Waiting for Envy 17 3D SB thread

I see. I'm more of a 360 gamer so I'm probably gonna get Skrimm for my 360 Slim.....

But I def see your point.

 

Consoles are for sports games

 

OH NO YOU DIDNT! Haha come on they are both great. I just find it more comfortable and fun to game on the couch with a console.

Still I got Starcraft II and my current laptop dies within minutes of loading the first mission.

So I need to upgrade and soon. But I want to make sure that the Envy is decent and strong enough to play games without getting ridiculously hot. Same with playing back movies (bluray).

Can anyone comment as to whether or not battery life will be longer on the regular Envy versus the Envy 3D?

 

Now, aside from the horsepower, is there anything else significantly different between 6850M and 6890M? I'm pretty sure 3D Blu-Ray acceleration is one new feature, but how about other things such as DisplayPort 1.2*, or enhanced OpenCL?

Also, how likely is HP to make ANOTHER refresh in the fall? I'm eyeing the currently new one out of "want", not "need".

* DisplayPort 1.2 is just an example; I don't even need it.

 

IMO, I think it’s a very good chance, I believe the Envy 17 3D version first appeared in the fall as I mentioned before. I think (not sure) most manufactures do fall update/refreshes for the holiday season.

My question is since the SB Envy 17 that's out there now is the one from January? (I believe correct me if I am wrong) will there be a refresh before the fall?

Now before I say this I have absolutely “NO” evidence, basis or have talk to anyone but for some reason something in my head is telling me there will be an update/refresh in May or June.

Again that’s just me I don't know why I am thinking that

 

Depending on what eventually shows up in this long awaited refresh thats about to come out I just don't see what HP could release in the Fall that would truly make me jealous or care...

Display port isn't important at all to me. So long as I get the latest Sandy Bridge processor, a USB 3.0 port, and a 1080p screen all in a laptop that doesn't get hot and functions great I'll be happy for the next 3 to 4 years...

 

I finally made my order for HP envy 17 3d SB, however, even though I called and called and asked and asked for discount of $300. They only give me a $75 coupon after all... I'm so disappointed... Well, I am happy that I finally made the purchase. Just hope the coolsense software really cools the laptop and the Product demo statement of switchable graphic is real. I hope they are not the lier!!

 

Why don't you cancel and immediately call back? They do that crap all the time. Some reps are nice and generous while others are stingy and useless...

 

$75? Naw, I would not accept it. Like I posted earlier, they gave me $150 best they could do when I ordered my original Envy 17 3D back a few months ago.... Originally they offered $100.

This time no way less than $200, but I will ask for the $300..... I may have to try several, or many several reps, but it will be worth a bit of time to shave off a couple hundred..... Let's see what this week brings in terms of HP news regarding our interest..... I would love to order in the next few days....

NOTE: Just checked the Pavillion side of NBR, and noticed in one of the upcoming threads....

http://h20424.www2.hp.com/campaign/.../resources/HP_Pav_dv7_2pp Brochure_FA_web.pdf So the DV7 will now have 2x3.0 USB, but the Envy 17 3D SB will only have 1? Really?

The only thing keeping me form buying the new DV7 is no 1080p resolution and no backlit keyboard, otherwise, that would have been one mean lap. HP would have nailed it with the Envy 17 3D if they had the the 2x3.0 USB and fingerprint reader....but oh well. I need to know that in a couple months after buying this, HP won't put a new refresh with 2x3.0 USB, fingerprint reader.....but really, the waiting game is coming to a close, at least for me, prob. this week or so...


KJ

 

So should I just call them again for coupon or just cancel the order then place it again? I don't want to waste too much time to bargain... I mean, $300 dollar doesn't pay off much hours... How many reps I need to ask to get my discount? Anyone have idea?

 

Its been a while since I ordered a laptop from HP but when I did it really depended on how quickly you got back to them.

So if I were you I'd call back asap and see if you can cancel it before they take the money out of your account.

