HP Envy 14: Availabilty, etc.

With identical specs, it comes down to portability vs quality display. Acer is also cheaper.

 

I was initially confused by the article itself ... I though they were talking about the Envy 14. Of course, had I read the title I would have been less confused. Since I'm considering one, I was concerned.

If a display defect like the one being discussed appeared 5 weeks before release, I would assume that HP would work on a driver update that would be released with the new unit. Or at least made available for DL on the release date. No?

 

I agree the Engadget article was a little weird. was not expecting them to be talking about the Envy 15 since it has been out for ages. Seems their quality assurance guys need glasses

Hope HP will fix this and it wont happen for the Envy 14.

 

and odd vs no odd, metal chasis vs plastic, battery slice...

 

Dont forget screen quality..

 

I was looking at the Acer 3820T & 4820T a while ago, then i found out about the Envy14. Suffice to say, im waiting for the Envy.

Here are the key differences....

HP Envy 14:
1600x900, 350nit (advertised) display
optional i7 quad core (sans switchable gfx)
radeon 5650 (base discrete gpu)
Aluminum/Magnesium shell construction (structurally superior to 3820)
8-cell internal battery + slice
bigger chassis (=potentially better cooling)
Slot-loading optical drive (non-bluray)
Backlit Chicklet Keyboard
HD Low Light Webcam
Mini Display Port
2nd Headphone Jack
Card Reader: MMC, SD
2.4kg

Acer 3820T:
1366x768, 180nit (measured avg.) display
radeon 5470 (base), or 5650 (best)
High Gloss Black Faux-Aluminum case (still good)
6-cell flush mount or 9-cell protruding battery
Smaller chassis (=potentially inferior cooling)
no optical drive
Slightly smaller keyboard (no backlit or chicklet style)
SPDIF out (integrated into headphone out)
Card Reader: MMC, SD, MS, MS Pro, XD
1.81kg

The deciding factors for me to get the Envy14 were (in order of significance)
1. Display (soooooooooooo much better)
2. Battery
3. Keyboard (sooooooooooooooooooooooo much better)
4. Construction
5. Optical Drive (the envy has one!)

You should read the following review of the Acer 3820T..
http://www.notebookcheck.net/Review-Acer-Aspire-3820TG-Timeline-X-Notebook.30294.0.html

Tho, I am still thinkin about a Envy15, if the supposed 1200 CTO refresh gets switchable graphics and a backlit keyboard...

 

i've been hopping around different laptops for too long. First, it was the ASUS U33Jc. Then, the Acer 3820Tg to 1830TG. I went back to the U33Jc but not for long because I saw the 1218N. Now, I am certain. The Envy 14 is right for me. I agree with everything you wrote! The display is the biggest reason.

 

If I had my choice, I would still get the Acer 3820TG. I need a high spec machine that can travel easily. Portability is the most important factor to me. The problem is that I have been working on a temporary laptop since March and I have projects scheduled for July that will require significant GPU power. I am running out of time for the 3820TG. I am willing to bet that Acer does not have an I7-620M notebook for sale in the US before June 27th. If that is the case I'm ordering the Envy 14 5 minutes after it is put up for sale on the HP site.

Bronsky

 

Higher spec machine...?

Ive emailed Acer about the 3820 and 4820 but never recieved a reply

 

It's totally wrong to compare envy 14 with 3820TG when there is a 4820TG, but that's just my opinion.


I read an "expert review" of the Envy 15, and the guy claimed that it was terrible at using SSDs in an effective way because of something with the BIOS. Could anyone confirm this? Do you think the 14" and 17" will have the same issue?

 

Same deal with me, if the supposed refresh gets switchable graphics, backlit board, odd and similar battery life it's gonna be reeeeeeaaallly tough to decide what one to get.

 

There's no way base-spec is going to be the i5,high-res screen, GPU and what not...

The DM4T is 1100...with i5-520, standard res screen, 500gb hdd, 4gb memory, ATI graphics.

You have to think there's gotta be a $200 premium, minimum, for comparable/slightly better specs...

I'm thinkin i3-350, 3gb DDR3, 250gb HDD, standard res-screen, 5650 GPU...for $999.
Throw in $150 for the 520, $50 for 4GB, 100 for 500GB HDD, $100 for high-res.. u get $1,400 for similar specs to the DM4, but with slightly better GPU and a higher res screen....with a $300 premium... which sounds abt right.

 

There has been zero information regarding any screen other than the 1600 x 900.

 

HP clearly claims in every press report and video that for $999 you get i5, 5650, and 1600 by 900. If that's not true then shame on you HP for faulty marketing.

