HP should hold off on an envy 14 refresh

This is almost certainly not going to happen, but ideally they should hold off until 4 things happen.

1) The newer synaptics clickpad is ready for purchase.

The Windows PC ClickPad finally improved? Synaptics ClickPad IS Series 3 preview -- Engadget



2) The refreshed mobile gpus from amd are available (may already be ready). Hopefully the refresh will use the updated versions of the midrange graphics and not just the re-badged models.

something like this would be perfectly fine.

AMD Radeon HD 6750M - Notebookcheck.net Tech



3) Higher res radiance equivalent display becomes available. This may be beyond hps control, and if it is then it will be ignored for now, but ideally this needs to be fixed asap.

4) usb 3.0 (don't you dare not include this in the refresh, this is not the dark ages)




*optional improvements

- supply an optional higher capacity battery inside the envy, for those who want a bit more juice without adding the slice

- supply a slot loaded blu ray drive, how many months does it need to take to bring something that will fit the space to market?

- support for the new intel widi 2.0

Intel to launch Insider movie service with 1080p content, WiDi 2.0 will let you stream it to your TV -- Engadget



These tweaks would make the envy 14 a flawless machine, a thing chiseled off a block of perfection. Too fanciful? dress me down.

 

It's not up to HP for USB3, Intel is the one to blame. By the way nobody uses USB3 (yet).
I agree they should get rid of those crappy 1366x768 screens for the envy line-up.
Also want atleast a 6750M or 6770M in my next envy 14/15/16.

But HP knowing, US market can be safe, all crap goes, once again to europe...

 

Asus has a usb 3.0 port on their U and N series notebooks. They chose to add in the capability for some infinitesimally small added cost of construction to their non budget notebooks,

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Asus+-+...Navy/1257685.p?id=1218243754694&skuId=1257685

So why can't hp do so on it's premium lineup? Sandy Bridge is a perfect opportunity to do what should have been done already.

Basically I don't want hp getting into their heads that they want to lean towards the apple model. Less capability and feature sets for a higher price. I want them to walk the line in between. I keep bringing it up but the best analogy is Buick.

Horrible, blighted name, a name that makes ones think of cars designed for people in their late 90s, early 100s. And then they crafted the recent buick lacross, that competes favorably with comparable lexus models, with arguably better looks, more features, for less money.


Buick did not set out to mirror bmw margin and prices with the lacross, they set out for a balance that would win people over on the merits by being a better value than a lexus or bmw, and a solid step above their older offerings that were a race towards the bottom of cutting corners and materials (i.e. no usb 3.0, entry level screen option only on a premium laptop).

The success of the envy 14 so far was precisely because it WAS a sort of revamped buick lacross of the laptop world above 1k. That is the model for taking over marketshare, on the merits, not resting on laurels. HP is not an apple or bmw, act accordingly and succeed.

 

Calm down, typical American reaction. Be glad you can atleast customize. In europe we get all the crap, so be glad ..

 

Very good point! And also to add to the topic of no laptops having USB 3.0, I'm pretty sure Dell's latest XPS line has them.

 

Typical american reaction? paying this much for something you should get what you want instead of settling for less and not complaining thus allowing the company to slack

 

do you think HP will ever refresh the Envy 15?

It is the only slim and portable laptop made by any manufacturer that can run games decently at 1920x1080.

I was hoping to buy one as an xmas gift for a family member, but it was still discontinued.

 

All we can do is hope. No one has any idea what hp has up it's sleeve for 2011.

 

He may have meant, that they want all of the above specifications and still pay pittance.

Aka something for nothing.

You probably could get all of those specs, in a high end gaming laptop for 3k. To get all that relatively new technology AND in a laptop that looks good, slim and does not weigh a ton?

 

What I don't understand is how Sony can make a hand held gaming system capable of ps3 graphics yet a notebook manufacturer cant make a gaming machine that doesnt weigh more than 8 pounds and has decent battery life.

