Envy133
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How would you change the Voodoo Envy 133?
While low-cost laptops are all the rage right now, there's still a solid chunk of folks out there willing to pay a premium for potent ultraportables. The Voodoo Envy 133 is undeniably one of the sexier small machines we've seen of late, and the internals are rather impressive given the size of the enclosure. Still, this here rig costs a pretty penny, and we've all ideas those who splurged have a thing or two to say about it with nearly two months of usage under their belt. Has the Envy 133 lived up to your surely lofty expectations? Are there aspects there you wish were different? How could Voodoo go about tweaking things whenever it finally decides to actually launch another product at all its successor?
Voodoo Envy 133 unboxing and impressions
HP's Voodoo Envy 133, first announced in June, has struggled a bit off the blocks, with manufacturing problems keeping it out of buyers hands until last month. Of course, HP has a good excuse: carbon fiber. The notoriously difficult material wasn't used sparingly on the Envy 133, and if you've been looking for a laptop dripping with the synthetic material, HP's got your number. We mention this to remind ourselves that, like the MacBook Air before it, this laptop is about looks first, function second, and the Envy 133 succeeds in that regard wildly. There's always room for taste in these things, but HP makes quite a statement here no matter what your persuasion. We're not going to run through a full review here, but we'll let you know our first impressions after the break.%Gallery-33602%
Voodoo's latest Envy hiding in plain sight?
See that? We could be wrong but that's not a 13.3-inch Envy 133 laptop -- it's bigger. In other words, while the video titled "Voodoo Envy: Carbon Fiber Closeup" is certainly an Envy, we're guessing (or at least hoping) it's the recently teased model. Widescreen Envy 184 anyone? Hit the read link for the full video. P.S. Yes, the carbon fiber micro-weave is smokin' [Thanks, Anthony M.]
Voodoo Envy 133 unboxed on video, lookin' good
Right, so Voodoo's succulent Envy 133 looks a lot better in high-res images than in some highly compressed, artifact-laden YouTube clip, but that's what your imagination is there for. For those still waiting for their freshly shipped machine to hit the doorstep, hop on past the break for an unboxing sure to make you even more impatient. Or just restrain yourself and experience it first-hand in a few days. Totally your call.[Thanks, Bernt]
Voodoo Envy 133 starts shipping, corrugated boxes seen sweating
Not a whole to say that we haven't already summed up in the title, but that hot little Voodoo Envy 133 is finally shipping right about now. A whole host of to-be owners have already received tracking numbers, and some folks have already had the pleasure of peeling away the tape and gettin' busy. So, are you still waiting for yours to leave the dock, or is it already halfway to your abode?[Via CNET, image courtesy of Playername]
SplashTop instant-on OS hacked to run other programs, boot off flash drives
DeviceVM's SplashTop "instant-on" OS is based on Linux, even though it's locked down to only run IM, Skype, media software, and Firefox, and you know what that means -- it's already been hacked wide open. Yep, the clever kids at the Phoronix forums have managed to open up the BIOS-based OS and make it do all kinds of tricks, including run other programs and boot other machines off a flash drive. The hacks are still a little complex, but with ASUS shipping tons of ExpressGate-enabled mobos and laptops and HP's support in the Voodoo Envy 133, we'd there's a one-click unlocker in the wild fairly soon. Anyone brave enough to install it on their machines?[Thanks, george85]
Voodoo's Envy 133 gets handled by Maximum PC
The folks over at Maximum PC have gotten themselves a chance to go face-to-face (and tongue-to-laptop) with Voodoo's newest show-off -- the Envy 133 -- and they've shared with the rest of the world. There's not much to say based on these pictures, save that they clearly were stoked to be getting this close to the sexed-up excuse for maxing out a credit card. If you hit the read link, you'll catch a slew of pictures, some size comparisons with a MacBook Pro, and first impressions of what Voodoo's instant-on OS looks and feels like. What are you waiting for? Get!
First look at the Envy 133's instant 5-second OS
For those of you still able to focus, able to avoid a gobsmacked trance evoked by the unabashed sex of the Voodoo Envy 133, listen up. LAPTOP went hands-on with a pre-production Voodoo Envy 133 running the instant-on, Linux-based IOS (aka, DeviceVM's Splashtop) and came away "really impressed" by the "game changing" technology. Instead of waiting for Vista to steal another boot-minute from your day, IOS boots in just seconds letting you surf the web in just 15 seconds from a cold start -- 4-5 seconds for IOS boot, another 10 or so to launch the Mozilla-based "Splashtop browser." The IOS also presents users with a Pidgin chat (AIM, Google Talk, MSN, Yahoo, and more) client, voice-only Skype, and multi-media playback of photos and music. Let's face it, often, very often, this is all the functionality we need from our laptops, right Eee PC owners? Of course, you can boot to Vista from IOS or shut the laptop down if that spreadsheet can wait another day. Now hit up that read link to check the video hands-on.
Voodoo Envy 133 packaging revealed
As if it wasn't already clear enough, Voodoo is really going all out with its new Envy 133 laptop (and Omen desktop), and it looks like that extends right down to the packaging as well, as evidenced by this latest batch of shots provided by Voodoo founder Rahul Sood himself. As you can see above, the company has even gone so far as to include a microfiber sleeve with the laptop to add one more layer of anticipation as you unbox the thing. Be sure to hit up the read link below for the rest of the pics, including a peek at the acessories and some close-up shots of the keyboard.