EDIT: This video at 2:07 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WMiaR2eYwao

 

false advertisement, we could be rolling in free envys for years

 

levi:
There is no way in heck.... again, the DM4t with lesser specs costs $1100.

They can say all they want, but it's not going to happen. I mean, if they sell all that for $999, I'm not going to complain, believe me! But... there's just no way.

Face it, the Envy 14 is going to cost less with better specs than the DM4?
Not going to happen....

 

that dm4t has a 500 gig hard drive and an i5 520.

The 999 dollar 14 will most likely lack both of those.

 

I'm kind of leaning this way as well. I can't fathom why they would price their premium model less than their DM series. Can't see it happening.

Marketing guys talk out of there arse all the time.

<--In sales/marketing.

 

ok, I configured a dm4t (base price $729 after $150 instant rebate) with i5-430 (+0), 4gb DDR3 (+50), 320gb HDD (+0), ATI 5450 switchable graphic (+100), Intel Wireless N with BT (+50) for a total of $929.

So I kinda agree with you that a similar configured Envy 14 must be a little more expensive than $999.

This is what I think: Envy 14 (base price $999) with i5_430 (+50), 4gb DDR3 (+50), 320gb HDD (+0), ATI 5650 switchable graphic (+0), Intel Wireless N with BT (+50) for a total of $1149.

I don't think there is a choice for a lower res screen (according to the data sheet), but add another $100 if there is one.

So the difference is around $220 ~ $320 depending on whether there will be a lower res screen option.

 

You also have to figure that HP intends to keep the base low on the Envy because they expect buyers to take advantage of the upgrades. My configuration of the Envy, starting from a base of $900 is $1,525 with I5-540M, 4GB 1 Dimm DDR3 & 160GB SSD. Options like the slice battery would add another $125.

Bronsky

 

alright, I configure the new dv6t with the following options:

base price $749.99 after $150 instant rebate, i5-430M (+$50), 4gb ddr3 (+$0), 320gb hdd (+$0), ATI 5650 switchable graphic (+$100), Intel wireless N with BT (+$25), backlit keyboard (+$25) for a total of $949.99.

This dv6t spec is almost identical to the Envy 14 except the screen and the battery (Envy 14 has 8 cell according to the data sheet, while dv6t has only 6 cell).

Anyhow, I think I'll get the Envy 14 anyway if the premium is not too high. Hopefully the 25% BCB will be back just in time for the Envy 14 launch!

 

we'll see what HP does, we can only go by what HP has said thus far.

 

What I could see happening is by the time the Envy 14 is released, HP will have either discounts or coupons for use on HP laptops excluding the Envy line.

A lot can change in a month!

 

I do remember one of the reps in one of the videos saying they were being very aggressive with the price points on the new envys.


But honestly, I suspect the following, you will be able to get a base i5, with the superior screen, slot loaded drive, added graphics and 4GB of ram for less than 1200. Even at the price point, the machine it competes with, the mbp 13, the envy 14 is a superior device hardware wise in all but battery life. It wins that race, even above an insane 999 price point for all that goodness.

 

HP isn't "racing" against Apple, though; it is currently trying to fend off Acer.

 

is the 520m really THAT much better than the 430m?
I wish they had the 520um

 

Why? This isn't an ultraportable so it doesn't really need a ULV processor. Going from a i5-520m down to the 520UM would be a HUGE HUGE step backwards in performance.

 

Exactly!! listen to this guy.... seriously the Envy is about power but with the 14 power and mobility! dont wana be loosing power!!

 

HP seems like it wants the in between position of an apple model and an acer model.


Apple is all about the high end and margin.

Acer is all about the volume and low priced hardware to drive higher market share.


And then there is HP. They want more per unit than an Acer, but they also want to play in all segments, including the above 1000$ notebook market, in which apple is dominant. (that is EXACTLY who they are going after with the envy line, apple) They do not want to get into a race to the bottom in terms of unit cost, but the reality is that the HP name cannot demand the type of buy in the apple audience hands over based off brand loyalty and experience. HP does not have that, Apple does, and so HP plays the in between game, works to get its own unique offerings when it can to differentiate (Palm and webOS anyone) while using aggressive design shifts (new dm4 and dv metal refresh) to maintain a bit more margin and not get into a descent into the price cutting pits in the windows hardware pc world.

 

Whatever HP has been doing to compete with Acer, it has been working as of late. Acer lost 30% of its company value since March on the back of its declining netbook sales. HP's more robust product line has kept the company stable through the same period. If not for the recent stock slides due to the EU sitation, HP would be up significantly for the same period. That all comes before the release of its new lines. When Acer passed Dell, it set its sights on HP. Since then, HP has been opening the gap.

