After our
mixed feelings on the HP Envy 13, we were excited but also a little bit scared to see the 13's big brother, the
Envy 15. It's running a Core i7 processor clocked at 1.6GHz, and has 1GB ATI Mobility Radeon HD 4830 discrete graphics fronted by a 1920 x 1080 15.6-inch display despite the fact that it doesn't have a built-in disc drive. Luckily there's an external Blu-ray packed into the box (that's a $225 option on top of the $1,800 base price), but most games and apps these days are available via download anyway, so it's not that big of knock on your power-user cred. The unboxing experience is actually identical to that of the Envy 13 (quite elegant), and we were happy to see that when we fired up the laptop the trackpad seemed better configured than that of the pre-update Envy 13 we reviewed. We were less enthused to see that the IE comes pre-installed with HP
and Norton toolbars -- pretty janky for a premium machine -- but luckily we rarely have to see the ugly sight of IE more than once on a new machine. For the most part this is just an Envy 13 bigged up, and that's nothing to complain about.
posted Nov 10th 2009 4:21PM
For that much $, they should never ever include crap like Norton toolbar.
Everyone should reformat their computers when they first get them. Still pretty lame that at $1800 the end user get this crap on their machine.
@Will, you mean everyone should reformat their *Windows* computers when they first get them.
lol@ Will.
You're part of about .001% of the population that reformats a computer before using it.
I personally can't stand this practice. $1800, and a ton of shitware on it. I'll take the MBP instead, kthxbai.
No. Even on a MBP. Reformat and put Windows 7 on it. While its still an underpowered computer at least it has an OS that isn't limited.
If you want the inferior graphics, screen, and processor of the Macbook Pro, then go for it.
Inferior? Haha
How the hell is the screen of a MBP inferior to this? Are you high?
girls girls.. lets all get along now
@Streetfights:
1440x900 is why the MacBook Pro screen sucks. Once you use WSXGA+ or WUXGA (offered on every high end Windows machine), the Apple is positively claustrophobic.
Calm down people; life is too short for a fanboy-enraged aneurysm.
Calm down. I thought he was saying to buy a MBP and put windows on it... regardless I have played around with this laptop before and it is "OK" . It doesn't feel as solid as the MBP (not saying it's bad...) and the plasticy keyboard is pretty lame for this price. All that said, the screen is pretty impressive. In the end, for me, (taking into consideration my hands-on experience) I would get the MBP WITH Windows 7 because it's cheaper and, for what I will be doing (some video/music editing, browsing, slightly above average gaming) the spec bump will be negligible and I will be happier with the construction.
(PS- I am waiting a year and a half to buy my next laptop as I will be receiving "surplus" college scholarship monies that I can use for a computer. So I am offering strictly opinion here.)
The problem with these OEM computers is that even if you reformat and re-install Windows, they include all their crap on the OS disk you get, if you even get one, or its automatically placed on any recovery media you make from within Windows. Therefore, even after a fresh install, all that crap is sitting there waiting to screw with your experience. The only way to get around this is to download clean install media from the net. This is a hassle that no consumer should have to put up with.
You forget this is HP we're talking about. They make amazing premium notebooks, but they are also known for insane amounts of bloatware. My HP HDX 16t had this same problem. It used about 1.5 GB of RAM idle with their Windows Vista OEM image installed. Now that I have a clean Windows 7 install on it, it uses around 600 MB of RAM idle with all my start up programs (basically Digsby and Windows Live Messenger). I assume a clean installation of Vista would have taken around that much as well without all of HP's bloatware.
I agree. If Apple offered a 1440x900 screen in their 13", or (at least) a 1680x1050 screen in their 15.4", I would have one by now. Even with OS X's Expose, it just feels too constricted. I love the 12" 1400x1050 screen on my tablet.
Bad model name. Whats there to envy about?
