HP Envy 14: Availabilty, etc.

MBPs hold their resale value nicely, so you always have the option to resell later. Admittedly the hardware isn't top-notch, but that integrated GPU seems respectable. I won't have too many qualms about picking up an MBP except for:

(1) I'll be using Windows on a machine built for OSX most of the time, which kind of sucks for reasons I probably don't need to explain.

(2) I won't have the option to game at higher settings as I would with the Envy.

(3) I prefer Windows minus the absence of good touchpad drivers. Simple as that.



I COULD end up changing my mind last second and buy an Envy 15 with a 1920x1080 resolution screen and anti-glare coating from eBay and toss a warranty on it.

 

The GT 330M in the MBP is not nearly as powerful as the HD 5650. Not to mention it's only 256MB GPU memory unless you go with the much more expensive i7 CPU setup then you get the 512MB GPU.

 

Hah. That's one thing I'd really like to replace my desktop replacement. A medium to high performance desktop. My Asus loads up videos and zoomed in webpages sluggishly these days. Too bad I'm officially quitting regular gaming once school starts. I'm going to miss the good old days of 3-5 hours/day of grinding away on Guild Wars and late night Starcraft matches.

Ahhhh, the good old high school days.

 

Gah! Looks like ATi is going to offer their version of Optimus in the next few months. Hopefully this will be a firmware and/or driver update so we can take advantage of it if we so choose. Although, personally, I think I prefer manually switching. That way you know you're getting the performance when you need it or not getting it when you don't really need it.

ATI reportedly working on new mobile chips - Graphics - Fudzilla

 

The curse of buying stuff now.

newer awesomer stuff is coming out just around the corner.

 

Yea, "futureproof" only exists in the desktop realm, where 80 pound systems with multiple GPU's that are already 4x more powerful than a 5870m exist.

 

Sounds like it's going to be hardware-based. We'll have to rely on ATI's generosity to introduce automatic, Optimuslike graphics switching functionality for their 5-series cards.

 

Seems like this is always the case :\ sometimes you just gotta stop for a second and say "HEY! I need a computer now ffs!"



PS> the turtle's head is already in the treasure!!!!!!!

 

I'm dying here!
With the bcb of 25%, we can get the envy 15 for under 1K T_T
waiting sucks, sighhh

 

I've seen some great deals on eBay, WITH BCB. Too bad I have never seen 25% on eBay, I think it just stays at 8%. I don't get why I'm not falling for the 15 though.. It has an i7 (I know the 14 has it too), 1080p, a 5830, USB 3.0 (i7), and is able to maintain a slim form factor. Maybe its cause of the lack of a backlit keyboard, an internal (thats why its able to stay so thin), and a good battery life.

 

I must be the only oddball around here. The only thing I don't like about the M11x R2 is Optimus. I much prefer switching manually, I'm a control freak. If I wanted everything controlled for me, I would have bought a MBP. Sorry couldn't resist

 

3 days :O woooosh

 

Yeah so true. MDP outputs higher resolution than HDMI does now... whats next?

Thats where I am. I need battery life and performance. Since HP so generously uses the word Premium and insinuates the idea of luxury in its Envy line of laptops, I expect Premium luxurious features as well. Multiple laptops now have WiDi HD wireless display technology, which beams your A/V from your laptop to a TV wirelessly (no its not 1080P, but yes Intel is incorporating this feature in the next generation mobile platform called Sandybridge which should come out Q1 2011).

Why does the Envy 14 not have this? Oh, I forgot my HDMI cable, sorry.

Or will it be a Premium surprise! lol.

No, HP.... if your are listening, please just surprise us with a Premium packaged laptop...

Design, Build, Features.
dont build false Ho Pes?

 

What's with the references I've been seeing lately to the "current 25% BCB offer"? BCB for HP Direct has been at 10% every time I've checked it in the last few days...

 

^I agree. Post the link of the Envy 15 with the 25% BCB here.