But its totally up to you how much effort you want to put into it. I think $300 is worth a lot of effort but you may not agree....

And yeah KILLA JOE if the Envy had 2 USB 3.0 ports and a fingerprint reader it would be the ultimate laptop. As it is the only reason I'm not really keen on the dv7 is the combination of the lower display resolution AND the lack of the back-lit keyboard. If it had even just ONE of those things (preferably the 1080p resolution) I'd buy it IMMEDIATELY.

And I'm starting to like the bold black color of the dv7 Quad Edition. The silver twirly etching of the Envy line looks more and more girly/feminine every time I look at it.

 

If you only ordered it within an hour or two I can't see why they would not allow you to cancel! Do it then!!! yes, cancel, and call later or tomorrow. $150 I think is the basic no coupon deal when you call a rep. $75 is really not cool at all. Cancel, call back in a few hours. Make sure you take their name, so if you get the same rep, just hang up. No telling how many reps, but if you are willing to call a few times, maybe extend it a few days, it may be worth it. Also it is toll free. Nothing to lose, but save money. Good luck.

KJ

 

Yeah, I saw that also the DV7 gets 2X3.0 USB ports I don't understand why HP didn't put 2x3.0 USB ports on the ENVY 17 either.

Also, same here if the DV7 had 1080P and a backlit keyboard I would purchase it.

As for a new refresh that's the thing you always think it’s that NEXT REFRESH that will be the one that brings the goodies you want. I mean you know they will come because it's technology and refreshes come but its' that NEXT REFRESH that you are thinking will be the one you wanted. I don't mind so much the goodies I want coming a couple of refreshes later, but when they are put into that next refresh after your purchase that's what irks you at least for me that is.

Still trying to hold on to my June deadline but it's getting tough.

 

I just call and find out that the guys dealing with order status do not have access to the coupon at least that what she is telling me... She can cancel the order for me or switch my coupon but can't find me anymore coupon. For those who got the $150 or $200 coupon, how many time did you guys try?

 

I decide to give up... I got a midterm on Monday to study ... Thank you guys so much for the advice... But I am just so tired of those bull the sales rep gave me... Well, it is nice that you guys get the good deal. I guess if I never read the thread I will buy my laptop without a coupon... So I can't even get a $75 coupon...

 

Please cancel asap! There is no actual physical coupon. The sales use coupon codes internally or something, or get approval from higher ups. Personally I don't care how they give me the discount....the point is....if you haggle, and don't seem so eager, and if they think you are going to fizz, and hang up they will work harder with you. Don't give up. They want to a higher commission by not giving you a bigger discount. Its you or them. Don't feel bad. Go for broke. Let us know how it goes. I think you owe it to yourself to try a few times, at least.

KJ

 

Why not cancel and them re order AFTER your midterm?

However best of luck to you with the exam....

 

Are you calling the HP Resolutions Center? You have to be persistent. I was trying to get them to apply a $500 coupon I used to purchase my defective dv7 SB (now returned) on the new Envy 17 3D. After being denied twice for the reason being that the coupon was for the Pavilion dv series only (which it was but I was trying to get some kind of compensation after buying and then having to return a defective laptop), I almost gave up. They tried to entice me by giving me 10% off the total purchase thinking I would budge. I called back the third time and slowly explained the problem with the defective dv7 SB and stated that I wanted to apply the $500 coupon to a Envy 17 3D. The HP rep, Nancy, went and spoke with her supervisor (whom I believe was the HP rep whom first denied the coupon). After about 5 minutes waiting she came back and said she would gladly apply the coupon. Not only did she apply the coupon, she applied it to an EPP order so I got a total of $640 off.

I know your situation is not the same as mine but I think if you just keep calling back they will eventually budge and give you the $300 off. It really is all up to the HP rep you speak to. I've actually had more success with the reps from India than the American reps.

 

wow by just call again they said that they will refund me 75$ in order for me not cancelled the order. this made it the total of $150... I CAN FINALLY LIVE THIS behind and study.

