HP Envy 15 (late 2011) review

How many corners do you have to cut for a $1,100 MacBook Pro competitor?

By Sean Hollister on January 4, 2012 06:15 pm 272Comments

Six years after the introduction of the MacBook Pro, it appears the PC industry has finally realized that Apple was onto something. With laptops like the Dell XPS 15z and Samsung Series 7 Chronos, the incumbents are scrambling to build a cheaper MacBook Pro for the Windows set, and in more ways than one: not only do the Windows machines have similar metallic builds, they also attempt to copy Apple's design language. HP was one of the first to attempt to capitalize on the Apple formula with the original Envy 15 in 2009, but shied away from an outright clone with a curvier riff on the aluminum case. As you can see above, the company's not so shy anymore — the new Envy 15 looks almost exactly like a MacBook Pro when open. If HP's going to throw down with Apple on its own carefully polished aluminum turf, we're going to judge it accordingly: is the new Envy 15 as much of a Windows MacBook Pro as its looks suggest? Or is HP just banking on Apple's image to sell a lesser product? Read on to find out.

Update, January 24: There seems to be a problem with the HP Envy 15's 1080p Radiance Display where it doesn't properly display red and violet colors. We're currently awaiting a full response from HP.

Design

Hardware / design

Like a MacBook Pro, for people who want more control

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HP Envy 15 (late 2011) review

Six years after the introduction of the MacBook Pro, it appears the PC industry has finally realized that Apple was onto something. With laptops like the Dell XPS 15z and Samsung Series 7 Chronos, the incumbents are scrambling to build a cheaper MacBook Pro for the Windows set, and in more ways than one: not only do the Windows machines have similar metallic builds, they also attempt to copy Apple's design language. HP was one of the first to attempt to capitalize on the Apple formula with the original Envy 15 in 2009, but shied away from an outright clone with a curvier riff on the aluminum case. As you can see above, the company's not so shy anymore — the new Envy 15 looks almost exactly like a MacBook Pro when open. If HP's going to throw down with Apple on its own carefully polished aluminum turf, we're going to judge it accordingly: is the new Envy 15 as much of a Windows MacBook Pro as its looks suggest? Or is HP just banking on Apple's image to sell a lesser product? Read on to find out. Update, January 24: There seems to be a problem with the HP Envy 15's 1080p Radiance Display where it doesn't properly display red and violet colors. We're currently awaiting a full response from HP.
HP Envy 15 (late 2011) review

Six years after the introduction of the MacBook Pro, it appears the PC industry has finally realized that Apple was onto something. With laptops like the Dell XPS 15z and Samsung Series 7 Chronos, the incumbents are scrambling to build a cheaper MacBook Pro for the Windows set, and in more ways than one: not only do the Windows machines have similar metallic builds, they also attempt to copy Apple's design language. HP was one of the first to attempt to capitalize on the Apple formula with the original Envy 15 in 2009, but shied away from an outright clone with a curvier riff on the aluminum case. As you can see above, the company's not so shy anymore — the new Envy 15 looks almost exactly like a MacBook Pro when open. If HP's going to throw down with Apple on its own carefully polished aluminum turf, we're going to judge it accordingly: is the new Envy 15 as much of a Windows MacBook Pro as its looks suggest? Or is HP just banking on Apple's image to sell a lesser product? Read on to find out. Update, January 24: There seems to be a problem with the HP Envy 15's 1080p Radiance Display where it doesn't properly display red and violet colors. We're currently awaiting a full response from HP.
HP Envy 15 (late 2011) review

Six years after the introduction of the MacBook Pro, it appears the PC industry has finally realized that Apple was onto something. With laptops like the Dell XPS 15z and Samsung Series 7 Chronos, the incumbents are scrambling to build a cheaper MacBook Pro for the Windows set, and in more ways than one: not only do the Windows machines have similar metallic builds, they also attempt to copy Apple's design language. HP was one of the first to attempt to capitalize on the Apple formula with the original Envy 15 in 2009, but shied away from an outright clone with a curvier riff on the aluminum case. As you can see above, the company's not so shy anymore — the new Envy 15 looks almost exactly like a MacBook Pro when open. If HP's going to throw down with Apple on its own carefully polished aluminum turf, we're going to judge it accordingly: is the new Envy 15 as much of a Windows MacBook Pro as its looks suggest? Or is HP just banking on Apple's image to sell a lesser product? Read on to find out. Update, January 24: There seems to be a problem with the HP Envy 15's 1080p Radiance Display where it doesn't properly display red and violet colors. We're currently awaiting a full response from HP.
HP Envy 15 (late 2011) review

Six years after the introduction of the MacBook Pro, it appears the PC industry has finally realized that Apple was onto something. With laptops like the Dell XPS 15z and Samsung Series 7 Chronos, the incumbents are scrambling to build a cheaper MacBook Pro for the Windows set, and in more ways than one: not only do the Windows machines have similar metallic builds, they also attempt to copy Apple's design language. HP was one of the first to attempt to capitalize on the Apple formula with the original Envy 15 in 2009, but shied away from an outright clone with a curvier riff on the aluminum case. As you can see above, the company's not so shy anymore — the new Envy 15 looks almost exactly like a MacBook Pro when open. If HP's going to throw down with Apple on its own carefully polished aluminum turf, we're going to judge it accordingly: is the new Envy 15 as much of a Windows MacBook Pro as its looks suggest? Or is HP just banking on Apple's image to sell a lesser product? Read on to find out. Update, January 24: There seems to be a problem with the HP Envy 15's 1080p Radiance Display where it doesn't properly display red and violet colors. We're currently awaiting a full response from HP.
HP Envy 15 (late 2011) review

Six years after the introduction of the MacBook Pro, it appears the PC industry has finally realized that Apple was onto something. With laptops like the Dell XPS 15z and Samsung Series 7 Chronos, the incumbents are scrambling to build a cheaper MacBook Pro for the Windows set, and in more ways than one: not only do the Windows machines have similar metallic builds, they also attempt to copy Apple's design language. HP was one of the first to attempt to capitalize on the Apple formula with the original Envy 15 in 2009, but shied away from an outright clone with a curvier riff on the aluminum case. As you can see above, the company's not so shy anymore — the new Envy 15 looks almost exactly like a MacBook Pro when open. If HP's going to throw down with Apple on its own carefully polished aluminum turf, we're going to judge it accordingly: is the new Envy 15 as much of a Windows MacBook Pro as its looks suggest? Or is HP just banking on Apple's image to sell a lesser product? Read on to find out. Update, January 24: There seems to be a problem with the HP Envy 15's 1080p Radiance Display where it doesn't properly display red and violet colors. We're currently awaiting a full response from HP.
HP Envy 15 (late 2011) review

Six years after the introduction of the MacBook Pro, it appears the PC industry has finally realized that Apple was onto something. With laptops like the Dell XPS 15z and Samsung Series 7 Chronos, the incumbents are scrambling to build a cheaper MacBook Pro for the Windows set, and in more ways than one: not only do the Windows machines have similar metallic builds, they also attempt to copy Apple's design language. HP was one of the first to attempt to capitalize on the Apple formula with the original Envy 15 in 2009, but shied away from an outright clone with a curvier riff on the aluminum case. As you can see above, the company's not so shy anymore — the new Envy 15 looks almost exactly like a MacBook Pro when open. If HP's going to throw down with Apple on its own carefully polished aluminum turf, we're going to judge it accordingly: is the new Envy 15 as much of a Windows MacBook Pro as its looks suggest? Or is HP just banking on Apple's image to sell a lesser product? Read on to find out. Update, January 24: There seems to be a problem with the HP Envy 15's 1080p Radiance Display where it doesn't properly display red and violet colors. We're currently awaiting a full response from HP.
HP Envy 15 (late 2011) review

Six years after the introduction of the MacBook Pro, it appears the PC industry has finally realized that Apple was onto something. With laptops like the Dell XPS 15z and Samsung Series 7 Chronos, the incumbents are scrambling to build a cheaper MacBook Pro for the Windows set, and in more ways than one: not only do the Windows machines have similar metallic builds, they also attempt to copy Apple's design language. HP was one of the first to attempt to capitalize on the Apple formula with the original Envy 15 in 2009, but shied away from an outright clone with a curvier riff on the aluminum case. As you can see above, the company's not so shy anymore — the new Envy 15 looks almost exactly like a MacBook Pro when open. If HP's going to throw down with Apple on its own carefully polished aluminum turf, we're going to judge it accordingly: is the new Envy 15 as much of a Windows MacBook Pro as its looks suggest? Or is HP just banking on Apple's image to sell a lesser product? Read on to find out. Update, January 24: There seems to be a problem with the HP Envy 15's 1080p Radiance Display where it doesn't properly display red and violet colors. We're currently awaiting a full response from HP.
HP Envy 15 (late 2011) review

Six years after the introduction of the MacBook Pro, it appears the PC industry has finally realized that Apple was onto something. With laptops like the Dell XPS 15z and Samsung Series 7 Chronos, the incumbents are scrambling to build a cheaper MacBook Pro for the Windows set, and in more ways than one: not only do the Windows machines have similar metallic builds, they also attempt to copy Apple's design language. HP was one of the first to attempt to capitalize on the Apple formula with the original Envy 15 in 2009, but shied away from an outright clone with a curvier riff on the aluminum case. As you can see above, the company's not so shy anymore — the new Envy 15 looks almost exactly like a MacBook Pro when open. If HP's going to throw down with Apple on its own carefully polished aluminum turf, we're going to judge it accordingly: is the new Envy 15 as much of a Windows MacBook Pro as its looks suggest? Or is HP just banking on Apple's image to sell a lesser product? Read on to find out. Update, January 24: There seems to be a problem with the HP Envy 15's 1080p Radiance Display where it doesn't properly display red and violet colors. We're currently awaiting a full response from HP.
HP Envy 15 (late 2011) review

Six years after the introduction of the MacBook Pro, it appears the PC industry has finally realized that Apple was onto something. With laptops like the Dell XPS 15z and Samsung Series 7 Chronos, the incumbents are scrambling to build a cheaper MacBook Pro for the Windows set, and in more ways than one: not only do the Windows machines have similar metallic builds, they also attempt to copy Apple's design language. HP was one of the first to attempt to capitalize on the Apple formula with the original Envy 15 in 2009, but shied away from an outright clone with a curvier riff on the aluminum case. As you can see above, the company's not so shy anymore — the new Envy 15 looks almost exactly like a MacBook Pro when open. If HP's going to throw down with Apple on its own carefully polished aluminum turf, we're going to judge it accordingly: is the new Envy 15 as much of a Windows MacBook Pro as its looks suggest? Or is HP just banking on Apple's image to sell a lesser product? Read on to find out. Update, January 24: There seems to be a problem with the HP Envy 15's 1080p Radiance Display where it doesn't properly display red and violet colors. We're currently awaiting a full response from HP.
HP Envy 15 (late 2011) review

Six years after the introduction of the MacBook Pro, it appears the PC industry has finally realized that Apple was onto something. With laptops like the Dell XPS 15z and Samsung Series 7 Chronos, the incumbents are scrambling to build a cheaper MacBook Pro for the Windows set, and in more ways than one: not only do the Windows machines have similar metallic builds, they also attempt to copy Apple's design language. HP was one of the first to attempt to capitalize on the Apple formula with the original Envy 15 in 2009, but shied away from an outright clone with a curvier riff on the aluminum case. As you can see above, the company's not so shy anymore — the new Envy 15 looks almost exactly like a MacBook Pro when open. If HP's going to throw down with Apple on its own carefully polished aluminum turf, we're going to judge it accordingly: is the new Envy 15 as much of a Windows MacBook Pro as its looks suggest? Or is HP just banking on Apple's image to sell a lesser product? Read on to find out. Update, January 24: There seems to be a problem with the HP Envy 15's 1080p Radiance Display where it doesn't properly display red and violet colors. We're currently awaiting a full response from HP.
HP Envy 15 (late 2011) review

Six years after the introduction of the MacBook Pro, it appears the PC industry has finally realized that Apple was onto something. With laptops like the Dell XPS 15z and Samsung Series 7 Chronos, the incumbents are scrambling to build a cheaper MacBook Pro for the Windows set, and in more ways than one: not only do the Windows machines have similar metallic builds, they also attempt to copy Apple's design language. HP was one of the first to attempt to capitalize on the Apple formula with the original Envy 15 in 2009, but shied away from an outright clone with a curvier riff on the aluminum case. As you can see above, the company's not so shy anymore — the new Envy 15 looks almost exactly like a MacBook Pro when open. If HP's going to throw down with Apple on its own carefully polished aluminum turf, we're going to judge it accordingly: is the new Envy 15 as much of a Windows MacBook Pro as its looks suggest? Or is HP just banking on Apple's image to sell a lesser product? Read on to find out. Update, January 24: There seems to be a problem with the HP Envy 15's 1080p Radiance Display where it doesn't properly display red and violet colors. We're currently awaiting a full response from HP.
HP Envy 15 (late 2011) review

Six years after the introduction of the MacBook Pro, it appears the PC industry has finally realized that Apple was onto something. With laptops like the Dell XPS 15z and Samsung Series 7 Chronos, the incumbents are scrambling to build a cheaper MacBook Pro for the Windows set, and in more ways than one: not only do the Windows machines have similar metallic builds, they also attempt to copy Apple's design language. HP was one of the first to attempt to capitalize on the Apple formula with the original Envy 15 in 2009, but shied away from an outright clone with a curvier riff on the aluminum case. As you can see above, the company's not so shy anymore — the new Envy 15 looks almost exactly like a MacBook Pro when open. If HP's going to throw down with Apple on its own carefully polished aluminum turf, we're going to judge it accordingly: is the new Envy 15 as much of a Windows MacBook Pro as its looks suggest? Or is HP just banking on Apple's image to sell a lesser product? Read on to find out. Update, January 24: There seems to be a problem with the HP Envy 15's 1080p Radiance Display where it doesn't properly display red and violet colors. We're currently awaiting a full response from HP.
HP Envy 15 (late 2011) review

Six years after the introduction of the MacBook Pro, it appears the PC industry has finally realized that Apple was onto something. With laptops like the Dell XPS 15z and Samsung Series 7 Chronos, the incumbents are scrambling to build a cheaper MacBook Pro for the Windows set, and in more ways than one: not only do the Windows machines have similar metallic builds, they also attempt to copy Apple's design language. HP was one of the first to attempt to capitalize on the Apple formula with the original Envy 15 in 2009, but shied away from an outright clone with a curvier riff on the aluminum case. As you can see above, the company's not so shy anymore — the new Envy 15 looks almost exactly like a MacBook Pro when open. If HP's going to throw down with Apple on its own carefully polished aluminum turf, we're going to judge it accordingly: is the new Envy 15 as much of a Windows MacBook Pro as its looks suggest? Or is HP just banking on Apple's image to sell a lesser product? Read on to find out. Update, January 24: There seems to be a problem with the HP Envy 15's 1080p Radiance Display where it doesn't properly display red and violet colors. We're currently awaiting a full response from HP.
HP Envy 15 (late 2011) review

Six years after the introduction of the MacBook Pro, it appears the PC industry has finally realized that Apple was onto something. With laptops like the Dell XPS 15z and Samsung Series 7 Chronos, the incumbents are scrambling to build a cheaper MacBook Pro for the Windows set, and in more ways than one: not only do the Windows machines have similar metallic builds, they also attempt to copy Apple's design language. HP was one of the first to attempt to capitalize on the Apple formula with the original Envy 15 in 2009, but shied away from an outright clone with a curvier riff on the aluminum case. As you can see above, the company's not so shy anymore — the new Envy 15 looks almost exactly like a MacBook Pro when open. If HP's going to throw down with Apple on its own carefully polished aluminum turf, we're going to judge it accordingly: is the new Envy 15 as much of a Windows MacBook Pro as its looks suggest? Or is HP just banking on Apple's image to sell a lesser product? Read on to find out. Update, January 24: There seems to be a problem with the HP Envy 15's 1080p Radiance Display where it doesn't properly display red and violet colors. We're currently awaiting a full response from HP.
HP Envy 15 (late 2011) review

Six years after the introduction of the MacBook Pro, it appears the PC industry has finally realized that Apple was onto something. With laptops like the Dell XPS 15z and Samsung Series 7 Chronos, the incumbents are scrambling to build a cheaper MacBook Pro for the Windows set, and in more ways than one: not only do the Windows machines have similar metallic builds, they also attempt to copy Apple's design language. HP was one of the first to attempt to capitalize on the Apple formula with the original Envy 15 in 2009, but shied away from an outright clone with a curvier riff on the aluminum case. As you can see above, the company's not so shy anymore — the new Envy 15 looks almost exactly like a MacBook Pro when open. If HP's going to throw down with Apple on its own carefully polished aluminum turf, we're going to judge it accordingly: is the new Envy 15 as much of a Windows MacBook Pro as its looks suggest? Or is HP just banking on Apple's image to sell a lesser product? Read on to find out. Update, January 24: There seems to be a problem with the HP Envy 15's 1080p Radiance Display where it doesn't properly display red and violet colors. We're currently awaiting a full response from HP.
HP Envy 15 (late 2011) review

Six years after the introduction of the MacBook Pro, it appears the PC industry has finally realized that Apple was onto something. With laptops like the Dell XPS 15z and Samsung Series 7 Chronos, the incumbents are scrambling to build a cheaper MacBook Pro for the Windows set, and in more ways than one: not only do the Windows machines have similar metallic builds, they also attempt to copy Apple's design language. HP was one of the first to attempt to capitalize on the Apple formula with the original Envy 15 in 2009, but shied away from an outright clone with a curvier riff on the aluminum case. As you can see above, the company's not so shy anymore — the new Envy 15 looks almost exactly like a MacBook Pro when open. If HP's going to throw down with Apple on its own carefully polished aluminum turf, we're going to judge it accordingly: is the new Envy 15 as much of a Windows MacBook Pro as its looks suggest? Or is HP just banking on Apple's image to sell a lesser product? Read on to find out. Update, January 24: There seems to be a problem with the HP Envy 15's 1080p Radiance Display where it doesn't properly display red and violet colors. We're currently awaiting a full response from HP.
HP Envy 15 (late 2011) review

