NOW AVAILABLE - ENVY 14 Spectre

I am partial towards the HP Envy 14 Spectre's looks ... but its 30% heavier and also 15% thicker than the Macbook Air 13. That's a pretty big difference.

 

I think that a 14" 1600x900 screen instead of a 13" 1440x900 screen helps explain the extra bulk. Also, the scratch-resistant glass coating on the aluminum likely contributes, but considering that a lot of MBA owners complain about their cases scratching, it might be worth it. It's still pretty darned thin and light in the grand scheme of things.

Then again, I have a machine that's 1.70" thick at its widest point, so maybe I have a skewed sense of what's thin and light.

 

Just received an email from HP. The final installment for the HP Envy14 Spectre Full Reveal, now on YouTube...

HP Envy14 Spectre full reveal - YouTube

 

They think that I'll buy it for 1400$? No sorry hp

You must return radiance 1600x900 to hp envy 3xxx gen and i buy it.

 

30% heavier than ultra light is still pretty damn light. And razor thinness is not that big of a deal, though the extra space should let them fit something else in... like say, a discreet gpu!


Honestly, they need to start releasing optical driveless 15 and 17" ultra thins where the extra space is used for higher res displays, more battery, and more gaphics.

 

That's a label for a current-gen Envy 14. I can't YouTube so I can't see where it's posted, but whatever it's doing in the video, it shouldn't be associated with the Spectre.

It sounds to me like the Spectre's target market is the "computer as a fashion accessory" demographic. It might adequately meet the needs of some other types as well, but it appears to be essentially a sexy plus-size ultrabook. The question is whether or not they'll get enough of these out there to fuel a market for their brand to compete with that fruit company within that demographic. It might have everything it takes to gain headway there, but people have to know about it and have access to it to accept it as an alternative. Still, considering that I'm trying to move away from gaming, maybe it'll be a viable replacement for my current first-gen Envy 14 this summer if it gets an Ivy Bridge update and can be ordered with one of those 30%+ coupons when I'm in the market. Then again, the arrow keys on that keyboard might be a dealbreaker...

 

What about crush test? If someone buys - please test it!

 

To put this in perspective, the Spectre actually weighs 0.2 lbs MORE than a similarly-priced Vaio SA, which has a 900p screen, a full-power CPU, a dedicated GPU, and an optical drive. On the other hand, it's 0.2 inches thinner.

 

The SA has a worthless screen and even more so the speakers are beyond worthless. But yes the dedicated GPU is wonderful and a little more power in the GPU department would make it a overall champ.

HP's original ultrabook is far better, i had a chance to see both HP's original ultrabook and Dell's XPS 13 "At a recent Dell show" and i noticed the XPS is better in sound, display and wifi. HP was better in the VFM category its speakers were not as good as the XPS 13.

If XPS 13 gets a resolution upgrade option it would be quite a match up against the Envy 14 spectre.

 

I bet that would still work. Hehe.

 

I wasn't saying that people should buy the Vaio SA instead of the Spectre; I was just pointing out that it's remarkable for everything the SA carries that the Spectre doesn't have (including GPU and optical drive), the Spectre weighs more.

You're right, the screen is washed out on the SA and the speakers are universally hated.

 

FYI,

HP says the Spectre base config and price will be $1399 and available on 2/8/2012. This is according to the HP VP Page Murray interviewed at Live from the Engadget CES Stage: an interview with HP (update: video embedded) -- Engadget

He mentions this at the 7 minute mark.

 

But the current Envy 14 is a small multimedia notebook while the Spectre is an Ultrabook. I don't see how they compete for the same market space. Decisions like these have to be the reason why HP's business is going under.

 

Here is a new YouTube video on this gorgeous Envy!

HP ENVY 14 Spectre -- Product Interview - YouTube

 

Hi all,

I'm here at CES right now and can take a look at/confirm details for/take pictures of some things you guys may still be curious about regarding the spectre. I'll check this thread periodically through the day and post things up as soon as I'm back in range of a good connection (showfloor is pretty congested).

 

So true, lets see if Meg can turn it around..

 

Anandtech just completed an article highlighting the Spectre, Envy 15 and Folio 13. What's interesting is that HP had customized versions at their CES booth, which begs to question if they will have multiple designs at launch with different specs?

AnandTech - Hands on with HP's Envy 14 Spectre, Envy 15, and Folio

 

The YouTube video suggests the screen is a "high color gamut," which at 60% obviously isn't the case with the 15. Wonder if that will turn out to be true.

 

I believe that the Envy 15 is also 60% gamut. That isn't the issue with the screen though, it's that the spectrum of colors it can produce is shifted from what correctly calibrated monitors can display.