 

SEE!!!! They really want your business, but you have to play ball! $150 is still nice. So enjoy and hope to hear good things when you get it....

Oh, best of luck on your exams! You'll Ace it I'm sure.

KJ

 

Thank you!!!

 

As for refreshes, the biggest thing I want is the new ClickPad. Everything else is secondary.

If I need to wait until Fall for that refresh, I will -- as long as I know it's definitely coming in the Fall.

Aside from the touchpad, the "quad speakers" and fingerprint reader would also be nice.

In fact, this doubt of what may be coming next/soon is making me err on the side of waiting. One thing I learned from buying my current laptop: it's best to wait until I can get (close to) exactly what I want, rather than buying sooner and kicking myself later for not waiting.

 

Can someone answer my question tho regarding battery life? Will the Envy 3D have shorter battery life compared to the regular Envy because of the 3D display?

That's really all that's bothering me at this point....

 

HP ENVY 17-2080en Notebook PC (LF119EA) specifications - HP Home and Home Office products

Someone on the thread mentioned that he bought a NON 3D SB HP Envy 17
I googled and found the link above. It's listed as new but still no data sheet. Seems like it's only available in Middle East right now.

Oh I didn't know it's different for specific countries.

 

these are some unique models for specific countries, like the middle east obviously, and switzerland. however, the specs are quite disappointing...

5400rpm drive and a 6830m, which also may have wrong memory specs listed. since the 6800m gpus are just rebranded mobility 5800 gpus, the 6830m should be a 5830, which has 1gb of DDR3, and not DDR5 vram.

 

+1. although ... If I was confident that clickpad 3 and 256GB SSD were coming... I'm kinda a stickler on the clickpad because I do a lot of photo editing without a mouse.

 

That's not entirely true. While most of the new Sandy bridge CPU's from Intel support WiDI, not all of them do. The 2630QM is one such processor that does NOT support WiDI. However, discreet GPU's may offer their own solutions.

See Intel's published information on WiDI support - Intel Wireless Display

 

hmmmm I looked at the Envy manual and discovered that both displays were listed at 4w. So when viewing 2D content my personal read is that the 2D and 3D laptops would be quite close. I'm not even convinced yet that the 2D 1080p dislplay isn't 120 Hz, ,just like the 3D display, but I can't be sure on that point.

3D content would be another story -- you've got the frames changing in sync with the glasses, the IR emitter on the laptop to run the glasses, so I would expect a battery life hit. I guess if you ask me, I'd suggest that if you are playing "switchable" content, the two should be quite similar in battery life

 

but what is mentioned is dynamic switching between the 6850 and on-chip graphics. and the Envy 17 3D is the only animal with the 6850.

Envy uses AMD Radeon 6850. Here is the CES verbiage

" AMD switchable graphics technology dynamically alternates betweeen integrated graphics and AMD Radeon HD 6850 discrete graphics for enhanced performance and battery life."

 

Nice find. I clearly remember a statement from an Intel executive back in CES that all SB i7 will support WiDi.

 

HP ENVY 17-2010tx Notebook PC
and
HP ENVY 17-2001tx Notebook PC

are new model numbers for mass produced Envy 17 SB. I noticed that the video drivers aren't out yet for download.

 

Do not even bother for the drivers from HP.

ATI finally supports the 6 series officially now, including official support for 3D.

Visit ati.com to download the latest one.

 

that could be I don't know. HP's press release did not differentiate, and simply said "The HP Envy 17 is the ultimate multi-media machine, sharing content wirelessly from the notebook PC to TVs and other screens using Intel Wireless Display Technology"

If this capabillity is limited only to the upgraded ($350) 2820 processor, then HP needs to clarify, and tell us they overstated the capability with innacurately broad terms.