Well this is obviously an impressive package but it's still wrong to call the MacBook Pro an underpowered computer, for it's size it's very powerful
The screen res is very nice spec wise, but i'm actually wondering if it's that great in reality. Cause right now i'm standing in front of a 23" monitor with the same resolution and can't help to feel that on a 15" laptop this would stress my eyes a bit. I'll probably have to take a look at this in store.
Once you see one of these close up you realize what shoddy materials and workmanship went into it. It looks and feels like ass and oh by the way the trackpad flat out doesn't work. Nice job HP.
Once you see on of these trolls close up you realize what shoddy jokes and anecdotes they put into each post. It's a pain in the ass to read and by the way they never get upranked. Nice job troll.
Looks nice
It does look nice. Why can't we just leave it at that? This story is catching as much heat as if it actually were about an Apple product.
It seriously looks like a Macbook Pro especially the shot with the black hinge at the back. It looks very nice though and has an HP touch to it. I noticed that near the battery, there's another panel, is it for the RAM?
They try so hard yet fail so much. For that much money I would much rather just buy a MBP...
I really want to see some company rise up and challenge Apple, this day has yet to come and may be a long ways off.
You shame the good name of Carroll!
The biggest turnoff for a mbp is the screen resolution. I work in IT and have been using some Sony Vaio Z series laptops, the 13" 1600x900 x-black screen is a joy to behold, great contrast, pure whites and really great sharpness. I'd get one with 7 over a mbp any day of the week.
You ever seen a magnesium fire?
Do you know the temperatures to start a magnesium fire with pieces that aren't shaven off a stick? No. OK tnks for playing, bye bye.
Actually, yes, you can light a solid block of magnesium. Take an old engine block (we've done this with old chainsaws or even a VW block) and toss it in a bed of really hot coals, and it will eventually catch. Provides quite a bit of illumination...
I would really like it, if it wasn't shamelessly trying to look like you know what. Even though it's more powerful, if you are seen in public with one of these, normal people will just assume you're to poor to afford the real thing, and bought yourself a knockoff. HP should try to set their own trends instead of taking design inspiration from you know who.
So Steve Jobs has turned into Lord Vol...I mean "he-who-must-not-be-named"?
The good news is I don't buy my computer based on people's perceptions around me. If I was that shallow I would still be using a Mac. No I buy my computer based on my needs, not the bling on the outside of the damn case.
"normal people will just assume you're to poor to afford the real thing, and bought yourself a knockoff."
Explain to me again why I give a fuck what people think of my laptop.
Insecurity kills.
U=2Cool!
Seriously? Who gives a rats ass what people think of my laptop? As long it it gets the job done screw them. Look Poor? It's an HP! HP Sells way more Laptops than Apple Does.
Not Pulling that out of my Ass:
http://www.itexaminer.com/apples-laptop-market-share-falls.aspx
http://www.reuters.com/article/marketsNews/idINN2718916120090428?rpc=44
@John Doe..: If you really believed in that statement, you wouldn't single out Macs and infer that only shallow simpletons use it. I use a Mac because it can run Final Cut Pro and the durability of a computer matters to me thank you very much.
@bootareen
He's not saying that everyone who uses a Mac is "shallow simpleton", just that a Mac doesn't fit his needs at all so him having one would make him shallow and in it only for the "Hey look, I have a Mac too" factor. Though let's be honest, there are a lot of people who have a Mac for no other reason than because they think everyone else has one and that they "look pretty". Not saying all Mac users are that way, I know quite a few that aren't, but you'd have to be a fool to think that there's nobody who has a Mac for those reasons. Don't believe me? Look at any college campus and you'll see I'm right.
@Roman
Look, I'm pro-Mac and even I'm down ranking you for being a prat. No one is going to be looking at your PC in public and thinking less of you for having an HP. It's a relatively low probability that anyone looking at said HP knows what a Mac is, let alone considers it to be better. Frankly, no one gives a flying fuck about this STUPID discussion outside of the likes of Engadget.
