HP now shipping select Envy 15 models with USB 3.0
By Ross Miller 
posted January 14th 2010 7:18AM
posted January 14th 2010 7:18AM
Welcome to the most recent benchmark we've been referring to as "the future." HP has become what appears to be the first company to actually ship a laptop featuring USB 3.0. According to a rep speaking with CNET, if you order an Envy 15 with a Core i7 processor and an ATI 5830 GPU, the new ports come along for the ride. Feeling patient? Not to worry, we're pretty sure this crazy USB 3.0 thing isn't an isolated incident -- expect more machines to support it soon enough, including HP's own EliteBook in just a few weeks' time.
HP is NOT first to have USB 3.0. ASUS N61Jq/N61Ja both are featuring USB 3.0 ports.
@URPradhan "HP has become what appears to be the first company to actually ship a laptop featuring USB 3.0."
The ASUS N61Jq/N61Ja are up for pre-order. This is actually shipping.
@Edobe oh snap epic pwnage!
@URPradhan Oups.. Also, Windows 7 is going to be the belle of the ball in the next few months so expect lots of machines like the Envy to hit stores. While that price is fairly rough, there will be few options for folks who want the Win7 Pro experience. Preview: http://bit.ly/hp-envy-is-worth-it
@jeninachan
dont post useless links!
This is so tempting! (except for the heat)
It's this or macbook pro at the end of January.
Anyone have the envy 15 and opinions?
Again, with a $1300+ laptop, we are missing a slot/tray load optical (preferably blue-ray rom) drive, which is a -ve of Envy.
@URPradhan I use my slot drive on my laptop maybe 1-2% of the time. Wasted space that would be better taken up by another battery.
IMO at least, I realize other people might have other uses for such a thing.
@URPradhan
Hold on a sec.... the Envy 15 doesn't have a DVD drive?
@URPradhan
My HP Laptop came with a blanking plate in case you dont use the DVD drive. I fit it about 16 months ago and have never used the DVD drive since. Personally I would rather a bigger battery instead of a DVD drive any day.
@TareG
thats why its so thin while having highend parts in it.
@fel
I use the DVD drive all the time.... what's the point of having a gaming-ready laptop that can't run DVDs? Encouraging piracy?
@TareG - ever heard of Steam?
And on top of that, the Envy is hardly a "gaming laptop".
@NewL
How times have changed, when the Macbook Air came without the DVD you should have seen the outrage. I guess these days it's ok now.
@NewL "gaming laptop"? its got a i7 and ATI 5830 what more do you want, oh flashy alienware lights
@Goona
The Macbook Air came out in 2008. 2 Years is considered the lifetime of a computer before it's obsolete. In those 2 years, netbooks became a huge item. So, yes people have changed and in some small part due to the Macbook Air, but that's perfectly acceptable. Are you the exact same person you were 2 years ago?
Quit being a dick and start looking at things from the real world, where nothing is black and white.
@SchultzMD - yeah, that's exactly what's missing there. Obviously.
No, it's that the Envy isn't, by any means, positioned as a gaming laptop by HP. It's clearly not aimed at gamers, and the lack of a DVD drive is just one indication of this. They're high-priced prestige laptops, aimed squarely at the design-conscious demographic with lots of spare change.
Think about it: would you call eg a high-end Thinkpad a "gaming laptop", just because it's got a fast CPU and a decent GPU? Of course not.
@Vdek @Jimbob
It depends upon a person's requirement. I need a optical drive in my laptop as I'll use it to burn the DVDs and many more.
@TareG
Yeh.. No optical drive means download pirated stuff and use it. Else if you need a drive carry the calf along with the cow every where :(
@fel
Paying $1300 for thin ? You can get same config in approx $1000 of Asus N61Ja
@URPradhan
i guess we're ignoring steam, where most pc gamers buy games
@TareG They come with fancy external dvd or blu ray drives, your choice. It's included in the price, as is the slice battery that gives you something close to 18 hours of battery power. My wife has the envy 13.. very very nice. You get about 8 hours off full on battery power without using low power features etc. Has dual video. the system reverts to the on board video on battery power in default to consume less power, runs the dedicated graphics card when plugged in or you choose to on battery. Real good laptops. Well, the envy 13 is nicer because all the exhaust and intakes are on the side of the unit and not on the bottom. I believe the envy 15 has two air intakes on the bottom.
Did HP update the trackpad drivers on this laptop? I checked out a demo of the Envy 15 and trackpad was a disaster!
@EddieN
Intel had one of these at their booth at CES and the touchpad is still a disaster. It's bad enough that I wouldn't recommend anyone buying this if they prefer using the touchpad.
Might just win over those who are uncertain about this.
The Envy 15 is so fill of WIN.
@TareG
That statement was just so f-U-ll of FAIL
I'm glad some manufacturers are doing this. I'm thinking about buyin a new Sony Z but won't get it unless it has USB 3.0 on board.
@boe The new one doesn't, I think. But then it might, since it is Sony's flagship computer.
The Envy 15 line has some pretty serious clock issues that caused at least one friend of mine to return theirs.
Essentially there is no way on battery to run it above the lowest 'TurboBoost' setting (approx 1GHz).
See here for discussion:
http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=445178
My brand new Mac don't feel so brand new anymore.
Damnit! Just ordered an Envy 15 with an i5 last week. No USB 3.0 for me, I imagine.
@lordbannon
Doh! Same here.
@lordbannon
Same. Damn you HP!
The Envy 15 will come with a *single* USB 3.0 port.
Source: http://www.thenextbench.com/t5/HP-Envy-Notebooks/USB-3-0-support/td-p/51999/page/2
@Gondza
Same with Asus N61Ja also, 1 USB 3.0 and 2 USB 2.0 ports
@Gondza
That's one more than 99.9% of all computers on the market today
PlayTV is good but not great imo. It's missing two major features - dual recording and series-linking. Add these two features and you've got a pretty decent PVR replacement.
It's also missing a firewire & PC Card port!
The issues with the trackpad are pretty much gone with the November driver release. I believe the clocking issue was fixed with the 12.2009 firmware release. As to those that do not think that this thing is a gaming pc.... The are wrong, just download your game off of steam and have at it. I own the I7 with 4830 video card and it does heat up. I am looking at mine now and cannot figure out where they are going to place a USB3.0 port, without deleting a vent.
Does that mean ALL the USB ports will be 3.0?
USB 3.0 FTW!
The Asus N61Ja has a 16" screen and only 1366x768 resolution, no thanks. I will never buy a laptop with that low of resolution. The Envy is available with a 1920x1080 upgrade for only $75.
usb 3.0 is an advance of course. but look all your plug and play devices, they all just run on usb 2.0 and of course the structure is different so usb 2.0 wont fit on 3.0 or it will?