 

I've been lurking on this thread for over a month now and finally decided to comment. It looks like HP is yet to update there site regarding the Envy17. It still some what boggles my mind that HP would have such a hard time updating the site. I mean is it really that hard to put the right numbers or instead of halfway overwriting the old Envy add a new page and say something like "more information coming soon" with the product demo animation.

You guys have probably already seen this but I figured I'd post this.

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/9063337/Don't Move/NBR/WiDi.png

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/9063337/Don't Move/NBR/1600 RAM.png

I'm still waffling between this and the Dell M17x but the lack of 3D for the 6970M really kills it for me, but hey I do like that Eve can come preloaded

 

Good job. In the same demo also HP clarifies and states very clearly that switchable graphics are there for the 3D model.

For everyone to check out this pictures are taken from the Envy 17 3D demo here.

 

HPs content updating process is complex and crosses multiple internal processes during a release. thats my read, and I think its a bonus that they post the product demo out there first so we can see what's coming. yes those technical elements are on the radar for validation, and we do have an HP employee who has offered to do some investigation work in these areas. I think its time for me to post another summary, but yes 1600Mhz front bus is one element of interest that appears to be available only with the 2820. WiDi is also apparently constrained to the 2820, per research from NBR member cam121

 

I found something very-very interesting.

According to Intel's official website the i7-2820QM supports Intel InTRU 3D Technology, which is the Intel's version of Stereoscopic 3D. So it is very clearly that at least the i7-2820 can natively support 3D meanwhile the 120Hz refresh rate right out of the box.

Intel InTRU 3D Technology is noticeably missing from the i7-2630QM official specs site. Same applies for the WiDi. It is present on the i7-2820 but missing from the i7-2630...

I think we are starting to have a clearer picture of the whole situation now...

So if WiDi, Switchable graphics for 3D and DDR3 1600Mhz is offered only with the i7-2820, along with the higher specifications and overall performance, the +$350 value is by far worth it.

I am not sure if thats the case thought. Especially for the switchable graphics, HP clearly stated multiple times that the SB Envy 3D will offer it.

 

Yeah, the 2630QM is a piece of crap and the only true option for most of us here is the 2820QM. LOL!!!

Actually, I'm guessing the 2630QM was produced for OEM manufacturers to offer cheap alternatives on their highest end configurations. Personally I feel HP should have made the 2720QM an available option.

 

good catch nMIK-3. anyone else notice the 8GB maximum RAM spec as well 'for certain memory types'.

 

cam121, so how do you REALLY feel about the 2630QM? Hmmm? Lol~!

Anyway, thanks to you and nMIK-3 for the recent updates. I am hoping HP Nate will update us further. So far things are looking good, and I'm planning to order my Envy 17 3D SB with the 2820QM very soon. dlleno, thanks the updates too, very much appreciated!

KJ

 

True enough, but we haven't proven that HP did not impliment a processor agostic solution to WiDi and Steroscopic 3D, benefitting both 2630 and 2820 configurations.** For example, The TriDef 3D software itself, listed on the product demo, provides stereoscopic 3D, implying a software solution that would run even when the GPU is powered down (switched graphics). Remember that at CES HP stated, "Future models of the HP Envy 17 3D are expected to incluce DDD's TrifDef 3D Experience Ignition Game Player, allowing users to experience immersive 3-D stereoscopic gaming at no additional cost"

** Edit: if processor-agnostic solutions are implimented to allow these capabilities on a i7-2630QM configuration, for example, it means that the i7-2820QM implimentation is not optimized around that processor's native capbility extensions.

 

ok guys instead of tracking rumors I decided to capture and track the updates to various technical questions that have come up. I'll post updates to these answers as they come in. I gotta say I'm quite pleased with the participation and level of experience here, so thanks in advance for everyone's contributions.