Acer has rocketed into second position in global sales largely because it entered the netbook market when it was exploding. The company has developed some nice products as of late but has been inept in bringing them to market. The TimelineX series is a perfect example. The 11.6" Aspire segment too. In the US, Acer discontinued it's incredibly popular 1410/1810 line without a suitable replacement on sale. The SU2300 version of the 752 is nowhere to be found and the 1830T is still vaporware in the US. Acer is not going to catch HP like that. In fact, it should look over its shoulder to see if Dell will be reclaming second place anytime soon.

Bronsky

 

Anyone?

 

let's pray to dear lord in heaven that everything will be fixed by Envy 14's launch

 

link?

 

I think he's referring to the envy 15 ssd's very low 4K write speeds, which people have speculated is an issue with HP's controller.

You can see shots of these values on the envy 15 2nd gen benchmarks thread.

 

Simple fix: Upgrade the SSD yourself to a trustworthy brand.

I'm seriously considering upgrading to a 160gb intel ssd when I get mine.

 

But doesn't the Envy already come with gen 2 intel ssd's? Seems odd for hp to be causing issues with this, it'd be like buying a car with 600hp and when you get it you find out it only will make 450hp since you live here lol. Just like how the ssd at 4k is fast but not what it's capable of.

 

yup they all come with gen 2 intel ssd's, as I said, it's not an issue with the SSD. It's an issue of HP's side, probably to do with the controller or sumin

 

From Sweden's HP-site, an "expert review" of Envy 15-1100:

Unfortunately, the SATA controller has problems with getting good performance out of the SSD disk. The performance is relatively poor.

 

Weird, wonder what controller they're using or if they didn't update the drivers from the Intel chipset.

 

I remember when the Envy 15 got refreshed there were no coupons for it for a few months. I think something very similar will happen again.

They want to wait a few months to get those early adopters to cave and pay the premium. Then they'll try and get the rest of the market interested by bombarding them with 300-500 dollar off coupons.

Well, I suppose in the Envy 14's case it would be more like 150-200 since the price is already very competitive. For the base price of the Envy 14 the closest competitor would be a refurbished last gen MBP 13. Which the 14 pretty much dwarfs in specs.

 

Heh, as I live in Portugal I don't really care about any of those discounts since i'm not able to use any of them.

If they really come at 1000$ base price with the 1600x900 bright screen + i5 + HD5650 I might as well get one sent over with a few tweaks...

 

Do you think amazon.com will stock the HP Envy 14 June 27th? I need a laptop by July 10th and i have like $500 in amazon gift cards.

 

I was wondering the same thing. Probably not as the Envy 17 is out, yet there are none available at amazon

 

Hello everyone, I've been wanting a macbook pro for a while now, but Im trying to convince myself to go with the cheaper, more practical Envy 14.

Can anyone help me make the decision?

Thanks,
Motoid

 

We aren't magicians. Depends entirely on what your priorities are in notebooks, what you use them for, etc...

 

If the Envy 14 is cheaper and more practical then why are you even considering the Macbook Pro?

 

if you dont need or want OSX dont get the mpb

 

for me personally, im switching from a macbook pro to an envy 14(when it finally comes out). I really liked osx, and wished it was more main stream than it is. For that reason, i got tired of trying to boot up boot camp or w.e. when i needed windows(which was more often than i would have liked). really it comes down to needs, but for the most part the envy14 will probably be the best choice. I do still love my mac, btw

 

I guess a better thing to say would be, I really like the way Apple designed their software and hardware, but the MBP does not really have any ground breaking technology over cheaper notebooks like the Envy 14, so do you guys think the premium is worth it? Im not looking for an obvious answer, because there is obviously none, Im just looking for opinions.
Motoid

 

Kinda have to agree with this one; if you must have certain Mac software or you simply like OS X better, then go with the Mac.

Otherwise, go with the Envy.


Seriously, the price difference is ridiculous.

A Macbook Pro 15, with 540m, 4gb ram, and 500gb hard drive is $2150.

An Envy 14, with 540m, 4gb ram, and 500gb hard drive will be $1250.

Both have backlit chicklet keyboards, switchable graphics, 5-7 hour battery life (we don't know Envy for sure yet, but ballpark), sleek cases, large trackpads. And the Envy 14s 5650 is faster than the 330m.

The screen size is different (Envy is 14.5", MBP is 15.4"), and the Envy is 1600x900 while the MBP is 1680x1050.

The Macbook Pro is 5.6lbs, the Envy is 5.2lbs, and the dimensions are pretty similar.


I'd say that the Macbook Pro is less likely to fail, but with the Envy you have the 21 day complete return policy if you have any problems. We'll see what issues arise with the Envy 14 when it comes out. Is this worth $900? You decide. I've had an Envy 15 and I think it's a beautifully designed machine.