Six years after the introduction of the MacBook Pro, it appears the PC industry has finally realized that Apple was onto something. With laptops like the Dell XPS 15z and Samsung Series 7 Chronos, the incumbents are scrambling to build a cheaper MacBook Pro for the Windows set, and in more ways than one: not only do the Windows machines have similar metallic builds, they also attempt to copy Apple's design language. HP was one of the first to attempt to capitalize on the Apple formula with the original Envy 15 in 2009, but shied away from an outright clone with a curvier riff on the aluminum case. As you can see above, the company's not so shy anymore — the new Envy 15 looks almost exactly like a MacBook Pro when open. If HP's going to throw down with Apple on its own carefully polished aluminum turf, we're going to judge it accordingly: is the new Envy 15 as much of a Windows MacBook Pro as its looks suggest? Or is HP just banking on Apple's image to sell a lesser product? Read on to find out. Update, January 24: There seems to be a problem with the HP Envy 15's 1080p Radiance Display where it doesn't properly display red and violet colors. We're currently awaiting a full response from HP.
HP Envy 15 (late 2011) review

Six years after the introduction of the MacBook Pro, it appears the PC industry has finally realized that Apple was onto something. With laptops like the Dell XPS 15z and Samsung Series 7 Chronos, the incumbents are scrambling to build a cheaper MacBook Pro for the Windows set, and in more ways than one: not only do the Windows machines have similar metallic builds, they also attempt to copy Apple's design language. HP was one of the first to attempt to capitalize on the Apple formula with the original Envy 15 in 2009, but shied away from an outright clone with a curvier riff on the aluminum case. As you can see above, the company's not so shy anymore — the new Envy 15 looks almost exactly like a MacBook Pro when open. If HP's going to throw down with Apple on its own carefully polished aluminum turf, we're going to judge it accordingly: is the new Envy 15 as much of a Windows MacBook Pro as its looks suggest? Or is HP just banking on Apple's image to sell a lesser product? Read on to find out. Update, January 24: There seems to be a problem with the HP Envy 15's 1080p Radiance Display where it doesn't properly display red and violet colors. We're currently awaiting a full response from HP.
HP Envy 15 (late 2011) review

Six years after the introduction of the MacBook Pro, it appears the PC industry has finally realized that Apple was onto something. With laptops like the Dell XPS 15z and Samsung Series 7 Chronos, the incumbents are scrambling to build a cheaper MacBook Pro for the Windows set, and in more ways than one: not only do the Windows machines have similar metallic builds, they also attempt to copy Apple's design language. HP was one of the first to attempt to capitalize on the Apple formula with the original Envy 15 in 2009, but shied away from an outright clone with a curvier riff on the aluminum case. As you can see above, the company's not so shy anymore — the new Envy 15 looks almost exactly like a MacBook Pro when open. If HP's going to throw down with Apple on its own carefully polished aluminum turf, we're going to judge it accordingly: is the new Envy 15 as much of a Windows MacBook Pro as its looks suggest? Or is HP just banking on Apple's image to sell a lesser product? Read on to find out. Update, January 24: There seems to be a problem with the HP Envy 15's 1080p Radiance Display where it doesn't properly display red and violet colors. We're currently awaiting a full response from HP.
HP Envy 15 (late 2011) review

Six years after the introduction of the MacBook Pro, it appears the PC industry has finally realized that Apple was onto something. With laptops like the Dell XPS 15z and Samsung Series 7 Chronos, the incumbents are scrambling to build a cheaper MacBook Pro for the Windows set, and in more ways than one: not only do the Windows machines have similar metallic builds, they also attempt to copy Apple's design language. HP was one of the first to attempt to capitalize on the Apple formula with the original Envy 15 in 2009, but shied away from an outright clone with a curvier riff on the aluminum case. As you can see above, the company's not so shy anymore — the new Envy 15 looks almost exactly like a MacBook Pro when open. If HP's going to throw down with Apple on its own carefully polished aluminum turf, we're going to judge it accordingly: is the new Envy 15 as much of a Windows MacBook Pro as its looks suggest? Or is HP just banking on Apple's image to sell a lesser product? Read on to find out. Update, January 24: There seems to be a problem with the HP Envy 15's 1080p Radiance Display where it doesn't properly display red and violet colors. We're currently awaiting a full response from HP.
HP Envy 15 (late 2011) review

Six years after the introduction of the MacBook Pro, it appears the PC industry has finally realized that Apple was onto something. With laptops like the Dell XPS 15z and Samsung Series 7 Chronos, the incumbents are scrambling to build a cheaper MacBook Pro for the Windows set, and in more ways than one: not only do the Windows machines have similar metallic builds, they also attempt to copy Apple's design language. HP was one of the first to attempt to capitalize on the Apple formula with the original Envy 15 in 2009, but shied away from an outright clone with a curvier riff on the aluminum case. As you can see above, the company's not so shy anymore — the new Envy 15 looks almost exactly like a MacBook Pro when open. If HP's going to throw down with Apple on its own carefully polished aluminum turf, we're going to judge it accordingly: is the new Envy 15 as much of a Windows MacBook Pro as its looks suggest? Or is HP just banking on Apple's image to sell a lesser product? Read on to find out. Update, January 24: There seems to be a problem with the HP Envy 15's 1080p Radiance Display where it doesn't properly display red and violet colors. We're currently awaiting a full response from HP.
HP Envy 15 (late 2011) review

Six years after the introduction of the MacBook Pro, it appears the PC industry has finally realized that Apple was onto something. With laptops like the Dell XPS 15z and Samsung Series 7 Chronos, the incumbents are scrambling to build a cheaper MacBook Pro for the Windows set, and in more ways than one: not only do the Windows machines have similar metallic builds, they also attempt to copy Apple's design language. HP was one of the first to attempt to capitalize on the Apple formula with the original Envy 15 in 2009, but shied away from an outright clone with a curvier riff on the aluminum case. As you can see above, the company's not so shy anymore — the new Envy 15 looks almost exactly like a MacBook Pro when open. If HP's going to throw down with Apple on its own carefully polished aluminum turf, we're going to judge it accordingly: is the new Envy 15 as much of a Windows MacBook Pro as its looks suggest? Or is HP just banking on Apple's image to sell a lesser product? Read on to find out. Update, January 24: There seems to be a problem with the HP Envy 15's 1080p Radiance Display where it doesn't properly display red and violet colors. We're currently awaiting a full response from HP.
HP Envy 15 (late 2011) review

Six years after the introduction of the MacBook Pro, it appears the PC industry has finally realized that Apple was onto something. With laptops like the Dell XPS 15z and Samsung Series 7 Chronos, the incumbents are scrambling to build a cheaper MacBook Pro for the Windows set, and in more ways than one: not only do the Windows machines have similar metallic builds, they also attempt to copy Apple's design language. HP was one of the first to attempt to capitalize on the Apple formula with the original Envy 15 in 2009, but shied away from an outright clone with a curvier riff on the aluminum case. As you can see above, the company's not so shy anymore — the new Envy 15 looks almost exactly like a MacBook Pro when open. If HP's going to throw down with Apple on its own carefully polished aluminum turf, we're going to judge it accordingly: is the new Envy 15 as much of a Windows MacBook Pro as its looks suggest? Or is HP just banking on Apple's image to sell a lesser product? Read on to find out. Update, January 24: There seems to be a problem with the HP Envy 15's 1080p Radiance Display where it doesn't properly display red and violet colors. We're currently awaiting a full response from HP.
HP Envy 15 (late 2011) review

Six years after the introduction of the MacBook Pro, it appears the PC industry has finally realized that Apple was onto something. With laptops like the Dell XPS 15z and Samsung Series 7 Chronos, the incumbents are scrambling to build a cheaper MacBook Pro for the Windows set, and in more ways than one: not only do the Windows machines have similar metallic builds, they also attempt to copy Apple's design language. HP was one of the first to attempt to capitalize on the Apple formula with the original Envy 15 in 2009, but shied away from an outright clone with a curvier riff on the aluminum case. As you can see above, the company's not so shy anymore — the new Envy 15 looks almost exactly like a MacBook Pro when open. If HP's going to throw down with Apple on its own carefully polished aluminum turf, we're going to judge it accordingly: is the new Envy 15 as much of a Windows MacBook Pro as its looks suggest? Or is HP just banking on Apple's image to sell a lesser product? Read on to find out. Update, January 24: There seems to be a problem with the HP Envy 15's 1080p Radiance Display where it doesn't properly display red and violet colors. We're currently awaiting a full response from HP.
HP Envy 15 (late 2011) review

Six years after the introduction of the MacBook Pro, it appears the PC industry has finally realized that Apple was onto something. With laptops like the Dell XPS 15z and Samsung Series 7 Chronos, the incumbents are scrambling to build a cheaper MacBook Pro for the Windows set, and in more ways than one: not only do the Windows machines have similar metallic builds, they also attempt to copy Apple's design language. HP was one of the first to attempt to capitalize on the Apple formula with the original Envy 15 in 2009, but shied away from an outright clone with a curvier riff on the aluminum case. As you can see above, the company's not so shy anymore — the new Envy 15 looks almost exactly like a MacBook Pro when open. If HP's going to throw down with Apple on its own carefully polished aluminum turf, we're going to judge it accordingly: is the new Envy 15 as much of a Windows MacBook Pro as its looks suggest? Or is HP just banking on Apple's image to sell a lesser product? Read on to find out. Update, January 24: There seems to be a problem with the HP Envy 15's 1080p Radiance Display where it doesn't properly display red and violet colors. We're currently awaiting a full response from HP.
HP Envy 15 (late 2011) review

Six years after the introduction of the MacBook Pro, it appears the PC industry has finally realized that Apple was onto something. With laptops like the Dell XPS 15z and Samsung Series 7 Chronos, the incumbents are scrambling to build a cheaper MacBook Pro for the Windows set, and in more ways than one: not only do the Windows machines have similar metallic builds, they also attempt to copy Apple's design language. HP was one of the first to attempt to capitalize on the Apple formula with the original Envy 15 in 2009, but shied away from an outright clone with a curvier riff on the aluminum case. As you can see above, the company's not so shy anymore — the new Envy 15 looks almost exactly like a MacBook Pro when open. If HP's going to throw down with Apple on its own carefully polished aluminum turf, we're going to judge it accordingly: is the new Envy 15 as much of a Windows MacBook Pro as its looks suggest? Or is HP just banking on Apple's image to sell a lesser product? Read on to find out. Update, January 24: There seems to be a problem with the HP Envy 15's 1080p Radiance Display where it doesn't properly display red and violet colors. We're currently awaiting a full response from HP.
HP Envy 15 (late 2011) review

Six years after the introduction of the MacBook Pro, it appears the PC industry has finally realized that Apple was onto something. With laptops like the Dell XPS 15z and Samsung Series 7 Chronos, the incumbents are scrambling to build a cheaper MacBook Pro for the Windows set, and in more ways than one: not only do the Windows machines have similar metallic builds, they also attempt to copy Apple's design language. HP was one of the first to attempt to capitalize on the Apple formula with the original Envy 15 in 2009, but shied away from an outright clone with a curvier riff on the aluminum case. As you can see above, the company's not so shy anymore — the new Envy 15 looks almost exactly like a MacBook Pro when open. If HP's going to throw down with Apple on its own carefully polished aluminum turf, we're going to judge it accordingly: is the new Envy 15 as much of a Windows MacBook Pro as its looks suggest? Or is HP just banking on Apple's image to sell a lesser product? Read on to find out. Update, January 24: There seems to be a problem with the HP Envy 15's 1080p Radiance Display where it doesn't properly display red and violet colors. We're currently awaiting a full response from HP.
HP Envy 15 (late 2011) review

Six years after the introduction of the MacBook Pro, it appears the PC industry has finally realized that Apple was onto something. With laptops like the Dell XPS 15z and Samsung Series 7 Chronos, the incumbents are scrambling to build a cheaper MacBook Pro for the Windows set, and in more ways than one: not only do the Windows machines have similar metallic builds, they also attempt to copy Apple's design language. HP was one of the first to attempt to capitalize on the Apple formula with the original Envy 15 in 2009, but shied away from an outright clone with a curvier riff on the aluminum case. As you can see above, the company's not so shy anymore — the new Envy 15 looks almost exactly like a MacBook Pro when open. If HP's going to throw down with Apple on its own carefully polished aluminum turf, we're going to judge it accordingly: is the new Envy 15 as much of a Windows MacBook Pro as its looks suggest? Or is HP just banking on Apple's image to sell a lesser product? Read on to find out. Update, January 24: There seems to be a problem with the HP Envy 15's 1080p Radiance Display where it doesn't properly display red and violet colors. We're currently awaiting a full response from HP.
HP Envy 15 (late 2011) review

Six years after the introduction of the MacBook Pro, it appears the PC industry has finally realized that Apple was onto something. With laptops like the Dell XPS 15z and Samsung Series 7 Chronos, the incumbents are scrambling to build a cheaper MacBook Pro for the Windows set, and in more ways than one: not only do the Windows machines have similar metallic builds, they also attempt to copy Apple's design language. HP was one of the first to attempt to capitalize on the Apple formula with the original Envy 15 in 2009, but shied away from an outright clone with a curvier riff on the aluminum case. As you can see above, the company's not so shy anymore — the new Envy 15 looks almost exactly like a MacBook Pro when open. If HP's going to throw down with Apple on its own carefully polished aluminum turf, we're going to judge it accordingly: is the new Envy 15 as much of a Windows MacBook Pro as its looks suggest? Or is HP just banking on Apple's image to sell a lesser product? Read on to find out. Update, January 24: There seems to be a problem with the HP Envy 15's 1080p Radiance Display where it doesn't properly display red and violet colors. We're currently awaiting a full response from HP.
HP Envy 15 (late 2011) review

Six years after the introduction of the MacBook Pro, it appears the PC industry has finally realized that Apple was onto something. With laptops like the Dell XPS 15z and Samsung Series 7 Chronos, the incumbents are scrambling to build a cheaper MacBook Pro for the Windows set, and in more ways than one: not only do the Windows machines have similar metallic builds, they also attempt to copy Apple's design language. HP was one of the first to attempt to capitalize on the Apple formula with the original Envy 15 in 2009, but shied away from an outright clone with a curvier riff on the aluminum case. As you can see above, the company's not so shy anymore — the new Envy 15 looks almost exactly like a MacBook Pro when open. If HP's going to throw down with Apple on its own carefully polished aluminum turf, we're going to judge it accordingly: is the new Envy 15 as much of a Windows MacBook Pro as its looks suggest? Or is HP just banking on Apple's image to sell a lesser product? Read on to find out. Update, January 24: There seems to be a problem with the HP Envy 15's 1080p Radiance Display where it doesn't properly display red and violet colors. We're currently awaiting a full response from HP.
HP Envy 15 (late 2011) review

Six years after the introduction of the MacBook Pro, it appears the PC industry has finally realized that Apple was onto something. With laptops like the Dell XPS 15z and Samsung Series 7 Chronos, the incumbents are scrambling to build a cheaper MacBook Pro for the Windows set, and in more ways than one: not only do the Windows machines have similar metallic builds, they also attempt to copy Apple's design language. HP was one of the first to attempt to capitalize on the Apple formula with the original Envy 15 in 2009, but shied away from an outright clone with a curvier riff on the aluminum case. As you can see above, the company's not so shy anymore — the new Envy 15 looks almost exactly like a MacBook Pro when open. If HP's going to throw down with Apple on its own carefully polished aluminum turf, we're going to judge it accordingly: is the new Envy 15 as much of a Windows MacBook Pro as its looks suggest? Or is HP just banking on Apple's image to sell a lesser product? Read on to find out. Update, January 24: There seems to be a problem with the HP Envy 15's 1080p Radiance Display where it doesn't properly display red and violet colors. We're currently awaiting a full response from HP.
HP Envy 15 (late 2011) review

Six years after the introduction of the MacBook Pro, it appears the PC industry has finally realized that Apple was onto something. With laptops like the Dell XPS 15z and Samsung Series 7 Chronos, the incumbents are scrambling to build a cheaper MacBook Pro for the Windows set, and in more ways than one: not only do the Windows machines have similar metallic builds, they also attempt to copy Apple's design language. HP was one of the first to attempt to capitalize on the Apple formula with the original Envy 15 in 2009, but shied away from an outright clone with a curvier riff on the aluminum case. As you can see above, the company's not so shy anymore — the new Envy 15 looks almost exactly like a MacBook Pro when open. If HP's going to throw down with Apple on its own carefully polished aluminum turf, we're going to judge it accordingly: is the new Envy 15 as much of a Windows MacBook Pro as its looks suggest? Or is HP just banking on Apple's image to sell a lesser product? Read on to find out. Update, January 24: There seems to be a problem with the HP Envy 15's 1080p Radiance Display where it doesn't properly display red and violet colors. We're currently awaiting a full response from HP.
HP Envy 15 (late 2011) review

