*HP Envy 15 Owners Lounge! PART 1*

if you're going with an i5... it uses a new smaller manufacturing processor and with 2 cores instead of 4, we should see cooler temps. The big difference that I expect is that when using the integrated graphics, we should see better system temps, and much battery life.

 

i don't see them changing the brick as it is needed to be able to charge a 6 cell + 9 cell in many cases...

 

is getting the 9 cell actually worth it? im planning on just getting another 6 cell as another poster has recommended instead of the 9cell because i hear it adds (a lot of) extra weight and thickness

 

i actually didn't mind the 9 cell, and thought it would come into use for extended periods of time, and I didn't find the laptop very thick at all, i thought the slice was pretty cool. i just hope they fixed the issue where it would slide off it you moved the laptop from side to side

 

The 5830 is more efficient than the 4830 as well.

 

I installed 10.1 p2 and it's still the same.

 

I fount this:

source: http://ces.cnet.com/8301-31045_1-10428132-269.html
and also this:
http://www.virtualpressoffice.com/detail.do?contentId=227515&showId=53
Whether it's true or not is still debatable. It may just be a reporter using the same information we have. Also note, that the envy 15 has received compliance certification for USB 3.0 We should rely on information directly from hp. Looks promising though.

 

Check your drivers. You get good 3D acceleration? Maybe it's an option in Flash that you don't have enabled?

 

All machine code instructions (alignment), all pointers to data structures, and all uses of integer data type (most common type next to char perhaps) will double from ia32 to ia64. It really depends on the application, some see 60% worse case numbers (system code, database code).

At no point did i say double or imply double. that is your bias leaking in.

if (4GB/32bit) windows has 3.5GB of usable memory space and i increase that by your claims of 10-20% then indeed we have exceeded the (4GB/64)'s space and guess what, my claim is indeed accurate - and by your very own standards.

 

Got a voice message today to verify the order I placed last night using the $300 coupon. When calling the number the guy left (866-246-0504) I get a message asking to call during office hours mon-fri after 10 AM ET. What the heck? I called the usual customer service # and they told me the same thing, that I need to wait till Monday.

So I guess the order won't move anywhere until then? I never got the confirmation email. Not sure what the deal is.

 

dude, that thing requires a power adapter and 2 USB ports. I also left out HP's optical bluray on my new order. However, shopping around I haven't found anything close to what HP offers that would save you any money. In fact, HP choices seem to be the best, specially on the blueray drive. Slim, USB powered, needs one USB port only, and has a built-in hub.

 

You guys might want to check this OD out: http://www.silverstonetek.com/products/p_contents.php?pno=TS05&area=usa

Or just give it some time and wait until someone else comes out with something better and cheaper.

 

With the new i5 version I have 3 questions.

1. The anti-glare screen, Does it have a grainy effect on the screen?
2. How much battery life do you get with using just intel hd graphics? and what about with the extra battery slice?
3. Did they go away with the Design on the lid and arm wrest? in the little pictures on the site it looks like its just plain now

 

It can use either two usb ports or one usb port and the power adapter. Yes, it is a tradeoff, but if you are like me, you only use an optical drive very rarely and it isn't a big sacrifice.

Again though, I feel I should wait to get one with USB 3 and possibly a burner, since I don't see a pressing need to have Blu ray right now anyway.

 

Well here is the revised list of questions for HP. This is from scanning the replies since my earlier post (Pg 412) and choosing what I think are the most important things one needs to know before committing to odering an ENVY 15 i5 model. Keep in mind that HP asked for a list of the 'top 10' questions from the forum and to keep it concise.

Please review this and let me know if I have overlooked anything you think is more important than these 12 items in order for you to make a decision about ordering this model. I know there are many more questions / issues that need to be addressed but I want to keep it simple, as they requested, for now. If we get a reasonable response to this list then we have opened the door for future communications


1. 5830 GPU specs incl. memory specs
2. CPU / IGP specs (as installed on Envy 15) and switchable graphics information
3. # of Memory slots & maximum capacity- many require 8GB upgradability (or won't place order)
4. RAM type and specs
5. SSD & HDD specs / info / configuration of options given (SSD make/model)
6. Display specs, color gamut, brightness, etc including anti glare option
7. Expected battery life using IGP, using GPU for both 6 cell and 6+9 cell
8. I/O types and specs / is the USB v3.0 shipping on new orders (As per CES press release)
9. Availability information outside U.S. (many want 1920x1080 res or will not place order)
10. Has the horizontal lines on the display issue been resolved
11. Any major changes internally vs. i7 model
12. Any changes to the exterior 'etching' design or color

One final request supported by everyone -- get rid of the bloatware! or at least an option to pay a small price to get a 'clean system' like other manufacturers offer.

