HP Envy 13 unboxing and first impressions
By Paul Miller 
posted September 30th 2009 12:01AM
posted September 30th 2009 12:01AM
- This is one sexy laptop. It's incredibly quality in its construction, and intensely attractive. The screen in particular is a knockout, showing up very bright and vibrant behind its glossy, mirror-tastic sheen
- The single button trackpad is severely miscalibrated, and perhaps an altogether bad idea. We're having trouble scrolling consistently, but clicking is also a hit or miss affair -- having multiple fingers on the trackpad at the same time seems problematic, with our cursor glitching this way and that. It's also actually possible (likely even, if you're as bad at mousing as we are) to "click" the pad and yet have nothing happen, which seems very counterintuitive.
- The keyboard is comfortable, but has a bit of a loose, pushover feel to the key action -- not cheap, but not really best-in-class either.
- Boot time is pretty snappy, even with the quick boot Envy "Instant-On Solution" Linux acting as a pit stop along the way.
- With a full Core 2 Duo processor inside and a real feeling of heft and thickness compared to other laptops in "thin and light" land, it's surprising that the Envy 13 goes with the same external Ethernet dongle of its predecessor, the Envy 133.
- That full-powered processor? Snappy. It takes on YouTube HD, the real computer killer of our times, without breaking a sweat.
Want.
despite that it's overpriced and the touchpad is almost unusable?
Do you really want one?
It's too pricey and still not good enough.
onioning.com/yoda
Sooo, do these keys light up? Some illuminated keys are something I very much WANT.
people would just think you're using a macbook-wannabe. don't want.
Eh, it's meandered into MacBook Pro price territory, so you might want to consider one of those, if things like, you know, a functioning button/trackpad combo are important to you. Install windows 7 if you want, and you'd likely be getting better engineering with Apple it sounds like from this review. And since when has this website ever considered a glossy laptop screen as a positive? Even Apple offers the matte finish again.
I agree - you'd be better buying a Macbook and sticking Windows 7 on it.
Having used a new Macbook Pro, I don't think I can go back to Windows until the trackpads catch up.
Fanboyism, Price, OS aside, thats the one thing I really care about in a laptop.
What's up with that menu? looks like windows with a hint of OSX...
I NEVA PAY FOR SEXY.
I love that "one of HP's sexiest laptops ever" is also the most similar looking to a macbook pro they ever made, is it really worth praising kirf?
When the specs for this that were sent to the FCC were on this site yesterday, of course the inevitable MacBook comparisons were drawn, and of course the obligatory person who must come out and say it looks nothing like a MacBook was there to reply and offer that the actual device (since those were just drawings) does not look like one. I gave him the benefit of the doubt.
Well, here's a pic and it looks like a MacBook. It's good looking, but it looks like a MacBook.
Who is more fervent, the Apple fanboys, or the people who must denounce Apple and their influence on design at all costs and swear that nothing looks like an iPhone or a MacBook, etc?
*drools*
envy is a deadly sin, but who gives a shit.
Where's the green?
There's no green.
This is the BlackBook Pro.
that thing does look sweet. but the mouse pad issues definitely have me concerned. i know alot of people use their own usb/wireless mouse, but i'm a trackpad guy, and it has to be a good trackpad (not to pick favorites, but i do love apple's newest pads)
What I want to know though is can you still tap to click like on most trackpads? I'm a trackpad guy as well, and I hate clicking buttons. I tap click everything, and have the bottom right corner of my trackpad set as my right click.
My actual physical mouse buttons on my laptop have seized due to years of not being used. So if this is a viable option on the Envy, then I just may shell out the dough for an upgrade.
At $1700 I dont know, i think that is way too over priced.
A completely agree. If your gonna overcharge it's only fair i nitpick. No backlit keaboard, no express card slot, And slighly above average, ATI Mobility Radeon HD 4330. Come on HP your better than that.
One of the only cool things worth mentioning is that with the battery splice (it's fairly thin) you can get 17 hrs of battery life out of this laptop. Another thing is that this laptop is almost as thin as the MBAir, take that into consideration....
I still want a Macbook Pro
but...before you fan-boys get your get your tampons out and stop your over emotion flows
I will say this think is a beaut and I might get it only after I see what the new updates for the white Macbook are
Eventhough deep dpws in my heart i want an Amd Turion 2 X2 with DDR3 Ram and a HD 4850
Buuuuuuuuuut AMD is being slow as fuck
oh well time to check the bank account to dive back into Apple
So is this kinda like when HP made iPods?
HP didn't make iPods, HP simply sold Apple iPods with an HP logo added to the case.
wow......
Can it run Mac OS X and Windows 7?
No, thank god.
Man that is one sexy laptop!
but why do companies insist on having glossy screens!!?
Because in the right light they give better colour and clarity.
In the wrong light you get a nice reflection of yourself but can't see anything.
niiiiiiiiiccccccceeeeeee. you can have apple. ill enjoy my choices in life.
Your statement really doesn't make much sense here.
@ ill trooper,
If he had written, “It’s great that we get another choice in the high-end notebook market segment” or “You can have Apple, I prefer Windows [and/or] HP anyway” then it would make sense. But this is Engadget. Most posters are just a step up from Digg commenters.
@ill trooper
I dont make choices off brand like you genius. take your head out of apples ass and appreciate what competitors have to offer. Youre obviously biased when it comes to apple.
@ Bender Bending Rodriguez
I dont spend much time posting on engadget cause im trading the markets. If youre an investor you would understand why i dont purchase apple products. If i need i to go into details it only lets me know you dont know shit about "choices" in life. The market is opening up at 8:30am cst. Gotta make some money using my PC.
@ EminiSP
Uh oh, The Dow is down 117. Did you screw that up too?
@Daniel T
LOL. I shorted the SP mini not the Dow and actually i made a nice piece of change. Im a daytrader DUMBASS...
@ Daniel T
Dont comment on my profession if you dont know shit about it. You can go either way with the market. You should trade the SP mini so us pros can take your money cause we do need extra spoos in our markets. Im the reason why your (you probably dont have one) 401k is down 35%
Wow, usually commenters on Engadget are just assholes about technology. But EminiSP is an asshole about important things. Kudos.
@ mr nimblewick
Im sorry, Technology is more important than the markets. Excuse me, i must have my priorities backwards. Next time keep an eye on your money and you wont see me with my hands in your 401k's LOL. FYI, im more than an asshole when trading ;)
SP
EminiSP... But you clearly DO make choices based on brand, my friend. I understand your saltiness, however - it's been a rough year on the markets.
@ ill trooper
You obviously have no clue about the market. google:short selling. thats how i make money DUMBASS...like i told the other guy dont comment on something you have no clue about. Leave the real thinking to the market makers (EminiSP)...stick to defending apple...FYI...im enjoying my F-52X desktop lol.
SP
...did you say something?
NEEEEXXXXXTTTTTT!!!!! ;)
Dual-boot 7 and OS X and it will be the perfect machine!
So...ummm...anyone else notice that this looks pretty darn similar to a macbook pro?
...YES. We all did. Quite some time ago.
Weeks ago in fact:
http://gizmodo.com/5359331/hp-envy-hands-on-macbook-pro-clone-better-than-the-real-thing
Read much?
It is a complete rip off of a Macbook. At least they were honest with naming it, they have Macbook Envy.
Dear HP. How about a 17" Envy, huh?