Six years after the introduction of the MacBook Pro, it appears the PC industry has finally realized that Apple was onto something. With laptops like the Dell XPS 15z and Samsung Series 7 Chronos, the incumbents are scrambling to build a cheaper MacBook Pro for the Windows set, and in more ways than one: not only do the Windows machines have similar metallic builds, they also attempt to copy Apple's design language. HP was one of the first to attempt to capitalize on the Apple formula with the original Envy 15 in 2009, but shied away from an outright clone with a curvier riff on the aluminum case. As you can see above, the company's not so shy anymore — the new Envy 15 looks almost exactly like a MacBook Pro when open. If HP's going to throw down with Apple on its own carefully polished aluminum turf, we're going to judge it accordingly: is the new Envy 15 as much of a Windows MacBook Pro as its looks suggest? Or is HP just banking on Apple's image to sell a lesser product? Read on to find out. Update, January 24: There seems to be a problem with the HP Envy 15's 1080p Radiance Display where it doesn't properly display red and violet colors. We're currently awaiting a full response from HP.
HP Envy 15 (late 2011) review

Six years after the introduction of the MacBook Pro, it appears the PC industry has finally realized that Apple was onto something. With laptops like the Dell XPS 15z and Samsung Series 7 Chronos, the incumbents are scrambling to build a cheaper MacBook Pro for the Windows set, and in more ways than one: not only do the Windows machines have similar metallic builds, they also attempt to copy Apple's design language. HP was one of the first to attempt to capitalize on the Apple formula with the original Envy 15 in 2009, but shied away from an outright clone with a curvier riff on the aluminum case. As you can see above, the company's not so shy anymore — the new Envy 15 looks almost exactly like a MacBook Pro when open. If HP's going to throw down with Apple on its own carefully polished aluminum turf, we're going to judge it accordingly: is the new Envy 15 as much of a Windows MacBook Pro as its looks suggest? Or is HP just banking on Apple's image to sell a lesser product? Read on to find out. Update, January 24: There seems to be a problem with the HP Envy 15's 1080p Radiance Display where it doesn't properly display red and violet colors. We're currently awaiting a full response from HP.
HP Envy 15 (late 2011) review

Six years after the introduction of the MacBook Pro, it appears the PC industry has finally realized that Apple was onto something. With laptops like the Dell XPS 15z and Samsung Series 7 Chronos, the incumbents are scrambling to build a cheaper MacBook Pro for the Windows set, and in more ways than one: not only do the Windows machines have similar metallic builds, they also attempt to copy Apple's design language. HP was one of the first to attempt to capitalize on the Apple formula with the original Envy 15 in 2009, but shied away from an outright clone with a curvier riff on the aluminum case. As you can see above, the company's not so shy anymore — the new Envy 15 looks almost exactly like a MacBook Pro when open. If HP's going to throw down with Apple on its own carefully polished aluminum turf, we're going to judge it accordingly: is the new Envy 15 as much of a Windows MacBook Pro as its looks suggest? Or is HP just banking on Apple's image to sell a lesser product? Read on to find out. Update, January 24: There seems to be a problem with the HP Envy 15's 1080p Radiance Display where it doesn't properly display red and violet colors. We're currently awaiting a full response from HP.
HP Envy 15 (late 2011) review

Six years after the introduction of the MacBook Pro, it appears the PC industry has finally realized that Apple was onto something. With laptops like the Dell XPS 15z and Samsung Series 7 Chronos, the incumbents are scrambling to build a cheaper MacBook Pro for the Windows set, and in more ways than one: not only do the Windows machines have similar metallic builds, they also attempt to copy Apple's design language. HP was one of the first to attempt to capitalize on the Apple formula with the original Envy 15 in 2009, but shied away from an outright clone with a curvier riff on the aluminum case. As you can see above, the company's not so shy anymore — the new Envy 15 looks almost exactly like a MacBook Pro when open. If HP's going to throw down with Apple on its own carefully polished aluminum turf, we're going to judge it accordingly: is the new Envy 15 as much of a Windows MacBook Pro as its looks suggest? Or is HP just banking on Apple's image to sell a lesser product? Read on to find out. Update, January 24: There seems to be a problem with the HP Envy 15's 1080p Radiance Display where it doesn't properly display red and violet colors. We're currently awaiting a full response from HP.
HP Envy 15 (late 2011) review

Six years after the introduction of the MacBook Pro, it appears the PC industry has finally realized that Apple was onto something. With laptops like the Dell XPS 15z and Samsung Series 7 Chronos, the incumbents are scrambling to build a cheaper MacBook Pro for the Windows set, and in more ways than one: not only do the Windows machines have similar metallic builds, they also attempt to copy Apple's design language. HP was one of the first to attempt to capitalize on the Apple formula with the original Envy 15 in 2009, but shied away from an outright clone with a curvier riff on the aluminum case. As you can see above, the company's not so shy anymore — the new Envy 15 looks almost exactly like a MacBook Pro when open. If HP's going to throw down with Apple on its own carefully polished aluminum turf, we're going to judge it accordingly: is the new Envy 15 as much of a Windows MacBook Pro as its looks suggest? Or is HP just banking on Apple's image to sell a lesser product? Read on to find out. Update, January 24: There seems to be a problem with the HP Envy 15's 1080p Radiance Display where it doesn't properly display red and violet colors. We're currently awaiting a full response from HP.
HP Envy 15 (late 2011) review

Six years after the introduction of the MacBook Pro, it appears the PC industry has finally realized that Apple was onto something. With laptops like the Dell XPS 15z and Samsung Series 7 Chronos, the incumbents are scrambling to build a cheaper MacBook Pro for the Windows set, and in more ways than one: not only do the Windows machines have similar metallic builds, they also attempt to copy Apple's design language. HP was one of the first to attempt to capitalize on the Apple formula with the original Envy 15 in 2009, but shied away from an outright clone with a curvier riff on the aluminum case. As you can see above, the company's not so shy anymore — the new Envy 15 looks almost exactly like a MacBook Pro when open. If HP's going to throw down with Apple on its own carefully polished aluminum turf, we're going to judge it accordingly: is the new Envy 15 as much of a Windows MacBook Pro as its looks suggest? Or is HP just banking on Apple's image to sell a lesser product? Read on to find out. Update, January 24: There seems to be a problem with the HP Envy 15's 1080p Radiance Display where it doesn't properly display red and violet colors. We're currently awaiting a full response from HP.
HP Envy 15 (late 2011) review

Six years after the introduction of the MacBook Pro, it appears the PC industry has finally realized that Apple was onto something. With laptops like the Dell XPS 15z and Samsung Series 7 Chronos, the incumbents are scrambling to build a cheaper MacBook Pro for the Windows set, and in more ways than one: not only do the Windows machines have similar metallic builds, they also attempt to copy Apple's design language. HP was one of the first to attempt to capitalize on the Apple formula with the original Envy 15 in 2009, but shied away from an outright clone with a curvier riff on the aluminum case. As you can see above, the company's not so shy anymore — the new Envy 15 looks almost exactly like a MacBook Pro when open. If HP's going to throw down with Apple on its own carefully polished aluminum turf, we're going to judge it accordingly: is the new Envy 15 as much of a Windows MacBook Pro as its looks suggest? Or is HP just banking on Apple's image to sell a lesser product? Read on to find out. Update, January 24: There seems to be a problem with the HP Envy 15's 1080p Radiance Display where it doesn't properly display red and violet colors. We're currently awaiting a full response from HP.
HP Envy 15 (late 2011) review

Six years after the introduction of the MacBook Pro, it appears the PC industry has finally realized that Apple was onto something. With laptops like the Dell XPS 15z and Samsung Series 7 Chronos, the incumbents are scrambling to build a cheaper MacBook Pro for the Windows set, and in more ways than one: not only do the Windows machines have similar metallic builds, they also attempt to copy Apple's design language. HP was one of the first to attempt to capitalize on the Apple formula with the original Envy 15 in 2009, but shied away from an outright clone with a curvier riff on the aluminum case. As you can see above, the company's not so shy anymore — the new Envy 15 looks almost exactly like a MacBook Pro when open. If HP's going to throw down with Apple on its own carefully polished aluminum turf, we're going to judge it accordingly: is the new Envy 15 as much of a Windows MacBook Pro as its looks suggest? Or is HP just banking on Apple's image to sell a lesser product? Read on to find out. Update, January 24: There seems to be a problem with the HP Envy 15's 1080p Radiance Display where it doesn't properly display red and violet colors. We're currently awaiting a full response from HP.
HP Envy 15 (late 2011) review

Six years after the introduction of the MacBook Pro, it appears the PC industry has finally realized that Apple was onto something. With laptops like the Dell XPS 15z and Samsung Series 7 Chronos, the incumbents are scrambling to build a cheaper MacBook Pro for the Windows set, and in more ways than one: not only do the Windows machines have similar metallic builds, they also attempt to copy Apple's design language. HP was one of the first to attempt to capitalize on the Apple formula with the original Envy 15 in 2009, but shied away from an outright clone with a curvier riff on the aluminum case. As you can see above, the company's not so shy anymore — the new Envy 15 looks almost exactly like a MacBook Pro when open. If HP's going to throw down with Apple on its own carefully polished aluminum turf, we're going to judge it accordingly: is the new Envy 15 as much of a Windows MacBook Pro as its looks suggest? Or is HP just banking on Apple's image to sell a lesser product? Read on to find out. Update, January 24: There seems to be a problem with the HP Envy 15's 1080p Radiance Display where it doesn't properly display red and violet colors. We're currently awaiting a full response from HP.
HP Envy 15 (late 2011) review

Six years after the introduction of the MacBook Pro, it appears the PC industry has finally realized that Apple was onto something. With laptops like the Dell XPS 15z and Samsung Series 7 Chronos, the incumbents are scrambling to build a cheaper MacBook Pro for the Windows set, and in more ways than one: not only do the Windows machines have similar metallic builds, they also attempt to copy Apple's design language. HP was one of the first to attempt to capitalize on the Apple formula with the original Envy 15 in 2009, but shied away from an outright clone with a curvier riff on the aluminum case. As you can see above, the company's not so shy anymore — the new Envy 15 looks almost exactly like a MacBook Pro when open. If HP's going to throw down with Apple on its own carefully polished aluminum turf, we're going to judge it accordingly: is the new Envy 15 as much of a Windows MacBook Pro as its looks suggest? Or is HP just banking on Apple's image to sell a lesser product? Read on to find out. Update, January 24: There seems to be a problem with the HP Envy 15's 1080p Radiance Display where it doesn't properly display red and violet colors. We're currently awaiting a full response from HP.
HP Envy 15 (late 2011) review

Six years after the introduction of the MacBook Pro, it appears the PC industry has finally realized that Apple was onto something. With laptops like the Dell XPS 15z and Samsung Series 7 Chronos, the incumbents are scrambling to build a cheaper MacBook Pro for the Windows set, and in more ways than one: not only do the Windows machines have similar metallic builds, they also attempt to copy Apple's design language. HP was one of the first to attempt to capitalize on the Apple formula with the original Envy 15 in 2009, but shied away from an outright clone with a curvier riff on the aluminum case. As you can see above, the company's not so shy anymore — the new Envy 15 looks almost exactly like a MacBook Pro when open. If HP's going to throw down with Apple on its own carefully polished aluminum turf, we're going to judge it accordingly: is the new Envy 15 as much of a Windows MacBook Pro as its looks suggest? Or is HP just banking on Apple's image to sell a lesser product? Read on to find out. Update, January 24: There seems to be a problem with the HP Envy 15's 1080p Radiance Display where it doesn't properly display red and violet colors. We're currently awaiting a full response from HP.
HP Envy 15 (late 2011) review

Six years after the introduction of the MacBook Pro, it appears the PC industry has finally realized that Apple was onto something. With laptops like the Dell XPS 15z and Samsung Series 7 Chronos, the incumbents are scrambling to build a cheaper MacBook Pro for the Windows set, and in more ways than one: not only do the Windows machines have similar metallic builds, they also attempt to copy Apple's design language. HP was one of the first to attempt to capitalize on the Apple formula with the original Envy 15 in 2009, but shied away from an outright clone with a curvier riff on the aluminum case. As you can see above, the company's not so shy anymore — the new Envy 15 looks almost exactly like a MacBook Pro when open. If HP's going to throw down with Apple on its own carefully polished aluminum turf, we're going to judge it accordingly: is the new Envy 15 as much of a Windows MacBook Pro as its looks suggest? Or is HP just banking on Apple's image to sell a lesser product? Read on to find out. Update, January 24: There seems to be a problem with the HP Envy 15's 1080p Radiance Display where it doesn't properly display red and violet colors. We're currently awaiting a full response from HP.
HP Envy 15 (late 2011) review

Six years after the introduction of the MacBook Pro, it appears the PC industry has finally realized that Apple was onto something. With laptops like the Dell XPS 15z and Samsung Series 7 Chronos, the incumbents are scrambling to build a cheaper MacBook Pro for the Windows set, and in more ways than one: not only do the Windows machines have similar metallic builds, they also attempt to copy Apple's design language. HP was one of the first to attempt to capitalize on the Apple formula with the original Envy 15 in 2009, but shied away from an outright clone with a curvier riff on the aluminum case. As you can see above, the company's not so shy anymore — the new Envy 15 looks almost exactly like a MacBook Pro when open. If HP's going to throw down with Apple on its own carefully polished aluminum turf, we're going to judge it accordingly: is the new Envy 15 as much of a Windows MacBook Pro as its looks suggest? Or is HP just banking on Apple's image to sell a lesser product? Read on to find out. Update, January 24: There seems to be a problem with the HP Envy 15's 1080p Radiance Display where it doesn't properly display red and violet colors. We're currently awaiting a full response from HP.
HP Envy 15 (late 2011) review

Six years after the introduction of the MacBook Pro, it appears the PC industry has finally realized that Apple was onto something. With laptops like the Dell XPS 15z and Samsung Series 7 Chronos, the incumbents are scrambling to build a cheaper MacBook Pro for the Windows set, and in more ways than one: not only do the Windows machines have similar metallic builds, they also attempt to copy Apple's design language. HP was one of the first to attempt to capitalize on the Apple formula with the original Envy 15 in 2009, but shied away from an outright clone with a curvier riff on the aluminum case. As you can see above, the company's not so shy anymore — the new Envy 15 looks almost exactly like a MacBook Pro when open. If HP's going to throw down with Apple on its own carefully polished aluminum turf, we're going to judge it accordingly: is the new Envy 15 as much of a Windows MacBook Pro as its looks suggest? Or is HP just banking on Apple's image to sell a lesser product? Read on to find out. Update, January 24: There seems to be a problem with the HP Envy 15's 1080p Radiance Display where it doesn't properly display red and violet colors. We're currently awaiting a full response from HP.
HP Envy 15 (late 2011) review

Six years after the introduction of the MacBook Pro, it appears the PC industry has finally realized that Apple was onto something. With laptops like the Dell XPS 15z and Samsung Series 7 Chronos, the incumbents are scrambling to build a cheaper MacBook Pro for the Windows set, and in more ways than one: not only do the Windows machines have similar metallic builds, they also attempt to copy Apple's design language. HP was one of the first to attempt to capitalize on the Apple formula with the original Envy 15 in 2009, but shied away from an outright clone with a curvier riff on the aluminum case. As you can see above, the company's not so shy anymore — the new Envy 15 looks almost exactly like a MacBook Pro when open. If HP's going to throw down with Apple on its own carefully polished aluminum turf, we're going to judge it accordingly: is the new Envy 15 as much of a Windows MacBook Pro as its looks suggest? Or is HP just banking on Apple's image to sell a lesser product? Read on to find out. Update, January 24: There seems to be a problem with the HP Envy 15's 1080p Radiance Display where it doesn't properly display red and violet colors. We're currently awaiting a full response from HP.
HP Envy 15 (late 2011) review

Six years after the introduction of the MacBook Pro, it appears the PC industry has finally realized that Apple was onto something. With laptops like the Dell XPS 15z and Samsung Series 7 Chronos, the incumbents are scrambling to build a cheaper MacBook Pro for the Windows set, and in more ways than one: not only do the Windows machines have similar metallic builds, they also attempt to copy Apple's design language. HP was one of the first to attempt to capitalize on the Apple formula with the original Envy 15 in 2009, but shied away from an outright clone with a curvier riff on the aluminum case. As you can see above, the company's not so shy anymore — the new Envy 15 looks almost exactly like a MacBook Pro when open. If HP's going to throw down with Apple on its own carefully polished aluminum turf, we're going to judge it accordingly: is the new Envy 15 as much of a Windows MacBook Pro as its looks suggest? Or is HP just banking on Apple's image to sell a lesser product? Read on to find out. Update, January 24: There seems to be a problem with the HP Envy 15's 1080p Radiance Display where it doesn't properly display red and violet colors. We're currently awaiting a full response from HP.
HP Envy 15 (late 2011) review

Six years after the introduction of the MacBook Pro, it appears the PC industry has finally realized that Apple was onto something. With laptops like the Dell XPS 15z and Samsung Series 7 Chronos, the incumbents are scrambling to build a cheaper MacBook Pro for the Windows set, and in more ways than one: not only do the Windows machines have similar metallic builds, they also attempt to copy Apple's design language. HP was one of the first to attempt to capitalize on the Apple formula with the original Envy 15 in 2009, but shied away from an outright clone with a curvier riff on the aluminum case. As you can see above, the company's not so shy anymore — the new Envy 15 looks almost exactly like a MacBook Pro when open. If HP's going to throw down with Apple on its own carefully polished aluminum turf, we're going to judge it accordingly: is the new Envy 15 as much of a Windows MacBook Pro as its looks suggest? Or is HP just banking on Apple's image to sell a lesser product? Read on to find out. Update, January 24: There seems to be a problem with the HP Envy 15's 1080p Radiance Display where it doesn't properly display red and violet colors. We're currently awaiting a full response from HP.
HP Envy 15 (late 2011) review

