Voodoo Envy 133 unboxing and impressions
By Paul Miller 
posted Oct 3rd 2008 7:31PM
posted Oct 3rd 2008 7:31PM
Unboxing
We've already seen Envy 133 unboxed elsewhere, but let us assure you that it's a delight to open up that box, and certainly feels like the premium product that shows up on the price tag. The laptop itself resides in a leather slip, that we're sure fingerprintaphobes will be keeping the laptop in to ward off dust and smudges. It's also a pleasant sight to see all the necessaries -- Ethernet, disc drive, video adapter -- included with the laptop. If you're going to take them out of the laptop, the least thing you can do is put 'em in the box.
Peripherals
Before you even look at the laptop, it's easy to tell there's something amiss: there's an Ethernet port on the AC adaptor, and the whole thing in fact doubles as a WiFi access point. The adaptor itself is even oddly shaped, a flat square that almost resembles the Envy 133 in miniature. Another similar black block marks the disc drive, a minimalistic slot-loading affair, with a hide-away eSATA plug. Even the video adapter -- HDMI to VGA -- manages to be black and boxy.
Laptop Hardware
And now we get to the laptop itself. Interrupted only by a handful of ports on each side, two fan grills (input and exhaust), and the hinge in the back, the laptop is monolithic in nature, and about as sexy as those press shots have led you to believe. A thin sliver of a battery snaps on underneath, scoring a major point for road warriors for whom a second or third battery is a way of life. There's no discernible indentation to open up the screen, the only way we've found so far is to grab at the right and left corners and lift.
The entire thing is razor thin, lightweight and carbon-fiber strong -- no worries about build quality here, or feeling inadequate when your friends pull out their own subnotebooks.
Inside there's a darkened mirror and a keyboard. The mirror turns out to be an LCD upon further examination, but we still have our doubts. The keyboard looks simple and cheap, but reveals its quality with use -- as is our practice, we're writing up these impressions on the laptop itself, and really enjoying the keys, though the tiny right shift key is a tad hard to find. The power button, forward delete and wireless on / off are all in the function key row. The trackpad is the hardest thing to track down, denoted only by a square of golfball-style indentations and a long, low button below them, which hardly raises above the surface of the palm rest.
Specs-wise there's a 1.8GHz Intel Core 2 Duo SP7700 processor, X3100 integrated graphics and a 64GB SSD, with Bluetooth and 802.11n WiFi. For plugs there's HDMI, which can output at 1920 x 1080, headphones, USB and an eSATA / USB plug which can power the DVD burner without any outside help. There's also an ExpressCard34 slot.
Laptop usage
Tap the power button and instead of getting Windows startup screen, up pops the Voodoo IOS. It only takes 5 seconds to boot and you're in a Linux environment with Firefox, Pidgin, Skype and some crappy photo and music apps. It took no time at all to get onto our local WiFi (in fact, it took a bit longer for the WiFi control panel to pop up in Windows on first boot) and we were browsing right away.
Unfortunately, we have large unwieldy hands, and the trackpad is a menace when in Linux. It's large, very sensitive, responds to taps as clicks, and presents a learning curve of avoidance, since the "pad" is totally flush with the palm rest. Luckily there's a proximity sensor that deactivates the pad while typing, but as soon as you take one hand off the keyboard you're again at the mercy of the thing. In Windows there's a detailed control panel to fix most of these problems, but no such luck in Linux -- though we spoke to Rahul from Voodoo and he says they're looking into getting some of those options over to Linux.
Booting to Windows is a fairly speedy process, and HP has certainly done a great job of keeping the hardware image clear of crapware -- anti-virus is pre-installed, but it's AVG, far from the scourge of computing that is Norton. After spending five minutes configuring the mouse we were much happier, but we'd still prefer a real trackpad with a matte surface and edges. When in Windows there's multitouch pinch-to-zoom, but no multitouch scrolling -- though it's apparently in the works. You can scroll by dragging along the edge of the pad, but since you can't find the edge of the pad... OK, we'll stop griping about the touchpad.
Performance is quite good for a laptop of this size, and does the Voodoo name proud. As regular, self-loathing users of a MacBook Air, we're pretty incredulous that Voodoo keeps this laptop as cool as it does -- there's a quiet fan on at most times, expelling warm air out the left side -- and doesn't have to step down the processor to do it. We watched a good deal of HD Hulu with nary a hitch or stutter, and it took some 1080p QuickTime trailers to find a hitch in framerate, though the machine itself never lost responsiveness. We didn't test any games, but we've heard good things considering the specs at play.
Once you turn the computer on and turn up the brightness, the mirror-like LCD becomes quite viewable, though still a bit more glossy than the MacBook Air, and a bit dimmer when viewed off-axis. The flush edge-to-edge glass front to the LCD means the display is afforded a bit of extra protection, and certainly looks good in action.