I was a mouse click away from buying this with the 25% Bing Cash Back deal on opening day.. I barely decided not to pull the trigger. Still undecided as to whether that was the right move or not.
Look at one up close first. Decide if you want a working trackpad. You can do a lot better for your money than this.
@k0
Hot Hardware just got done reviewing a new Core i7 laptop. Check it out. Looks to be quite a bit faster than about any C2D machine.
http://hothardware.com/Articles/Asus-G51j-Gaming-Notebook-Review/
Yawn.
Typing this from an MSI GT725-075us (now discontinued). I've got:
- 2.53ghz Core 2 Duo [turbo to 2.98] (+900mhz; I haven't seen benchmarks on the i7, but I questions its efficiency vs. higher-clocked processors. The quad cores aren't going to do much for gaming.)
- Blu-Ray built in
- 1920x1200, 17" screen
- Radeon 4850 (512mb, but, and again I haven't seen benchmarks, likely still faster - the 4850 is by many accounts still the fastest, non-broken (4870 what?) mobile graphics card on the market)
Oh, and it's $1600. And no heavy or thicker than my old Inspiron E1505.
Yawn.
Wake me up when they come out with something that can -actually- tear my existing laptop apart. Yes, I get the market for the Envy, but the 15 is wholly unimpressive. Either be a thin-and-light, or be a gaming machine: this hybrid probably has zero battery. And costs too much.
What a rip-off of the plastic MacBook; Magnetic latch, Ram accessible through the battery trap, Almost identical keyboard, similare packaging.
I for that price, I much prefer all metal notebook. Let see how long it will took to HP for copying the Unibody design.
what next from HP? an imac copy with no slot-load drive?
WTF?
Have I seen right?
It has air vents on the front side, the one facing the user? Will it blow hot air into the user's face?
What kind of crappy design is that?
Maybe those are intakes? Regardless, you're not using your computer in a very ergonomic fashion if those would blow air into your face.
Thats what it looks like to me? who knows?
Pretty sure those are speaker grills, as the air intake is on the bottem and there are more grills between the keyboard and the screen.
Do you put your face at the very front of your palm rest? That's interesting. Do people laugh at you? Maybe that's why. Can you upload a video of yourself using a laptop?
Can't wait for the review. I really need a new laptop and this looks like its the one.
Here's your review:
*Nice looking machine, but a shameless knockoff of Apple's design.
*Decently spec'd, but not for the price.
*Crappy trackpad.
*Crappy battery.
*Kewl skin!!!! Yay lolz
*HP rep slaps a "kick me" sticker on your back as you leave the store.
*???
*PROFIT
.....seriously though, pull cock from mouth.
here's the real review, i tested it out in John Lewis today:
decent build but odd choice of 'pattern' - looks like a bird has been pecking the palmrest - typical hp design irritation (see also: expresso 'puddles' disaster and all that shiny silver plastic shite they have infested the market with over the last 3 years)
great cpu paired with sub-standard cooling - typical hp rush job, they just love making laptops that double as radiators/hairdryers, does anyone ever test these units or do they fear they will get axed if they tell the bosses you can fry eggs on it?
screen is a glossfest - for gods sake do hp ever read the comments here? dear hp, why do you think apple caved and brought back matte? HELLO? or if you must do glass, at least make it edge-to-edge as per the 13
all told it's pretty faithful mbp rip, which is fine - hopefully more laptops will have a sober industrial look as opposed to the tacky, wacky shiny kiddies toys i am continually confronted with (sony cw? ye gods. those new 'tartan' toshibas? my eyes!!!!! oh and thinkpads don't count - they are their own unique breed of fugly) but of course hp managed to forget to copy the backlit kb - good lord why isn't this standard on ALL laptops?
