*HP Envy 15 Owners Lounge! PART 1*

From page 2-8 (PDF file page 18) of the manual, there is an HDD access light, it is just on the left side of the computer:

Left-side components
Drive light
■ Blinking white: The hard drive is being accessed.
■ Amber (select models only): HP ProtectSmart Hard Drive Protection has temporarily parked the hard drive.

 

Its 10:44pm EST as I write this post.

Somewhere in the last 6 hours my HP Envy 15 went from Dropped to Production I think it was, changed to "Order In Production". I ordered extra memory, so it was a custom config unit, not one of those preconfig models.

...but for any HP Envy 15 owners, that already have this notebook in their hands, or on the way shipped from HP, how long from "Order in Production" until it shipped? Somehow they lost my free 2 day shipping that was on the order, and it nows shows ground service which is a bit frustrating

Thanks in Advance

 

Heads up to anyone who does a clean Windows install like me. If you have an unknown device that you can't figure out then it's probably the 'HP ProtectSmart Hard Drive Protection'.

And its odd that TV Tuner drivers exist for the Envy. Maybe it'll be an option in the future?

 

dpreview.com works just fine for me (using Google Chrome here). Basically, it shows that resolution isn't really an issue for web browsing. You can have as high resolution screen as you want and have no issues reading the text.

I was comparing text that is 4mm high on your screen in 1920x1200 with the same text that is also 4mm high on your screen in 1536x960. The text with the higher resolution is sharper and more readable (though not necessarily noticeably so).

To me and in my eyes, any OS scale (DPI) settings have very little to no meaning at all. Normally I use programs on my computer and they normally handle scaling themselves (i.e. Visual Studio, Office, web browsers, etc). It's nice that you can change the OS scale, but it's not very important.

(Note that changing the OS scale (DPI) setting is not a good way of changing the OS text size. It's often much better to change the font settings instead - icons, window captions, etc - to use a larger font.)

I'm just saying that high resolution should not be considered as "making text too small to read", or even "making web browsing hard to read". That argument shouldn't be part of a purchase decision.

I agree with you that a too high resolution is unnecessary, but the only negative aspect I see is that it slows down the GPU (and costs more money LOL).

 

Interesting Can you post the link or source you see this TV Tuner driver at?
With a 1080p display that would be cool, but I wonder where the tuner would be installed, assuming it is an internal tunder, not external through a USB port?

 

I'm curious about how many people are going to do a clean install of Win 7 when they get their Envys (Envies?).

I guess I was planning to just uninstall all bloatware, then run some good registry cleaners, etc. Bad idea...?

 

I'm curious as well. Do we know what kind of bloatware comes on them? I heard Norton was one program. But what about other crappy HP brand bloatware?

 

Yep if anyone knows how to deal with the bloat ware please help!

 

Shipping update folks. As of today my package is now local, but still shows up for delivery on the 4th. I live in Miami, and it arrived in Ft. Lauderdale. Maybe I will get it tomorrow? I guess we will find out.

 

My laptop has left Memphis. Maybe I will get it before the 4th.

Have we confirmed if the exhaust vents are on the bottom? If so, does that mean a cooling pad will be counterproductive?

 

My Envy 13 left Memphis as well earlier today. It spent over a day there though Mine is still expected to deliver on the 3rd. Maybe I'll get lucky and get it tomorrow

 

There are two areas where the envy 13 may be more enticing to people than the vaio z.

Battery options are very good on the envy 13 if you include the slice. They are great on the z series as well, but the slice form factor is pretty nice (at least in theory).

Second, screen. I do not know what kind of panel is used on the z series, but the envy 13 models come with a rgb led back lit 400 nit display. If the sony z series is a typical white led back lit display than all other things being equal, the image quality and colors will be superior on the envy 13.

In fact the envy 13 screen is superior to the envy 15, and has about 100 nits more brightness.

So while it is not as powerful as the z series can get, if the intent of a user is to get something sturdy, good power (if not TOP performance [why are you focusing on a 13" model, you expecting workstation power there ?!?!?!?!??]), and a VERY high quality display (not just resolution), then the envy 13 has a place for them.


Would I go for the envy 13 over say the 15? hell no, but then I would prefer more power, would I go for it over the sony? Yes. I would NOT use a 13" for ultra high cpu tasks and I would prefer having the superior screen.

