HP Envy 14: Availabilty, etc.

That 5-7% won't make any difference unless what you're doing is time sensitive and need to process as much as possible in as little time as possible. But that probably applies to much less than 1% of buyers. Not only that if what you're doing is that time sensitive chances are you won't be doing it on your laptop.

The 520 won't prevent you from doing something the 540 could, period, it will just take a fraction of a second to a couple seconds longer to perform that task. Or maybe make 1 fps better in a game at best.

 

How does the slice battery work? Does the thing actually add more battery life when you attach it to the Envy or does it only work when the Envy is out of battery?

 

Well I have 2850 to spend on my next laptop + accessories. So yeah I will be getting.

i5-540
Radiance 1600 x 900
8 GB Ram
250GB HDD (Replaced by 256GB RealSSD C300 fastest SSD on market)
Slice Battery
Windows 7 Ultimate
intel N 6300 card + extra antenna

 

The correct wording is, not everyone can AFFORD to pay for the best.

That's why we make compromises in our choices and stuff. But the one thing most of us looking at the Envy 14 are not willing to compromise is a high-resolution screen, because the difference between 720p and 900p is something EVERYONE will notice a difference in.

Honestly, I'm just happy that _any_ Core i5 I look into is going to be faster than my stock-clocked Core 2 Duo E8400 in my desktop. It's a great feeling to know I can get a better CPU than something in my desktop without paying unnecessary extra.

 

someones going all out =p

 

Well I could put 3000$ in that laptop, It's just that I was raised to always get the maximum bang for my bucks I could and not throw any money out the window.
Being a perfectionist doesn't mean getting always the best thing you can, It means getting the best you can for the lowest you can!
That said I'm happy to have 1850$ to spend on something else like vacations or my next car options (or one of those oil cooled computers at hardcorecomputer.com, funny thing that is).

 

That's kinda pricey

Me:

i5-430M/520M*
1600 x 900 Radiance Screen
4GB RAM
Cheapest HDD - (Replace with SSD later on if a deal comes up)
Win7 Home Premium
Intel N Card - Best card there
3-Year Manufacturer's Warranty

More than likely, it won't be affordable without a BCB or coupon off.

 

Me:
i5-520m
1600x900 Radiance
4GB RAM (unless 6GB is only $50 more)
320GB HDD or 160GB SSD if 25% BCB or HP coupon equivalent is in effect
Win 7 Home Premium
Slice Battery
Intel N

Estimating ~ $1350 without coupons.

At a minimum I'm looking for 20% off

 

Why don't you just get a Z12 from Sony instead?

 

As for me:
i5-520m
1600x900 Radiance
4GB RAM (seems like enough, and unless the next upgrade is under 25,no thanks )
320GB HDD, but I hope 500 isn't too much extra because I have a 320 on my desktop atm, and there's only 15 gigs free T_T
Win 7 Home Premium
and what're these different intel n cards, just diff speed wirelesses?

 

Will there be a significant battery life difference between the 4XXM and the 5XXM i5s?

 

Word is that the 520 should draw a bit less power than the 430, but I wouldn't expect a big difference between them.

 

Ok people, no need to come off sounding like elitists. The word "afford" tends to have arbitrary definitions. Some people who live on a paycheck-to-paycheck existence would say they can "afford" this as long as they're not in the red or even as long as their credit card's not completely maxed out. For others, a notebook is affordable as long as it stays within their own personally set budget or retirement plans. I think especially in this recession that most of us fall into the latter category. If you're in the former, you may want to rethink whether social security will be around to help you out when you retire. Just sayin.'


But I digress. I personally am in a similar situation with most here in that I simply don't need "the best." My belief is that there's no need for me to toss money at something I may hardly ever notice or benefit from. Paying the extra $ for a 540M may not be of much use when it wouldn't be noticeably faster in normal application use than the 520M. That's $50 that could go toward accessories like a sleeve, a backpack, a stand, a skin, or a cooling pad--most of which could be used as potential chick magnets! Not all of us constantly encode videos or extract truckloads of .rar files. I'm personally just getting this for some light gaming, movie-watching when all my friends are out drinking , and school work.