for a machine that has a 'limited' version aimed at budding music producers, the sound system is surprisingly lame. now before someone says REAL STUDIOS USE RME FIREFACE etc blah blah - yes i'm well aware of all that, what i'm saying is that a £1200 15" laptop in 2009 SHOULD be able to sound as good as an x-mini speaker at least, yet none of them manage it, why is that?
lets hope hp pull their finger out for the 14, or sony refresh the z with some serious style (x-series stylings, ditch the optical drive, backlit kb, 8hr batt with zero drain)
Bloatware makes me puke
I'm really curious when consumers will finally revolt and demand computers without bloatware. The sad truth is that most are clueless and assume that's how it has to be. People assume their computers will inevitably slow down, etc. They assume their desktop has to be cluttered with crap icons. What the hell is "revocation information" anyway? (See pic 33 in the gallery). You think Joe Computer Buyer knows what that crap is? I thought windows fixed their ailments? Apparently not. As the mac commerical goes, "trust me!" lol
The fuck are you talking about, and what does "windows fixing their ailments" (don't even know what that means) have to do with computer makers putting bloatware on a computer? The only one making assumptions is you, and ignorant assumptions at that. GFY.
@N900
With all due respect, you're not the quickest of cats, are you? Let's try and put this in simple terms:
* The Windows experience is controlled by Microsoft and whoever manufactured your computer; Microsoft has little control over what the manufacturer does.
* The Mac experience is controlled by Apple and only Apple.
Whether you like Apple or the Mac at all is rather immaterial at this point (I'm going to go out on a limb at this point and say that you don't like it). The important point is that a Mac doesn't come with crapware installed on it because Apple doesn't allow it. In contrast, Microsoft can't control the rubbish that is installed on a new Windows PC. This is the ailment of Windows - you are beholden to the manufacturer and whoever they have signed contracts with unless you particularly enjoy reformatting your computer.
Occasionally, people make a good point that doesn't agree with what you think. Just accept this and learn from it.
It's such a disappointment when Apple's competitors make a comparable machine, but then go charging more then Apple does. Why are they adding the Apple tax if it's not an Apple?
um, the MBP with discrete graphics is $200 more than the Envy
you all take the worst pictures (not quality, but angle's) sometime.........
A knock-off and yet it's better than anything Apple is selling.
ha, nice try.
Well, it is.
umm the trackpad on my mbp works.
Ignore the OS, since, despite most prominent reviews consistently giving OSX the nod in superiority, it's ultimately up to the user's individual preference. So you've got discrete graphics in this, right? OK fine, but is it a gaming machine? Not exactly. Is it high-end video editing machine? Well, maybe, but you'll need expensive software and if you're a pro user then you're not looking at this machine anyway. Bottom line - discrete graphics = overrated here. Other than that, I don't see a whole lot here which makes it anything special. Just face the fact that this is HP making a stab at a "luxury" market with an overpriced, well designed (read: knockoff) laptop. It really has almost no redeeming qualities about it. If there's something I'm missing, let me know.
Ohh good one. You got me there. It's not like the MBP doesn't offer Core i7 processors or cutting edge graphics. What about full HD displays or Blu-Ray drives?
To be honest, this probably is better than a current MBP and it is something that I'd consider if I was interesting in going back to Windows (that's not going to happen, incidentally). But you have to consider why Apple doesn't have an i7 processor in the current MBP models. The reason is that they are currently too hot to fit inside the machine. Hang around until next year when Intel produces i7 processors to go in thin-n-light computers.
One thing that I will note is that you should never buy based on specifications alone. For example, I have a 3-year old MBP that runs rings around a new Dell Latitude that, on paper, has better specifications than the Mac. The best thing to do is to get hands-on with what you are thinking of buying and see if it lives up to your expectations.
It takes all of about 5 seconds to disable a toolbar in IE.
30 seconds to download Firefox or Chrome and install it.
True. I have both plus Safari on my computer now. This shouldn't surprise anyone. HP has been installing crapware on their new computers as long as they've been in business.