And as for not being able to connect it to a projector due to no vga, you need a cable to connect anyway, so instead of a vga cable, how about one of these:

http://www.buy.com/prod/dekcell-hdmi-to-vga-hd15-cable/q/loc/101/211191747.html

now wasn't that easy? Complaints about no vga are useless, hdmi solves all of that in one port.

 

Quoted from the specification of that adapter: "NOTE: this cable don't support signal from VCR, COMPUTER or LAPTOP output."

Now wasn't that easy?
(Seriously, HDMI to VGA is far from trivial. But it might be possible on the Envy with a special adapter from HP...)

 

Ah... nevermind....

But you get the idea. I wonder why it is difficult? I know analog to digital is more complicated, but dvi to vga is more trivial.


And if hdmi to dvi is trivial, why not make the next or direct leap? There must be some easy way to connect it.

EDIT:

Just looked it up and it seems that dvi to vga adapters do no converting, dvi has analog pins and has the ability to pass that signal along directly. Still, it can't be that hard to get something to convert from hdmi to vga.

 

HDMI is digital, VGA is analog, DVI can be either digital or analog:

• HDMI to DVI-D is easy
• HDMI to DVI-A is hard
• HDMI to VGA is hard
• DVI-A to VGA is easy
• DVI-D to VGA is hard

But HP apparently has an adapter for the Envy 13/15 to convert from the Envy HDMI to VGA (the part number is in the manual and the item can actually be found on HP.com). I'm even wondering if the Envy has a special analog HDMI signal that is used when that adapter is connected....

 

Well if they don't have anything coming out and the hdmi does not have some special analog signal through the hdmi, the problem has already been solved.

http://www.dcemu.co.uk/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=118993

expensive for a bit over 100 bucks, but it can be done in a fairly unobtrusive way.

 

Hah, I just remembered the ATI 4830 mobility only had one RAMDAC. I wonder if that is used for the internal laptop display, or if it's used solely for that HP HDMI->VGA adapter... Or if it's used for both.

If it's for both, then it might slow down GPU performance while you have an external monitor connected. Unless perhaps if you turn off the internal monitor. I wonder if you can even be bottlenecked by the RAMDAC... I'll see if I can find out...

 

Envy HDMI to VGA adapter:
http://www.shopping.hp.com/product/computer/categories/cables/1/accessories/NP031AA%2523ABA

Edit: That adapter says 'HDMI to VGA input'. Hopefully that's a typo.

It's on the official driver pages.
http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/softwareList?os=4063&lc=en&dlc=en&cc=us&lang=en&product=4041402

and re: bloatware on HPs:
http://www.pcpro.co.uk/features/352918/hp-the-crapware-con

 

You can get up to 8 hours on the Vaio Z without having to carry round an additional heavy battery slice.

Conceeded.

No, but as a business user, I still prefer faster to slower seeing that time is money.

Epic fail on this last point.

When I talk about connectivity, I'm not just talking about the VGA output, although that is the one I mentioned. The Vaio Z can also have mobile broadband installed, and has a docking connection, has an expresscard slot, firewire connection. This is something the Envy 13 is seriously lacking.

With regards to the VGA out. Seriously, you spend this much on a notebook computer, you then need to spend $100 on a HDMI converter? No thanks.

I think it's just that HP missed a trick by not trying to make sure this notebook catered for both the consumer and business side of things.

 

Forgive my ignorance; but with a clean install, is it possible that Windows would install drivers that are less optimal than those that were factory installed? I don't relish having that chore to deal with as well...

...or should we expect to have to update drivers immediately in any case...?

 

Yow! My delivery estimate is still Nov. 4, but the package is now at the "destination sort facility" here in my town (Atlanta). Lucky I'm not far from Memphis, I guess. I'm thinking of just going to pick it up!

In any case, I think we'll all get them at least a day before the estimate.

 

Just found out that Envy 15 only supports Stereo which is very disappointing. I didn't expect any SPDIF outputs but with an HDMI there should be 5.1 channel sound for a high-end notebook. This is disappointing indeed. Definitely a con and it should be noted in reviews but hasn't been. Not much use Gaming on this machine if the sound doesn't match the visuals.

 

Interesting. But what is the actual effect of this? No 3D sound...?

 

The only "bloatware" that came preinstalled on my machine was skype and the photo and video editing software, oh and cyberlink power to go.