 

I'd like them to fix the two finger scroll "up" motion, because it's terrible and usually only works on the lower portion of the touchpad.

 

http://www.anandtech.com/video/showdoc.aspx?i=3678&p=3

Seems there are some issues with AMD drivers, but it should be worked out in due time.

 

Don't think that trumps what is on the list.

I had no issues with 2 finger scrolling after adjusting the settings a little, I even got the 3 finger 'swipe' working great (works great for web browsing in IE8 - auto configured for page back or foward--don't need to use cursor).

Another trick I just remembered - once you see the little 'slider' icon below the cusor when 2 finger scrolling you can remove one finger and you stay scrolling (up or down) with the remaining finger--work great once you get used to it. The other setting I found very useful was activating the 'continue at edges' (something like that can't remember actual name) when its set right you can scroll up or down to the edge of pad, once there keep your finger(s) on the edge and you keep scrolling, move away a little and it controls the speed of the scrolling -- no need to reset your fingers to keep scrolling in same direction.

 

Me too!! Its intensely annoying. Why cant they make it as easy as a macbook

 

Apparently with the 5000 series it is possible to get audio out of display port. I really hope that they replace HDMI with DP and throw in an adapter. That way we get all the benefits of HDMI as well as the ability to power all the LCDs we could ever want.

 

I think that was my post you read. It does add a significant amount of wieght - from 5.2 lbs. to 7.5+ lbs. which wasn't that bad around the office or house etc. but when I used it on a plane it made it very akward to move in the tight confines of coach seating, getting it in and out of bag or moving it so you could get out of your seat was a real pain, mainly because your using just one hand to do this. The added thickness was no issue at all, hard to tell it's on until you go to lift it.

 

Ask them if they made any changes to the exterior look of the notebook, from the few pictures on the website it looks like they did away with the little laser etch design and did a plain brushed metal look

 

Love that picture (your avatar I mean)

I just checked the site and the 'new picture' on the left is actually the Envy 13 and that does have a plain cover. I will add the question just to be sure about the 15.

Wasn't sure about the design at first but it grew on me...think if I had a choice I would order it that way again.

 

Thanks lol I go Gaga for Gaga XD

Also on the same page as

http://www.shopping.hp.com/webapp/s...pid=in_R329_prodexp/hhoslp/psg/notebooks/ENVY

The 2nd ad (The right one) thats smaller shows the 15 version (You can tell by the ports) with the same non artsy design and just a brushed look.

 

Looks good. I'd just add something like "random read/write speeds are optmized" or something along those likes to the fifth bullet. Also, JJB, thanks for coordinating this with HP. It was a great idea and props to you for getting them to come check out the thread. Let's just hope now that we get some helpful info.

 

This would suck! I liked the laser etching

 

Thanks, I hope we do also.

I understand what you want to add but don't you think that we should address that in 'round 2' if we get a response? If they give us the requested specs then we have something you can compare the actual performance to (that they gave us) and ask - why does this not meet the spec?

Again trying to keep this as painless as possible for HP to answer us for the first goaround.

 

I added the question, but I'm still not sure of that pic, at some angles and lighting mine looked the same way

 

Ya, that pic seems like a render or a photoshop job or something. I doubt they got rid of the laser etching.

 

On the product page it claims it has "An elegant metal-etched surface design". I'm pretty sure that the etching is still there. I'm running Linux, so the Envy 15 Demo doesn't work, but it may shed some more light on the issue.

 

Um about the "elegant metal etched surface design" thats not it, the beats edition says the same thing and thats solid black so...

 

Thinking a little more about it I am almost certain they wouldn't change the 'etching'. They just released 3 new laptops/touchscreens at CES that all had the lower case just like the envy 13 with etched palm rest area and same coloring. Also the photos of the envy 15 from CES had the original etched design and they were the first showing of the i5 model (assuming they were actually the new version)

 

Yeah the TM2, I just saw the pictures on that page and thought it was weird.