Why should you even have to?
Currently regretting buying a Macbook Pro, especially considering the problems I've had :(
Did 10.6.2 fix any issues you might have had? On the 1008HE( or A, I forgot) the only problem I had was Safari 4 quitting unexpectedly, and of course Flash (but I have AdBlock now). However I don't have 6.2 because everyone told me that they killed off Atom support. Everything else in 6.1 works fine, though.
@N900
More to do with hardware. 9400M failed, the battery has lost 25% of its capacity in 8 months, heat output is crazy etc. Just not satisfied with what is commonly referred to as the best in its class :) OS X isn't worth the hassle LOL
Well, you're bound to get a good heat output is you're excessively pushing it. The MBP my friend has is a 9400, and is fairly hot, but she does a lot of encoding, Flash, Dreamweaver, etc. If you got the one 9600M, you wouldn't have to worry much about heat problems under strenuous activity.
About the battery, I don't know, it might be a hardware problem. But you can't go wrong with warranty, I'll tell you that =).
You should probably mention turbo boost, lest some noobs be put off by that 1.6GHz figure.
Can you say "Vaio rip-off"? Cool, then say it because that's what this is. It's not a MBP rip-off. What exactly is it ripping off from the Mac that the MBP didn't first copy off Sony's laptops? The chiclet keyboard? Well, hello Sony! The slim-line design? What? Sony got there first with the x505? The nice screen? You get the idea. Mac fanbois love to go on about how these "premium" PCs are ripping off their favorite wank fodder but neglect to mention (or don't even realize) how much Apple lifted directly from Vaio laptops. It's OK guys, Apple didn't invent everything, although sometimes that's what you seem to believe.
yea, but then you have the ones saying stuff like "it would never be popular without the Mac" and throwing in some sales figures. just walk away
LOL@Sony
@darbear: It doesn't really matter though, does it? If something's well-designed, it's to the benefit of everyone to see other companies adopt it. So I don't mind or give a damn about Apple copying Sony, it's not my company anyway. :D What pisses me off is seeing all the Mac fanbois running around, proclaiming everything a "Mac rip-off" without even knowing the basic facts. This is what they should know: your Macs look beautiful, I admit it. They look beautiful partly thanks to the aesthetics developed by another company for their laptops. So if you ever see another company's system looking a lot like yours, think twice before shouting "rip-off". In a way, that's what every modern Apple laptop is, a Vaio wannabe with a superiority complex.
To whoever said you need "expensive software" to do video editing on "windows", do you know anything about video editing and encoding in windows??????
The best softwares are in fact freewares.
I do this daily as I need to re encode surgical procedures for storage, and I use all free stuff. And Core i7 helps immensely here. Core i7 may not be too fast compared to C2Q/C2D when it comes to gaming, but here it shows its potential.
And all you guys forgetting TurboBoost? It will take the CPU upto 2.8Ghz when it is stressed.
Discrete gfx is over rated, I agree as I simply dont see point of it on a 15incher unless you are buying it as desktop replacement for some light gaming, and for that 4830 is enough. It will play almost all games out there with medium or high details. Thats good enough.
In the end this is decent offering from HP. Asus G51J will make more sense to average power user who is looking for a powerhouse and dont want to spend extra $500 for HP (with blue ray drive).
From experience, all decent video editing software costs money. Please name some free video editing software for Windows. I would actually like to know since a friend asked me this question recently.
@bootareen
M8 there are countless tools to get your video editing jobs done.
For basic editing you can use Free video dub (just deleting stuff etc), Then there is Avid Free DV and WAX, both are very capable.
And to encode your videos, you can use good old FFMPeg or VirtualDub or any other countless GUI options available and use free x264 encoder.
Options are always there, you just need to find them and be adopt to these programs.
Apple sony hp...... Worked for sony and have to say they have lost it now over priced and out of date. Hp have a little power house but why have a extra dvd drive!!!!! Not sure do I go for it or will we see the new MBP this year........