Six years after the introduction of the MacBook Pro, it appears the PC industry has finally realized that Apple was onto something. With laptops like the Dell XPS 15z and Samsung Series 7 Chronos, the incumbents are scrambling to build a cheaper MacBook Pro for the Windows set, and in more ways than one: not only do the Windows machines have similar metallic builds, they also attempt to copy Apple's design language. HP was one of the first to attempt to capitalize on the Apple formula with the original Envy 15 in 2009, but shied away from an outright clone with a curvier riff on the aluminum case. As you can see above, the company's not so shy anymore — the new Envy 15 looks almost exactly like a MacBook Pro when open. If HP's going to throw down with Apple on its own carefully polished aluminum turf, we're going to judge it accordingly: is the new Envy 15 as much of a Windows MacBook Pro as its looks suggest? Or is HP just banking on Apple's image to sell a lesser product? Read on to find out. Update, January 24: There seems to be a problem with the HP Envy 15's 1080p Radiance Display where it doesn't properly display red and violet colors. We're currently awaiting a full response from HP.
HP Envy 15 (late 2011) review

Six years after the introduction of the MacBook Pro, it appears the PC industry has finally realized that Apple was onto something. With laptops like the Dell XPS 15z and Samsung Series 7 Chronos, the incumbents are scrambling to build a cheaper MacBook Pro for the Windows set, and in more ways than one: not only do the Windows machines have similar metallic builds, they also attempt to copy Apple's design language. HP was one of the first to attempt to capitalize on the Apple formula with the original Envy 15 in 2009, but shied away from an outright clone with a curvier riff on the aluminum case. As you can see above, the company's not so shy anymore — the new Envy 15 looks almost exactly like a MacBook Pro when open. If HP's going to throw down with Apple on its own carefully polished aluminum turf, we're going to judge it accordingly: is the new Envy 15 as much of a Windows MacBook Pro as its looks suggest? Or is HP just banking on Apple's image to sell a lesser product? Read on to find out. Update, January 24: There seems to be a problem with the HP Envy 15's 1080p Radiance Display where it doesn't properly display red and violet colors. We're currently awaiting a full response from HP.
HP Envy 15 (late 2011) review

Six years after the introduction of the MacBook Pro, it appears the PC industry has finally realized that Apple was onto something. With laptops like the Dell XPS 15z and Samsung Series 7 Chronos, the incumbents are scrambling to build a cheaper MacBook Pro for the Windows set, and in more ways than one: not only do the Windows machines have similar metallic builds, they also attempt to copy Apple's design language. HP was one of the first to attempt to capitalize on the Apple formula with the original Envy 15 in 2009, but shied away from an outright clone with a curvier riff on the aluminum case. As you can see above, the company's not so shy anymore — the new Envy 15 looks almost exactly like a MacBook Pro when open. If HP's going to throw down with Apple on its own carefully polished aluminum turf, we're going to judge it accordingly: is the new Envy 15 as much of a Windows MacBook Pro as its looks suggest? Or is HP just banking on Apple's image to sell a lesser product? Read on to find out. Update, January 24: There seems to be a problem with the HP Envy 15's 1080p Radiance Display where it doesn't properly display red and violet colors. We're currently awaiting a full response from HP.
HP Envy 15 (late 2011) review

Six years after the introduction of the MacBook Pro, it appears the PC industry has finally realized that Apple was onto something. With laptops like the Dell XPS 15z and Samsung Series 7 Chronos, the incumbents are scrambling to build a cheaper MacBook Pro for the Windows set, and in more ways than one: not only do the Windows machines have similar metallic builds, they also attempt to copy Apple's design language. HP was one of the first to attempt to capitalize on the Apple formula with the original Envy 15 in 2009, but shied away from an outright clone with a curvier riff on the aluminum case. As you can see above, the company's not so shy anymore — the new Envy 15 looks almost exactly like a MacBook Pro when open. If HP's going to throw down with Apple on its own carefully polished aluminum turf, we're going to judge it accordingly: is the new Envy 15 as much of a Windows MacBook Pro as its looks suggest? Or is HP just banking on Apple's image to sell a lesser product? Read on to find out. Update, January 24: There seems to be a problem with the HP Envy 15's 1080p Radiance Display where it doesn't properly display red and violet colors. We're currently awaiting a full response from HP.
HP Envy 15 (late 2011) review

Six years after the introduction of the MacBook Pro, it appears the PC industry has finally realized that Apple was onto something. With laptops like the Dell XPS 15z and Samsung Series 7 Chronos, the incumbents are scrambling to build a cheaper MacBook Pro for the Windows set, and in more ways than one: not only do the Windows machines have similar metallic builds, they also attempt to copy Apple's design language. HP was one of the first to attempt to capitalize on the Apple formula with the original Envy 15 in 2009, but shied away from an outright clone with a curvier riff on the aluminum case. As you can see above, the company's not so shy anymore — the new Envy 15 looks almost exactly like a MacBook Pro when open. If HP's going to throw down with Apple on its own carefully polished aluminum turf, we're going to judge it accordingly: is the new Envy 15 as much of a Windows MacBook Pro as its looks suggest? Or is HP just banking on Apple's image to sell a lesser product? Read on to find out. Update, January 24: There seems to be a problem with the HP Envy 15's 1080p Radiance Display where it doesn't properly display red and violet colors. We're currently awaiting a full response from HP.
HP Envy 15 (late 2011) review

Six years after the introduction of the MacBook Pro, it appears the PC industry has finally realized that Apple was onto something. With laptops like the Dell XPS 15z and Samsung Series 7 Chronos, the incumbents are scrambling to build a cheaper MacBook Pro for the Windows set, and in more ways than one: not only do the Windows machines have similar metallic builds, they also attempt to copy Apple's design language. HP was one of the first to attempt to capitalize on the Apple formula with the original Envy 15 in 2009, but shied away from an outright clone with a curvier riff on the aluminum case. As you can see above, the company's not so shy anymore — the new Envy 15 looks almost exactly like a MacBook Pro when open. If HP's going to throw down with Apple on its own carefully polished aluminum turf, we're going to judge it accordingly: is the new Envy 15 as much of a Windows MacBook Pro as its looks suggest? Or is HP just banking on Apple's image to sell a lesser product? Read on to find out. Update, January 24: There seems to be a problem with the HP Envy 15's 1080p Radiance Display where it doesn't properly display red and violet colors. We're currently awaiting a full response from HP.
HP Envy 15 (late 2011) review

Six years after the introduction of the MacBook Pro, it appears the PC industry has finally realized that Apple was onto something. With laptops like the Dell XPS 15z and Samsung Series 7 Chronos, the incumbents are scrambling to build a cheaper MacBook Pro for the Windows set, and in more ways than one: not only do the Windows machines have similar metallic builds, they also attempt to copy Apple's design language. HP was one of the first to attempt to capitalize on the Apple formula with the original Envy 15 in 2009, but shied away from an outright clone with a curvier riff on the aluminum case. As you can see above, the company's not so shy anymore — the new Envy 15 looks almost exactly like a MacBook Pro when open. If HP's going to throw down with Apple on its own carefully polished aluminum turf, we're going to judge it accordingly: is the new Envy 15 as much of a Windows MacBook Pro as its looks suggest? Or is HP just banking on Apple's image to sell a lesser product? Read on to find out. Update, January 24: There seems to be a problem with the HP Envy 15's 1080p Radiance Display where it doesn't properly display red and violet colors. We're currently awaiting a full response from HP.
HP Envy 15 (late 2011) review

Six years after the introduction of the MacBook Pro, it appears the PC industry has finally realized that Apple was onto something. With laptops like the Dell XPS 15z and Samsung Series 7 Chronos, the incumbents are scrambling to build a cheaper MacBook Pro for the Windows set, and in more ways than one: not only do the Windows machines have similar metallic builds, they also attempt to copy Apple's design language. HP was one of the first to attempt to capitalize on the Apple formula with the original Envy 15 in 2009, but shied away from an outright clone with a curvier riff on the aluminum case. As you can see above, the company's not so shy anymore — the new Envy 15 looks almost exactly like a MacBook Pro when open. If HP's going to throw down with Apple on its own carefully polished aluminum turf, we're going to judge it accordingly: is the new Envy 15 as much of a Windows MacBook Pro as its looks suggest? Or is HP just banking on Apple's image to sell a lesser product? Read on to find out. Update, January 24: There seems to be a problem with the HP Envy 15's 1080p Radiance Display where it doesn't properly display red and violet colors. We're currently awaiting a full response from HP.
HP Envy 15 (late 2011) review

Six years after the introduction of the MacBook Pro, it appears the PC industry has finally realized that Apple was onto something. With laptops like the Dell XPS 15z and Samsung Series 7 Chronos, the incumbents are scrambling to build a cheaper MacBook Pro for the Windows set, and in more ways than one: not only do the Windows machines have similar metallic builds, they also attempt to copy Apple's design language. HP was one of the first to attempt to capitalize on the Apple formula with the original Envy 15 in 2009, but shied away from an outright clone with a curvier riff on the aluminum case. As you can see above, the company's not so shy anymore — the new Envy 15 looks almost exactly like a MacBook Pro when open. If HP's going to throw down with Apple on its own carefully polished aluminum turf, we're going to judge it accordingly: is the new Envy 15 as much of a Windows MacBook Pro as its looks suggest? Or is HP just banking on Apple's image to sell a lesser product? Read on to find out. Update, January 24: There seems to be a problem with the HP Envy 15's 1080p Radiance Display where it doesn't properly display red and violet colors. We're currently awaiting a full response from HP.
HP Envy 15 (late 2011) review

Six years after the introduction of the MacBook Pro, it appears the PC industry has finally realized that Apple was onto something. With laptops like the Dell XPS 15z and Samsung Series 7 Chronos, the incumbents are scrambling to build a cheaper MacBook Pro for the Windows set, and in more ways than one: not only do the Windows machines have similar metallic builds, they also attempt to copy Apple's design language. HP was one of the first to attempt to capitalize on the Apple formula with the original Envy 15 in 2009, but shied away from an outright clone with a curvier riff on the aluminum case. As you can see above, the company's not so shy anymore — the new Envy 15 looks almost exactly like a MacBook Pro when open. If HP's going to throw down with Apple on its own carefully polished aluminum turf, we're going to judge it accordingly: is the new Envy 15 as much of a Windows MacBook Pro as its looks suggest? Or is HP just banking on Apple's image to sell a lesser product? Read on to find out. Update, January 24: There seems to be a problem with the HP Envy 15's 1080p Radiance Display where it doesn't properly display red and violet colors. We're currently awaiting a full response from HP.
HP Envy 15 (late 2011) review

Six years after the introduction of the MacBook Pro, it appears the PC industry has finally realized that Apple was onto something. With laptops like the Dell XPS 15z and Samsung Series 7 Chronos, the incumbents are scrambling to build a cheaper MacBook Pro for the Windows set, and in more ways than one: not only do the Windows machines have similar metallic builds, they also attempt to copy Apple's design language. HP was one of the first to attempt to capitalize on the Apple formula with the original Envy 15 in 2009, but shied away from an outright clone with a curvier riff on the aluminum case. As you can see above, the company's not so shy anymore — the new Envy 15 looks almost exactly like a MacBook Pro when open. If HP's going to throw down with Apple on its own carefully polished aluminum turf, we're going to judge it accordingly: is the new Envy 15 as much of a Windows MacBook Pro as its looks suggest? Or is HP just banking on Apple's image to sell a lesser product? Read on to find out. Update, January 24: There seems to be a problem with the HP Envy 15's 1080p Radiance Display where it doesn't properly display red and violet colors. We're currently awaiting a full response from HP.
HP Envy 15 (late 2011) review

Six years after the introduction of the MacBook Pro, it appears the PC industry has finally realized that Apple was onto something. With laptops like the Dell XPS 15z and Samsung Series 7 Chronos, the incumbents are scrambling to build a cheaper MacBook Pro for the Windows set, and in more ways than one: not only do the Windows machines have similar metallic builds, they also attempt to copy Apple's design language. HP was one of the first to attempt to capitalize on the Apple formula with the original Envy 15 in 2009, but shied away from an outright clone with a curvier riff on the aluminum case. As you can see above, the company's not so shy anymore — the new Envy 15 looks almost exactly like a MacBook Pro when open. If HP's going to throw down with Apple on its own carefully polished aluminum turf, we're going to judge it accordingly: is the new Envy 15 as much of a Windows MacBook Pro as its looks suggest? Or is HP just banking on Apple's image to sell a lesser product? Read on to find out. Update, January 24: There seems to be a problem with the HP Envy 15's 1080p Radiance Display where it doesn't properly display red and violet colors. We're currently awaiting a full response from HP.
HP Envy 15 (late 2011) review

Six years after the introduction of the MacBook Pro, it appears the PC industry has finally realized that Apple was onto something. With laptops like the Dell XPS 15z and Samsung Series 7 Chronos, the incumbents are scrambling to build a cheaper MacBook Pro for the Windows set, and in more ways than one: not only do the Windows machines have similar metallic builds, they also attempt to copy Apple's design language. HP was one of the first to attempt to capitalize on the Apple formula with the original Envy 15 in 2009, but shied away from an outright clone with a curvier riff on the aluminum case. As you can see above, the company's not so shy anymore — the new Envy 15 looks almost exactly like a MacBook Pro when open. If HP's going to throw down with Apple on its own carefully polished aluminum turf, we're going to judge it accordingly: is the new Envy 15 as much of a Windows MacBook Pro as its looks suggest? Or is HP just banking on Apple's image to sell a lesser product? Read on to find out. Update, January 24: There seems to be a problem with the HP Envy 15's 1080p Radiance Display where it doesn't properly display red and violet colors. We're currently awaiting a full response from HP.
HP Envy 15 (late 2011) review

Six years after the introduction of the MacBook Pro, it appears the PC industry has finally realized that Apple was onto something. With laptops like the Dell XPS 15z and Samsung Series 7 Chronos, the incumbents are scrambling to build a cheaper MacBook Pro for the Windows set, and in more ways than one: not only do the Windows machines have similar metallic builds, they also attempt to copy Apple's design language. HP was one of the first to attempt to capitalize on the Apple formula with the original Envy 15 in 2009, but shied away from an outright clone with a curvier riff on the aluminum case. As you can see above, the company's not so shy anymore — the new Envy 15 looks almost exactly like a MacBook Pro when open. If HP's going to throw down with Apple on its own carefully polished aluminum turf, we're going to judge it accordingly: is the new Envy 15 as much of a Windows MacBook Pro as its looks suggest? Or is HP just banking on Apple's image to sell a lesser product? Read on to find out. Update, January 24: There seems to be a problem with the HP Envy 15's 1080p Radiance Display where it doesn't properly display red and violet colors. We're currently awaiting a full response from HP.
HP Envy 15 (late 2011) review

Six years after the introduction of the MacBook Pro, it appears the PC industry has finally realized that Apple was onto something. With laptops like the Dell XPS 15z and Samsung Series 7 Chronos, the incumbents are scrambling to build a cheaper MacBook Pro for the Windows set, and in more ways than one: not only do the Windows machines have similar metallic builds, they also attempt to copy Apple's design language. HP was one of the first to attempt to capitalize on the Apple formula with the original Envy 15 in 2009, but shied away from an outright clone with a curvier riff on the aluminum case. As you can see above, the company's not so shy anymore — the new Envy 15 looks almost exactly like a MacBook Pro when open. If HP's going to throw down with Apple on its own carefully polished aluminum turf, we're going to judge it accordingly: is the new Envy 15 as much of a Windows MacBook Pro as its looks suggest? Or is HP just banking on Apple's image to sell a lesser product? Read on to find out. Update, January 24: There seems to be a problem with the HP Envy 15's 1080p Radiance Display where it doesn't properly display red and violet colors. We're currently awaiting a full response from HP.
HP Envy 15 (late 2011) review

Six years after the introduction of the MacBook Pro, it appears the PC industry has finally realized that Apple was onto something. With laptops like the Dell XPS 15z and Samsung Series 7 Chronos, the incumbents are scrambling to build a cheaper MacBook Pro for the Windows set, and in more ways than one: not only do the Windows machines have similar metallic builds, they also attempt to copy Apple's design language. HP was one of the first to attempt to capitalize on the Apple formula with the original Envy 15 in 2009, but shied away from an outright clone with a curvier riff on the aluminum case. As you can see above, the company's not so shy anymore — the new Envy 15 looks almost exactly like a MacBook Pro when open. If HP's going to throw down with Apple on its own carefully polished aluminum turf, we're going to judge it accordingly: is the new Envy 15 as much of a Windows MacBook Pro as its looks suggest? Or is HP just banking on Apple's image to sell a lesser product? Read on to find out. Update, January 24: There seems to be a problem with the HP Envy 15's 1080p Radiance Display where it doesn't properly display red and violet colors. We're currently awaiting a full response from HP.
HP Envy 15 (late 2011) review

Six years after the introduction of the MacBook Pro, it appears the PC industry has finally realized that Apple was onto something. With laptops like the Dell XPS 15z and Samsung Series 7 Chronos, the incumbents are scrambling to build a cheaper MacBook Pro for the Windows set, and in more ways than one: not only do the Windows machines have similar metallic builds, they also attempt to copy Apple's design language. HP was one of the first to attempt to capitalize on the Apple formula with the original Envy 15 in 2009, but shied away from an outright clone with a curvier riff on the aluminum case. As you can see above, the company's not so shy anymore — the new Envy 15 looks almost exactly like a MacBook Pro when open. If HP's going to throw down with Apple on its own carefully polished aluminum turf, we're going to judge it accordingly: is the new Envy 15 as much of a Windows MacBook Pro as its looks suggest? Or is HP just banking on Apple's image to sell a lesser product? Read on to find out. Update, January 24: There seems to be a problem with the HP Envy 15's 1080p Radiance Display where it doesn't properly display red and violet colors. We're currently awaiting a full response from HP.
HP Envy 15 (late 2011) review