Voodoo now accepting Envy 133 phone orders
Alright, it's finally here -- Voodoo's configuration page for the Envy 133 just went live with pricing information, and we're being told that orders are being accepted over the phone. Depending on options and paint jobs, you're going to put a dent in your wallet anywhere from $2100 to $3400, but it's still not clear exactly when units will be shipping out. Anyone taking the plunge?[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
Voodoo Envy 133 photographed gloriously in the wild
No frontin' here: this is the most excited we've been about in the wild shots in quite some time. Not only do we have a veritable plethora of Envy 133 shots to glance at, but each one is high resolution and sharp as a tack. If you think your heart can handle checking out this slab of sexy from all angles, head on down to the links below and give it a go. From here, the only thing we're down on is that mirror they call a glossy display; otherwise, this thing looks downright heavenly.Read - TheNextBench message boardRead - Envy 133 gallery
Customized Voodoo Envy 133: a sin worthy of death
Anyone else feeling the rapid palpitations of desire is their cold, pawne-shopped hearts? You're looking at a pre-production, Scuderia-red Voodoo Envy 133 with "Rahul Sood's Racing Edition" engraved underneath. Mind you, this level of customization isn't just limited to Voodoo/HP execs. Both the Omen desktop and Envy 133 will launch with "extensive personalization options" for even the lowest of the lowly cubical monkeys.[Thanks, Muhri]
Voodoo's Omen and Envy get talked about on video
Let's face it: a photograph is only worth a thousand words, but a video... well, it's almost always preferred. For those still hungry for (even) more details on Voodoo's latest duo, the HP VoodooPC channel is now home to a host of fresh clips to satisfy your insatiable appetite. The goods are in the read link, kiddos.[Thanks, William]
Voodoo's Envy 133 using custom MacBook Air CPU?
We heard they were coming. Now it looks like we've got a second ultra-thin laptop sporting Intel's custom-built, 65-nm processor first unveiled in Apple's MacBook Air. At about 3:00 minutes into the Envy 133 video, Rahul Sood, Voodoo founder, says that his new Envy 133 uses an "off roadmap chip" of Intel design which consumes 20 watts of power. Looking at the Envy spec sheet reveals a processor running at either 1.6GHz (SP7500) or 1.8GHz (SP7700), with 4MB L2 Cache and 800MHz FSB. Right, those are the exact specs as the custom CPU found inside of Apple's MacBook Air. Also of note, LaptopMag says that Voodoo's instant-on IOS is none other than DeviceVM's Splashtop which ASUS is currently bunging into all of its motherboards. Make no mistake, this hunky chunk of carbon fiber is still magical, it's just not the mystery it seemed when launched this morning.Read -- Splashtop Read -- MacBook Air processor Read -- Envy 133 specs
Voodoo Omen and Envy press shots galore
You think we're tired of Omen and Envy 133 yet? Fat chance. That LCD-bedecked desktop behemoth and thintop contender (pictured) are both quite a new direction Voodoo, and their launch seems particularly good timing given Dell's apparent reshuffling of its XPS and Alienware lineups. But forget market appropriateness, let's concentrate on the sexy...%Gallery-24807%%Gallery-24806%
Envy 133 and MacBook Air duke it out in the flesh
Sure, we've sized these two up theoretically, but how well do Voodoo's Envy 133 and Apple's MacBook Air get along when sharing the same meatspace? There are certainly some striking similarities -- both have gargantuan trackpads, for instance, but Voodoo has taken things in an aesthetic direction all its own. We just hope these two decide to be friends instead of mortal, cake-cutting enemies.
X300 vs Envy 133 vs MacBook Air... Fight!
Suddenly the 13.3-inch ultra-portable market is looking a might bit crowded. At the same time, it's never looked better now that we have the choice of Lenovo's X300, Apple's MacBook Air, and Voodoo's just announced Envy 133. Decisions, decisions. #vistachart { border: 2px solid #333; border-collapse: collapse; } #vistachart td { padding: 3px; border: 1px solid #ccc; vertical-align: top; margin: 0; line-height: 1.3em; } #vistachart th { font-weight: bold; text-align: left; padding: 4px; background: #eee; } #vistachart th.mainth { border-bottom: 1px solid #333; font-size: 1.2em; } #vistachart td.red { background-color: #f08c85; } #vistachart td.green { background-color: #b3e2c4; ThinkPad X300 Envy 133 MacBook Air 0.73 to 0.92-inches 0.70-inches 0.16 to 0.76-inches 2.9 to 3.1-pounds* 3.37-pounds 3 pounds 13.3-inch LED 13.3-inch LED 13.3-inch LED 1,440 x 900 1,280 x 800 1,280 x 800 Removable Battery Removable Battery Not Removable Ethernet External via USB adapter 3x USB 1x USB, 1x USB/eSATA 1x USB DVD External External 1.2GHz Core 2 Duo 1.8GHz Core 2 Duo 1.8GHz Core 2 Duo GMA X3100 GMA X3100 GMA X3100 SSD only HDD or SSD HDD or SSD Vista Vista Vista or OS X $2,700 to $3,000* $2,099 starting $1,800 to $3,100* Business minded Instant on Voodoo IOS Cuts cake *Depending upon configuration
Video: Voodoo floats 13.3-inch Envy 133 into the Air
Oh my. First you're slicing cake with the MacBook Air, then you're looking to steal its market share. Lenovo, you can't afford to be too smug either. Voodoo's $2,099, carbon fiber Envy 133 isn't a gaming rig. It is, however, a 13.3-inch ultra-portable with LED-backlit display, 1,280 x 800 resolution, Intel GMA X3100 graphics, 1.8GHz Intel Core 2 Duo SP7700 processor, HDMI, 2x USB (1 doubles as eSATA) and hard disk or SSD option. It also features an instant-on Voodoo IOS mode that lets you surf the web, chat, look at photos, and make Skype calls without booting into Windows. Impressed yet? Well what if we told you that the power brick (and it's definitely a brick!) doubles as a WiFi access point? Check the preview just beyond the read link, or full video explanation after the break.%Gallery-24781%
