HP Envy 15? i7 meets 4830+15" screen!

I just went to Best Buy and took a look at the HP Envy 15 and 13. The HP Envy 15 is a single 500GB hard drive, not 2 250gb hard drives like previously thought. The battery slice was on it and there is a very tiny gap between the battery slice and the bottom of the laptop so airflow through the bottom vents is still possible. The laptop was very light without the battery slice on, but it was noticeably heavier with the slice on. Also, the track pad definitely needs a driver update. It took about 16 tries to turn off the track pad by pushing the top left of it and the gestures you do to rotate/zoom were very hard to accomplish. I will have to get use to the trackpad not having actual buttons, since usually on laptops I rest my thumb on the laptop trackpad buttons and if you do so on this laptop it wont allow you to move the cursor. One last thing to note was that when the screen was closed, the back of the screen was noticeably flimsy when pushed on with your finger. I have seen a few reviews of the laptop stating that it blew out hot air while idle and was hot to to touch. This is not true for this Envy 15. The air it was blowing out I would say was just a tad warmer then room temperature, and the only part of the laptop that was slightly warm to the touch was the bottom.

Overall I really liked it and the screen was very bright. I thought the Envy 15 had a edge to edge screen like the Envy 13, but it doesn't......

 

did you check out the sound?

 

thanks for great info Iugnut and yea like funn asked how's sound?

 

Everyone does know that the Envy's "Recommended" config includes a magnesium color+texture matched DVD supermulti external, right? For $150 more you can get it as a BluRay ROM slotload, but I didn't think it would be worth the extra cash without BluRay Write ability. If they had offered it with BD-RW+lightscribe etc... I would have considered it.

Still, the Envy comes with an external optical drive that even has 2 extra USB ports on it, in most of the "high end" configurations.

 

I just happened to look at my specs. Looks like 1 500gb drive to me

# • 500GB 7200RPM SATA Hard Drive with HP ProtectSmart Hard Drive Protection

 

Yes, indeed. I am not shouting it.
But was not this topic largely discussed already?
The Envy did the sacrifice of OD to get a thinner more portable profile and double hard drives. Most of the people will be more than happy for that. Some might not. And that is why there are different options.

What made me change my mind was faster availability, same price, better GPU and more portable, if you want to ask. I wasnt going to get the RGB, so it was not a sacrifice, I rarely use the OD, solely for the odd TS2 game, but other than that, all drivers/apps/software I download it from its official website. And I get to have all of that on a larger HDD, I can live with no OD. I do not use my laptop to watch movies, and for music I have an iPod so no OD is not a loss in my case, and that something I decided when comparing sizes and hardware. My case might be different to yours, but for my particular case, the E15 fits ok.

In your case, if you so much need the OD bay, there are many other laptops that offer this. I quoted the G51j due to it having OD, dual HDD, great BQ, same CPU, better GPU, and it is already reviewed, and it weights a tad more, comes with WUXGA, so it is a good choice, considering that hardware-wise it has the same + the OD. What I meant is that not all laptops are made the same. For example a ThinkPad is nowhere near comparable to an Apple. They aim at different stuff. The SXPS16 and the E15 aim at different stuff too. They are all different products, and perhaps the E15 is not the best laptop that suits your needs?

Now it is a forum, to discuss, yes, but a topic that has already been largely discussed in the same thread, there is little to no need to take it out again, unless some points were left behind.

 

I didn't get a chance to checkout the sound, sorry guys.

 

wow thanks for pointing that out...i clearly missed that..

 

What do you mean? Would you care to explain us that a little more? Flimsy like what? Weak? Low BQ? +rep BTW

And the screen is no E-to-E? HP claimed it was...strange

 

if you say so... but the fact that you continuously posted about the comparisons and going back and forth makes you know different that me.

i apologize to others. I am done with this back and forth.

 

don't a lot of the new movies coming out include a digital copy? maybe thats a thought?

as for me, im torn between this and the m15x. if i had seen this laptop and read this thread a day earlier i would ahve already bought the envy with the 25% CB.

i've read through both 100+ page threads and now i'll have to see what the reviews say about the envy.

 

Hi there and welcome to the NBR Forums!!