Six years after the introduction of the MacBook Pro, it appears the PC industry has finally realized that Apple was onto something. With laptops like the Dell XPS 15z and Samsung Series 7 Chronos, the incumbents are scrambling to build a cheaper MacBook Pro for the Windows set, and in more ways than one: not only do the Windows machines have similar metallic builds, they also attempt to copy Apple's design language. HP was one of the first to attempt to capitalize on the Apple formula with the original Envy 15 in 2009, but shied away from an outright clone with a curvier riff on the aluminum case. As you can see above, the company's not so shy anymore — the new Envy 15 looks almost exactly like a MacBook Pro when open. If HP's going to throw down with Apple on its own carefully polished aluminum turf, we're going to judge it accordingly: is the new Envy 15 as much of a Windows MacBook Pro as its looks suggest? Or is HP just banking on Apple's image to sell a lesser product? Read on to find out. Update, January 24: There seems to be a problem with the HP Envy 15's 1080p Radiance Display where it doesn't properly display red and violet colors. We're currently awaiting a full response from HP.
HP Envy 15 (late 2011) review

Six years after the introduction of the MacBook Pro, it appears the PC industry has finally realized that Apple was onto something. With laptops like the Dell XPS 15z and Samsung Series 7 Chronos, the incumbents are scrambling to build a cheaper MacBook Pro for the Windows set, and in more ways than one: not only do the Windows machines have similar metallic builds, they also attempt to copy Apple's design language. HP was one of the first to attempt to capitalize on the Apple formula with the original Envy 15 in 2009, but shied away from an outright clone with a curvier riff on the aluminum case. As you can see above, the company's not so shy anymore — the new Envy 15 looks almost exactly like a MacBook Pro when open. If HP's going to throw down with Apple on its own carefully polished aluminum turf, we're going to judge it accordingly: is the new Envy 15 as much of a Windows MacBook Pro as its looks suggest? Or is HP just banking on Apple's image to sell a lesser product? Read on to find out. Update, January 24: There seems to be a problem with the HP Envy 15's 1080p Radiance Display where it doesn't properly display red and violet colors. We're currently awaiting a full response from HP.
HP Envy 15 (late 2011) review

Six years after the introduction of the MacBook Pro, it appears the PC industry has finally realized that Apple was onto something. With laptops like the Dell XPS 15z and Samsung Series 7 Chronos, the incumbents are scrambling to build a cheaper MacBook Pro for the Windows set, and in more ways than one: not only do the Windows machines have similar metallic builds, they also attempt to copy Apple's design language. HP was one of the first to attempt to capitalize on the Apple formula with the original Envy 15 in 2009, but shied away from an outright clone with a curvier riff on the aluminum case. As you can see above, the company's not so shy anymore — the new Envy 15 looks almost exactly like a MacBook Pro when open. If HP's going to throw down with Apple on its own carefully polished aluminum turf, we're going to judge it accordingly: is the new Envy 15 as much of a Windows MacBook Pro as its looks suggest? Or is HP just banking on Apple's image to sell a lesser product? Read on to find out. Update, January 24: There seems to be a problem with the HP Envy 15's 1080p Radiance Display where it doesn't properly display red and violet colors. We're currently awaiting a full response from HP.
HP Envy 15 (late 2011) review

Six years after the introduction of the MacBook Pro, it appears the PC industry has finally realized that Apple was onto something. With laptops like the Dell XPS 15z and Samsung Series 7 Chronos, the incumbents are scrambling to build a cheaper MacBook Pro for the Windows set, and in more ways than one: not only do the Windows machines have similar metallic builds, they also attempt to copy Apple's design language. HP was one of the first to attempt to capitalize on the Apple formula with the original Envy 15 in 2009, but shied away from an outright clone with a curvier riff on the aluminum case. As you can see above, the company's not so shy anymore — the new Envy 15 looks almost exactly like a MacBook Pro when open. If HP's going to throw down with Apple on its own carefully polished aluminum turf, we're going to judge it accordingly: is the new Envy 15 as much of a Windows MacBook Pro as its looks suggest? Or is HP just banking on Apple's image to sell a lesser product? Read on to find out. Update, January 24: There seems to be a problem with the HP Envy 15's 1080p Radiance Display where it doesn't properly display red and violet colors. We're currently awaiting a full response from HP.
HP Envy 15 (late 2011) review

Six years after the introduction of the MacBook Pro, it appears the PC industry has finally realized that Apple was onto something. With laptops like the Dell XPS 15z and Samsung Series 7 Chronos, the incumbents are scrambling to build a cheaper MacBook Pro for the Windows set, and in more ways than one: not only do the Windows machines have similar metallic builds, they also attempt to copy Apple's design language. HP was one of the first to attempt to capitalize on the Apple formula with the original Envy 15 in 2009, but shied away from an outright clone with a curvier riff on the aluminum case. As you can see above, the company's not so shy anymore — the new Envy 15 looks almost exactly like a MacBook Pro when open. If HP's going to throw down with Apple on its own carefully polished aluminum turf, we're going to judge it accordingly: is the new Envy 15 as much of a Windows MacBook Pro as its looks suggest? Or is HP just banking on Apple's image to sell a lesser product? Read on to find out. Update, January 24: There seems to be a problem with the HP Envy 15's 1080p Radiance Display where it doesn't properly display red and violet colors. We're currently awaiting a full response from HP.
HP Envy 15 (late 2011) review

Six years after the introduction of the MacBook Pro, it appears the PC industry has finally realized that Apple was onto something. With laptops like the Dell XPS 15z and Samsung Series 7 Chronos, the incumbents are scrambling to build a cheaper MacBook Pro for the Windows set, and in more ways than one: not only do the Windows machines have similar metallic builds, they also attempt to copy Apple's design language. HP was one of the first to attempt to capitalize on the Apple formula with the original Envy 15 in 2009, but shied away from an outright clone with a curvier riff on the aluminum case. As you can see above, the company's not so shy anymore — the new Envy 15 looks almost exactly like a MacBook Pro when open. If HP's going to throw down with Apple on its own carefully polished aluminum turf, we're going to judge it accordingly: is the new Envy 15 as much of a Windows MacBook Pro as its looks suggest? Or is HP just banking on Apple's image to sell a lesser product? Read on to find out. Update, January 24: There seems to be a problem with the HP Envy 15's 1080p Radiance Display where it doesn't properly display red and violet colors. We're currently awaiting a full response from HP.
HP Envy 15 (late 2011) review

Six years after the introduction of the MacBook Pro, it appears the PC industry has finally realized that Apple was onto something. With laptops like the Dell XPS 15z and Samsung Series 7 Chronos, the incumbents are scrambling to build a cheaper MacBook Pro for the Windows set, and in more ways than one: not only do the Windows machines have similar metallic builds, they also attempt to copy Apple's design language. HP was one of the first to attempt to capitalize on the Apple formula with the original Envy 15 in 2009, but shied away from an outright clone with a curvier riff on the aluminum case. As you can see above, the company's not so shy anymore — the new Envy 15 looks almost exactly like a MacBook Pro when open. If HP's going to throw down with Apple on its own carefully polished aluminum turf, we're going to judge it accordingly: is the new Envy 15 as much of a Windows MacBook Pro as its looks suggest? Or is HP just banking on Apple's image to sell a lesser product? Read on to find out. Update, January 24: There seems to be a problem with the HP Envy 15's 1080p Radiance Display where it doesn't properly display red and violet colors. We're currently awaiting a full response from HP.
HP Envy 15 (late 2011) review

Six years after the introduction of the MacBook Pro, it appears the PC industry has finally realized that Apple was onto something. With laptops like the Dell XPS 15z and Samsung Series 7 Chronos, the incumbents are scrambling to build a cheaper MacBook Pro for the Windows set, and in more ways than one: not only do the Windows machines have similar metallic builds, they also attempt to copy Apple's design language. HP was one of the first to attempt to capitalize on the Apple formula with the original Envy 15 in 2009, but shied away from an outright clone with a curvier riff on the aluminum case. As you can see above, the company's not so shy anymore — the new Envy 15 looks almost exactly like a MacBook Pro when open. If HP's going to throw down with Apple on its own carefully polished aluminum turf, we're going to judge it accordingly: is the new Envy 15 as much of a Windows MacBook Pro as its looks suggest? Or is HP just banking on Apple's image to sell a lesser product? Read on to find out. Update, January 24: There seems to be a problem with the HP Envy 15's 1080p Radiance Display where it doesn't properly display red and violet colors. We're currently awaiting a full response from HP.
HP Envy 15 (late 2011) review

Six years after the introduction of the MacBook Pro, it appears the PC industry has finally realized that Apple was onto something. With laptops like the Dell XPS 15z and Samsung Series 7 Chronos, the incumbents are scrambling to build a cheaper MacBook Pro for the Windows set, and in more ways than one: not only do the Windows machines have similar metallic builds, they also attempt to copy Apple's design language. HP was one of the first to attempt to capitalize on the Apple formula with the original Envy 15 in 2009, but shied away from an outright clone with a curvier riff on the aluminum case. As you can see above, the company's not so shy anymore — the new Envy 15 looks almost exactly like a MacBook Pro when open. If HP's going to throw down with Apple on its own carefully polished aluminum turf, we're going to judge it accordingly: is the new Envy 15 as much of a Windows MacBook Pro as its looks suggest? Or is HP just banking on Apple's image to sell a lesser product? Read on to find out. Update, January 24: There seems to be a problem with the HP Envy 15's 1080p Radiance Display where it doesn't properly display red and violet colors. We're currently awaiting a full response from HP.

Lift the Envy 15's smooth black lid and you'll be greeted by a most familiar sight: HP's computer has a nearly identical silhouette to Apple's famous design. There's a rather striking red ribbon coursing around the edge of the keyboard tray, and a shiny silver knob built into the right edge that's just begging to be touched (more on that in a bit), but it's clear that the Envy is more than a homage to Cupertino's creation: it's more of a rip than ever.

If you ask me, though, the Envy 15 actually improves upon the MacBook Pro when it comes to industrial design. While Dell was content to make the XPS 15z look like Apple's machine, the Envy 15 copies rather more desirable traits, starting with the same rock-solid, wonderfully smooth aluminum deck without more than a hint of flex anywhere. Then, HP literally cut some corners in a very welcome place: along the edge of the machine where your wrists rest while typing, smoothing them to reduce chafing. Perhaps you're familiar with the way the MacBook Pro and its copycats typically have only a small variety of ports, all on one side? Not the Envy 15, which sports a pair of USB 3.0 jacks, two 3.5mm headphone sockets and a 3.5mm microphone port on the left, alongside the DVD drive, and another USB 2.0 port, full-sized DisplayPort and HDMI sockets, a Gigabit Ethernet jack and an SD card slot on the right. Perhaps most surprising of all, HP didn't seal in the battery here: both the 14.8V, 4780mAh pack and the hard drive are accessible from a latched compartment, though you'll need a screwdriver if you want to swap out either one.

	Dimensions (in.)	Thickness	Weight (lb.)
HP Envy 15 (2011)	14.9 x 9.6	1.1	6.3
Samsung Series 7	14.3 x 9.4	0.94	5.05
Dell XPS 15z	15.2 x 10.3	0.97	5.54
Apple MacBook Pro (15-inch)	14.4 x 9.8	0.95	5.6

You'll pay a price for that additional flexibility, though: the Envy 15 weighs half a pound more than Apple's laptop, is half an inch wider, and is noticeably (though perhaps not meaningfully) thicker, too, measuring 1.1 inches from top to bottom. Part of that extra girth is due to a slightly thicker lid, but it's also the sandwich-like construction. Both the lid and the base are metal, but only the center piece appears to be carved out of a single piece of aluminum. Honestly, I find the overall aesthetic refreshing: when it's closed, it doesn't look like an Apple product at all. To me, it looks like a tasty ice cream sandwich just waiting to be eaten. It's just a shame the sandwich had to be so hefty.

Keyboard and trackpad

The original Envy 15 had a great keyboard, and it only got better in the following Envy 14 incarnation: exceedingly comfortable chiclet keys with excellent spacing and a luxurious soft-touch coating, not to mention a nice bright LED backlight for dimmer environments. I didn't have either of the predecessors around for a direct comparison, but as far as our photos and recollections can take us, little has changed with the Envy 15, except that the entire keyboard tray is submerged to be nearly flush with the wrist rest — yes, now that you mention it, just like the MacBook Pro — and the Up and Down arrows have been replaced by half-height versions in favor of a longer Shift key. In practice, I'm typing every single word of this review on the keyboard, and I'm finding it quite satisfactory.

If only I could say the same about the Envy 15's single-button ClickPad. I've never really understood what laptop manufacturers have against discrete physical mouse buttons these days, but like its predecessors, HP's latest touchpad uses a large-single-button Synaptics unit without the programming or engineering chops to back it up. First, while single-finger tracking is good and palm rejection is fairly decent here — I rarely had the mouse cursor jump around while I was typing this review — the latter is due to an overzealous, hamfisted hack rather than a clever algorithm.

Deep inside the trackpad properties page, there's a setting that does exactly this: it ignores the top, right, and bottom edges of the trackpad if you stop touching it for a few seconds. While that sounds well and good (and you can turn it off, or adjust it as you like), the stock settings meant that sometimes my finger wasn't recognized until I touched the pad in a particular, deliberate way, and I also generally found two-finger scrolling unreliable. Pinch-to-zoom worked fairly well, though. The bigger problem is that the giant touchpad is extremely stiff and hard to press, much harder than the MacBook Pro or most other laptop I've used. I often had to press hard enough that my finger would slide along the surface, in fact, making highlighting text extremely difficult. Tap-to-click works fine, but only for the left-click button. There were very, very few moments using the Envy's trackpad when I didn't wish I had a mouse instead, and it's a shame the company can't get it right after all these years. If you're a mouse user, it's not a big deal, but for the rest of us that's no excuse for the lack of a good touchpad here.

Of course, we can't discuss that Envy 15's controls without highlighting the notebook's most distinctive feature: the Beats Audio-branded dial on the right edge of the machine. It's a delicately ridged metal ring, circling a dedicated Beats button, and it's a pleasure to use, effortlessly adjusting the volume with what looks and feels like a miniature record on a turntable. You can even "scratch" to adjust the audio, if the ridges of your finger catch the groove, but it's not quite as substantial as it looks in photos and won't keep spinning if you give it a whirl. Press down on the button, and up comes the Beats audio menu, with graphical equalizers and individual volume adjustments, and another press sends it back whence it came. There's also a dedicated mute button below it, with an orange status LED.

Buy a mouse

Speakers

Beats Audio isn't just branding on the Envy 15

You're going to be using those Beats controls a lot, by the way, to control the Envy 15's relatively fantastic sound quality. This notebook has six speakers and a miniature subwoofer, and while none of them is a substitute for a good set of headphones or most dedicated speakers you'd care to use, they provide perhaps the best audio quality I've ever heard from built-in drivers on a portable computing device. Whatever you might think of the Beats Audio software, it certainly delivers extra depth and boom, and it does a fairly good job of disguising the inherent tinniness of the tiny drivers that HP is using here, too. Thinking back, I seem to recall that Dell's XPS 15z produced slightly less tinny sounds, but the Beats processing gives the Envy's audio extra bass and depth.The way it compensates, though, can be a little offputting: I often noticed that when an instrument-heavy song went to a vocal solo, Beats would automatically (and abruptly) pump up the volume and vice versa. You'll want to keep Beats on, though, because the speakers sound pretty terrible with the processing turned off. I'm also not completely sold on the position of the front-facing speaker holes: I often ended up blocking the sound field simply by having my arms resting on the keyboard.

The Envy 15 also has a built-in Kleer transmitter to connect with wireless audio gear, but we didn't have any Kleer speakers or HP's $100 Wireless Audio receiver handy to test it with.

Display

We were originally told that the HP Envy 14's luscious Radiance Display would come standard on the new Envy, but I'm sorry to say that's not the case: the stock $1,100 Envy 15 comes with a 1366 x 768 "HP BrightView" screen, or you can pay an additional $150 for the 1920 x 1080 Radiance option. Our review unit came with the Radiance, so I can't tell you how well the BrightView performs, but let's face facts: if you can't afford $1,249 for the real deal, you're missing out. This bright, crisp, clear 1080p screen is one of the prime reasons to buy an Envy, and it's a clear advantage over the 15-inch MacBook Pro, too, which tops out at just 1680 x 1050 resolution. Besides, trust me, 1366 x 768 just doesn't cut it on a 15-inch screen.

In movies, games, and even simple photo viewing, the 1080p Radiance screen let me see fine detail in my multimedia and marvel at their colors, while angling the screen however I liked without fear of disgusting off-angle quirks. You will have to deal with a glossy glass panel here, but it's not too bad indoors, as it seems HP applies an anti-glare coating of some sort. It's just a shame that there's no slot-loading Blu-ray drive for movies that do justice to this screen.

1080p is the place to be

Performance

Performance and graphics

The HP Envy's a fairly potent rig, as you might expect: with a dual-core 2.4GHz Intel Core i5-2430M processor, 6GB of DDR3-1333 memory, and Radeon HD 7690M graphics with 1GB of VRAM, even the $1,099 starting config is capable of great things. I fired up two 1080p iTunes trailers simultaneously, along with active Pandora and Gmail accounts and nearly a dozen other Chrome tabs, and didn't notice so much as a hint of stutter from either video. (The third simultaneous 1080p video did the trick, though.) It's got a few extras, too: while you'll have to pay extra for a quad-core processor or solid state storage, dual-band 802.11 a/b/g/n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Intel's Wireless Display tech, and HP's infrared HD webcam come standard. What's more, for a machine with magnetic storage, the Envy boots fairly quickly from its 500GB, 7200RPM hard drive, making it to the Windows desktop in under 40 seconds and fully loading startup programs in just over a minute.