 

apparently BCB jumps to 25% if you go into bing and search for hp direct.

the first advertised/sponsor link is BCB 25%

edit: naturally it won't show up if you have adblock on with firefox

 

Ah, that did it. Weird that the direct link from HP Shopping would be different from the sponsored ad when you search... I guess that this method doesn't always turn up 25%, or else nobody would be afraid of the 25% offer ending...

I kinda thought that bing was giving me the shaft because I was searching with Google Chrome...

 

nah.

it's just being sneaky. That being said I'd totally take some measures to make sure you get your 25% (screen cap it, etc)

 

Dear HP Envy team,

Your MUSE acronym is very specific and focused, so considering the long learning curve both consumers and your team have endured since your Envy products have been shipped, please tell us exactly how you intend to build an Envy laptop using your design guidelines.

You called it: MUSE

Material

-How does the Material lend to a better built Premium laptop?
-Show how the Envy XX is built superior, and tell why your method is Premium.

Usability

-How is Usability greater than a non Premium laptop?
-What does the Envy XX allow me to do that a non Premium laptop cannot do?

Sensory Appeal

-How is Sensory Appeal greater than a non Premium laptop?
-How does the design & manufacturing method of the Envy XX appeal to us visually and tactilely?

Experience[/I]

-How is the Experience greater than a non Premium laptop?
-What features will HP design and incorporate in the Envy XX that a non Premium laptop does not have?


Sincerely,

Possible Envy 14 owner

 

I've never used the BCB, cashback thing, so after seeing this I'm guessing if I'm gonna buy the Envy 15 it would be a good idea to do it asap?

" Bing cashback

Dear valued cashback customer:
We are writing to notify you that the Bing cashback program will be discontinued, and the last day to earn cash back on your Bing Shopping purchases will be July 30, 2010.

Until July 30, 2010 9:00 pm PST, it’s business as usual so continue to take advantage of great offers from your favorite merchants. You can redeem all of your earned cashback savings consistent with the cashback terms and conditions and access the Bing cashback customer support system through July 30, 2011. We encourage you to redeem your cashback savings and to further support redemption, we are waiving the $5 minimum payout effective July 31, 2010. To assist with prompt delivery of your cashback earnings, please visit http://cashbackaccount.bing.com to ensure your account information is current. For more details and answers to your questions, please visit our frequently asked questions page.

Thank you very much for being a loyal cashback user. We remain committed to delivering great value to our customers, and we are currently working on an exciting new program which you will hear more about from us later this summer.

Sincerely,

Bing cashback Team"

 

Same here! I think the best thing they could do is add a little control button to the laptop so I can turn the GPU on/off that way, but control thru software manually is still better than optimus.

 

That would be the stuff - a hard switch or a hotkey for auto-switching rather than depending on an automatic switching program that might not always recognize your needs. Does anyone with ATI's switchable graphics know if there's a keystroke combination for easy switching?

 

Yeah BCB ends July 30th. Get yer 25% while you still can (and if it disappears hope it reappears before it's too late)

 

so far it seems to be a right click on desktop, hit option thing or a go into the CCC hit option thing.


someone could probably make a script or something if they felt like it.

 

I might just do that...

 

If there's a right-click option, that should be fine for me. I was just afraid I'd have to bother with Catalyst Control Center every time I switched.

 

I was told there was a right click option.


but it may of been a "ATI icon down on the taskbar" option.

Not sure. Haven't used it myself.

 

you're saying you can right click to switch graphics?

 

Auto switching is fine so long as they give you the option to manually turn the graphic on/off. That is a limitation of the current optimus right? And some programs are not triggering optimus the right way. Allowing manual switching in addition to the auto would be the solution with no drawbacks.

 

Found a confimation of 7 hr battery life (14 hr w slim fit battery) on HP's Envy page:

by GizmoGladstone (Moderator)

Now some other folks have been asking about the battery life. Since I haven't played with the machines myself and speak from personal experience, I can only base this off of the company line at the moment 7 hours standard battery usage, 14 hours with the extra slice, if I hear correctly. Of course, these results are with MobileMark, not real world, real use conditions. In short, your results may/will vary.