If the Spectre is announced to have an IPS display, then I would be worried about the screen's color reproduction. Best thing that can happen is HP releasing information that the screen is a good TN panel like the Envy 17. Unfortunately, HP has gotten into a bad habit of just saying that their premium screens are "Radiance" - a marketing term that has lost any meaning after the Envy 14's screen.

 

Sorry, I may have been unclear. Yes, the Envy is supposedly only a 60% gamut, which can't right be called a high color gamut. The video says the 14 has a high gamut, so I would hope/assume that means higher than the 60 in the 15's panel, but who knows.

 

What is the exact size of the screen ? is 14 inch or 13.3 inch, it has 13.3 inch chasis? I might exchange my 15inch for the 14.

 

I am debating whether to get the Envy 14 Spectre or the Envy 15. Anyone else in the same boat? If so, should there be a separate thread discussing the differences?

I have the following questions. Hope to get answers once the Spectre arrives.

• The Spectre has a single jack for headphone and mic. The 15 has three (two for headphones, one for mic). Is there an advantage of one over the other? And why do we need two headphone jacks on the 15?
• From the pictures, it appears that the Spectre's touchpad is truncated at the top while the 15's is not. What are the dimensions of the touchpad on the 15? What are the Spectre's touchpad dimensions?
• Are the sizes of the keys and the distance between adjacent keys the same in the Spectre and the 15? What about travel?
• Accessing the battery and hard drive on the 15 seems relatively straightforward. How is component access on the Spectre?
• The Spectre has a mini displayport; the 15 has a full size one. What is the difference in terms of driving external displays?
• The 15's touchpad is reportedly hard to press down. How does the Spectre compare? And does the Gorilla glass on the touchpad help or hinder?
• The Spectre's display, according to the HP representative is high color gamut. I think I read that it is TN. The 15's display (HD variety) is rumored to be IPS and has a 60% color gamut. How do the displays compare?

If you are debating between the two and have additional questions, please do post.

Thanks.

 

Well I am not sure high color gamut really means accurate colors. I am told the Vaio SE has a higher color gamut IPS screen vs the Envy 15, but that too has color accuracy issues with the reds also looking more orange than they should. Maybe both are using the same panel? I would think that since this is a 14(or is it 14.5in?) model that the panel they use maybe different so maybe the issues the 15 has would not plague the 14.

Vaio SE would have been on the top of list, but the color issues are a no for me. Now if the Spectre can offer a color gamut of around 75% or higher with accurate colors, I am sold(baring battery life is acceptable). I am also sure a few would trade their current machine for one too.

 

They keep saying it is a 14 inch screen in a 13.3 inch size chassis.

 

Here's an NBR member's review of the Vaio SE screen.

It does seem similar to the 15's in some ways, but I don't think it's the exact same model of IPS.

 

I'am in the same boat I just my ENVY 15 and the size of the spectre makes it quite attractive too me. The only thing is it doesn't have a dedicated GPU. So playing Games isn't going be great.

I don't play any games, just browse, use excel, power point and stream tons of movies..

 

How would Diablo 3 play on this? Since It doesn't have a discrete graphic card? How would watching HD movies affect it?

 

And I thought I was the only one

I returned the envy 15 when news of an updated envy 14 hit the FCC. I returned it due to some quality issues but mainly because I wanted the next iteration of my envy 14 1xxx.


I love the design and size of the spectre. I am only concerned about the GPU although I don't generally game on my laptop. I hope we see some advance reviews and the 30% coupons!!!

 

Same the dedicated GPU does bother me a little, but I do no gaming. But might have to take a swing at D3 for old times, but I have a desktop for that..

How much do you think the total will be for 256SDD and 8GB RAM?

Also I hope there is atleast 30% coupon if not a 33% when the ENVY came out..

 

That's the configuration I'm looking at too. I don't know how much more it will be but I hope that with the upgrades and the coupon, total stays around 1400 if not less.

 

Even playing HD movies should be fine on an integrated GPU. Unless you are watching a couple o HD movies at the same time, playback should go off without a hitch.

As for games, I am in extreme doubt about its performance. Even non-graphic intensive games (Battlfield 3, Witcher 2, RAGE) played at a low resolution with settings set to low will probably run at low FPS, if at all.

 

I'd suggest you take Battlefield 3 off that list of non-graphic intensive games, BF3 is VERY hard on current day GPU's, there isn't a single-GPU card that can play it on Ultra. And considering the Spectre's native res is 1600x900, that's a giant 'no' for BF3.