Gaming

The first few times I fired up some games on the Envy 15, I was disappointed as could be. The Radeon HD 7690M didn't seem to be doing much of anything, pulling down pitiful framerates even in our softball HAWX benchmark. Then, one sleepless night, it occurred to me that the switchable graphics weren't turning on, and sure enough, one trek into a buried AMD Catalyst Control Center menu later, the Envy 15 averaged 47fps in HAWX, 29.24fps in the Just Cause 2 bench, not to mention respectable scores of P5558 / X2299 in 3DMark Vantage and P1274 / X412 in 3DMark 11.

The Radeon HD 7690M delivers mid-range settings on the latest PC games

What do those raw numbers mean when it comes to real-world gameplay? Good things: Skyrim is nearly playable at 1080p and medium settings so long as you turn off anti-aliasing, and Batman: Arkham City similarly runs at 1080p and medium detail if you turn down the DirectX 11 and ambient occlusion eye candy. Even Battlefield 3 is playable on the Envy 15, though you shouldn't expect much. At minimum settings, we were averaging under 20fps at 1080p resolution.

	PCMarkVantage	3DMark06	Just Cause 2
HP Envy 15 (late 2011)	7,360	8,988	29.24
Samsung Series 7	7,620	9,849	34.24
Sony VAIO Z (2011)	12,079	7,960	25.96
Dell XPS 15z	7,303	N/A	24.95
MacBook Pro 15-inch (2011)	7,648*	10,359*	N/A

Note: MacBook Pro benchmark results taken from LAPTOP Magazine's review.

Heat and noise

One of the most unexpectedly pleasing surprises about the Envy 15 is how cool and quiet it is compared to similarly specced Windows machines. While the fans seem to always be on, I rarely noticed them speed up, and even when watching a DVD or playing intensive games, the spinning noises never got loud enough to disturb my session. The Envy does generate a bit of heat, of course, but it's quickly wafted away. Even when hot air is rushing out the notebook's many vents, the palmrests only get mildly warm, and typically remain comfortably cool to the touch. Interestingly, the right palmrest is always a bit warmer than the left, perhaps due to the hard drive inside.

Battery and software

Battery life and software

If there's a minor disappointment with the Envy, it's the battery life. HP promises up to nine hours of use from the eight-cell, 14.8V, 4780mAh battery, but we got about four in use. We saw our battery life go from 100 percent to 50 percent during the course of an hour and forty minutes of nothing but web browsing — losing roughly two percent of juice a minute — and on our Verge Battery Test, which loops a series of websites and downloads high res images at 65 percent brightness until the battery fully drains, the Envy 15 managed four hours and 17 minutes of life before conking out. That's disappointing compared to a MacBook Pro running OS X, but about average for this class of Windows laptop, as you can see in the chart on the right. What's annoying is that you'll have to micro-manage the Radeon HD switchable graphics to get the same results I did. Several times, I caught AMD's Catalyst Control Center assigning games to the integrated Intel graphics, and other times picking the HD 7690M to run my web browser... and while you can override this on a per-application basis, the setting is buried in a menu. On the plus side, HP's chunky AC adapter charges the Envy quite quickly. With 30 minutes' charge, it went from 7 percent to 33 percent battery.

As far as software's concerned, HP's thankfully kept the bloatware level to an impressive minimum, though annoying tidbits do rear the ugly head from time to time, like the pre-installed Bing Bar and the copies of Norton Internet Security and Cyberlink PowerDVD that keep asking you to upgrade to a pricer versions. There's a welcome lack of desktop shortcuts, too, the polar opposite of the HP Folio 13 we just reviewed. In addition to those three apps, you'll find Microsoft Office Starter Edition, Adobe Photoshop Elements 9 and Premiere Elements 9, the Bing app, HP's MovieStore and Wireless Audio, Cyberlink YouCam for the webcam, and you'll find your toolbar populated by Intel's Wi-Fi manager, HP CoolSense and HP Wireless Audio, as well as a Beats shortcut.

Keep the charger with you

	Battery Life
HP Envy 15	4:17
Samsung Series 7	4:24
Sony VAIO Z	5:27
Dell XPS 15z	4:36

Wrap-up

HP's latest machine still envies Apple, but it's to be envied by fellow PCs

It might initially look like it's Designed by Apple in California, but the $1,100 Envy 15 is no MacBook Pro. Sure, HP's built a rock-solid, relatively inexpensive Windows computer from the same anodized aluminum foundations as Apple's machine, but don't be fooled: the Envy 15 misses on simple basics like long battery life and a no-nonsense touchpad. HP may have improved on the MacBook Pro in ways that are meaningful for Windows power users, but it's not going to tempt any Apple fans to jump ship, and it's not a PC for everyone.

If you're just the right kind of customer, though, the Envy is an extremely attractive machine. You'll have to pay extra to unlock its full potential — that $150 Radiance Display is a must, and the computer's just crying out for an SSD — but HP's still generated some impressive bang for the buck for Windows gamers or multimedia fans who don't want a tacky, plasticky frame. For $450 less than than a MacBook Pro, you can outfit the Envy with the very same processor and better specs across the board, although you give up Apple's excellent trackpad and a couple extra hours of battery life to do so. But if battery life and portability are what you crave, it might be best to hold off: like the rest of the industry, HP's moved on to making ultrabooks, and the forthcoming Envy Spectre might displace the Envy 15 the same way Apple's MacBook Air has displaced the MacBook Pro.

Compare It

HP Envy 15 (late 2011)

8.0 Verge Score Write Review

Good Stuff

Rock-solid aluminum construction
Excellent audio for a laptop
Optional 1080p Radiance display is sharp, colorful

Bad Stuff

Quirky touchpad with stiff buttons
Average battery life
No Blu-ray option
Unabashed copy of the MacBook Pro

The Breakdown

More times than not, the Verge score is based on the average of the subscores below. However, since this is a non-weighted average, we reserve the right to tweak the overall score if we feel it doesn't reflect our overall assessment and price of the product. Read more about how we test and rate products.

Design 8
Keyboard 9
Touchpad 4
Display 9
Performance 8
Heat / noise 9
Battery life 5
Software 8

There are 272 Comments. Add yours.

patfactorx says:

If you’re talking audio quality and gaming the XPS 15 is still better in this class

Posted on Jan 04, 2012 | 6:18 PM EST reply Recommend (6) Flag actions

Piano Man's reply:

That thing looks like a brick. How thick and heavy is it?

Posted on Jan 04, 2012 | 6:23 PM EST reply Recommend (26) Flag actions

BenDTU's reply:

“Quite” and “Not bad but not great”. It’s quite a bulky laptop.

Posted on Jan 04, 2012 | 6:31 PM EST reply Recommend (8) Flag actions

Artstate's reply:

Not that heavy, but pretty damn thick compared to non-gaming laptops
No joke though, the sound is astonishingly good for a laptop

Posted on Jan 04, 2012 | 6:38 PM EST reply Recommend (5) Flag actions

mjenabi2's reply:

i would believe that. my studio 15 also has a good sound quality

Posted on Jan 04, 2012 | 6:49 PM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions

joel.duren's reply:

I’m sorry, but why do you need astonishingly good sound on a laptop? I mean, when I’m at home I use awesome speakers, and when I go mobile I use headphones. I rarely have to use the onboard speakers, and when I do it’s not like I use them to rock a party, so why pay extra for something unnecessary?

Posted on Jan 05, 2012 | 3:36 AM EST reply Recommend (6) Flag actions

vivalamattt's reply:

or for some people, why pay extra for external speakers when you can use the ones that come onboard of the computer?

Posted on Jan 05, 2012 | 3:46 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions

patfactorx's reply:

The JBLs on the XPS are actually better than a lot of <$200 speakers

Posted on Jan 05, 2012 | 6:10 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions

therealcaveman's reply:

Anyone who says they’d rather have onboard laptop speakers than a standalone system is CLEARLY not concerned with audio quality. No audiophiles here.

Posted on Jan 29, 2012 | 10:48 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions

tundra12555's reply:

In any other notebook , you right. But with your comment, that is where the beats audio shines. I have the secong generation envy 17. Although the speakers has one of the best sounds in a pc notebook, It’s when you plug in your headphones or an external speakers that beats comes to life. If you plug an average set of headphone in a normal notebook, then plug it into a beats audio notebook, you’ll hear a huge difference.

Posted on Feb 19, 2012 | 8:03 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions

snowbeluga's reply:

It most certainly does not look like a brick. It has far more in common with a breeze block.

Posted on Jan 04, 2012 | 8:01 PM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions

chaddaddy's reply:

You don’t say a brick is ugly though, because a brick is a brick. That thing is ugly.

Posted on Jan 04, 2012 | 11:28 PM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions

Ghost650's reply:

Bricks can be ugly. This computer is neither, in my opinion.

Posted on Jan 05, 2012 | 1:10 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions

ounkeo's reply:

Quite thick. When i was shopping for my envy 17 that was on my radar but i was dissappointed by how massive it was relative to the envy.

Posted on Jan 05, 2012 | 8:43 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions

BenDTU's reply:

I’ve got one. It’s mediocre at best gaming wise with the 1080p screen, not to mention it’s ugly as sin.

I mainly use mine for development work.

Posted on Jan 04, 2012 | 6:26 PM EST reply Recommend (13) Flag actions

BenDTU's reply:

Battery life is nonexistant as well with an i7.

Posted on Jan 04, 2012 | 6:27 PM EST reply Recommend (5) Flag actions

oguzoz's reply:

mine goes up to 4.15 hrs with power saver mode and brightness low. (also disable : flash) :)

Posted on Jan 05, 2012 | 4:16 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions

h.kaz14's reply:

Doesn’t it come with Nividia Otimus?

Posted on Jan 05, 2012 | 4:01 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions

Ephemerol-'s reply:

Optimus rarely works the way ‘they’ say it does, or the way it’s supposed to.

Posted on Jan 05, 2012 | 4:30 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions

Bluedrago505's reply:

I got mine on December 23rd and you are actually a bit naive when it comes to the design. It may look bad from the pictures but in person the design is really well made. The gaming is mediocre but for a laptop that not made for gaming it does pretty well.

Posted on Jan 04, 2012 | 10:13 PM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions

chaddaddy's reply:

“the design is really well made”

What?

Posted on Jan 04, 2012 | 11:29 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions

Ghost650's reply:

I think he is trying to say that it is well designed.

…or well made.

…possibly both.

Posted on Jan 05, 2012 | 1:11 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions

Bluedrago505's reply:

I actually meant to type the design is amazing and the laptop is well made. I don’t know what I was thinking.

Posted on Jan 05, 2012 | 3:39 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions

Ephemerol-'s reply:

I hope you’re not talking about that Dell XPS.

Posted on Jan 05, 2012 | 4:31 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions

Bluedrago505's reply:

No, I’m talking about the Envy. I really should have pointed that out somewhere, I am a complete idiot.

Posted on Jan 06, 2012 | 1:55 AM EST reply Recommend (2) Flag actions

Ghost650's reply:

It’s okay, dont be too hard on yourself. There is, afterall, no such thing as editing your comments.

Posted on Jan 06, 2012 | 4:13 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions

chaddaddy's reply:

Oh, my.

Posted on Jan 06, 2012 | 9:27 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions

WilliamF's reply:

What do you mean mediocre? Will it kill you to play at a lowered resolution?

Posted on Jan 05, 2012 | 6:23 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions

TaleSpin's reply:

anybody who buys a laptop for gaming…is an idiot

Posted on Jan 04, 2012 | 6:32 PM EST reply Recommend (16) Flag actions

brockorr's reply:

Unless they do a lot of traveling and can’t lug around a desktop rig (mostly because airplane).. I had a friend who bought an Alienware laptop for that specific reason. It was one of the insane ones with SLI and like a 400W power brick…. It looked ugly, and it was insanely expensive, but it worked for what he wanted.

Posted on Jan 04, 2012 | 6:36 PM EST reply Recommend (6) Flag actions

tywannabe's reply:

And that’s why things like the Razer switchblade need to exist

Posted on Jan 04, 2012 | 6:46 PM EST reply Recommend (4) Flag actions

Jaerba's reply:

There’s at least half a dozen laptops that can do what the Switchblade can do, but cost $1500 less and probably look nicer.

Contrary to Razer’s best efforts, the 555M in it is only a mediocre video card and is in the same class as all the other video cards listed here. If you really want a powerful gaming notebook that doesn’t look gaudy or terrible, you get a Sager/Clevo. They’re boring and Thinkpad like, and they’ll blow the Switchblade away at half the cost.

Posted on Jan 04, 2012 | 7:37 PM EST reply Recommend (5) Flag actions

hawk1410's reply:

Umm…. the Razer Switchblade is a gaming laptop in name only. It has a GT555m which is a mid range GPU at best. Even a MacBook Pro 15 can outperform it as it has a better GPU and lower resolution(1680×1050 at best). The Razer Switchblade is not a portable gaming laptop in anyway. Anyone who buys it is buying it for the style and not the performance. Even if you want something portable with good gaming ability you can grab the cheaper and probably better built Macbook Pros. The Switchblade is just stupid.

Posted on Jan 04, 2012 | 9:16 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions

silentgear's reply:

didn’t know you could play awesome games on a macbook pro.

Posted on Jan 05, 2012 | 2:01 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions

jaggedspike's reply:

The high-end ones yeah. It’s very expensive though. MBP are not gaming machines.

Posted on Jan 05, 2012 | 5:21 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions

hawk1410's reply:

A gaming laptop is what i would call laptops like Sagers/Clevos, and Alienwares

Posted on Jan 04, 2012 | 9:17 PM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions

Seanux's reply:

omg I want it to go into production SO BAD

Posted on Jan 06, 2012 | 1:52 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions

bemymonkey's reply:

Hmmm, not sure if I’d agree with that. What’s the alternative for a portable rig? uATX + small flatscreen + keyboard + mouse? No matter how small you make it, the laptop’s still going to be more portable.

I’d never buy one, but I’m thinking gaming laptops do have some sort of appeal – only if you’ve got money to burn though, of course.

Posted on Jan 05, 2012 | 3:55 AM EST reply Recommend (2) Flag actions

MacEnvy's reply:

Some adults actually have to go places and use their computers for work, rather than sitting at home in their basement with a 70 pound desktop setup.

Posted on Jan 05, 2012 | 10:03 AM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions

daniel.premo's reply:

I bought a laptop for gaming. At this point in my life I only use a computer if I can use it on my couch. I’ve got a desktop in another room, but it mostly collects dust.

My gaming laptop can’t run the newest games at max settings, but whose machine can, really?

Posted on Jan 05, 2012 | 5:52 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions

ounkeo's reply:

really? Specs for pc gaming havent gone up drastically for years now.

A laptop pulling 13k on 3dmark06 can play pretty much everything quite well barring top end games like battlefield 3, which my envy 17 can play at 30-40fps on medium-high settings.

Witcher 2 on high is smooth as well running 40fps for me.

No, not the greatest performance but it is more than playable and you can bring it around with you.

I use my 17 as my supplementary work pc then take it home to game. Cant do that with a desktop.

Posted on Jan 05, 2012 | 8:49 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions

J00NYA's reply:

Divorced parents. Gotta travel. Gotta have that M11x with me at all times. Hook up to a tv at either house and I’m good to go. I feel like I’m not an idiot, though. :(

Posted on Jan 06, 2012 | 1:04 PM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions

SparklingCyanide's reply:

Dell?? oh yuck, no thank you…

Posted on Jan 04, 2012 | 6:39 PM EST reply Recommend (9) Flag actions

hawk1410's reply:

Same goes for HP. That is the reason these MacBook clones aren’t really good alternatives to the real thing

Posted on Jan 04, 2012 | 9:18 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions

Bluedrago505's reply:

Not everybody likes OS X, also you can’t really call it a macbook clone until you’ve seen it in real life. Not a single person has mistaken it for a Macbook unless I bring it up first.
I actually like the black lid and red accents. All of the unibody aluminium is starting to get old.

Posted on Jan 04, 2012 | 10:15 PM EST reply Recommend (3) Flag actions

AceTracer's reply:

No one is forcing you to use OS X when you buy an Apple laptop. In fact, Apple makes it exceedingly easy for you not to.

Posted on Jan 04, 2012 | 11:16 PM EST reply Recommend (3) Flag actions

chaddaddy's reply:

The question is whether I want to pay a premium for battery life (by the way, what kind of battery life does the MBP get with Windows 7?) and a usable touch pad. Is the touch pad purely bad hardware, or could Windows 8 potentially fix most of its flaws?

When I was looking for a laptop in late 2010, I was looking at $1200 as a ceiling. In my country, the white Macbook sells for that price. So, the white Macbook with 320M or the Envy 14 with 5650? There really was no comparison.

In the end, I got a Samsung for $800 that still bettered the white Macbook in performance and had a partially aluminium build.

Posted on Jan 04, 2012 | 11:39 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions

bemymonkey's reply:

IF you ignore the fact that battery life drops significantly when you’re running Windows on a MacBook(Air/Pro). Now if Apple provided Windows drivers that were similarly efficient to the ones it has for OSX, you’d be completely right.

Posted on Jan 05, 2012 | 4:02 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions

jaggedspike's reply:

The efficiency cannot be sorted with drivers, Windows 7 isn’t as good as Lion/SL on power management.

Posted on Jan 05, 2012 | 5:22 PM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions

id4andrei's reply:

Yes but the deprecated bootcamp drivers cripple the experience.

Posted on Jan 05, 2012 | 4:25 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions

jaggedspike's reply:

Nothing of the sort.

Posted on Jan 15, 2012 | 8:07 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions

ounkeo's reply:

u can boot to windows and get subpar performance or u can get a pc which still trounces mbp performance in windows boot. If you want performance, mbp are not the laptop to get. They are mid range performers which explains the longer battery life.