SB Envy 17 Technical clarifications for March 7:

• Widi support: The 2630QM processor itself does not support WiDi, so does HP have an off-chip solution, or does WiDi only appear for 2820 configurations?
• 1600MHz support: the product demo suggests only certain i7 processors, implying that this applies only to the 2820. Does a 1600MHz front side bus come automaticaly with the choice of this processor?
• VM support: the 2820 extended instruction set has a clear advantage over the 2630
• CoolSense: we don’t know if this includes physical changes or just software (HP Thermal assistant)
• 3D switchable graphics: We don’t know if HP is supporting this yet, or if they do, how it will be implemented. We presume that an on-chip solution would at least be advantaged by the 2820QM, which supports Intel’s “inTRU” 3D technology, but it appears that on-board HD 3000 graphics (present in all mobile i7 processors) also supports 3D. We don't know the role, if any, of DDD’s TriDef 3D Experience Ignition software.
• 120 Hz IGP: Evidence may be mounting in favor of this (see above re: 3D) but we don't know yet if the i7 IGP will support 120Hz refresh rates for 2D movies, for example.
• DX11 switchable graphics: evidence points to ‘no’, as the on-chip GP supports only DX10
• Clickpad: the product demo shows that HP stayed with the clickpad instead of going back to the discrete-button touchpad, but we don't know what version (IS/2 or IS/3 ) was implimented.
• HDMI 1.4: confirmed by the product demo but not yet validated in the wild
• USB 3.0: confirmed by the product demo, and only one port. But not yet validated in the wild

 

Aside from 3D, a 120Hz desktop on IGP would be nice... that's another thing to ask about.

 

dlleno, excellent, excellent, great!!!! ^^^^^ I like the actual tech idea...it is time to move from rumors to actual product facts. Thanks again for all the hard work. Wish I could give you more reps....but, anyway +1


KJ

 

by the way, on the 3D switchable graphics question -- have y'all read about HD graphics 3000 implimented on-chip? It seems this is implimented on all the i7 mobile processors and that 3D rendering is a part if it? do you guys come to the same conclusion or not?

 

technical summary edited; 3D switchable graphics languaged changed and added 120Hz IGP (thanks DanaGoyette)

 

I just had a sales rep call me back to deal with the switchable graphics issue. He stated that the Envy 17 3D will NOT have switchable grahics. I asked this when I purchased it and my sales rep told me the same. The rep's recommendation was to double check the product description. It will state "Switchable Graphics" when it is available.

Confirmed by two sales reps now...

Hope this helps

 

Bobmitch, thanks, but what did the sales rep mean by "when it is available?" Will the Envy 17 3D SB get switchable graphics later? In a refresh? In a software patch or hardware update?

KJ

 

uh -- you mean perhaps the text that says "supporting full HD resolution and switchable graphics..."? HAve the sales reps look at that one...

before we get too bent over on this point, lets keep in mind that Sales reps are typically NOT the best source of updated information. Some even say that. So ,while you MAY be right, the overwhelming weight of evidence regarding HP's statements and promised product is to the contrary, and we also have to allow for the possibility that the reps are looking at old content when they give that advice. the product description also says a boat load of other incorrect things too...

 

No, he just stated that when switchable graphics was available on any model notebook it would say "Switchable Graphics" in the product description. I then had another question based on the fact that I purchased the 3D 17" model. I have not been a big AMD fan, since about five years ago. They decided one day to drop support on a "lifetime warranty" All in Wonder card that was less than a year old at the time. I could never use the card in Vista or Win 7...they just discarded me like an old tire. My main concern is getting the Envy 17 3D and not being able to update drivers for a year at a time. Or using the available Catalyst drivers and having it break the 3D modules. At that point, the rep told me to use the 21 day return policy if my fears become reality. What an answer

He made the switchable graphics comment and said that the Envy 17 3D would NOT have it...reinforcing my sales reps comments during my purchase. He said that they must stay up to date on the hardware, but only tech support could answer software questions...

Here is a product description of a different model from HP. It DOES state switchable graphics. The Envy 14 also has switchable graphics. Thought...it may have to do with the fact that most with switchable graphics use DDR3. My machine will have the 6850 with DDR5