HP ENVY 14 Review (2011 Update) Discussion

[Charles P. Jefferies]

The ENVY is HP's answer to the Apple MacBook. Our 14-inch model features a beautiful metal chassis and a backlit keyboard. Is it the perfect Apple alternative? Read our review to find out.

Read the full content of this Article: HP ENVY 14 Review (2011 Update)

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[MidnightSun]

Nice review, Charles. The Envy 14's name is rather deceptive, since it's quite nearly a 15" notebook in size, weight, and performance. Attractive laptop, except for the screen and HP's long-time Achilles heel IMHO, the cooling system.

The cons listed at the end aren't the ones listed at the beginning though

[linuxwanabe]

The HP Envy 14 is tragically flawed. First of all, it shares its screen, touchpad and general appearance with downmarket HP notebooks. Second, it doesn't have the unique packaging advantages of a Macbook. Third, it's just another Windows PC.

I don't have a problem with HP. Truth be know, they offer bargain priced hardware, especially at the low end of the market. The problem I have with HP is their transparent, flimsy and failed attempt to go head to head with Apple. First, Macbook design cues spread throughout the notebook line, which is both good and bad, but then HP really splashed out on the TouchPad - same screen size, same price, same accessory prices as the iPad - and a complete marketing disaster ensued.

The HP Envy 14 isn't a Macbook Pro competitor in meaningful sense, just a slightly more upmarket rendition of the mainstream HP notebooks we see at every big box store. Fortunately for HP, the Envy 14 also isn't another TouchPad. People will actually buy the Envy 14, admittedly in far more modest numbers than the Macbook Pro line, but there again, it is a high end Windows PC and that end of the market is dominated by Apple.

Oh, and that touchpad? Why doesn't HP just get rid of it? In this case, I'm referring to the button-less touchpad on HP notebooks, not the unloved, rumored-to-be-already-dead WebOS tablet. HP might be going after Apple, but not with a quality glass touchpad. Nope, HP sticks with its plastic teeter-totter.

[CASteinman]

When they lost their radiance display, this notebook became unsupportable.

I have a dream to one day meet the Product Manager for the Envy line and ask him: "What on earth was wrong with HP that they didn't rescue that panel maker or buy them?"

They could have had a line that did indeed give good contest to Macbook Pro. Instead, they have a hi-spec computer with the screen of a toy.

[yknyong1]

I have one. The right USB port is 3.0, and it lacks eSATA. Please correct the article.

[jacob_s]

I just don't understand why there have been all these let-downs lately in the laptop world. I want nice screens back, especially on a product with the name "envy" and a price tag that agrees!

[RefinedPower]

wow... this is like a downgrade from the prev gen envy (esp with the radiance). so pretty much what you get is

1. lower end screen
2. simular GPU (FYI review has a typo listing it as AMD 6330, its a AMD 6630)
3. upgraded CPU

I think it is $100 cheaper tho... didn't the previous model start at $999?

[Generic User #2]

Second, it doesn't have the unique packaging advantages of a Macbook.

what do you mean by packaging advantages? please dear lord tell me you're not referring to the actual product packaging.

[aznguyphan]

I think he's referring to the MBP 15" being thinner and having a higher capacity polymer battery

[dalamchops]

shame they lost the radiance display. Lost a potential buyer in me.