*HP Envy 15 (11XX / 12XX series) Owners Lounge!*

Isramair > Sorry for the mistake, you are perfectly right to correct me!

Two more remarks I forgot to mention.
The first, not obvious, is that the screen height is smaller than a 15"4 laptop, although the width is larger. I guess this is inevitable when dealing with a full HD screen. This makes things better for video viewing, but much less convenient for work (eg. reading articles, writting report...). The display can be fliped, but then you would need to lay the laptop on its side!

The second remark obvious to all is about drivers and support: for a pricy laptop I would have expected to be provided with the recovery DVDs ready to be used (this is just a detail), and with a decent online availability of drivers and softwares!! Why can't HP put on their website the same drivers as those on the laptop!?

Again, this lack of coating and planning is annoying. This is just like getting a nice present, but without the paper wrap!! Half of the pleasure is lost.

 

What I don't get is that HP ships this thing with a 2GB SD card with 99% free space (User manuals don't take up much room lol).

Should have at least put the drivers on there....

 

Why not put them on there yourself?

 

Thanks to everyone for helping me pick the Vaio F over the Envy 15.

 

See, I know better to backup the swsetuo folder. Tell me how many regualr folks out there are going to know to do that?

It's why I spent an hour uploading just the drivers to an cmdcmvr's FTP site so others here could use their system (something HP should be doing, NOT me - although I don't mind).

 

I have also mirrored the files on my site as well. They are also split up now if someone just needs a driver for one device.

http://www.em-zero.com/index.php/2010/01/hp-envy-15-2nd-generation-drivers/

 

What pushed you over the edge? The only thing that tempted me with the Sony was the blu-ray burner and lighted keyboard.

The non-LED screen, less robust GPU, larger size, lower build quality, and lack of USB 3 pushed me towards the Envy. We'll see if I made the right decision this week.

 

Gave you some rep for hosting, m0!

 

Sony F is nice, but doesn't really compare to the Envy.

I have yet to see a laptop as thin and light at 15.6"'s have this much power and solid build quality.

Usually you don't get both

The F is like twice as thick and quite a bit heavier.

 

I totally agree with you!! If HP was selling this laptop $200, then the user could not really complain about having some of the set up/file saving to do himself (although this can be discussed). While paying more than $1500, we are expecting to get stupid things done for us (such as separating the recovery files from the disk. we need the recovery if the disk fails...but if it fails we cannot access it!! :-X ).

I also agree that the VAIO F is not really the same category as the Envy. Although it is well known that Sony really wants their systems to run cool, even when it means thicker systems.
Transportability of the VAIO is also a problem. I believe the screen is 16'4. My problem with that was it would not fit in my backpack when I am taking a plane or traveling.

 

the worst part of HP not including the recovery files is taht the damn thing doesn't even ship with a DVD drive. They should have just included a 4GB or 8GB flash drive with the system that contains widnows and all the recovery files. Would have been really cool.

The Envy 15 was the largest and heaviest system I would have considered buying. Basically, I bought it because it weighed as much as the Thinkpad T410 but had a bigger, better screen, for around the same price. I was really looking for something smaller though, and the Vaio F is just totally out of consideration. I have actually been much happier with the Envy than I thought I would be.

I also got the screen looking pretty good using my own calibration in the windows utility. Still not totally perfect, but much better than stock and better than the other calibrations that were posted here that were way too warm for my glossy display. It is really annoying though that the mouse pointer doesn't get calibrated, so now I have a nicely calibrated monitor with a blue pointer.

 

The lines in the screen, no internal blu-ray drive, the higher price tag. The Vaio F is a 16.4 screen, less heat issues, cheaper, blu-ray. The Sony has pretty good build quality. I have also been hearing bad things about hp. Someone told me it is the new Packard Bell. Where can I see some high quality pics of the Envy 15?

 

No lines on my screen. Don't care for an internal drive. Price is higher now, but not when I bought And build quality is top-notch.

Heat isn't an issue, at least in my system.

 

If you google images for "HP Envy 15" you'll find plenty of pics.

