*HP Envy 15 Owners Lounge! PART 1*

I think you can find it here -

http://www.case-mod.com/silverstone...-with-usb-20-high-speed-interface-p-4778.html

I don't know how reliable is the site though.

 

BTW, does any one how does this drive perform?

 

I asked this before but no one answered.

Anyway, could someone with an Envy tell me your screen manufacturer (ie SEC, LG, AUO, etc)?

I would greatly appreciate it!

 

my hardware id is LGD01FB, so I guess that's an LG?

 

I don't know guys. Is it not better to wait for USB 3.0 interfaced drives so one has a better quality product? Sure, it is not officially confirmed by the rep who is supposed to view this forum. Ultimately, what you see with USB 3.0 is the faster transfer rater, and this can make a world of difference when reading or writing a blu-ray. Personally, I first looked into eSATA devices for the Envy for the fastest possible transfer rates and now I am banking on USB 3.0 to revolutionize accessories from external rom drives to hard drives to flash drives. Is anyone with me on this?

 

My final concern (probably) is this: http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=445178

If this problem hasn't been fixed, I'm essentially buying a gimped laptop, no?

 

dunno. I am with you if there is a timeframe for USB 3.0 devices? What if it takes a year before you see one? Do you know how much they are going to cost? First ones to hit the market will probably be extremely overpriced.

 

I am really wanting to buy an HP Envy 15 but I have some reservations after reading this thread. Please advise...

1. Heating Issues - with BIOS F.07a?

2. Data Transfer Rates corrected?

3. Functioning at 931mzh or better?

... If you own an Envy 15 please convince me or scare me away from this product.

Thank you

 

pretty sure there are already some USB 3.0 hdd's coming to market this month

 

I think this is the main problem with this machine. Yet I don't see many people complaining about it here for some reason. This machine is worthless on battery, since HP or someone decided to lock the multiplier at its low frequency mode on battery. That is, 720s run at a fixed 933MHz (instead of 1.6GHz minimum), and 820s run at a fixed 1.2GHz (instead of 1.7GHz minimum).

 

Will this problem plague the i5 machines, as well?

 

It'd be interesting to see when someone gets one of the new i5s.

 

if there's such problem, couldn't it be fixed with a firmware update?

 

How do you game with this laptop? There is no optical drive.

 

The issue is that it hasn't yet. That speaks volumes.

I rarely ever install games via optical drive anymore. And if I need to, I will use an external optical drive.

 

Remarkably easily mate. I have become very good at creating iso's or cracking the games I do play to make disks unnecessary. Not only does this decrease the hassle of lugging around disks and drives, but it boosts in game performance. My Envy came with the external drive by default. It works quite well for all my needs. I just looked at the i5 configurator and the drive is 50, but its 50 well spent. You can just use a desktop to make iso's then transfer them if that is your cup of tea. Moral of the story, for me a dj and gamer, I have had no rom problems for the month of owning the Envy.

 

I returned my Envy. It just wasn't worth the premium price---the main reason I got it was that I thought the form factor would be more ergonomic than other laptops---it has nice keys and a large palmrest. However, in the end, the sharp edge was too much.

A funny story. While I still had the Envy, the case holding my Envy slipped and fell a short distance. It wasn't a long fall, but it cracked a little bit off the corner of the Envy case---which turns out to be plastic. I thought it was metal. It has a metal-like finish. I suspect the Envy is entirely plastic, unlike the MBP. They just give it a metal-like feel and finish.

I was concerned that I wouldn't get my full refund, but I didn't say anything to them in the hopes they would overlook this tiny crack (or just not care). I did get a full refund.

 

TO: xvivecuervox


I just noticed the configuration of Envy(s) in your signature. Could you please explain this: "500 GB HDD + 160 SSD" ??

Is one external or did you somehow get both to fit internally?

 

the envy is magnesium with some parts being made of aluminum. there's no way this machine is made of plastic, it's has a very solid/feel...

 

Well there's no way the piece that came off is metal. It cracked and bent like plastic. In fact if it was metal it wouldn't have cracked off so easily. It probably would have dented rather than cracked. Around the crack it showed discoloration like plastic. The piece that broke off shows discoloration like plastic.

Perhaps "magnesium" does not behave like other metals and behaves more like plastic than metal. I don't know. But it sure as hell isn't "solid". Just drop it six inches on its corner. You'll find out it is pretty flimsy.

 

Why don't you just download games from Steam or any other digital distribution site. Many games, including AAA games (Crysis, Mass Effect etc.) are digitally distributed.

