*HP Envy 15 Owners Lounge! PART 1*

Hopefully you aren't editing photos for print with that kind of brightness!

 

If HP has decided to disable the IGP, I think I'll have to cancel my order as well*. Sad, because it seemed like such a great deal at $1125 (or now, $1075). Apple will probably update the MacBook Pro with Core i5 and do a price drop like HP but I doubt it'll be as large and they've always been quite weak on the graphics cards. We'll have to see.

*not the only reason I may cancel, my experience with HP just has not been very pleasant (lack of consistent information about this product, how hard is it to update a spec page fully)

 

no no...but i need a good coverege of adobe rgb.

 

Looked like the i5 only did better in the benchmarks that encrypted and decrypted data, to be expected with the new AES Westmere instructions.

 

Yeah the Envy has nothing on the Dell M6400 RGBLED / HP DreamColor panel, that panel is in a class of its own today, all other laptops use 6-bit panels. That's of course reflected in the price. The RGBLED in the Dell XPS 1645 is wide gamut, but seems to have had a lot of problems. Also, a wide gamut stretches those 6 bits per channel awfully far, so it's even more important to have 8 bits in a wide gamut display.

I'd say the Envy 1080p glossy is at the high end of the spectrum of laptop panels. Viewing angles are good for TN, static contrast is over 500:1 measured, and gamut is almost exactly sRGB so it's good for general use. It profiles well - curves are almost straight with no sharp bends. It's rated at 320 nits by the manufacturer (LG) but few laptop displays deliver what they promise.

 

The current Mac Books don't have any advantage over an Envy in a Windows environment. I don't like or need Mac OS. Replacement features would be just speculation at this point.

Rather than jabs at the Envy, show me comparable viable alternatives with facts to back it up (side by side specs, pricing, form factor, etc.). I have an open mind and would consider other options...just haven't seen better alternatives (that are also currently available).

On another note, I just don't think we have enough details yet. While I appreciate the feedback from the two people who have received their Envy's more information is needed.

Edit: I am saying this generically to people thinking of switching to a Mac (or other alternative); not singling out drizek

 

Wow guys, even though I did not get the i5. Don't you guys realize that the Envy is one of the first laptops to ship with the i5 processor. The switchable graphics is a matter of drivers, and this is something HP will have to work with ATI on. Sure, they do not have those drivers now, but I would put down good money that HP would update the drivers in the next 6 months. Yes this could be a long time, but once the driver update comes the machine should get almost 4 hours on battery. I just see it senseless that everyone is canceling because of this issue. It is all hype, and it is an issue, but it is not one that is never going to be addressed. Integrated graphics is one of the biggest selling points of the i5. The i5 in the Envy will not be able to compete if Apple and other companies start putting in the i5 with IGP enabled into their new products. This is capitalism, HP will have to change or die. Overall, the Envy is not a horrible product.

 

It just seems like it's something HP would have the sense to do before releasing a product. Likewise, using a battery that won't result in throttling the processor when used as a laptop would seem to be basic common sense. If that problem is still there, this thing will be as useless as a $300 netbook.

 

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/mobile-core-i7,2443-2.html

Switchable Graphics

One of the most interesting features added to Intel’s GM45 chipset was switchable graphics—a hybrid technology consisting of an integrated graphics chipset and a discrete GPU. Ideally, ODMs would build notebooks with GM45 and an add-in graphics processor. Most of the time, under the Windows desktop, the platform would switch the add-in board off and rely on Intel’s reasonably-capable GMA4500MHD core. The potential savings was supposed to equal up to roughly an hour of battery life.

Unfortunately, Lenovo and Fujitsu were the only two builders to take advantage of switchable graphics. Whether the savings didn’t add up or the extra work required to implement switchable graphics was prohibitive, it just didn’t make sense to couple an integrated and discrete GPU in the same notebook. Instead, ODMs simply used PM45 platforms to enable add-in GPUs.

The story changes once you put graphics capabilities on the CPU package, though. Every 32nm Arrandale component has graphics built-in already, so any notebook also equipped with a discrete card has a basic hardware foundation in place for switchable graphics functionality. Thus, we expect switchable graphics to be a much more widely-adopted capability employed in Arrandale-based notebooks that also feature discrete graphics.

Of course, the challenge here is that switchable graphics isn’t an Intel-only technology. The company needs cooperation from ATI and Nvidia to enable support through drivers. As a result, Intel is saying that switchable graphics isn’t a critical launch feature, and it expects the requisite drivers to emerge four to eight weeks after launch. Then again, we've spoken with vendors who say switchable graphics remains a logistic challenge to implement; it might not end up being as compelling as Intel hopes after all.

