*new* Envy Spectre XT Thread

Will you be able to share your impressions/review?

 

Yes, please post your thoughts! Mine's coming in three weeks and I've been eagerly anticipating ANY news about it for over a month now! Anything would be much appreciated! The more the better

 

15.2 seconds to boot to password. 10.8 seconds from the time you hit the off key to when it is completely off and ready to go in my bag. Typing is really nice and the keyboard is laid out with just the perfect spacing. I am a loud typer and the keys are not loud or annoying like some computers can be. The packaging is gorgeous and their is even a zipper bag for the cords. Opening the box was an experience that felt like I bought a luxury laptop. You lift the black packaging open like a lid and a microfiber HP embossed sleeve is staring at you. Just beautiful.

The bottom of the unit has that slightly rubberized feel that HP has on some of their premium laptops. It is very nice for grip. Well weighted, and great for couch use. I am used to HPs overheating in my lap. I havent felt any discernible heat from this unit at all. What a nice break from the HP norm!

Ask questions, what would you like to know?

 

What is your experience so far with the screen quality and battery life?

 

Also, what do you think of the touchpad (multi-touch gestures, etc.) and overall fit-and-finish?

Thank you so much!

 

I am letting the computer run out its battery right now, I'll update the post when it finally runs out.

The fit and finish are really nice. Most new computers are though. Hopefully the honeymoon wears off and I will have more criticisms over the next 48 hours.

The touchpad is my biggest concern so far. I have an HP workstation with a nicer touchpad than this one. I am really going to miss that third mouse button. It is strange in that it is slightly elevated up. The entire touchpad itself is a button, different. I am worried about wear and tear on the touchpad. I normally skin my touchpads so that there is no wear through. This is the first HP I have bought that I don't think it is practical to skin this touchpad. I thought I read somewhere that the touchpad on this computer was actually glass so it should be impossible to put any wear and tear on it.

Despite my concerns, the touch pad has performed flawlessly in gestures and use.

 

That battery still going? Goodness gracious me!

 

It is. To be fair I fell asleep and so did it.

I haven't charged it since the initial charge. It made it through the entire weekend of internet goofing off.

I'm going to have to set it up playing movies or something so it can run continuously. :/

 

So it's safe to say that you're quite impressed with the battery life?

 

Does it live upto the published 8 hours of battery life?

And any issues with the fan noise?

Thanks

 

Yes, i'm also very curious about the fan noise.
Does it ramp up while watching youtube videos, having multiple tabs and programs open?

The Asus models and Sony VaioT13 has fan issues, so this will be my choice if the fan isn't an issue.

 

just got my gf one, we turned it on and there was a strange fan noise..rather loud too. i need to run a bios check to see if it can be fixed or if its temporary

 

I bought one from Costco, it worked great, never had any fan noise issues. I returned it because I got a better price somewhere else and now the new one I got has the same loud fan noise you guys are talking about. Went into the bios and the only option I saw was for "fan always on" and it is disabled. I'm pissed because the one I had from costco was perfectly fine! GRRR! Will have to do an exchange and see what happens. Could this be a defective fan? Or just the way the laptop is?

 

I just had one of these babies shipped to the philippines, and man. I am so disappointed about the fan noise. It's like the grill for the exhaust is interfering with the airflow so it makes a sort of whirring gurgling kind of sound. And it's pretty loud too.

Anyone know how to fix this?

 

so i removed a lot of the programs and it seems to have decreased. i think we should try figuring this out or at least one of us contact HP. At least we should be able to help each other out

 

Hey guys,

I just picked up my Spectre XT yesterday and so far so good! I have a question about the RAM though. Is it soldered in or can we go in and swap it out for more?

I took a look at the service manual and there is no mention of RAM at all...so I'm hoping someone knows the answer before I go in and take a look for myself

Thanks for the help!

 

It's funny for me to see this. I live overseas now in Asia and wanted to pick this up during a 1 month holiday stateside. I delayed ordering it on-line one week as I tried to see what was available in other countries during a business trip. When I returned I found the XT ETA was extended all the way out till after my holiday would be over. I even called HP to see if I could get an 'off the shelf' one faster, but to no avail. Instead I got the S9, somewhat reluctantly as I guessed the HP keyboard would be better. (I ended up very happy w S9 though.) Now it's clear even had I ordered it on time, it would not have reached me while still in the US!

I am still considering the XT as my wife needs a new laptop. How do you find the screen? I hope it's brighter and snappier than the Folio 13. Can you compare the keyboard to any other Ultras?

 

Brian,

Saw your post on the HP forum as well..seems like noone can help. I contacted and chatted with technical support and they were clueless. I'm returning my gfs' right now as we speak. This sucks.

 

dkukade,

unfortunately, i do not have the luxury of being able to return it.
i just got one while i was vacationing in the states and the spectre xt isn't available here in the Philippines. So RMAing isn't an option for me.

It's loud but it's not TOO loud, to the point that it's annoying. I just hate the fact that i bought an expensive, premium laptop and it comes with a free whistler (the fan noise). lol

anyway, the noise comes out whenever i try to play a game, or if i'm doing some CPU-intensive work. So for sure, the noisy fan is the fan blowing on the CPU's heatsink.


clarenceX,

i don't know what you mean about a "snappier" screen, but the XT definitely has a brighter screen, with better color reproduction. I've seen a folio13 and i thought the screen had a weird slightly yellowish hue.

however, as with all TN panels, the screen doesn't give nice viewing angles like an IPS panel would. --- the screen on an asus ux31a is IPS (and is $200 more) and is definitely better, but i would say the build quality of the XT is better than the asus so it all depends on your priorities. In my humble opinion, no one uses a laptop with an angle anyway. You always view the laptop from the front, so it makes a small difference for me.

the keyboard is a dream, by experience hp laptops usually have the best keyboards. it's quiet, but has a lot of depth to it.

 

TwoSix,

the ram is soldered in. There is no upgrade available. If you want to open it up to upgrade, be my guest. But be warned: you WILL void your warranty. If i were you, I would wait until HP starts offering 8gb single slot DIMMs FOR ULTRABOOKS, and then take your laptop to an HP to get it upgraded.

 

Ah man, that's a deal breaker for me :/
After the Dell L502x, i'm deathly afraid of fan noise.

 

Well... just took couple of days and brown track stop by it is here. Fist thing, packaging is amazing, looked really good, as I opened the box, I started to look all around and the bottom 2, yes not all four but 2 feet look worn (upper ones) like it was used or something, 2 bottom ones look ok. Not sure what to make of it, looked over everything else and looks like New, package was sealled.
So far looks and feels amazing, sitting in my living and typing on it on my lap , if you have any ?s just ask, but I will provide little review in couple of days.
Here is some iPhone pic.

 

i could've used a better sleeve than the towel like thing it came with. lol

yourtoys7,
your laptop's feet probably got those from when the HP guys had to install its software.

 

Most likely, I was able to wipe them off very easy, really happy soo far, very light and thin.

 

Hey so i just bought an HP Spectre XT and it cam in yesterday, the problem i'm having is that my mouse isnt working. Not even he light to say its on is turning on. Ive tried everything inluding to try to download the driver for it. If anyone has a solution let me know.

 

Do you mean the trackpad? The light next to the trackpad glows only when the trackpad is disabled. Double tap on the little square that's printed in the upper left corner of the trackpad. That enables and disables the trackpad. If you already did this and it's still not working it sounds like a hardware problem.