Also, for the guy who asked about borderlands, i'm afraid i was running in "720p". My screen isn't 1080p as I'm from the UK and we like to get screwed over
I've tweaked it so I can have dyanamic shadows on and get 40-50fps. Disabled two settings that make the colour look duller :S So in my opinion I have better frames and the colours are more vibrant. Its odd. I'm fairly sure you will run this perfectly in 1080p. If not...then 720p isn't ugly by any means!

Also played STALKER:SoC. Again 720p, and everything maxed. (dynamic lighting set to furthest etc, grass has shadows etc) and I never drop below 30 fps.

Next couple o games are Titan Quest and C&C3 and Red Alert 3

Question: The screens the Envy use...they differ in screen resolution; but will the colours and brightness be the same?

 

I'm from Sweden and we are in the same position when it comes to the screwing part

Another question for you. Have you checked the memory configuration? It seems very odd that the configuration is only one 4 Gb stick when 2 of the slots are not user accessible. 2x2 Gb seems more rational and i suspect the 1x4 Gb may be a typo (not the first one when it comes to this particular laptop...)

 

On the box it says 4gb ddr3 RAM (2 DIMM) Does that mean 2x2? I'm a complete noob when it comes to different types of RAM and terminology but I know ddr3 is faster than ddr2....right?

I'm assuming since its a 16gb capacity (4 DIMM) that must mean 4gb 2 DIMM = 2x 2gb

I hope I've helped :S lol

 

I did a clean install mostly because I wanted Ultimate not Home Premium. First I created the restore discs, because I was planning to wipe out the restore partition. This turned out to be a very bad idea. The restore discs did not work, as I found out when I was trying to put the system back to it's default state before returning it to fry's. The restore discs crashed about 2 minutes in to the recovery process. I'd say don't waste your time with a clean install unless you want to use a different OS. Norton antivirus was really the only offensive thing on there. The software installed on this computer reminded me more of an HP business computer than a consumer one as far as bloatware goes.

 

2 DIMM should meen 2x2 Gb. That makes me believe even more that the information about the specifications is not communicated very well between HP USA and Europe.

 

Any more questions just ask

I don't know if anyone has confirmed this, but the 4830 runs on ddr3 also.

 

Hello together

I am from germany and highly interessted at the envy 15“

Is realy hard to get tests of the final version (no pre-samples) of this notebook.

Maybe some owners here can answer me some questions!?

How long ist the battery runtime of the notebook (with external an even only with the internal battery).

What can you tell me about the heat of the laptop? In some pre-tests the laptop is very hot an noisy, but i hope that some bios tuning should get the final book much cooler and more silent.

Best regards form germany!

Matthias

 

Do you have a link to this information? The HP manual says the Envy 15 has "High Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) v1.3b". That should support advanced audio features or at least the ability to output them. Please forgive my ignorance, but wouldn't the audio signal be outputted and then processed by whatever the devices that it is connected to? It seems as if any limitation would be on whatever sound/audio system that receives and processes the signal as HDMI sends out an uncompressed signal and relies on the receiving device to do the decoding. Hopefully someone who has more than my minimal knowledge in this area will shed some light on this topic.

http://h10032.www1.hp.com/ctg/Manual/c01911053.pdf

 

Has anyone tested the IOS (instant OS) HP's linux fast boot options. how does that seem and is it actually useable?

 

Yep, well only for the internet. It gives you options for skype, pictures, video etc but it works very well

 

Hi there, and welcome!

I haven't tested the battery really as I'm most of the times plugged in with no battery. I'll give it a full charge and I shall let you know. I shall test it with power saver mode, lowest screen brightness. Would you like the optical disc plugged in?

Heat and noise I'm happy with. Only makes an audible noise when I'm playing games really. When you first turn the laptop on it makes me full fan blast noise for around 2-3 seconds then stops. I haven't a clue why it does that.
Palm rest gets mildy warm when playing games, and is fairly ok when just doing the usual stuff.

any more questions, feel free to ask

 

If you plan to run Linux on these machines (other than the built-in IOS), please make sure you visit this page and send your information to the HP rep:
http://h30434.www3.hp.com/psg/board...iew=by_date_ascending&message.id=22390#M22390

 

When switched on, the laptop runs a POST (Power On Self Test). It is basically kicking up the fans to maximum as part of the startup diagnostic then drops them to the needed speed. Kind of like the lights on your car's dashboard all lighting up then eventually going out once you start your car.