So the HP Envy moderator states " these results are with MobileMark, not real world, real use conditions".

Anyone have an opinion / guesstimation how MobileMark translates to different types of usage like Data Entry, Light Browsing, Heavy Flash Browsing, Encoding/Transcoding, Rendering?

 

Im not sure about all laptop brands that use Optimus, but a high school kid wrote a clean little app for the MBP (CNET, Gizmodo, Engadget all gave him props) allowing for manual switching between its integrated and discreet, & also allow Apple's own misaligned effort to effortlessly missappropriate the discreets uses!

Sounds like Apple pulled an HP with a bogus GPU switching implimentation.... but then again my Envy 15 has no graphics switching, so at least Apple allowed a high school kid to fix its problem, where as my Envy 15 is what it is.... not too smart on the graphics! And oh yeah, MBP's dont throttle the CPU to 1.2GHz when on battery like my Envy 15 does.

 

google is the shet

MobileMark 2007 Testing : 4 Hot Multimedia Notebooks Reviewed

i assume HP ran the least intensive one which would be office productivity

 

3 daysssssssss

 

Whys it being released on a Sunday?

 

Does it matter?


Turtle is just reaching the treasure chest. About 3 days left!

 

I'm going to be killing my phone playing with customizing this thing when it comes out... poor phone, its battery only holds a charge for 1.5h with 3g... I've abused it

 

Valid question... wouldn't it be released on a weekday so all the major tech news groups would get the press release?

 

HP hasn't seemed to care much about press releases or early reviews...
The 17 is a great example
(YAY WI)

 

HP would save themselves a lot of $ normally spent on returns and bad publicity if they'd allow at least a couple of online blogs and mags to review some models. We'd be aware of any flaws before blind-buying.


It's only through a conversation with a CSR in NZ someone found out about an upcoming Envy 17 "refresh" to fix the problems. Dunno how much credibility that story deserves.


Regardless, I hope HP's quality control process isn't asleep at the wheel when they make our Envy 14's!

 

I'm hoping HP has a quality control process for the Envy 14. The 17's warped chasis/casing issues indicated otherwise for it...

 

if you have the money for a z12 why not get it?

 

How does one know what an "eligible product" is?

 

Well, my concern is that he's basically just saying that all he knows is the "company line" -- HP being HP, that might still be exaggerated. Hope I'm wrong. As far as MM -> real-world usage, I've no idea.

 

Here's a question...
Why was the 17 released so much earlier than the 14?

 

if the envy 14 came in a beats limited edition version that would be so awesome 'drools'

 

But then you won't be able to use the Bing 25% off, right? I'm in Toronto, so I can easily drive to Buffalo. But that elusive 25% or even 10% off would be great.

Are there any other cashback sites that work with hp.com?

Also, it would be cool to have a pretty exclusive computer up here

 

BCB is limited to ordering through the US website, I believe, and I think you'll have to use a US credit card or bank account to pay (gift cards might work, though), as well as shipping to a US address. Basically, it's supposed to be limited to US customers if I'm not mistaken, though I certainly could be. I've got a friend from Toronto who is thinking about buying an Envy 14 as well. If all else fails, I've offered to buy it for her, ship it over, and transfer the warranty. You might find that's the best option for you, if you've got a good friend south of the border.

 

wow are the last 5-10 pages seriously about BCB?

 

Is there a USB port on the right side of the laptop?

 

read the terms of use.


but anyway buying gift cards are a no no (in general. sometimes for some places they may work but bing won't say which)


using any discounts/coupons/or gift cards to buy things while in BCB is also a no no. won't get you anything from cashback.

the instant rebate thing that hp does on it's computers (150 off or something) doesn't count as a discount/coupon/gift card.