 

Magnesium is light and strong but is very brittle. It doesn't bend like steel or aluminum it cracks and breaks as you have experienced.

 

Sorry. I gotta fix this typo. I bought a Toshiba 1.8" spinning HD MKxx33GSG 320GB. Then I mounted it along with a sick Intel x25m 160 GB SSD giving me around 500 GB in total space. I followed the video that iTeaBaggedURMac made.

 

I am finicky about disks. I like having the hard copy back-ups because of my cyber paranoia. I also have a crappy internet connection making me too lazy to take 5 days straight to download Modern Warfare 2.

 

So you used the 2.5" mounting bracket to mount a 2.5" SSD and a 1.8" HD?

 

Where did you buy the 350GB from? I have been looking for that without luck. Thanks.

 

If he really did than SWEET! That's what I wanna do but only use a 2.5" 640GB drive and install an X18-m 80GB G2.

 

No, Intel makes a 160gb 1.8" SSD I believe. Might be a typo.

 

Ok, I apologize for ignorantly stating it was plastic. I didn't know anything about magnesium. I suppose the magnesium gives the laptop an overall strength under normal use.

 

OK. That would be a X18-M then, not the X25-M. I got excited thinking my bracket for my 2.5" 500GB HD would allow me to add a SSD to it.

 

Steam?
10 characters

 

Thanks! Yes, that is LG.

I gave you some +rep

 

Just realized that drive can't burn CDs/DVDs either. It's a reader only.

I am wondering if I can keep the HP drive from my previous order. But I am afraid they'll charge me the standalone part price as opposed to what they charge when you add it to a custom build (which is a lot cheaper)

 

I am glad I still have my Adamo Onyx slim external

 

I'm gonna wait until a cheaper and nicer external blu-ray burner comes out instead of getting the HP.

 

Could some of you guys that got the i7 Envy give me an idea of HP's build times?

Mine has been In Production for 1 day. How long does it usually take for it to move from In Production to Shipped?

Thanks

 

look at the estimated ship date. most likely it will be build by then at the earliest. my first envy was delayed a month! but that month saved me as I could return it

 

If anyone still wants to use the $300 off coupon just call and talk to a CSR. I ordered by Envy 15 over the phone about an hour ago and used the coupon no problem. I just read him the coupon information, he input it into the system and just like that I received the discount. Obviously, YMMV.

 

It isn't much cheaper. It costs $200 to get it as part of the build.

 

So are there still delays?

 

i can verify that claim, i just placed my order with the $300 discount

 

I did this as well. Envy 15 i5 is on the way. ~$1550 for the i5-540/4GB/320GB/3 year warranty.

 

Damn, decision time, i5 or i7? The extra battery life would be nice, but then again, I am hardly ever away from a power point, so might as well go for the i7?

 

For those wondering about the silverstone external bluray that was linked to earlier, here is a review: http://www.ocia.net/reviews/ts05/page1.shtml

 

It is a very tough choice. If you are a betting man, get the i5. If not, get the i7.

The i5 will most likely be the one that has USB 3.0, and there is very little chance that the i7 will have switchable graphics, which the i5 may well have.

So those are two major features that you may lose out on if you get the i7. Of course, raw performance on the i7 is better, but really the i5 is not far behind at all when you consider the huge difference in clock speed. Normally you could say that the i7 can run more threads, but the i5 is multithreaded as it is, and you will very rarely need to run more than 4 threads at a time. If you have money, maybe get the faster version of the i5 to make the choice a bit easier. You get a tiny performance boost but without the pain to your wallet, palms and back of the i7.

 

And you still can have hard copy backups - once the game is downloaded and installed, you can choose to back it up to external media such as DVD or CD, or an external HDD.

Slow internet connection, there is not a way round that bit though (

 

Well put, I am starting to lean towards the i5. Will be good to see some real world info once you lucky US people start receiving yours. Anyone by chance have any info on an Australia release date for the new models?

 

What are you guys saying to the sales guys? Do you ask to speak to a CSR or just talk to the normal sales people? I've called twice and been rejected on the coupon both times. They were nice but they wanted the coupon code when I mentioned the coupon or they wouldn't do anything. Once they got the code and realized it was expired they wouldn't go anywhere with it. I'm just wondering how you guys are getting them to cooperate.

 

Anybody seen any good pricing on 4GB DDR3 1066 or 1333 modules recently?

Best I've found so far is $195 (for 1333) through an e-tailer on amazon, believe it or not the manufcturer is HP. I sent an email requesting the real brand and p/n.

 

Ive tested my Envy 15 on 3Dmark06 with a score of 7756