My #1 and #3 considerations in my 3-month notebok hunt were build construction and touchpad fluidity. The HP Envy 15s I've handled passed the first requirement as I experienced very little flex and felt the keyboard was a joy to use, but I couldn't test the second criterion at BestBuy. But after applying a couple of fixes to the available touchpad software on my Asus, I've found the multitouch gestures and two-finger scrolling to be a joy (Note to Synaptics, PLEASE introduce inertial scrolling, just rename it something else for trademark purposes!).


I frankly couldn't give an elephant's excrement about the speed improvements to be found from upgrading from 520M to the 540M if it were $50. I probably won't notice the difference when I'm playing SC2 or flipping through my class notes and outlines. If you want to shell over the $50, all power to you!


But if anyone thinks that spending $50 on an i5-540M gives you a blank check to sound like an elitist snob, you, sir, are:

 

This is a fast moving thread. I leave and come back 1 minute later to 3 new posts.

 

It is your money, so it is upto you to spend as you see fit.

Personally, I go all out if it is slower moving technology (skis, mtn bikes etc) but for things like computers, I just get mid to mid-upper range components.

 

i didn't find any of those posts to be elitist...

 

Speaking of sleeves, anyone see any good ones lately..I have been looking around but no luck. My E14 needs protection!

 

Abstinence is always the best policy...



Anyone know of any good sleeves? I kind of miss the Isis Dei Hyde sleeves. Faux leather, but still really nice-looking.

 

im always kind to my laptops, so I never need any sort of protection

 

I want the E14, but do you think that a E13 for $900 is worth getting over the E14?

# Box Contents: HP ENVY 13-1030NR, 65W AC Adapter, 4-Cell Lithium-Ion Polymer Battery, 6 Cell Battery Slice; Software Bundle: Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit, HP Utilities, Symantec Norton Internet Security 2009 (60 Day Trial)
# Intel Core 2 Duo SL9400 1.86GHz Processor
# 6MB L2 Cache, 1066MHz Front Side Bus
# 3072MB DDR3 RAM (5120MB max.)
# 250GB (5400RPM) SATA Hard Drive
# 13.1" Diagonal High Definition LED HP Radiance Infinity Widescreen Display (1366x768)
# webcam and Integrated Microphone
# ATI Mobility Radeon HD 4330 Graphics M92LP with up to 1757MB total graphics Memory with 512MB dedicated
# External SuperMulti 8x DVD±R/RW Double Layer Drive
# Intel WiFi Link 5100AGN 802.11a/b/g/n
# External 10/100/1000 Gigabit Ethernet LAN (RJ-45 connector)
# Bluetooth
# 2-in-1 Digital Media Reader MMC, SD
# HP Clikpad with On/Off button
# Beats Audio
# Brushed Aluminum with Metal Etching on Magnesium
# External Ports: 2 x USB 2.0, Headphone-out/Microphone in combo jack (compatible with 3.5mm 4-conductor jack with stereo audio and Mono mic), HDMI

Total: $902.50

 

Yeah, I went fishing for three hours. 130 new posts there...

Try this? - If the link doesn't work, search HP for '14.5" notebook sleeve'. Looks like it's made with the Envy specifically in mind.

 

2 hours guys

 

No, I don't think so. Way worse CPU, GPU and resolution.

For anyone to be able to give you a reasonable reply, you need to say what use you have for the computer. The above is the reason why I'm waiting for the E14, you might intend using it for a completely different purpose.

 

Great deal for an Envy 13, but the 13's more about portability, beauty, and battery life than power (in which it's decent, but not great). If you want something for moderate gaming, with fair portability and battery life, get the 14. If you want something primarily for portable use and maybe some light gaming, the 13 should suffice.

