top covers can be sourced to cover short supply of materials for the normal Beats cover during production quotas?

I guess the debate rages on...

 

upon reading his comment, i checked to see if the light coming off the logo was in relation to the brightness of the screen, and surprisingly it is.

 

*golf clap*

I've had a number of light up logo laptops now, including a macbook and a Dv3510, and all have been lit by the screen backlights.
See this icolours installation on a mbp for proof (that's how I discovered this) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kWutrUl9Tm4

But go ahead, call me stupid some more, *Shrug*.

 

Well the actual HP Logo's on models that do "light up," do have a separate LED light source as there are reports of people purposely opening their laptop's up and unplugging that particular light cause they think the backlight on the logo is annoying. That being said, LED backlight can cause some light leak, but it shouldn't be as strong as the ones observed on the normal E14's, which has their own dedicated LED light source.

 

I have to say, this laptop cools down ridiculously fast. In less than 30 seconds after playing a game, my cpu / gpu temps are already back down into the 50's.

 

It probably varies model by model, honestly.

 

Maybe I guess, It is safe to say that both options are possible during production right?