 

Serg,

Some weights (US custom config, 6GB/500GB, 1080p glossy):

Computer: 2422 g
Slice: 1236 g
Computer + slice: 3658 g
120W power brick w/o wall cable: 588 g
6-cell battery: 403 g

 

Sweet! Nice looking refresh! Was blown away when reading about the Alienware M11x, but hearing about this refresh, its Envy 15 all the way for me.

I am very interested to see how the 5830 goes in gaming. Any Aussies know when this refresh will be hitting our shores? I checked the HP website, still listed the original model. We'll probably be behind the rest of the world as usual.

 

Any idea if there's a way to convince the reps? A guy I called said he tried using all the $100-$400 dollars off coupons and they all did not work because they were expired...are there ways for them to honor the offer without using the coupon?

 

Wifi performance problems

I'm not getting very good wifi performance. At a moderate signal strength (3 bars) the Intel 5100 card in the Envy constantly switches bandwidth, down to 1 Mbps. Actual throughput stays around 100 KB/sec. Only at 5 bars does the card deliver good throughput.

As a comparison, the Atheros AR9285 card in my Samsung X120 gets a solid 2-5 MB/sec throughput at the same location.

My router is a Netgear WNR3500 (version 1).

 

What does that mean? You will just confuse HP.

Buy the SSD if you want optimized random read/write speeds, that's what they excel at. HP cannot force Windows to guarantee that you will install all applications for which you want optimal random r/w performance on that SSD in a multi-drive system.

 

Again, TRIM doesn't work with dual hard drives, no matter what generation or brand. The TRIM specification never included a way to work with multiple drives. If you want to use TRIM, you can only use a single hard drive. Dual hard drives will be approximately 75% faster than a single hard drive (in RAID 0) unless restricted by the controller (it sounds like the Envy's controller has performance issues that needs to be addressed in a software update.)

 

exactly, Trim won't work in a raid. So to me, it really is kind of a dead issue. The performance increase from the raid should negate the need for trim. and since I have a 4tb nas, I plan on doing a backup every 2 weeks, to make sure my data is secure.

 

hmm, there's gotta be something wrong with your flash or something, I'm running that same trailer on a C2D P8400 and with an intel X4500HD graphics.. which is way way below any discrete graphics and I'm only seeing about 45% to 55% cpu use

 

Didnt you have an i7 720QM?

 

This is my usage with 15 Safari tabs opened and Power Point



Same i7 720, and I get to see the 8 threads, why yours show only 4 threads?

 

sounds like a hyperthreading issue? perhaps it's disabled in the bios? (can't check on my envy since it's being returned...) but that's my first guess

 

Thank you!

 

Wow those weights are actually higher than I thought, especially the slice. makes me feel better about my choice to go with extra 6 cell (x2) and no slice on my new order.

The advantages I see are;

Envy + slice = 8.06 lbs and 146 Wh total capacity

Envy = 5.3 lbs
2 x 6cell = 1.77 lbs
total wt = 7.07 lbs and 159 Wh total capacity

Plus this way i'll only have to deal with the 5.3 lbs computer (on an airplane for example) and swap batts when needed ( ok thats a slight hassle).

I just ordered the 65 watt slim travel charger, I see no reason why it won't work when I'm on the road, it whieghs under a pound and is much easier to pack. Not sure about capability to power in performance mode with GPU but should be fine for IGP use and I'm sure it will charge the 6 cell with no problems.
.

 

it's not a bad idea, but swapping out 6 cells constantly wouldn't be something I would want to do. Not to mention having to recharge each one at a time would also be something I wouldn't want to deal with

i ordered the slice, and it's something that I will basically only use when traveling and need a goof 5-6 hours of use without charging. I figure the 6 cell should be much better with an i5/integrated setup... but we'll see

 

The Envy just came out a few months back.

If you people think the design is any different, you need your heads examined.

Sorry.....

 

Well let's see.... New CPU, New GPU, new motherboard, possibly USB 3.0....I'd say the design is already completely different albiet internally. If they changed the cosmetics on the case that would be minor compared to the other changes, it would actually remove a step (no etching) and probably save them money....Sorry, couldn't help myself...

 

All that people are asking for is confirmation either way. I suspect that you are correct, but as with the previous version, details seem a little thin on the ground in some areas.