Returning my weekold Envy 14

I got my envy slightly after christmas. After using it for the past week I have decided to return it and wait for a SB refresh of either envy 14/15 or the xps 15.

I really like the design especially the metal arm rest as it is almost always cool to the touch. Its slightly weighty with the slice battery, but I like the solid feeling so it doesn't bother me too much. I don't really have anything negative to say about the screen... not anything positive either...

So now the bad parts: The battery life is no where as great as I would like it. Without the slice I get about 2 and a half hours with wifi. With the slice the battery almost double to almost 5 hours. I suppose that is pretty decent, but the weight and height it adds... I expect a little but more. Overall I'd have to say I'm somewhat satisfied with the batterylife which is why Along with the positives I would reconsider a refreshed envy.

The part where it failed was the speakers. I guess I got a lemon but the speakers have distortion when I play music. I started off using a guide found here about increasing sound. And it worked ok until I started noticing distortion at high volumes on bass heavy songs. I then reversed all those settings and it was fine for a while until the distortion reappeared. I lowered the base level in the beat, but it started to distort.

 

Yea XPS 15 is a good machine but its one of the most ugly notebooks I ave ever seen, which is a disappointment. So is the choice, if I could I wanted a i5 with the 435m but you have to have a i7 processor.

There isn't much competition in the 14.5" range, there is the acer timelineX 480tg and the xps 14. There really the only other computers that take a stand against the envy.

I do hope the refresh the envy 14, I got mine around the same time as you and it has a few minor problems.

 

JBL speakers are pretty decent on the xps

i am in the same position as you trying to get new notebook
right now the envy is n.1 in build quality and attractivenesses

but comparing the specs against lets say xps14... shredded to pieces

lets hope the refresh comes soon

 

yea I'm returning mine too, I ordered w/ slice battery and it kills the portability... just too heavy to carry around at school... I'll be waiting for the new SB models and hopefully they'll have decent battery life w/o slice battery...

 

YY_Debby, you might be waiting longer unfortunately. Quad-core battery tests are getting 5 hours so thats pretty good. If you want a dual core, you will have to wait awhile longer unfortunately.

This year, I think CES/Sandy Bridge was targeted at ultra-thin portables (NOT NETBOOKS) 11.5" and larger quad-core machines. So there is a void between the two.

 

The Quad Core are what it looks like so far in tests. Don't think it is for sure.

 

Sorry I don't quite understand your post there strike. Were you referring to me talking about the ultra-thin portables having focus? I think I said something about quad-core machines.

 

I was pointing out I am not 100% percent sure 5 hours is capable on the SB Quad Cores. However, so far tests that has been done with them is showing impressive hours. Just FYI I might be wrong.

 

Ah okay thanks, I hope for more solid tests I think personally 5 does sound like a bit of a stretch but the more the merrier!