Posted on Jan 05, 2012 | 8:54 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions

damongb's reply:

cool story bro.

Posted on Jan 12, 2012 | 1:23 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions

Ghost650's reply:

i sort of wich ALL the aluminum was black. Black with red accents would be hot.

Posted on Jan 05, 2012 | 1:13 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions

Ghost650's reply:

wish* GDI

Posted on Jan 05, 2012 | 1:13 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions

Bluedrago505's reply:

Like the beat edition of the Envy 14. I would love that if it didn’t have the giant beats logo.

Posted on Jan 06, 2012 | 8:20 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions

Adriel Mingo's reply:

HP is actually one of the better Windows laptop makers. and this Envy is a good alternative for a lot of people, that’s just your opinion.

Posted on Jan 04, 2012 | 11:21 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions

chaddaddy's reply:

They do seem to get a lot of hate for no apparent reason. I’m a big fan of the Envy line and while the Pavilions look rather fiddly, mine never crapped out due to external build (the internal fan

Posted on Jan 04, 2012 | 11:41 PM EST reply Recommend (2) Flag actions

chaddaddy's reply:

broke down and it was becoming too incompetent in terms of performance).

Posted on Jan 04, 2012 | 11:42 PM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions

jaggedspike's reply:

I had two Pavillions both failed in their warranty, and just outside the warranty.

Posted on Jan 05, 2012 | 5:23 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions

chaddaddy's reply:

That sucks. Mine went out after six years, so I’m fairly happy with HP. Or did I just get lucky?

Posted on Jan 06, 2012 | 9:28 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions

jaggedspike's reply:

My mum has a HP and she has been using it for 2 years now. I think I push my laptops to the brink. I had the HP DV2 then the DV6, now I’m on a 13in MBP.

Posted on Jan 08, 2012 | 8:07 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions

decfrv's reply:

audio quality is way better on this thing man….

Posted on Jan 04, 2012 | 7:31 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions

Danny L's reply:

Build quality is not good on the XPS 15. I went through two XPS 15 laptops before getting a refund. Great desktop replacement, but not a great portable laptop.

Posted on Jan 04, 2012 | 9:04 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions

Ephemerol-'s reply:

I had one, returned it about a week after receiving it. Cheap build quality, plastic painted as though to appear to be aluminum, and what aluminum there is, is simply metal foil laminated onto the same flimsy plastic panels. The JBL speakers don’t count for much, considering most of the cabling is routed almost directly below the processor, and will often pick up electrical interference.

They ever manage to put out a BIOS update that fixes the overthrottling fans?

They ever manage to put out a driver update that fixes the issues with the USB 3 port?

Doubtful, since Dell cuts support as rapidly as possible to shovel out the next revision of their mediocre shit. I know this has little to do with the article, but scrolling down to the comments and seeing pictures of that piece of garbage as some sort of slant against the Envy is just laughable.

Posted on Jan 04, 2012 | 9:05 PM EST reply Recommend (4) Flag actions

PhoenixMaster00's reply:

I can believe that. My 3/4 year Dell Studio XPS has fantastic sound quality (for a laptop).

Posted on Jan 04, 2012 | 9:06 PM EST via mobile reply Recommend Flag actions

nishwanth says:

U gotta be kidding me… One should learn from HP how to copy exactly as it is…

Posted on Jan 04, 2012 | 6:23 PM EST reply Recommend (2) Flag actions

DizWhiz's reply:

I just wish they wouldn’t have copied the “glassy” form of “glossy”. Ugh.

Posted on Jan 04, 2012 | 7:06 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions

mjenabi2 says:

looks really nice. i bet the next gen of windows laptops (post win7) will be the real deal, they have to, otherwise they lose to apple.

Posted on Jan 04, 2012 | 6:24 PM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions

silentgear's reply:

lose in what sense? windows have dominated macs a long time ago. but in terms of design…people still outbuy macs by a lot no matter what kind of design it is. majority of the people just want something cheap, and macs aren’t cheap.

Posted on Jan 05, 2012 | 2:06 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions

coffeecoffee says:

I’d say we’ve got about two weeks until the lawsuit.

Posted on Jan 04, 2012 | 6:24 PM EST reply Recommend (3) Flag actions

CtrlAltDel121's reply:

Seeing as there hasn’t been one for other laptops that have copied the Air even more offensively, it seems apple doesn’t care enough.

Posted on Jan 04, 2012 | 6:59 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions

coffeecoffee's reply:

I guess it’s a minor number of sales compared to Android.

Posted on Jan 04, 2012 | 7:05 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions

jaggedspike's reply:

Maybe they got a new design that totally shits on the MBP right now.

Posted on Jan 05, 2012 | 5:23 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions

mavere's reply:

It looks entirely different with the lid closed.

In the laptop market, there still hasn’t been a “what were they thinking” moment like the ones seen in the phone market.

Posted on Jan 04, 2012 | 8:19 PM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions

BenDTU says:

“LIKE A MACBOOK PRO, FOR PEOPLE WHO WANT MORE CONTROL”

Can someone explain this statement to me?

Posted on Jan 04, 2012 | 6:26 PM EST reply Recommend (10) Flag actions

ath0's reply:

Must be the analog volume wheel and apparently you can remove the battery with only a screwdriver.

Then again I can remove the MBP battery with a screwdriver too, though it needs to be a try-wing.

Posted on Jan 04, 2012 | 6:33 PM EST reply Recommend (7) Flag actions

mjenabi2's reply:

that voids your warranty i believe.

Posted on Jan 04, 2012 | 6:50 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions

NeatOman's reply:

not if you know how to do it without leaving traces ;-)

Posted on Jan 04, 2012 | 7:04 PM EST reply Recommend (2) Flag actions

WayAway's reply:

Opening the back of the machine doesn’t void warranty (to change HDD/RAM) I don’t know if it detectable that the battery has been switched, but taking the back off to tinker is ok.

Posted on Jan 04, 2012 | 8:38 PM EST reply Recommend (2) Flag actions

brockorr's reply:

I like the review, but not that line. It’s too vague.

Posted on Jan 04, 2012 | 6:38 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions

Pobregizmo's reply:

Because Apple is Draconian and will control your soul… ecosystems… Draconian… App store policies… Removable battery…. Um, did I say draconian already?

Posted on Jan 04, 2012 | 6:46 PM EST reply Recommend (3) Flag actions

starxd's reply:

That “Draconian” argument is at least somewhat plausible with the iPhone but it is absolute nonsense related to the Mac. The Mac is no more locked down than Windows. You can do whatever you want on a Mac (including run Windows, if you’re a masochist).

Posted on Jan 04, 2012 | 7:19 PM EST reply Recommend (16) Flag actions

Jaerba's reply:

Depends what type of Mac. At an old job, I had to repair several old types of iMacs, including the iLamp, and they were absolutely awful to open up, even just to replace the ram and HDD. The equivalent cheap Dells had an easy to use tool-less case and tray.

You can get to the ram more easily on the new ones with the underneath panel, but replacing the HDD is ridiculous. For warranty reasons we just sent it to a certified specialist but the necessary tools for doing it yourself include suction cups.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3w6E2_XqaBw

Regarding Macbooks though, they don’t seem any harder to get into than most PC laptops, so at least they did well there (ignoring the warranty violations.)

Posted on Jan 04, 2012 | 7:47 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions

ath0's reply:

What warranty violations? The RAM and HDD are considered by Apple to be user replaceable, so no violation in changing those.

You’re a bit behind the times if your toolkit doesn’t include suction cups, not only for Apple. It’s not like they cost a fortune.

Posted on Jan 04, 2012 | 8:09 PM EST reply Recommend (3) Flag actions

Jaerba's reply:

“WARNING: Do not attempt to open your iMac, except to install memory. If your iMac needs service, see "Learning More, Service, and Support" on page 57 for information about how to contact Apple or an Apple Authorized Service Provider for service. Your iMac doesn’t have any user-serviceable parts, except the memory.”

“Your iMac does not have any user-serviceable parts, except the keyboard, mouse, and memory. If you need service, contact Apple or take your iMac to an Apple Authorized Service Provider. You can find more information about your iMac through online resources, onscreen help, System Profiler, or Apple Hardware Test.”

What on earth are you using suction cups for? Unless you’re doing glass installation or minor autobody work, but neither of those fall within the realm of a normal tool kit, and I’ve never had to do either.

Posted on Jan 05, 2012 | 12:41 AM EST reply Recommend (2) Flag actions

WayAway's reply:

he was being sarcastic I believe.

Posted on Jan 04, 2012 | 8:39 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions

mrlangston's reply:

If you think ecosystems are Draconian then stay away from anything made by Amazon as well as Microsoft, who will be launching a copy cat of the Mac App Store with their next release of Windows.

After all of Apple’s success with iTunes and everything that connects to it (iPhone, iPod, iPad) there should be little argument that the ecosystem is how you gain and retain customers. Or in other words, brand loyalty. What every company on the planet aspires to. They don’t want to consume anything that’s outside of their ecosystem. Starbucks doesn’t want you to partake in any other brewed bean but theirs and with all the Big Mac ads on the tube lately I’m sure McDonald’s would be more than happy if you never bit into another burger that wasn’t crafted by the “crew” under the golden arches.

Let’s face it, we’re all loyal — read: Draconianites — to a few brands. You probably only buy Lucky or Old Navy brand jeans, only use Heinz ketchup on only Hebrew National franks, and only drink Coke Zero ’cause Pepsi tastes like curdled rhinoceros spunk.

Posted on Jan 04, 2012 | 10:18 PM EST reply Recommend (2) Flag actions

Adriel Mingo's reply:

The battery is user replaceable, RAM and other internals are also easier to access, there are more ports for more peripherals. That’s more control over what you want to do with it.

Posted on Jan 04, 2012 | 11:23 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions

juanpvillalobos says:

Looks familiar.

Posted on Jan 04, 2012 | 6:28 PM EST reply Recommend (2) Flag actions

d0mth0ma5 says:

Wow, so it’s a great piece of kit, except for one of the main interfaces and the ability to use it for any length of time. Close, but not close enough.

Posted on Jan 04, 2012 | 6:29 PM EST reply Recommend (2) Flag actions

Sean Hollister's reply:

Yes, but you won’t be playing Batman: Arkham City at 1080p on your MacBook Pro, and you can practically buy an iPad 2 with the money you save on this one.

Posted on Jan 04, 2012 | 6:32 PM EST reply Recommend (17) Flag actions

Piano Man's reply:

Do you really think Beats is what makes it sound good? Perhaps they just didn’t cheap out on speakers like most laptop manufacturers? Beats just seems like a super gimmick to me.

Posted on Jan 04, 2012 | 6:35 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions

Jameseh's reply:

Considering they take the piss out of Beats on the Vergecast on a regular basis, I’d say no.

Posted on Jan 04, 2012 | 6:53 PM EST reply Recommend (3) Flag actions

Sean Hollister's reply:

No, if you turn off Beats, the speakers sound pretty awful. It’s definitely doing things, just like virtual surround sound does things. It’s not a substitute for good speakers, but it’s a lot better than nothing.

Posted on Jan 04, 2012 | 7:50 PM EST reply Recommend (2) Flag actions

decfrv's reply:

completely disagree. do you have an envy 15 sean? unless you have some relly goo and really expensive speakers, i wouldnt dream of attach speakers to this computer as the speakers are the best ive heard

Posted on Jan 04, 2012 | 7:52 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions

Ephemerol-'s reply:

I won’t be too sarcastic here, but you are commenting on the review of the HP Envy Late 2011 BY SEAN HOLLISTER.

So…derp?

Posted on Jan 04, 2012 | 9:11 PM EST reply Recommend (17) Flag actions

Dobba Jenkins's reply:

Without sounding snarky, it doesn’t sound like you’ve heard many speakers if these are “the best (you’ve) ever heard”.

I haven’t even heard them and I can guarantee 100% I’ve heard better speakers.

Posted on Jan 05, 2012 | 3:49 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions

ounkeo's reply:

beats combined with decent speakers is what gives the envy relatively good sound. If i turn off beats on my envy, the sound is horridly tinny, just barely better than mobile phone speakers.

I know ppl rag on beats but in this case, beats actually is the real deal; it isnt just marketing.

Posted on Jan 05, 2012 | 9:05 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions

d0mth0ma5's reply:

That’s certainly a fair point.
If my comment appears snarky (which re-reading it might do), it isn’t. It seems like a good laptop with a couple of (minor) flaws.
Frankly my 2009 MBP battery life is just as bad now (“Service battery”) but i’m holding out a couple of years until I can get a new Air (I don’t game beyond Football Manager on my laptop).

Posted on Jan 04, 2012 | 6:37 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions

JesseDegenerate's reply:

I’m ok with playing it at 1680×1050.

although boot camping is annoying. The original plays on all settings high at that rez very smooth. (the mac release)

Posted on Jan 04, 2012 | 6:45 PM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions

mjenabi2's reply:

very well said Sean.

Posted on Jan 04, 2012 | 6:51 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions

djgang says:

That is soo cheap and bad ! Come on HP whats wrong with you ?

Hiring the same designer would have been much better than copying the same designs !! I would feel ashamed of myself for buying such products.

Posted on Jan 04, 2012 | 6:34 PM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions

starxd's reply:

I don’t think Jony Ives is available for hire. LOL!

Posted on Jan 04, 2012 | 7:21 PM EST reply Recommend (2) Flag actions

Psycros says:

The industry has definitely learned something from Apple: that an awful of consumers think of portable electronics as fashion accessories. We are going backwards in design, to the age of shiny late 70’s kitsch..and with the usability to match. What’s next, membrane keyboards and joysticks?

Posted on Jan 04, 2012 | 6:36 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions

ath0's reply:

Not sure what’s the usability problem with these keyboards?

Were you hoping we would go back to noisy buckling-spring IBM Selectric-type keyboards?
I’m not.

Posted on Jan 04, 2012 | 6:41 PM EST reply Recommend (3) Flag actions

brockorr's reply:

I AM

Posted on Jan 04, 2012 | 6:44 PM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions

ath0's reply:

I actually sold all my three Happy Hacking Lite 2 keyboards and replaced them with Apple wireless keyboards.

Couldn’t be happier with their reliability, quietness and typing speed.

Posted on Jan 04, 2012 | 6:48 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions

jmanes's reply:

>sold happy hacking keyboards
>purchased apple keyboards

Posted on Jan 05, 2012 | 8:59 AM EST reply Recommend (3) Flag actions

moisiom's reply:

You realise there’s a small but extremely rabid market for scissor-spring keyboards, right?

Posted on Jan 04, 2012 | 7:04 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions

mashles's reply:

You mean like the rapidly growing range of Cherry mx blue based mechanical keyboards? I’ve been waiting ages for a decent replacement for an IBM model M and I finally settled on the Das Keyboard. Typing on my MBP when I am away from home is a pain compared.

Posted on Jan 04, 2012 | 8:30 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions

starxd's reply:

Are you serious? You think Apple products look like “shiny late 70’s kitsch”? Really?? You prefer the plastic piles of crap that most PC manufacturers pump out? Wow.

Posted on Jan 04, 2012 | 7:22 PM EST reply Recommend (10) Flag actions

brad-t says:

praises removable battery
condemns poor battery life

Posted on Jan 04, 2012 | 6:40 PM EST reply Recommend (5) Flag actions

ath0's reply:

Well removable if you have a screwdriver around…

Posted on Jan 04, 2012 | 6:42 PM EST reply Recommend (4) Flag actions

PLJNS's reply:

If you ever have to remove the battery don’t you think you’ll be in a location with a screwdriver around. I’m pretty sure almost everybody has standard screwdrivers at home somewhere. If not, then you should probably not even try to remove the battery.

Posted on Jan 05, 2012 | 8:03 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions

jclardy's reply:

But the point he was making was that the removable battery counters poor battery life because you can have 2 batteries with you.

I don’t think people would look fondly on you opening your laptop with a screwdriver on long airline flight.

Posted on Jan 06, 2012 | 9:35 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions

TCrimson05t says:

No……no video review? But that…….that voice……

(no i know you guys are probably crazy busy with CES bearing down like a train)

Anyway yes this……it looks good. I don’t know if I’d say the Beats is a gimmick but if is actually sounds better you can’t really knock that. Decent performance too. I REALLY wish though that they could get the trackpads right across the board for PC laptops though. Just in general. I hate trackpads…..they feel just…..weird.

Posted on Jan 04, 2012 | 6:41 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions

Sean Hollister's reply:

Yeah, if it weren’t for CES next week, I’d serenade you a bit. Sorry!

Posted on Jan 04, 2012 | 7:51 PM EST reply Recommend (2) Flag actions

jpcarvalhinho's reply:

Just logged in to comment the same… I was looking for that soothing voice sounds in my traffic hectic morning to calm me down… ;)

Posted on Jan 05, 2012 | 5:21 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions

hysonmb says:

I’m about the biggest Apple detractor there is and I say they should sue the crap out of HP for this.
There is no excuse for such a blantent copy of design. Maybe if they didn’t dump all of thier money into Palm and WebOS they could have hired some innovatores – or just visited an art school and had someone give them some ideas.

If you want a computer that looks like a Mac, buy a Mac! Otherwise, “Think Differently” and get something that original.

Posted on Jan 04, 2012 | 6:41 PM EST reply Recommend (3) Flag actions

SigiSigi's reply:

Apple would just get sued by HP for violating their patents and HP would whoop the floor with Apple on this one.. They are aggressive but not stupid.