Dude. The new MBP's have been out since Mid-2009. Go pick one up already.
Also, "out of date"? My FW is from 2008 and still looks fresh. Thanks for playing, though.
Two words: overpriced crap.
Honestly, I would take this over a MacBook Pro ANYDAY. Cheaper, better equipped, and if you really wanted OS X....I'm sure you could find a way to put it on there. It's not all that hard.
No one cares what you would do...
yepp. no matter how hard they try, apple will always be on top.
Why no lighted keyboard on these things
HP should be embarrased. If they can't copy correctly, why copy at all?
Mannn, I'm all for more high-end, stylish computers, but this isn't the way to do it. Put some inspiration into it. Sony has the right idea.
I am a Best Buy employee and we had this laptop on display for one day before the SSD hard drive failed. All that money and it's overheating.
looks nice i might shell out for the 13"model to compliment my 17"mbp ....maybe i might just get a 13" mbp or upgrade my pc at that price but either way its a tempting computer....really sexy looking too even though im not a fan of that dotted crappy texture all of it.
One of the nicest looking (aesthetically and specwise) laptops for a long while.
Looking at the spec of the Envy comparative of the best Macbook Pro configuration, the HP Envy beats the Macbook Pro in almost all aspects. I never understood why people buy Core 2 Duo chips when they are so 2 years old. I've had a quad core desktop for 2 years or so. I haven't seen any retail laptop with an i7 chip, I'm pretty sure that beats the macbook pro, along with the addition of a graphics card as opposed to built in graphics which must be a first. Look, the HP Envy is a great product, I will definitely be buying one. I would have bought a Mac along time ago, I bought one for my sister to use in her marketing calss and they construction is great. Overall, teh macbook doesn't handle all the things i like to do on a computer. If there was more software available it would be nice. The hardware has never really impressed me, it seems to be lacking. Atleast now there is a PC line of laptops that look as good as the mac products (depending on taste) and now PC users can have laptops that work great and also look great. The Envy 15 should have have the edge to glass screen like the Envy 13 and their HP Mini 2133 notebooks. Not sure why they cheaped out with the plastic shroud around the screen. Would have looked classier. A backlit keyboard, although not really of use to myself, would have been nice. Pretty much hook me up with a laptop that looks like a mac but has the capibilities and upgradability of a PC.
As everyone in the whole world knows, specs can be misleading and usually do not equal performance. The MBP blows the Envy away in pure performance. Sure the HP looks better on paper but we all know the game is to be played on the field. Therefore, the MBP wins easily. Go test them both yourself. I did. The HP is trying too hard to go upmarket. Anyone paying the retail price is wasting money.
Shut up phrint. You are stupid.
Benchmarks of the i7 and the 4830 say your a complete moron.
*you're
I really have trouble understanding why consumer is not provided any means to perform a clean install on those no-optical-drive systems. This is very interesting in many aspects, even if you assume there's some sort of a "hidden partition" inside the hard drive which you're supposed to use if you need a clean install, you can anyway find yourself in a rather tricky position if you -for instance- jam the partition table for some reason, which can easily happen if you're interested in trying new OS'es. So if you do it, then what happens? The OS which you already have paid for has the feature of being able to boot from a disc and install itself back no matter what happens so what is the way of accessing this feature on such a scenario?
The only way that you can reinstall without a disk-drive is to load your OS on a USB drive. To do that you would need another PC or preemptive caution when messing with partitions ;)
HP has got this all wrong. Beautiful Laptop, WRONG DAMN PRICE! it should be just cheaper than the MAC Book.. that way people would see you still can get good looks and a big bang for your buck :) BTW.. I use both PC and MAC.. so GO FUS! :D
I checked these out at the local frys and they are both sweet machines, though the super glossy screen would keep me from ever buying either one. What happened to the good old matte displays?