 

no offense, but when it comes to build quality, the HP envy has alot to offer. yes, it has it's issues, but so does any computer at launch. people with the lines issue should return their laptops, that's what I did. if my machine has the issue, it goes back again. the machine is a powerhouse is a very compact form factor, and has some of the best cooling i've seen in a machine in it's class. and I don't really know about the heat issues you speak of, if you want a performance machine, there's going to be some heat. but when I had my i7, heat was no issue and I think it will even better with the i5... not sure where the whole 'packard bell' comment fits in, but I can't disagree enough.

 

I wouldn't listen to your friend too much if he thinks HP is like Packard Bell.

 

I was being sarcastic when I was putting out the Sony F as direct competition.

You're looking at lower performance, 2 pounds heavier for less battery life, and an annoying digital squeaking noise that they still haven't been able to solve.

On top of that, you're not getting top of the line technology for your cash.

There is no heat issue with the HP, it's one of the quietest computer I have ever used. Even while gaming the fan rarely needs to ramp up. I can actually use the internal speakers while gaming without using headphones to keep sane.

I love this Envy, initial impressions weren't good, but the more you use it, the more you appreciate HP engineering.

 

I think I am the only one that have decided to return my envy even without receiving the laptop. This is just because I forgot to select the vga adapter in the configuration when placing the order. I need this small adapter for doing presentations! It is very frustrating that HP has this accessory OOS on its website for months, and could not be found anywhere else. The only way to have it is to place a new order..

May switch to some cheap laptop, like the 499 gateway in Bestbuy. I am not a computer gaming guy, thus a powerful graphic card means little to me.

 

You can buy an HDMI-VGA adapter anywhere, including HP's parts store here. lol

Crazy reason to return your system (even for my standards)

 

I think envy is designed by voodoo guys.

 

Voodoo is no more

 

DNA intact hopefully

 

I'm gunna return mine and I won't get it til tuesday that's only because the 8540w better suits my needs and seems like business notebooks don't have this initial launch pain of broken keys and twisted touch pads etc...though it might.

 

I'm sure even monoprice has it. I got a HDMI -> DVI from them for like $5 shipped.. no reason to return except for your bottom line since $499 is a big difference lol

 

From what I gather, many of the Voodoo engineers still work for HP doing stuff like the Envy. I do think that they're squandering a great name, but that's their prerogative. I mean, they already dragged HP's name through the mud with sub-par printers. They're only now starting to recover, and even then just barely.

 

Unlike Dell, HP has really killed the Voodoo branding.

I mean, come on. Those systems back in the day with the cables folded oragami-like were bad a$$.

At least Dell has kept AW around and left the primary management in place.

Rahul is no more and he was really the pioneer for the boutique brand that once was Voodoo.

 

I can't tell if you like your Envy or hate it because of the screen. But you are correct the Macbook comparison is the only thing close with older and slower hardware.

Rumor has it that the next gen Macbooks will have special Arrandales that will have a lower TDP but will not include a gfx core. They may include Light Peak for interfaces.

 

At least HP didn't totally muck up the Envy. Dell totally ruin alienware. Damn thing is ugly, cheap plastic, and 10lbs heavy!

 

You have to be totally smoking crack. At least Envy look nice and pack all that in under 6lbs.

Have you seen the new alienware? Damn thing is cheap, totally cheap plastic. 10lbs!

 

Yeah, um, the M17x is def the BEST laptop AW has ever produced- oh and it is made of sweet aluminum (real aluminum, not a mix with mg). The M15x I didn't care for, but I believe it was rushed a bit. The M11x is truly unique and innovative.

And have you seen their desktops lately? Much, much better.

I would have to disagree 100000%.

You, sir, obviously are the one smoking crack

 

Both aluminum and magnesium feel cheap. I want carbon fiber or titanium composite.

 

The aluminum used on the M17x is far from cheap.

 

lol! I saw the M15x at Microcenter and play with it. Total disappointed. Not sure about desktop, it might be better. But laptop, dang sad...