Conclusion
Look, nobody's naive here, we all know the crazy tradeoffs made when selecting a laptop like the Envy. If you can't live without a disc drive and a LAN plug, or have a fear of finger smudges on glossy surfaces, this certainly isn't the laptop for you. You'll also pay a premium, at $2,099 for the base model without SSD and a slower processor, but if you can live with some trackpad awkwardness and the aforementioned tradeoffs, Voodoo proved that design above all isn't always a horrible mantra.
If I could afford it I would so buy it!!!!!
I think its amazing!
The desktop tower they have is just as cool looking!
seconded
im sorry but...that is one F.I.N.E. laptop!
Yeah.. buy one of this super uber expensive notebook. Few months later (Q1 20089) USB 3.0 came out and shatter all your hearts. No hard feeling.. just that the next Voodoo has 4 USB 3.0 ports..
Err, vampitt.. Q1 20089 is still 18081 years away..
hehehe sorry, Q1 2009 my bad :P
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2008/01/09/ces_usb_3_revealed/
Engadget, can you please give it to me when you finish reviewing it. Im not trying to be funny. Please i want this laptop more than my grandma.
Except for the cookies.
it will be one of those giveaway specials
flame engadget with 1 post and you could win
you want your grandma? in what ways?
... yea that sounds kind of awkward. lets change want to love. thanks
Your grandma wants this laptop? You have the coolest grandma evar!
@noyp
We're not talking about a full-on linux OS here. Just a quick, simple LInux-based semi-OS. It's not meant for advanced use, installing anything else, or tinkering. It just provides access to simple, every-day tools. The only time any Linux OS becomes at all confusing is when you start doing some crazy stuff with it regarding drivers, virtual machines, or advanced software...sounds kinda like another operating system I know.
Basically, with limited functionality, this is just a simple, linux-based tool that runs set applications. Believe it or not, this is just like almost all of those video poker machines you see at seedy bars, or a lot of other arcade video games for that matter. When a system only has to have limited functionality and just has to work, nothing beats the stability and consistency of a well-programmed Linux system.
The Envy 133 looks like it will give the MacBook Air a run for its money.
well vista, kind of sucks
but the laptop is fing awesome and the linux 5 sec start up, every computer should have it!!!
I want it but I think ill get a macbook pro, hopefully Macintosh wont come out with a new one too late
Probably not, unless you are sitting on the fence between going for a Mac or a Windows PC. Let's be honest here, if you have an investment in one platform that you want to maintain then you're not going to switch just because the other platform has some new hardware unless that hardware is significantly better. As much as I like the look of the Voodoo and what HP has done (honestly, I didn't see it coming), I'm not about to switch back to Windows for it since I don't like Windows and I'd have to buy a load of software. In contrast, the Envy 133 does give the likes of the Lenovo X300 some competition in the Windows thin-n-light laptop category. That's the more interesting fight, although I admit it's not as "newsworthy" as pitting it against the MacBook Air.
The average consumer will probably have a REALLY hard time figuring out Linux.
If it has XP drivers... I might get one on Black Friday.
Wait... DDR2 memory?
I'd rather get a Lenovo U330.
synthetic carbon fiber? ummm, i didn't think that was possible. isn't carbon, by definition, organic? and hence not a synthetic material?
Well carbon fiber doesn't occur naturally hence the synthetic part.
The organic part, you'll also need oxygen and hydrogen in order to be organic. Carbon itself is...just carbon.
Carbon compounds are organic or inorganic dependent upon their structure. The simplest possible organic compound is methane (CH4) whereas carbon fiber is simply carbon filaments that is actually very close to graphite in atomic structure.
Then it's as much of an oxymoron as "synthetic diamond."
Probably the Wikipedia definition also fits, just substitute "carbon fiber" for "diamond": a term used to describe diamond crystals produced by a technological process, as opposed to natural diamond, which is produced by geological processes.
Though I'm not aware of any "natural carbon fiber."
but can you install OS X on it ? ... oh come on every new laptop has someone installing OS X on it nowadays :)
I think you just answered your own question.
I agree with NYOP. Silly Goose
You spelled it wrong. No cookie for you!
Poor guy. I bet he really wanted that cookie.
Sad that the keyboard looks cheap compared to the rest of the computer...
too fucking glossy
seriously this gloss on the inside shit needs to stop
hmm i think i might still take the gate p-7811...i mean at least it has ddr3, but for voodoo's portability and battery life F*** yea id take that voodoo attract some hot babes with my black shiny laptop...
so the only issue they really have is that the Linux Mini OS has single click set for open and not select??? I can't believe they considered that a "learning curve". I am so sorry that the Mini OS does have a control panel, but they were trying to kinda keep it small so of course it is going to me missing some features.
