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There have been many challengers to come along claiming to have the power and style to knockoff the current king of cool in the high end laptop segment, but HP has quietly done it.
The HP ENVY 14 is that PC. Spec wise it's not even close when trying to match the Macbook Pro with the ENVY except when it comes to battery life. There, the Pro still has that crown. The true battle takes place in the super subjective category of design. The ENVY isn't called the ENVY for nothing. If ultimately you know you're a PC no matter how much you want to be with the cool kids, now you have a laptop that you can proudly whip out with a smirk. But enough of all the hype, lets get a look this ENVY for those that haven't seen it up close. Oh yeah, it's also available in a size 17"
Latest Engadget Review: HP Envy 14 review
Latest Review for those that want a closer look at this monster: Slashgear.com HP-envy-14-review
Looks like a Macbook Pro: Hum, unless you consider any laptop with a metal base as looking like a Macbook Pro, I'm gonna have to push back a bit. The ENVY is actually not just aluminum, but magnesium also (mostly magnesium), and while the Macbook pro was designed to look like a smooth block of Aluminum, the ENVY is tated up from head to toe (has texture and a controversial pattern on every ounce of it's surface). It is semi silver around it's base, but when did a silver laptop base equal Macbook Pro.
We all know Sony invented the Chicklet keyboard, so do we really want to go there?
Heat Issues in previous models: While it's true the ENVY 15 and 13 experienced some heat problems, the ENVY 14 and 17 were redesigned from top to bottom to reduce such problems. Watch the youtube videos bellow and it's all explained. If you have a Macbook Pro, you know that they get extremely hot because the design doesn't have fans. Heat isn't the argument you want to make when it comes to the Macbook pro. Check the Apple Forums: Macbook Pro Users and the Heat Problem for proof! Yeah, back down graciously
HP ENVY Slideshow
Discover the ENVY 14
HP Envy 14 and 17 notebook Big Changes for Less
Ok, Lets get the detailed specs in Here:
Processor
Intel(R) Core(TM) i3-370M Dual Core processor (2.40GHz, 3MB L3 Cache) up to Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-840QM processor (1.86GHz, 8MB L3 Cache) with Turbo Boost up to 3.2 GHz - Yep, Thats the latest line of Intel mobile processors with a few like the older i5-520M thrown in for good sport.
Memory
4GB DDR3 System Memory (2 Dimm)|4GB DDR3 System Memory (1 Dimm)|6GB DDR3 System Memory (2 Dimm)|8GB DDR3 System Memory (2 Dimm)|DDR3 1333
Graphics
1GB ATI Mobility Radeon(TM) HD 5650 switchable graphics [HDMI] - For Dual Core Processors
or
1GB ATI Mobility Radeon(TM) HD 5850 Graphics [HDMI]
Hard Drives
320GB 7200RPM SATA Hard Drive with HP ProtectSmart Hard Drive Protection|500GB 7200RPM SATA Hard Drive with HP ProtectSmart Hard Drive Protection|160GB (Solid State Drive Flash Module)|256GB (Solid State Drive Flash Module) - Imagine buying a 256GB SSD for a Macbook Pro
- Yeah, it would take Inception
or
500GB 7200RPM SATA Hard Drive with HP ProtectSmart Hard Drive Protection|640GB 7200RPM SATA Hard Drive with HP ProtectSmart Hard Drive Protection|750GB 5200RPM SATA Hard Drive with HP ProtectSmart Hard Drive Protection|1TB 5200RPM SATA Hard Drive with HP ProtectSmart Hard Drive Protection|1TB 7200RPM SATA Dual Hard Drive (500GB x 2) with HP ProtectSmart Hard Drive Protection|1.5TB 5200RPM SATA Dual Hard Drive (750GB x 2) with HP ProtectSmart Hard Drive Protection|160GB (Solid State Drive Flash Module)|2TB 5200RPM SATA Dual Hard Drive (1TB x 2) with HP ProtectSmart Hard Drive Protection|800GB 7200RPM SATA Dual Hard Drive (SSD 160GB + 640GB 7200RPM)
Display
14.5" diagonal High Definition HP BrightView Infinity LED Display (1366x76
|14.5" diagonal HD+ HP Radiance Infinity LED Display (1600x900) -
Don't be
or
17.3" diagonal HD+ HP BrightView Infinity LED Display (1600 x 900)|17.3" diagonal Full HD HP Ultra BrightView Infinity LED Display (1920x1080)
Optical Drive
SuperMulti 8X DVDR/RW with Double Layer Support (Slot Load)|Blu-ray ROM with SuperMulti DVDR/RW with Double Layer Support (Slot Load) _ Is steve Jobs still calling Blu-ray "a big old bag of hurt" when it comes to them appearing in Macs
Camera
HP TrueVision HD Webcam and Dual Digital Integrated Microphones [For Brightview Infinity Display]|HP TrueVision HD Webcam and Dual Digital Integrated Microphones [For Radiance Infinity Display]
Battery
8 Cell Lithium Ion Battery|Two 8 Cell Lithium Ion Batteries|One 8 Cell Lithium Ion (standard) +One 6-Cell Extended-Life Lithium-Ion Polymer Battery (over-sized)
or
6 Cell Lithium Ion Battery (standard)|One 6 Cell (standard) and One 9 Cell (over-sized) Lithium Ion Battery
- Macbook Pro still wins here on battery life in real world use. Hey, everyone likes a long running battery and Apple is king for workhorse laptops
Ports
3 USB (3rd shared with eSATA port), HDMI, mini-Display Port, RJ-45, External 10/100/1000 Gigabit Ethernet LAN RJ-45 connect
Design
Magnesium alloy casing with HP Metal Etching technology
Sound
Beats(TM) audio for superior sound
The HP ENVY 14 is that PC. Spec wise it's not even close when trying to match the Macbook Pro with the ENVY except when it comes to battery life. There, the Pro still has that crown. The true battle takes place in the super subjective category of design. The ENVY isn't called the ENVY for nothing. If ultimately you know you're a PC no matter how much you want to be with the cool kids, now you have a laptop that you can proudly whip out with a smirk. But enough of all the hype, lets get a look this ENVY for those that haven't seen it up close. Oh yeah, it's also available in a size 17"
Latest Engadget Review: HP Envy 14 review
Latest Review for those that want a closer look at this monster: Slashgear.com HP-envy-14-review
Looks like a Macbook Pro: Hum, unless you consider any laptop with a metal base as looking like a Macbook Pro, I'm gonna have to push back a bit. The ENVY is actually not just aluminum, but magnesium also (mostly magnesium), and while the Macbook pro was designed to look like a smooth block of Aluminum, the ENVY is tated up from head to toe (has texture and a controversial pattern on every ounce of it's surface). It is semi silver around it's base, but when did a silver laptop base equal Macbook Pro.