 

Thats not what I meant. Everybody is asking for pics. Read.

 

A more appropriate response would have been....

"Good point. I should have been more polite when asking a total stranger to do something for me."

Both people who confirmed they received their laptops have been nice enough to provide feedback. Sure...I really would like more as this anticipation is killing me too.

That being said, we can agree or disagree and still be civil.

 

Ok maybe I should have said it in a better way.

 

Its a PM55 for my Envy i5. Sorry guys, been busy with emergency stuff in my church.

 

daraj,

I see you purchased the Dell XPS 16 i7 and returned it. Curious why you returned it and whether you cross shopped other laptops before going for the Envy.

On another note what did you think of the RGBLCD screen? Are you into photography?

 

The envy 15 is starting to look like a box of fail. Thanks for posting the specs. It looks like HP half-assed the laptop in order to rush it to the market. The switchable graphics was one of the main selling points for me.

I received my delay email & the $50 coupon too, but I doubt I'll keep mines with the reports of how this laptop is missing key features that most everyone expected it to have.

 

The only reason I returned the 1645 is the throttling issue that is severely pronounced with this model. It throttles when on AC adapter and doesn't when on battery. It has been proven by ThrottleStop app that it throttles down the cpu to almost 50% of its potential. Envy has it the other was around which I think is a better worse.
I dont do photography. One of the most features about this screen is the clarity which is simply stunning. The color are for sure over saturated but I guess can be tweaked by using different .icc profiles. Overall, I couldnt justify my almost $2000 purchase especially when not getting what you paid for.

 

PM55 = NO SWITCHABLE GRAPHICS EVA!!!
HP???? How fing hard was it to chose a mobo with an HM55 chipset?? They did that on purpose I bet. But how stupid us that, seriously?

That is pretty weird, the uk HP website lists the new i7 quad Envy with an HM55
Can anyone with the new i7 confirm that?

 

i'm calling to cancel mine. it was a good deal, but with the pm55, they can go scratch

 

Ok with all the revlations about
no usb 3.0
prob no switch gfx
and others


is there another laptop that comes close to this price point? i doubt any of you would get a MSI or Acer over the i5 Envy.
I mean what other laptops out there are even a contender at the (discounted) 1100ish price that most of us got????????

For the people commenting on the MBP refresh, how much more would it run for a i5 MBP and the same power for gfx? i would estimate it will still be Apple's mid range MBP at a price point of 1999. ( this would prob not be an I5 with dedicated gfx)


It sure is easy to compare and make comments on shortfalls of it, but i think people need to factor in all variables. in the end its all about sacrifice since there is no perfect laptop.

i guess we all cant have our cakes and eat it too.


In the end i hope that the ENvy 15 doenst have any real Problems. All the other complaints are more preference oriented.

 

http://hpfansite.com/hp-elitebook/hp-elitebook-8440w-review/ <---quadcore i7-920-XM just like I said!!! and there is mention of a 200 lbs man jumping up an down on it. woot! decisions decisions unless he was lying >:[

 

The HM55 costs more which gives a good reason to use the PM instead of the HM, but I'm wondering how you got that the PM55 means that there's no switchable graphics? I'm not seeing anything that's really saying that. I see doco saying that the PM55 is definitely under-features, but the GPU PCIe lanes still run through the CPU on it no matter what, and that's just about all that I'd think would be necessary for GPU switching. Any whitepapers or anything that contradict that?

 

AnXioZ, would you mind backing that up? Where did you see that the PM55 does NOT support switchable graphics?

 

http://ark.intel.com/chipset.aspx?familyID=42692

Check that link. Intel clearly states that it does not support IGP.

 

I guess its up to us i7 soon to be owners now

I suspect there will be an envy refresh and chances are it will have usb 3 and switchable graphics. this is a pretty big blunder for people interested in it i think.

 

This sucks,im getting mine on monday next week,expecting 6 7 hours of battery with slim fit battery on..

 

The way I was reading that when I found it is that the chipset doesn't have an IGP on it. After checking the other chipset info (HM55 and such), it looks like I was reading it wrong. Damn. I may be seeing if I can return mine and replace it with an i7 then. Dunno though... the i5 can still be faster than the i7 in 2-3 thread situations, and it's a lot cheaper.

 

Do you need written testimony that we've read that article?

If the Envy was only missing the software implementation then that article might be applicable. The Envy doesn't even bios level switching and now that we know it has the PM55, it never will have switching.

 

Looks like I'll be making a call to HP today. HP seems to have really dropped the ball with this system. Going to be hard to beat the price of $1075, but I think I could spend a few hundred more on a notebook from a competent company.