 

The M15x isn't made of aluminum like it's big brother. Like I said earlier, the M15x was disappointing.

When you get to play with an M17x, then come back and talk

 

For the person who is returning their system because they didn't order the hdmi-vga adapter, I forgot to order one when I ordered my system (hopefully here on Tuesday). I called up the parts department and asked if they had one. The guy took my order and two days later I had my cable. The HP accessories site had it listed on backorder too. So you can get them.

 

Nah..I would rather louge around 10lbs of camera equipments than 10lbs laptop.

 

Apple all the way dude. OOPs did I get off topic. Come on guys lets talk about the Envy Gen2.

The new Elitebooks are supposed to come out soon and wondering how they are built? Probably not as light as Envy but they are supposed to be tanks that you can throw around.

I'm surprised how cool the Envy runs compared to my Toshiba Turion x64 which is huge with only a HD 16" screen that is all plastic. That thing is like a heater and I don't run alot of stuff. Even running Heaven Benches with an overclocked GPU the palm rests only get slightly warm.

Its ashame that they equip the i5s with switchable graphics which would make this one cool *literally* notebook.

 

The information I have between the various versions of the LP156WF1 is that the connector is placed differently. For example the LP156WF1-TLF3 might have the connector on the left and the LP156WF1-TLF2 might have it on the right. Also the connector itself might be different. The TLFx appears to be the matte version while the others are glossy. The panels seem cheap enough that I will probably order the glossy version and an extra matte version just because.

Also there is no technical difference between them just physical. They all sport the same contrast and brightness specifications. My sources are a couple of Chinese vendors that sell this particular LCD and they all say the same thing.

 

Just FYI, my connector that came with the 1366x768 glossy was compatible with my replacement 1920x1080 screen. Don't know about the matte, but I'm guessing its compatible as well.

 

I have a change to switch from matte to glossy, I'm not sure which to choose.

 

Well finally got the install done, went fairly smooth but i'm sure I'll find more missing drivers...

Also added my 8GB 1333 RAM and the Windows experience index went from 5.9 to 6.8 for memory, 6.8 for everything except SSD is 7.9.

Ran the full pcmark vantage suite again and was suprised to break 10K (screen below). This was with the updated 8.681 GPU driver and CCC 9.11. Has anyone got the 9.12 and associated new driver working yet?

My screen actually looks much better now than how it came from HP, I think they must have used their own profile. Will recal again tomorrow and see how it looks compared to the matt screen. I have a feeling that cal. I posted was conflicting with whatever was running from HP.

 

So you replaced it with 2x4gb ram for your envy? Wow that's some nice numbersss.

 

Carbon fiber is actually common, though i don't know why more companies don't use it over aluminum and magnesium. I saw a 13" notebook at my school's bookstore some years ago that had a CF casing. As for the titanium alloy...good luck finding an AFFORDABLE notebook at this price and weight!



Though if/when I'm swimming in money, I'll want my notebook to have diamond coating along with the best fans money can buy....

 

Here are new 3Dmark 05 and 06 scores. After clean install, updated GPU and CCC drivers, and O.C.'d to 525Mhz / 1025Mhz, temps on GPU 67C max.

Pretty happy with the way this is performing now:yes:

 

Has anyone tried the BF BC2 beta with the i5 envy? The beta performs really poor with my dual core P8600 (the game requires a quad) I was wondering if the hyperthreading of the i5 is sufficient as I dont want to buy the i7 version due to the excessive heat!

Thanks in advance

 

I do have Area 51 and I have one word to say: Awesomeness. After this desktop I will feel stupid if I buy anything else. Yes its expensive as hell, but I got it in my own ways

This a hell of a machine inside out. Tweakable is every aspect I can think of. Everything is plug n play even the power supply. True That.

 

Vaio signature collection. So sleek

 

Impressive 06 score.

 

OC much?
Nice score nevertheless. What are max 24/7 stable GPU settings for you JJB?

 

For the people that are doing a fresh install, did you buy another copy of Windows 7? I paid for the upgrade to Pro and would rather not go spend another $150 to get a DVD for the fresh install.