 

Is there any good reason for getting a bigger HD? I am very careful with what I put on my HD and try to use as little space on the HD as possible (on my current 160gb HD, I am only using 42gb total). If there is not, I might as well save myself some money and just stick with the stock HD and buy an external or buy another HD and install it myself later on.

 

Why wouldn't you be joining them? Nothing you'll be doing in college should preclude fun with friends.

 

Haha, I just meant hardware wise. I do some CAD work and want to play some games: portal 2.

Originally I was looking at the Asus N82jv, but that's going nowhere.

 

This is what I'm going for:

1600x900 (definite)
Win7 Pro (gotta have xp mode for a couple of programs).
4gigs of ram most likely
either a 320/500 gig or a 160 gig ssd if super coupon appears (we're talking $400s off like that dm4t one)
wireless + bluetooth (ps3 controller)
slice probably
...ummm...isn't that it?

 

There are so many 15 inch sleeves available, and they're cheap! Do you think any of them might work?

 

I get sick of it after a while.

 

In your case, you're probably better off with the smallest size they offer. Video, games and heavy software is what tends to take up most of my space, and if you can manage without too much of that, you should be fine with the smallest option.

 

as for warranties.


uhhh....I'm thinking of pushing my luck again. so far I'm 2 outta 3 with respect to laptops lasting long enough til I replace 'em.

the one that didn't well...let's just say alienware should have known better than to put a desktop P4 and what seemed like a desktop geforce 6800 ultra in a damn laptop without giving it better cooling.

I mean damn the thing had to hang off the front of the desk to get adequate airflow to the underneath vents.

 

huh so many choices for 14" sleeves...
Amazon.com: 14 inch sleeve: Electronics

I hope the envy 14,6 inches arn't too big for those either... else we'll have to dig 15" sleeves (that one i'll get for sure http://www.antonline.com/p_SHGYBK-B-NX_805166.htm).

 

Most 14" laptops are 14.1." The Envy 14's 14.5"

 

in which case just get a 15 inch one..?


what the hell's a sleeve anyway. I just put the thing in my backpack

 

the HP sleeve is $40 ughh no thanks

 

IF this is a persons desktop replacement and IF they wont be upgrading for like 5 years, then sure, get the better one

but IF you are just an average user, the higher CPU wont make much of a difference at all

 

For sleeves, the HP 14.5" should definitely fit the Envy 14. Whether it'll fit the slice as well is another question... I'm going to guess it will, but it might be best to get a 15" if you're going with the slice, just in case. Then again, part of the point of a sleeve is that it fits snugly, so a 15" might be a little too loose for the Envy 14...

 

I hope the i5 really isn't soldered in. That's a bummer.

 

haha, we should start a pool to bet on what types of screw ups we expect. I'll throw 20 bucks in for overheating.

 

i wouldnt think so. HP said they addressed the heating issues with the 14. Unless your running an i7 i dont see it getting very hot.

 

50 bucks on the wobble

 

How about no? I'm not superstitious, but I'd rather keep the sentiment positive, yet cautious.

 

Agreed..this laptop is perfect for me and I am praying it lives up to its expectations

 

Very well, I will retract my previous comments. But you can't deny that there is no such thing as a perfect laptop.

 

yeah, but with some luck it can get pretty damn good though.

 

My backpack is such a ing mess that I fear the laptop will get scratched all over.
I think I'll go for the soho 15" sleeve by reading reviews it's said there's an extra inch of thickness to fit in when using a 1" macbook in it ! Perfect for the slice !
The only drawback of that sleeve is that theres is no handle on it At least from what I can see.

 

ahh...well that's the thing.

my backpack had two spots you could put stuff in that could fit a laptop.


so I kept the laptop in one spot..and then all the books/folders/whatever in the other.

 

Nothing is perfect, but that doesn't mean we should fixate on looking only at the negatives. Reread my previous comment:

 

just get an laptop backpack....

i got an oakley one, great choice to this day