 

No.
The PM55 is a high-end performance chipset intended for systems with quads and SLI/Crossfire.
The HM55 is a mainstream chipset, which perfectly fits the budget for Core i5.

Don't back HP up. They ate using HM55 for their Core i5 Pavillion line (mainstream). Dell was also smart enough to offer HM55 chipsets for their i5 configurations. It is clear that HP either was oblivious, ornever wanted their premium HP Envy 15 i7 quad to compete with the i5.

 

Pray that Apple will be nice and actually allow you to SWITCH graphics if they include it (in windows).

My current apple MBP sure doesn't.

Hehe.

 

HP needs to get their act together and start giving some clear answers. I just wasted 30 mins calling HP tech support to find out whether the updated core i5 has switchable graphics or not and what chipset it used. The tech support person told me that I could switch graphics with the core i5 (going against what the person who had the beats i5 said) but couldn't tell me what chipset it used.

 

Just canceled my delayed i5 order. I'll consider ordering a NON-GIMPED i7 model instead when the next coupon-code rolls around, but I'm going to wait until more people have them in-hand.

I really wanted this model to be perfect. Sad Face.

 

hmm its either
a.the envy i5 builds with PM55 ( doesnt not support )
b.the envy i5 builds with HM55 and there is no driver available currently

 

I just posted that my Envy i5 has the PM55. No mystery on that anymore. The only plus I can tell for the i5 at this point is it does seem to run a good deal cooler. My notebook is much cooler than the i7 model I played with.

 

http://h10010.www1.hp.com/wwpc/uk/e...-3329744-3995710-3995710-4075902-4099664.html
the i7 is shipped with HM55 ??

 

I'm not gonna cancel mine yet... even without switchable graphics, $1400 for the machine I have coming is still nothing to sneeze at.

Maybe the non-beats versions will have the HM55. Who knows. If not, I may have to order a UK Envy and replace the i7 with an i5

 

i'm going to install and play Crysis and a couple other games, see how it does even with my low res screen. If I'm not happy, will either return it or maybe sell on ebay so I can keep the headphones (me like!). If anyone wanted a black envy beats for much less than the $2099 starting price point, lmk.

 

loleriffic...they done mixed up them there motherboards, gosh dangit!

 

How do you know which chipset you have on your laptop ?..

 

For the price, it's hard to find another laptop that would have similar performance AND a full 1080p screen.

Not to defend HP, but even with the disappointment and blunder, it's still a good deal.

Just keep in mind you do have 21 days to play around with it and determine if you like it or not. =D

 

True, but unfortunately HP decided to charge my credit card when I ordered on the 8th instead of when they (eventually) ship it. I only have until Feb. 11 to pay off my card and I'll probably not get the computer until the first week of Feb. (unless it gets delayed some more).

 

It's definately a problem when a company gets so large that there is a delay of information from their engineering department to their customer service reps.

They (the customer service reps) need to stop releasing lies and whatever the customer wants to hear if they don't really know the answers. =P

In any case, I'm still selling my MBP while it's still worth something. xD

 

i concur. I would like to play with mine for the full 21 days and if i dont want to keep it ill decide if i can make some money off ebay and if not ill return it.

 

I find the on-line support is stupid, they're like automatic response to u..

 

good point. My ebay auction for my gateway ends today, of course its not worth crap anymore but after usb 3 makes it big ill have to pay someone to take it lol. So that means I need to get a computer regardless because I don't even own a desktop and not having a computer at all is just as bad as not having any oxygen doh

 

i knew a guy who had an online support job his entire modus operandi was to copy and paste prewritten responses MOST relevent to the question asked. He wasn't even allowed to put his expertise into solving problems. It was a legal thing I believe.

 

That's kind of what I thought when I read it...especially for us i7 owners why be burdened with the low end stuff I don't want (ex., integrated graphics)?

That being said, I don't really understand the pros and cons of using the different chipsets. Is there any chart that shows the advantages of using one chipset over the other for an i7 mobile platform? When I was looking at the W510 Lenovo it had a 57 series chipset. I assumed higher was better, but didn't pay attention to the letters.

 

Haha, me too!

Took my desktop home, all I have now is the MBP... It's gonna be dark dark days when I have no computer ^^;;

 

That would be a great point if every other company with competing products wasn't doing the same thing.

Lenovo has misinformation everywhere on their site. I called Sony and they didn't have any specs on the display for the new F series (brightness, gamut, etc.) Unfortunately, this appears to be normal when everything is made in China.

 

Hey hey... lets not bag on the Chinese here. =P

This relay of information has nothing to do on country or race. And besides, most of these companies are headquartered in other countries.

The manufacturing mostly happens in China, but not the engineering and certainly not the customer service reps (even if you were stereotyping it would have to be India).