Heat Issues in previous models: While it's true the ENVY 15 and 13 experienced some heat problems, the ENVY 14 and 17 were redesigned from top to bottom to reduce such problems. Watch the youtube videos bellow and it's all explained. If you have a Macbook Pro, you know that they get extremely hot because the design doesn't have fans. Heat isn't the argument you want to make when it comes to the Macbook pro. Check the Apple Forums: Macbook Pro Users and the Heat Problem for proof! Yeah, back down graciously
HP ENVY Slideshow
Discover the ENVY 14
HP Envy 14 and 17 notebook Big Changes for Less
Ok, Lets get the detailed specs in Here:
Processor
Intel(R) Core(TM) i3-370M Dual Core processor (2.40GHz, 3MB L3 Cache) up to Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-840QM processor (1.86GHz, 8MB L3 Cache) with Turbo Boost up to 3.2 GHz - Yep, Thats the latest line of Intel mobile processors with a few like the older i5-520M thrown in for good sport.
Memory
4GB DDR3 System Memory (2 Dimm)|4GB DDR3 System Memory (1 Dimm)|6GB DDR3 System Memory (2 Dimm)|8GB DDR3 System Memory (2 Dimm)|DDR3 1333
Graphics
1GB ATI Mobility Radeon(TM) HD 5650 switchable graphics [HDMI] - For Dual Core Processors
or
1GB ATI Mobility Radeon(TM) HD 5850 Graphics [HDMI]
Hard Drives
320GB 7200RPM SATA Hard Drive with HP ProtectSmart Hard Drive Protection|500GB 7200RPM SATA Hard Drive with HP ProtectSmart Hard Drive Protection|160GB (Solid State Drive Flash Module)|256GB (Solid State Drive Flash Module) - Imagine buying a 256GB SSD for a Macbook Pro
or
500GB 7200RPM SATA Hard Drive with HP ProtectSmart Hard Drive Protection|640GB 7200RPM SATA Hard Drive with HP ProtectSmart Hard Drive Protection|750GB 5200RPM SATA Hard Drive with HP ProtectSmart Hard Drive Protection|1TB 5200RPM SATA Hard Drive with HP ProtectSmart Hard Drive Protection|1TB 7200RPM SATA Dual Hard Drive (500GB x 2) with HP ProtectSmart Hard Drive Protection|1.5TB 5200RPM SATA Dual Hard Drive (750GB x 2) with HP ProtectSmart Hard Drive Protection|160GB (Solid State Drive Flash Module)|2TB 5200RPM SATA Dual Hard Drive (1TB x 2) with HP ProtectSmart Hard Drive Protection|800GB 7200RPM SATA Dual Hard Drive (SSD 160GB + 640GB 7200RPM)
Display
14.5" diagonal High Definition HP BrightView Infinity LED Display (1366x76
|14.5" diagonal HD+ HP Radiance Infinity LED Display (1600x900) -
or
17.3" diagonal HD+ HP BrightView Infinity LED Display (1600 x 900)|17.3" diagonal Full HD HP Ultra BrightView Infinity LED Display (1920x1080)
Optical Drive
SuperMulti 8X DVDR/RW with Double Layer Support (Slot Load)|Blu-ray ROM with SuperMulti DVDR/RW with Double Layer Support (Slot Load) _ Is steve Jobs still calling Blu-ray "a big old bag of hurt" when it comes to them appearing in Macs
Camera
HP TrueVision HD Webcam and Dual Digital Integrated Microphones [For Brightview Infinity Display]|HP TrueVision HD Webcam and Dual Digital Integrated Microphones [For Radiance Infinity Display]
Battery
8 Cell Lithium Ion Battery|Two 8 Cell Lithium Ion Batteries|One 8 Cell Lithium Ion (standard) +One 6-Cell Extended-Life Lithium-Ion Polymer Battery (over-sized)
or
6 Cell Lithium Ion Battery (standard)|One 6 Cell (standard) and One 9 Cell (over-sized) Lithium Ion Battery
- Macbook Pro still wins here on battery life in real world use. Hey, everyone likes a long running battery and Apple is king for workhorse laptops
Ports
3 USB (3rd shared with eSATA port), HDMI, mini-Display Port, RJ-45, External 10/100/1000 Gigabit Ethernet LAN RJ-45 connect
Design
Magnesium alloy casing with HP Metal Etching technology
Sound
Beats(TM) audio for superior sound