I think the Envy is awesome. OS-X will be installed on it sooner or later as well as every other OS. It is beautiful, sleek, packed with features, ports, etc. This to me is the only laptop I would buy for a 2k price tag.
P.S. I will find the command line prompt and change the "single click to open" option and send it to you Engadget.
Is the Linux os Debian or RedHat based? if it is Debian-based, i'd look into installing a app called libgtkstylus, I use it for mouse click handling all the time.
Where can I get that awesome wallpaper!!!???
I'm scrolling down the Engadget front page and its like BAM! Very nice looking lappy :]
That is by far the sexiest computer I have ever seen. I'll take the promotional Orange / Black one please!
It's pretty coool, but let's face it, on the 14th Apple will release something even cooler and Envy will be so yesterday. At least this Voodoo should have a Penryn chip...
on the 14th i get my dell xps 1730! thanks for reminding me.
what did you say about apple sorry?
With all due respect, an announcement on that date has neither be confirmed, nor do you know what is going to be shown beyond what has been documented by rumor sites. The likelihood that Apple will announce a revision to the MacBook Air that will compete favorably with the Envy is low. Bumped specs is as much as I would expect, if anything. The Envy clearly has the better look (you don't normally get to say that) and has a better design than the Air. I don't see that changing this year.
this is the laptop to go, only need 9300 nvidia gpu
Oh how I covet thee :)
For such an expensive laptop it should atleast be up-to-date in terms of technology. Should have the latest chipset centrino 2 which includes the intel small form factor (SFF) processor upto 2.4 Ghz and DDR3 memory. Would have bought it instantly if it had the latest chipset and processor.
Other thing there should be a option of buying a smaller power adapter without the ethernet jack/router part.
Agreed... When I made my new laptop purchase about 2 weeks ago, Intel's Montevina platform was a "must have" on my list of requirements. I think the Envy should include this updated technology considering its pretty high price.
I ended up getting a ThinkPad T400 and I am not disappointed. It's so fast that Vista is faster on my T400 than XP was on my old Intel Napa platformed notebook. Vista is slow? Bah! Get some modern hardware.
Plus I get 9 hours of battery life, switchable graphics and a stunning screen... for about $1500. Hmm... Now why would I spend more for less?
*cough* apple *cough*
I think I get it.
It's a Macbook Air competitor, priced higher than the Macbook Air, adding the one major feature the Macbook is missing: ports. But only some of them (no firewire).
I haven't actually gotten to use this thing, but from the reading so far, it looks like it beats the air by having a better display output port, an extra USB/eSATA, and an express slot for $300 more.
Come to think of it, I suppose that does sound like $300 well spent. All the same, I'd rather have an extra pound of mass for a built in burner, Firewire, and half price in the form of a white base model macbook or HP's new low-end 13.3.
Me, I'll go with a true subcompact for my next machine thank you, a $400 netbook is exactly where it needs to be.
Is that the stock carbon fiber finish or was it painted black? The regular finish is mostly glossy black except for the sides, so I would guess that it was painted black.
Come on Guys,
The envy is copying the macbook pro in every possible way!!!!
How is it that nobody noticed that ... Look at the hinge ... speaker grill ... the way it is boxy like the macbook pro ... !!!
But hey ... this is what i wished the macbook air was going to look like ... and aside from the keyboard, the thing is butiful!
This is sooooo close to my perfect ultraportable, put a nice soft matte black plastic over that carbon fibre, fix the trackpad so it's possible to see and use and there you have it!
Now only if I had the money :(
Looks awesome !!!
Waiting for the new MacBook...........
It's an absolutely fantastic product. Great GUI improvement over Generation 5 Archos', and wide range of features. Besides that, it looks damn sexy.
A couple of problems, BETA!
Anyone looking to buy it, wait a few weeks. The Beta firmware is causing a ton of problems, me included. Mine crashed after two days and refused to start, requiring me to send it back for a new one(in progress). I'm a little pissed over that, but besides that it's a great product. It supports Opera Widgets, full flash support(some might not work if it was specifically designed to work on a full computer), and a great range of codecs. I had some fun watching Internet TV stations in random countries.
Grab a stylus, it makes the games a lot easier to play. I prefer drawing games because they're fun on touchscreens.
If you're looking for a PMP with huge amounts of HDD space, buy this!
wut?
Was it intentional to make picture number 50 (or 51, I forgot), where Engadget put the Envy on top of the MBA, look like the two computers were having sex?
DROOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOL
Damn, just convinced Boss to get a x301. He did complain that the power brick was too big though....maybe I can convince him to return it and test out one of these....so pretty, I'm think I'm getting arous...this is my internal monologue, right?