If you are looking for a laptop, may I suggest you the "What Notebook Should I Buy? Forum"? People will gladly help you there make up your mind if you need it.

 

Yeah, I get you. Sorry, it is hard to chose.

How much do you use the OD?

 

nah, its going to be this or the alienware for me. just waiting for some hands on reviews from the locals.

 

Hey Shadowarachh. I had the M15x and loved it, but it does have some problems that need to be sorted before I even look in that direction again. If you go check out the Alienware forum regarding the M15x you will see that many people are reporting lagging and stuttering when you are on battery. Now, if you are not going to be mobile, and want a gaming solution... the M15 or 17x is the way to go. I decided on the Envy, because I needed something mobile lasting a little more than 3 hours, and I needed something with a quad core. The guys over at the Alienware forums are great guys, they will help you if you decide to go with the M15x. If you decide on the HP, I have encounted and interacted with great people on here as well and we will be more than willing to help. Well, that is when we get our units!


Edit: Forgot to mention... if I don't like the Envy. I am going to go back toward the Alienware or the Asus G51j. Just some alternatives for ya!

 

They have them out at Best Buy? which one did you go to, I'm going to go check it out. I was really hoping for the Edge to Edge they even said that on the web site

Fusion of art and science
Each ENVY 15 has been artfully sculpted with advanced materials and precision engineering. You get:

* A strong but lightweight magnesium chassis (1.04" thick, up to 5.2 lb. 7)
* An elegant metal-etched surface design
* A frameless look with edge-to-edge protective display glass
* Fluid controls: a click pad that integrates the button in the touchpad
* Convenient one-touch and action keys on a full-size keyboard
* Reduced glare in the dark via low-luminance indicators on the keys

 

yea im going to best buy as soon as rush hour ends. Did they have the Beats version out?

 

Does anyone know if RAID is supported with a second drive?

 

I live in Ohio and the BB I went to is the only on in the state that has them on display. Nope, the screen on the Envy15 is not Edge to edge, it has a frame. The Envy 13 does have a Edge to Edge.

 

damn I bet they wont' have it here in Wisconsin lol. Ugh I was really hoping for the edge to edge!! DAMN IT!! Can you purchase it there yet? or only on the 22nd?

 

Pics people.. Pics!!!

 

AFAIK, no. But I think it can be configured on the BIOS. Might have to wait and see.

 

Do you guys think it's kinda stupid to get 16GB and 820QM if you don't need it just for maxing things out for the future? I mean, won't I probably be getting a new laptop before I'll even need such things?

 

im in maryland and the best buy i left this morning was putting all the new laptops out. They told me they were putting the envy out but i didnt feel like sticking around. You should try anyways.

 

4 gigs of ram nowadays is overkill.. stick with 6 gigs, and if you ever need to in the future, you can upgrade. It has 4 RAM slots which should make it easy for you to fill them in. DDR3 RAM is still expensive as hell, so you're better off waiting till prices drop anyways.

 

16 gigs? Probably, quite likely it's an overkill. 820QM? I could use it even today. It's much slower than a desktop quad, and many people can max it out.

 

Most of the previews talked about dual SSD configs coming in raid 0 from HP.

The motherboard chipset is PM55. It comes with ICH10-M southbridge.
The specs on the south bridge say there are two version available: ICH10M (Base, no raid) and ICH10M-E (2 addational SATA ports and full RAID support).

 

I am trying to figure out why the home page for the Envy 15 says it has a Edge to Edge display when it doesn't? Thats false marketing.

 

i think they mean edge to edge glass maybe?

 

it says this
Fusion of art and science
Each ENVY 15 has been artfully sculpted with advanced materials and precision engineering. You get:

* A strong but lightweight magnesium chassis (1.04" thick, up to 5.2 lb. 7)
* An elegant metal-etched surface design
* A frameless look with edge-to-edge protective display glass
* Fluid controls: a click pad that integrates the button in the touchpad
* Convenient one-touch and action keys on a full-size keyboard
* Reduced glare in the dark via low-luminance indicators on the keys

I hope the best buy at my place has one so i can look? Maybe best buy ones dont' have it? it's know that best buy gets crappier notebooks like last time the Asus's have downgraded processors

 

was it matte? god i hope it was matte. i hate the new mirrored screens

 

all the previews i have read is that its not matte and wont ever be.