 

Keep this in mind though:

If it has Ivy Bridge's HD 4000 GPU, you may be gaming close the the level of today's GT 540M or 6600M series.

This integrated part is supposed to be at least 2x the speed of the current HD 3000.

 

If this is coming out next month though, it won't be Ivy Bridge.

 

answer for those people is to wait longer until ivy bridge is there then, but if someone wants to play games I would not want to stick with intel only, and not just for raw graphics power, talking driver support too.

 

Spectre just as gorgeous as it is not practical

 

Next computer show is in March and Ivy Bridge is due out in April? So I think we see a slew of ultrabooks in March. Is CEBIT upcoming in March a big trade show for new computers to be showed off?

 

If I remember correctly, the Envy 14 is not Ivy Bridge. Besides that, the GPU speed increase would be ~60% by the numbers that leaked out so far.

+60% = 1.6x < 2x << more than 2x

 

Greetings again all, thanks for the feedback regarding my last post. I'd like to clarify my position, I am unconvinced at this point that the spectre will have switchable graphics. Yet I hope to be proven wrong. I'd like to once again stir the pot, I came across this video today, HP Envy Spectre Hands-on @CES 2012 - YouTube where at about the 1:33 mark, the previewer made mention of a spectre model, with 640gb of storage, 8gb of ram, 1gb of switchable graphics, and a $ 1,049 starting price. I wonder if the previewer read these specs verbatim off the product card shown in the last video I posted. Or did he hear it directly from an hp rep in attendance. I fear its the former, but the spectre product page says ”Actual weight will vary by configuration”.

 

Can you turn off the HP logo light in the lid? It seems to be on even with the lid closed which seems odd to me.

 

NO you cannot turn it off, But if you have your Envy set to turn off when you close the lid, the light should go off as well, at least it does on mine..

 

why is it not practical?

the only main thing it won't be great at is high graphics games.. which many people don't play anyway.

 

Yea, I don't get that comment either of "its not practical". Its an Ultrabook, that is doing things differently by implementing Gorilla Glass, which is neat.

The "its not practical" comment could be said about the Macbook Air when it came out. Who wants an ultra thin razor sharp laptop without an optical drive?

Oh wait ... thats right....

 

Maybe the author means that for an ultrabook its not very practical because it's a pig?

 

It's not very practical because the glass they are using all throughout the body is only there for aesthetic reasons rather than practical reasons.

The glass adds unnecessary weight to the laptop, makes the chassis more fragile, and attracts more finger prints.

 

yes.

I love HP company, but if I may be needed ultrabook... on this tilme i go with another company. But if stop on Spectre ... as something in between standart 14 notebook and ultrabook... Guys.. seriously do you like this glass? As is practical? What are the pros and cons? For me, such is not only important what is inside the laptop... Great that Spectre thinner and less weight than regular HP Envy 14 line (i believe that all next laptops should progress to decrease the thickness and weight while maintaining performance) and no matter that here no optical drive and no discrete videocard but... but... but... design.. cost...

 

The glass is 99% design, not function, but so are many things. Metal is in large part a design decision, why not use a high grade plastic in its place? or some lighter material like carbon fiber?

It's not a negative to do something because of design, it's a negative if it takes something away that is important. I am not seeing what they took away. Given the choice of 3.8 lbs with a 1600x900 res panel seems orders of magnitude better than a 2.5-3lb machine with a 1366x768 panel.

But then I never was one to throw wild fits of rage over not having he lightest possible notebook. IF that's what you want, then you have an option, the samsung series 9 with the 1600x900 screen, that is supposed to be pretty light.

edit:

I should mention though, and I realize this is heresy for many many people, I prefer the glass cover for the screen on the spectre vs the matte finish, it will make the screen look sharper and crisper and less of a milky haze with ambient light. /enter the throngs of people who care less about than the reflections.

 

It looks very nice....even the weight isn't that bad compared to regular laptops.

The problem is whether or not a store like Best Buy will have a demo unit of something like this? Cuz I'd really like to see it in person and hold it so I can get a feel of how solid and durable it is.....

If mom hadn't just impulse bought this huge toshiba laptop for herself I'd tell her to get this but oh well. As it is I'm waiting for the Ivy Bridge Envy 17 but it wouldn't hurt to have a 2nd unit like this as a backup....

 

Well, if you're buying in the U.S., I believe that HP still has its "free look" policy with no restocking fee. When I bought my Envy, I think I had 28 days to return it for a full refund -- and HP would have paid the return shipping. Of course, the Spectre is still a phone-only pre-order...

 

Return policy is 21 days from delivery.