 

I don't know about that. We Americans are able "complain" because the competition in the US market is cutthroat. The bar is set higher here for improvements, and with Apple's market share rising on inferior specs for higher prices, it would be completely logical for HP to follow the Buick Lacrosse strategy.


Plus the "Don't complain" rhetoric has little relevance here. It only encourages us consumers to sit back and subsequently for companies to settle for mediocrity.

 

Which handheld? Because regardless, its CPU and GPU still won't compare to gaming notebooks.

 

You bring up a good point. I would amend OP's comment to read "Offer these specs as being optional."

I'm an idealistic guy, so I'm always down for hoping for the best. But my realist instincts say HP in this economy is keeping costs as low as possible. That means it won't be able to offer multiple GPU options. They'll adopt the one-size-fits all approach on the GPU, meaning they'll just offer only one for all. There's no promise it'll be a surprisingly powerful one. Maybe one that's just a slight bump up from the 5650. USB 3.0 is something we should see coming in the not-so-distant future. But a higher resolution radiance? Even when the radiance upgrade is/was $200? Yeah...not happening unless HP sees a huge market for it.


I don't speak for everyone. But I would expect $1,000 to include USB 3.0, an upgraded GPU, an improved battery, the new clickpad, an optional radiance upgrade, and a few more little surprises here and there.



Blu-ray and wi-di are unknown quantities. I haven't been staying updated as to whether we can expect to see it offered in 1-1.1" thick notebooks and wi-di looks promising as an HDMI replacement.

 

Videos - Free video downloads and streaming video - CNET TV
The sony NGP.

 

The bar has just been raised.

Look at what the above 1k notebook leader just released.

Apple refreshes MacBook Pros with Sandy Bridge processors, AMD graphics, Thunderbolt I/O tech, and HD cameras -- Engadget



ignore the 13, the 15 is what is interesting.


6490m gpu or 6750m gpu from amd

the first is a joke, the second a nice graphics card for the size. Sandy bridge is a wash as everyone will have access to those, thunderbolt is nice but usb 3.0 is going to be more widespread. Screens are more along a radiancethan the brightview.


Now the 15" mbp with the non gimp gpu goes for over 2 grand, that is over double the base cost of the envy 14.



So what does this all mean for the envy 14 refresh when it comes?

To remain competitive, it needs a minimum of usb 3.0 (likely), radiance like screen option, higher power gpu than the current gen - 6750 or 6770.


These components cost more money, the base cost of the next gen envy 14 would need to be higher to compensate. That is fine, never said they needed to give notebooks away for free. But even with higher component cost than the current gen, it could still be aggressively priced well below a similarly configed mbp.


Irony of ironies.. It is entirely possible that a freaking mbp will be a more capable gaming machine than the next envy if it comes with a weaker gpu.

 

meh.
I don't think too many are going to pay $2200 for that macbook.
and those with enough money to buy it, won't even want to consider the envy.. because let's face it... although WAY more expensive.... the macbook pros are really sleek, beautiful, and fast (even though you can get a way faster windows pc for way less )

 

hope hp will refresh their envy lineup soon, especially the envy 14 to compete with the new macbook pro series

 

they should add usb 3.0, an option for a high-res screen, and a blue-ray drive..this IS their highend model, so i don know why they wouldnt do this.

and for the beats model they should have the "HP" logo on the case light up in red.

 

blu ray should be an option, some people have no use for it.

 

Apples and Oranges. NGP doesn't have to divert its resources to running a full scale OS. NGP also only has a 960 x 544 resolution.

Also, NGP's claims for "ps3 graphics" is overstated and you can read up numerous break downs about its theoretical power at 3dguru, [h]ard forums, etc.

As far as weight goes, laptops have a chassis, a large screen, keyboard, and disc drive adding to the total burden. Many are made of metal, so of course you are going to have weight. Wishing for anything else is wishing for something that isn't a laptop at all. Like a tablet.

Apples and Oranges.

 

A bit OT, but do you think the 13in will also see similar upgrades or is that discontinued in favor of the 14in model?

 

Unfortunately I don't think anyone has the slightest clue what they will discontinue or bring back. I sure wish i knew myself....