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    T510 vs Envy 15

    Discussion in 'Lenovo' started by EGill, Apr 1, 2010.

  1. EGill

    EGill Notebook Enthusiast

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    I can get an Envy 15 with thee following for $1250 including tax:
    Core i5 520
    4 gigs of ram
    320 Gb hard drive @7200 RPM
    ati mobility 5830
    1080p screen

    The choice comes down to a balance of performance vs build quality. I consider the envy much better built than consumer laptops, but not quite at the level of a thinkpad.

    I will be using mainly in my room, and the library. Infrequently i may play a game. I will make use of the HDMI port in the envy for watching movies on HDTVs. Also, I may end up doing some cad work on it.

    What choice would you make?
     
    EGill, Apr 1, 2010
    #1
  2. kiwikat

    kiwikat Notebook Consultant

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    If gaming and HDMI are important to you, get the envy. If not, go for the T510.

    In your case, I'd probably go with the T510 but I'm biased... ;)
     
    kiwikat, Apr 1, 2010
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  3. EGill

    EGill Notebook Enthusiast

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    Honestly, gaming is not that big of an issue. I really don't have that much time to, plus I would rather spend that time with hanging out with people. But the HDMI port I will make a lot of use with. But I feel that the price is very good for what I get. A similar T510 would cost at least $150 more, and the screen on the envy is definitely better.
     
    EGill, Apr 1, 2010
    #3
  4. k2001

    k2001 Notebook Deity

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    Do you really want people to look at you as a person who can't afford a macbook pro. j/k.
     
    k2001, Apr 1, 2010
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  5. MidnightSun

    MidnightSun Emodicon

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    The T510 and the Envy 15's GPUs are in very different classes. If you're going to be gaming and expect to get good framerates at high settings, you should go for the Envy 15 (especially with the $450 coupon). The T510's GPU is far weaker, even quite a bit weaker than the T500's Radeon 3650. However, on the plus side, you'll get much better battery life with the T510 than the Envy 15.
     
    MidnightSun, Apr 1, 2010
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  6. assisterah

    assisterah Notebook Geek

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    I was tempted too by that $450 coupon. I love the metal chassis and 1080p screen on envy 15. But heat and the battery life is the deal breaker for me. I would stick with T510 for longer battery life and keyboard.
     
    assisterah, Apr 2, 2010
    #6
  7. LaptopGun

    LaptopGun Notebook Evangelist

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    There's also the story's about the Envy 15's screen randomly going blank and coming back on. No known fix
     
    LaptopGun, Apr 2, 2010
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  8. Injek

    Injek Notebook Consultant

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    I thought that the 2nd generation Envy 15 had more fans and better heat sinks to manage temperatures ?
    I just read around the forum and some people seemed to say so, I can't tell for sure though.

    Well battery life is of course going to be reduced because of the more powerful gpu.
     
    Injek, Apr 2, 2010
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  9. EGill

    EGill Notebook Enthusiast

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    I am not really concerned with battery life. I understand the trade off I am making when I get an ati 5830 vs what the T510 has.

    Pro Envy:
    Aesthetically pleasing
    5830
    1080p
    720 RPM hard drive

    Pro T510:
    Aesthetically pleasing (lol, unlike the majority of consumers I like the Thinkpad chassis)
    Lenovo build quality
    battery life


    I guess as long as the build quality of the Envy is good that is what I am leaning towards. If Lenovo had just put a 5650 in the T510 with switchable graphics I would have been sold.
     
    EGill, Apr 2, 2010
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  10. cn_habs

    cn_habs Notebook Deity

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    Work use = T510
    Personal use and entertainment = Envy
     
    cn_habs, Apr 2, 2010
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  11. lead_org

    lead_org Purveyor of Truth

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    When HP envy laptop was reviewed by NBR recently there was hardly anyone commenting on the laptop....

    One should be extra vigilant when buying any HP consumer laptops, as it is poorly designed and could fail without warning from flickering screen or dead GPU, etc.....
     
    lead_org, Apr 2, 2010
    #11