 

HP released a new touchpad driver a few days ago. Has anyone tried installing that to see if some of the touchpad issues are resolved? I tried to install it on a couple demo machines I played with this weekend but failed.

http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/...&dlc=en&cc=us&product=4054341&os=4063&lang=en

 

Just an FYI to all of you that are waiting for a delivery on the 4th. Mine "said" this as well. FedEx said it was in Memphis yesterday and at my local in Michigan this morning at 6:30 am EST. I just check again and it said it was out for delivery (woo-hoo). No sooner was I checking the status and reading it was out for delivery was the FedEx guy pulling up to my front door handing me my new Envy 15.

I am thinking about putting together an unboxing video, but it will have to wait until after my conference call this morning.

I hope everyone else gets theirs early too. By the way I ordered mine from HP on the 19th.

 

This frustrates me. :/.......I'm glad that you got your Envy 15 today, but I ordered the Envy 15 on the 18th (1 day before you) and I have to wait until the 11th for it to ship.


The only thing I can think of that makes me not so sad is that I will now have time within the 21 days return period to see if there will be a 40% bing discount for black Friday.

 

Lucky! My Fed Ex facility has been known to sit on packages till the day they are supposed to ship. Mine got to the local sort facility at 7:30am, and I guess it missed the delivery truck. Oh well, I guess tomorrow.


Edit: Guess not.. just changed to on truck for delivery!

 

Hi!

Thanks for your tests


It will be interesting to know:

the maximum runtime with totaly dimmed (but not turned off) display, and WLAN/Bluetooth turned off. (without dvd drive)

The runtime in „real life“ when your are sitting on the couce, medium brightness and surfing via wlan in the internet. (without dvd drive)


The runtime when you are watching a DVD with the external drive an maximum brightness.

Thanks in advanced

Matthias

 

to each his own, but more power is better if the size is smaller. I dont see how you can argue that. The slice is an anchor, and meanwhile on your business trip all the things that you have to carry with your envy to make it as good or better(in your eyes) to the sony z your bag is looking like a cable installer's bag. To get the function of the Z you will have usb drives, battery slices, vga adapters, a big power brick....as opposed to a faster machine with an extended battery. All this is my own opinion and cost you a bit of your life to read. I apologize.lol.

 

Woo hoo, though FedEx states 11/4 as the delivery date still, my Envy 15 is on the truck for delivery here in Minneapolis, MN! Now I wish I could leave work so I could sign for it...

 

Yep, got mine too. Was supposed to be tomorrow (11/3), but was delivered a few minutes ago. Too bad it's at home and I'm at work. :rolleyes2:

 

Hope you have someone who will be there to sign for it, my ship notice e-mail from HP had some kind of signature waiver I could fill out and leave at the door. Doesn't sound like they'll let FedEx just leave it without a signature or this waiver.

 

Just got a delivery exception, because I was not there to sign for it... btw, I would never pre-sign for a $2400 laptop so it can sit on my front step in the city with HP logos all over it?!? Well, I should be able to pick it up tonight from the FedEx warehouse...

 

Okay I see about 20 more posts since I posted the question, but not one response.

Anyone?

Thanks, Mike

 

Its here! Some initial notes..

1. Packaging is beautiful and worthy of trying to compete with Apple.
2. Where the hell is my OS install/Driver disc? I can't imagine its on that little SD card? I was planning to install my own copy of Win 7, but I worry that if things don't go right or I need to return it, I won't be able to return to a "basic" OS install. Does anyone know if we violate HP's return policy if we install our own OS?
3. No Edge to Edge screen. Screen is beautiful, but that bezel frustrates me. They really should have gone edge to edge glass.

Edit: http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/softwareList?os=4063&lc=en&dlc=en&cc=us&lang=en&product=3995938
Shows you ORDERING a recovery kit? I don't believe this BS. I hope the "recovery manager" lets me create them for free, instead of ordering.

 

Mine said "In production" from 10/20 until 10/29, then it shipped and I received it today.

 

You make your own discs, and no edge to edge screen has been known for a long time. Its an Envy 13 perk, I remember when both models were announced online engadget/gizmodo mentioned e2e was for envy 13. Where the 15 gets i7, 4830 etc...

When you use your touch pad for two finger scrolling...space your fingers apart and not together. Thats the mistake I was making.