 

Here is what the edges of the screen look like: http://www.notebookcheck.net/typo3temp/pics/1f6bed17a8.jpg

No edge to edge.


EDIT: here as well: http://www.notebookcheck.net/typo3temp/pics/00822a6776.jpg

 

It's definitely glossy. It's a consumer line notebook, all be it a premium one. The vast majority of consumer notebooks have glossy displays; with matte displays being reserved for some netbooks, a small number of smaller notebooks and the business / corporate ranges.

 

For all you UK boys and girls out there

http://www.amazon.co.uk/15-1060ea-Notebook-Processor-i7-720QM-Bluetooth/dp/B002R59QU6

This is the "base" model (for £1,199)...and in the item description it states the screen resolution is 1920 by 1080

So yeah...I haven't a clue what to believe.

 

Well, that's how I expected it. Is Envy 13 any different? Except for probably a thinner bezel?

 

actually the early previews said the 15 didnt have edge-to-edge
but that changed when they put the 15 up on hp's website

 

Keep in mind that these were pre-production models. It looks like glass edge to edge on the HP website. I guess we will find out soon.

 

What about the one at Best Buy, the guy said it wan't edge-to-edge I believe.

If they're gonna make it a glossy screen, it's kinda pointless to not make it edge-to-edge. That's what makes glossy more appealing to me.

 

Most likely, the models on display at the best buys were the same preproduction models the reviewers had. I remember reading somewhere that that the actual Envy 15's would come with edge to edge displays, but even if it didn't, what's the big deal? You'll still have the same overall experience... lol

 

I'd suggest everyone look at the pictures on HP's site:

http://www.hp.com/united-states/campaigns/envy/view_15.html
especially this picture:
http://www.hp.com/united-states/campaigns/envy/images/ev15_gal/large_4.jpg

There is a bezel/border, but the bezel and screen are both sealed under the glass. So the glass is "edge to edge", not the screen itself. Note the "HP" logo under the screen on the bezel, and the webcam on the top bezel centered above the screen, with the word "Envy" in the top right corner. These prove that the screen cannot be "edge to edge", you couldn't have the webcam under the screen, or have those "HP" and "Envy" logos interfere with the screen.

 

The screen looks alot like the Studio XPS 16 setup- a non edge to edge screen underneath edge to edge glass (which covers the webcam and bezels).

 

I called my local bestbuy here in Houston. They said that the only store in the area that has the Envy 15 is the one in the Galleria (which is a really ritzy mall). So I guess there must be a limited number of HP Envy's to go around... darn... I was going to go take pictures with my dSLR and see how warm everything was under the hood.

I guess measuring its warmth doesn't matter much since the models are probably pre-production models and the heat could vary anyway.

 

REVIEWS ALREADY

I really hope waiting for reviews was worth it, because now I'm really kicking myself for not taking the 25% bing cashback, buying the beats edition, and selling the earphones. FARGGG

 

I really am just hoping the heat isn't going to be something as bad as what early previews may have had us believe. I did find it interesting is in his first impressions the slice battery seemed to add noticeable weight and that it had room for airflow on the bottom. This might be an accessory I might have to end up ordering again if the weight isn't too much and it helps with keeping some heat off my lap.

 

Me too. Especially having an E1705 video card dying twice on me. As long as idle temps are like C2D based laptops, I am happy. I won't use the turbo mode every day.

 

I really don't think heat is going to be an issue unless you're doing intense things on it.

 

is this standard procedure to have a preproduction model on display and sell a completely different version?

 

Okay my 2 best buys don't have them. I can order one on the 22nd but i have to pay in full and they will ship it to the store. I'm wondering if I should do it or not...... they only have 21 in the warehouse.

But the pictures on the HP site show edge to edge glass? I would be so pissed if the best buy ones didn't have that and the ones from HP do...

 

Do you guys think the 820QM really makes that much difference?

I'm just wondering if it would extend the life and add a little bit of extra snappiness to compliment a SSD.

Since other "extreme" notebook such as the m15x only have 8GB capacity, I'm sure 8GB will be fine.

But, do you think by the time 16GB is needed, the i7 quads will be too slow? I mean if I get 16GB now and keep the laptop for two years, will that make any difference?