And yees, HP has tons and tons of patents and got even more from Palm. (Like a patent for a smartphone,)

As Steve said, Good artist copy, Great artist steal! ;)

Posted on Jan 05, 2012 | 3:50 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions

jaggedspike's reply:

Violating what patents?

There is letting people copy your designs off, but when they start selling a MBP clone that’s a whole new level.

Posted on Jan 05, 2012 | 5:28 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions

gotoAndLego's reply:

Picasso said that.

Posted on Jan 05, 2012 | 6:26 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions

WasAPasserBy's reply:

Because the MBP has a black lid….?

Posted on Jan 05, 2012 | 4:07 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions

ounkeo's reply:

oh come off it. Apple is just as guilty about copying as every else. The trick is to copy then improve on the original. Might I suggest you research on where Apple gets all its designs from? here’s a hint; it’s nearly a carbon copy of another great designer’s work. Even up till recently, Apple continues with it’s copy and improve, or just outright copy. Let’s not pretend like they are somehow the originators of all things. If that were the case, i suggest Apple give the chicklet keyboard (which they use pretty much everywhere) back to Sony.

Look at what we have in the Envy. The only thing that resembles a mbp is the palm/keyboard area. And even then, we have the red trims, the beats dial, mute button and properly tapered edges (improving on the original). The rest of the machine (2/3 of it) look nothing like a mbp.

At the most, we can say this was influenced and inspired by the MBP.

Posted on Jan 05, 2012 | 9:35 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions

mackenziepricee says:

And PC manufactures are still unable to build a decent MacBook Pro rival.

Posted on Jan 04, 2012 | 6:42 PM EST reply Recommend (3) Flag actions

brockorr's reply:

If you want to build a decent rival, then you need to stop trying to copy the competition.

Posted on Jan 04, 2012 | 6:46 PM EST reply Recommend (13) Flag actions

Chickenroll's reply:

I have urge to smack your Mac with my Thinkpad

Posted on Jan 05, 2012 | 5:50 AM EST reply Recommend (2) Flag actions

ounkeo's reply:

my Envy 17 smacks the MBP upside down. It’s no competition.

Posted on Jan 05, 2012 | 9:37 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions

ad551 says:

If you ask me, though, the Envy 15 actually improves upon the MacBook Pro when it comes to industrial design.

Huh? Seriously??!

Those ports randomly scattered around are ugly, the red band looks horrible, there are vents on the bottom, the power brick looks like, well, a standard power brick. The attention to detail is seriously lacking here – I can’t understand how yo can say this HP laptop has better industrial design than the MacBook. From here, it looks like a mess.

Posted on Jan 04, 2012 | 6:51 PM EST reply Recommend (10) Flag actions

asdfgh746's reply:

It was the Sean’s own opinion, as he clearly stated in the article, and in the statement you quoted. Thanks for sharing yours.

Posted on Jan 04, 2012 | 7:03 PM EST reply Recommend (3) Flag actions

jpcarvalhinho's reply:

He states his reason… before aesthetics a good industrial design has to think of usability… he clearly states that it is better because of the rounded edge all around, that after a while have a great impact on using the thing on your wrists… and then more with the extra ports.

Posted on Jan 05, 2012 | 5:25 AM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions

ounkeo's reply:

design is part aesthetics and part usability. Apple tends to favor aestethics over usability, that is why their edges are sharp and this is no small matter as plenty of people have complained about long term usage with those edges.

The ports aren’t randomly placed. they are placed where they need to be as to be usable. Maybe in your mind, in order not to mess up the aesthetics, they should remove the ports, which completely negates the usability.

The power brick is the power brick. It’s utilitarian. Do you honestly look at yoru power brick? Especially when it can charge your laptop so quickly?

Vents…. only a crazed apple macfan would complain about vents. It’s not like the mbp doesn’t overheat for lack of proper ventilation … right? Because the metal is magically going to disperse the heat…onto every human contact point.

Posted on Jan 05, 2012 | 9:42 PM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions

Labeasy2 says:

“Good artists copy; great artists steal.”
“We’ve Always Been Shameless About Stealing Great Ideas”

-Steve Jobs

Posted on Jan 04, 2012 | 6:51 PM EST reply Recommend (3) Flag actions

Jameseh's reply:

“Great Ideas”, not the entire aesthetic.

Posted on Jan 04, 2012 | 6:54 PM EST reply Recommend (13) Flag actions

ounkeo's reply:

entire aesthetic? Look again brainiac. The part that is "copied from MBp only accounts for maybe 1/3 of the laptop. So being the math whizz that I am, I can deduce that 2/3 of it is wholly original. Entire meaning 100%, then yes, you would be wrong.

Posted on Jan 05, 2012 | 9:44 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions

brockorr's reply:

sigh.

Ideas, yes. Exactly copying a competitors design? Not that I can think of.

Posted on Jan 04, 2012 | 6:54 PM EST reply Recommend (2) Flag actions

Ephemerol-'s reply:

Apple steals an idea, they make it their own, meaning that they do it so well that you forget it existed before.

copies an Apple idea, people can immediately see it as nothing more than a cheap knock-off.

Understand the quote now? Probably not, but I tried.

Posted on Jan 04, 2012 | 9:16 PM EST reply Recommend (2) Flag actions

Qfax's reply:

I think The Verge needs to do a write-up about this quote, the history of it, its context and interpretations. It has become an element of popular internet tech discussion but I feel as though no one really knows anything about it other than the face value interpretation of the words ‘steal’ and ‘borrow’

Posted on Jan 05, 2012 | 4:18 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions

Qfax's reply:

Really, a write-up about design in general would be good. People get so wound up over it but actual insight into what design even is seems to be scarce.

Posted on Jan 05, 2012 | 4:19 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions

ounkeo's reply:

It’s the internet and Apple users think they are all designers. The article would not make any difference because these users “know better”.

Apple isn’t the greatest example of a design centric company. Most of their “designers” are decorators and this is what people get mixed up all the time.

A good example of this is in the Interior Design space where we have Interior Decorators and Interior Designers. Interior Designers act more like architects focussing on isolated spaces and concern themselves with function, use, traffic, content, meaning, the actual design of the space… whereas Interior Decorators are primarily concerned with makiing the space beautiful according to a theme; like what kind of plants to put in, how to fill the space with personal objects, picture frames etc..

And while the Interior Designer also takes on the role of the Interior decorator (often), it is a separate skillset totally from the decorator. The decorator doesn’t necessarily have to know how to design.

Most people mix that up very badly just as they do with Apple’s “designs” which in most instances, are just decoration work; Their designs are actually not very well thought out or they just ignore it completely. they aim primarily for aesthetics (decoration). A good example of this is the Game Centre for ios which is pure decorative work when compared with something properly designed to be a game centre, like the Xbox Live hub for WP7.

I would be inclined to write up a proper thing for the Verge, but frankly, I’d need to get paid for it. It will be a substantial write up, even paring it down.

Posted on Jan 05, 2012 | 9:54 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions

XConan's reply:

steal is more likely the word as people rarely return things even when they say they are borrowing…

Posted on Jan 06, 2012 | 10:53 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions

CtrlAltDel121 says:

Quick correction: Looks like you meant a half percent of battery per minute, or 2 minutes per percent, NOT 2% per minute.

Posted on Jan 04, 2012 | 6:55 PM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions

sirawesome says:

“I’ve never really understood what laptop manufacturers have against discrete physical mouse buttons these days” AMEN! I have a dv6 and I think the physical buttons are the best I’ve ever used, an upgraded model has a massive downgrade in that regard.

Posted on Jan 04, 2012 | 7:05 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions

Hirshologist says:

Macbook Pro in 2007:

Sony in 2007

Macbook Pro in 2008

Posted on Jan 04, 2012 | 7:07 PM EST reply Recommend (20) Flag actions

ath0's reply:

What are you trying to show with these photos?

The case of that Sony VGN-N19VP notebook is made of PLASTIC! They’re completely different laptops.

Posted on Jan 04, 2012 | 7:55 PM EST reply Recommend (13) Flag actions

sonelone's reply:

Sorry, I accidentally thumbs-uped your comment. Anyways, you seem a bit butthurt, even though he said nothing against Apple. He simply posted three pictures and you started raging. Either way, Apple has been copying Sony quite a bit recently, especially with their laptop line. The Vaio Z is clearly an inspiration for the Air and Apple even copied Sony’s keyboards. Although they perhaps did not copy as much as HP copied them, it still shows something.

Posted on Jan 04, 2012 | 8:08 PM EST reply Recommend (2) Flag actions

ath0's reply:

Raging? I asked a simple question and wrote a single line statement.
You’re the one who seems to be raging.

I still would like to know what was the OP’s intention since he opted to not write a single thing and just posted photos that may be misleading to the unaware.

Posted on Jan 04, 2012 | 8:15 PM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions

Ghost650's reply:

I believe he was implying that, regardless of materials, Apple’s Macbook Pro has a striking resemblence to an older Sony Vaio.

What we all need to keep in mind is that there is only so much you can do to the design of a laptop,. the form is heavily affected by the function. Companies like HP and Samsung recognize that consumers seem to favor aluminum bodied laptops.

Posted on Jan 05, 2012 | 1:08 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions

TechMark's reply:

The thing is, in this string of thought when the term ‘design’ is used we really mean the way it looks. The design (insides, materials used, extra-long-lasting battery) in the MBP released in 2008 was far ahead of its time.

You can only make a laptop look ‘so’ different. HP may have concluded that Apple’s inside clam-shell design was the most comfortable and went with that, but when you consider which company is leading innovation in all areas of the business.. that’s Apple. And there’s nothing wrong with that, people just pay a premium for it when buying Apple products.

I think that HP’s Envy looks close to the MBP is probably more of an irrational annoyance from Apple fans (me included). In reality, the look of the MBP is just one aspect of the design.

It’s not like Apple doesn’t benefit from the PC industry. Most of the components found inside the MBP are the same ones Windows uses. Apple has, however, innovated in areas of aluminium casing, battery life, and more obviously with things like the MBA.

PS, I think the Sony Vaio argument is bogus. Not saying Apple doesn’t copy other designs, just saying that the MBP 2007 vs 2008 release were a closer evolution to one another then the Sony Vaio was.

Posted on Jan 05, 2012 | 3:41 PM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions

Ghost650's reply:

You are correct, when I say design i am referring only to aesthetics.

I agree with everything you say other than the bit about the Sony Vaio. While I am not going to say that Apple COPIED the Vaio, they certainly borrowed the blacked out screen bezel and keyboard. There’s of course no way to prove/disprove this; just as it would be difficult for Sony to claim that a blacked-out bezel/keyboard is patent worthy. The point I am trying to make is that the state of design and the tastes of consumers is constantly changing and things will go in and out of fashion, so to speak. As copanies see what is bringing success they will try to impliment those things as quickly as possible. This is by no means something unique to the computer industry, mind you.

Posted on Jan 06, 2012 | 4:22 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions

TechMark's reply:

Yeah, agreed. I’ll be real curious to see if the MBP gets redesigned this year, and if so, what directions they’ll go. I do hope to see the CDless 15" that’ll look more like a MBA.

Posted on Jan 07, 2012 | 10:36 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions

sonelone's reply:

This man speaks the truth!

Posted on Jan 04, 2012 | 8:05 PM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions

brockorr's reply:

Aside from the color and position of the keyboard, I don’t see any significant similarities.

I do see differences though.
Metal vs Plastic
Glass display front vs um.. plastic I guess (hadn’t really thought about that before)
Glass Clickpad vs Normal Touchpad
Slot loading optical drive vs tray optical drive
Chiclet keyboard + Unibody design vs Possibly chiclet keyboard and traditional notebook design

Even if Apple copied Sony, they did a pretty sucky half ass job. Credit where credit is due: HP took imitation to the next level.

Mad Props.

Posted on Jan 04, 2012 | 8:34 PM EST reply Recommend (5) Flag actions

Hirshologist's reply:

I think there are more similarities between the model shown in these pictures than the some of the other laptops people have accused of copying the MBP (specifically the Dell XPS 15z Hollister mentioned and the Samsung Joanna claimed was).

Overall, technology is something that builds on top of each other. Apple copies other companies JUST AS MUCH as other companies copy each other.

No company places creates products in a vacuum without gaining inspiration from products that came before it.

BTW, Apple did steal the chiclet keyboard from Sony as well. This model might not have had it, but prior Vaio’s certainly did.

Posted on Jan 05, 2012 | 4:32 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions

lovetaquitos's reply:

Man, I still think the pre-unibody MacBook Pros are the prettiest laptops I have ever seen. Thank you for reminding me of them.

Posted on Jan 04, 2012 | 10:18 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions

sighclops's reply:

almost 5 yrs and going strong with mine lol

actually it’s time for an upgrade methinks ;)

Posted on Jan 05, 2012 | 9:32 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions

brockorr's reply:

I don’t like the design of the pre-unibody’s (mostly because the Unibody’s are sturdier).. but gosh darn it that keyboard was mind blowingly good.

Posted on Jan 05, 2012 | 2:33 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions

ounkeo's reply:

you mean these?

http://rpmedia.ask.com/ts?u=/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e9/Clamshell_iBook_G3.jpg/200px-Clamshell_iBook_G3.jpg

Posted on Jan 05, 2012 | 10:02 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions

gorskiegangsta's reply:

O…K? The 2008 Macbook Pro has more features in common with 2007 Macbook Pro than it has with 2007 Sony Vaio.
What exactly are you claiming Apple borrowed from the Vaio? The plastic body? The tray-loading dvd drive? The non-chiclet keyboard? The tiny buttoned trackpad? The glossy display held in place by plastic bezel?

Please elaborate.

Posted on Jan 04, 2012 | 11:45 PM EST reply Recommend (4) Flag actions

Sotomura's reply:

MacBook Pro used a design style from 2003. It wouldn’t surprise me that they’d change it.

The MacBook Pro’s unibody redesign borrows from elements they’ve put in the other Macs they’d released:
- Chiclet keyboard used from 2006 in the polycarbonate MacBook.
- Piano black backlit keyboard from the MacBook Air.
- Latchless clamshell from the 2006 MacBook.
- Left side tallest-to-shortest port arrangement from the polycarbonate iBook (2001).

It borrows a lot from the consumer line and throws it all into the professional line. You could say the MacBook Pro in 2008 was a unification of a lot of the design decisions they made for consumers in the previous years.

Posted on Jan 25, 2012 | 10:03 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions

soujisama says:

Simply cannot use a laptop with a bad touchpad as I dislike having external mice; and if this is worse than the ENVY14’s, well well. Look’s pretty though. The last computer I remember to have an analogue rocker was the Satellite M115.

Posted on Jan 04, 2012 | 7:23 PM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions

shuckster says:

I see the benchmark scores are higher for the MBP.

What then does the Envy offer that the Apple device doesn’t, considering I could install Windows using Boot Camp to play otherwise non-OSX compatible games?

Posted on Jan 04, 2012 | 7:30 PM EST reply Recommend (3) Flag actions

Dramos's reply:

That’s because they didn’t review the high end HP Envy 15 2011 with i7…

Posted on Jan 04, 2012 | 7:35 PM EST reply Recommend (2) Flag actions

MayorBloomberg's reply:

Yeah, because if they had, then Sean wouldn’t be able to tout this laptop as a value proposition; adding the higher-end processor adds some $450 to the price.

Posted on Jan 05, 2012 | 12:07 AM EST reply Recommend (3) Flag actions

Sean Hollister's reply:

The 2.2GHz quad-core i7 (same as MBP, if I’m not mistaken) adds $100 to the price, not $450. You can pay more for even faster processors, same as in the MBP.

Posted on Jan 05, 2012 | 3:29 AM EST reply Recommend (3) Flag actions

id4andrei's reply:

Sean, both you and Joanna added a 3rd party score from a magazine exactly in the same manner. The exact mbp SKU was also not mentioned. It breaks consistency and it simply is not fair. Can’t you make your own macbook testing, I imagine most of you have mbp’s around there. You are also using a 2006 benchmarking tool.
I think you are simply advertising for laptop mag and not that you don’t care for adequate testing.

Posted on Jan 06, 2012 | 4:37 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions

id4andrei's reply:

Not only that the Laptop mag review has benched the machine on a lower resolution:1440×900. This review unit has the 1080p radiance display. Simply put the benchmark presented in this review is ALL WRONG.

Posted on Jan 06, 2012 | 4:44 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions

Sean Hollister's reply:

Benchmarks are not typically run at native resolution, or else they wouldn’t be comparable across machines. We didn’t run 3DMark06 at 1080p, and the other benchmarks have distinct resolution settings that are automatically comparable, like the P score and X score put out by 3DMark Vantage and 3DMark 11.

Posted on Jan 06, 2012 | 1:49 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions

id4andrei's reply:

Yes but you didn’t specify into your review the exact benchmark settings. 3dmark is mostly a video benchmark and you brought 3rd party results into your own benchmarking without knowing the settings they employed.
How does that make sense other than advertising for the laptop mag ? For example the videocard in your reviewed envy is better than the one in the mbp from laptop mag. Your compiled benchmarks falsely skew the results into MBP’s favor(non intentionally of course).
Simply put it makes no sense and both you and Joana need to learn a thing or two about consistency in benchmarking where you must always specify the settings used. You’re coming off lazy in this respect, either do it right across the board if you plan to correctly compare the hardware of the machines or don’t do it at all. I will point at this every time it is needed.

Posted on Jan 07, 2012 | 5:24 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions

Qfax's reply:

Primarily, it is cheaper. By about $450. That is its principle advantage, and arguably the reason it exists(and looks the way it does) at all. It also comes with a more modern(Albeit not necessarily faster) GPU, more RAM and a bigger HD.

I would wager that this is about as cheap as HP can make a “Macbook Pro”, and I think part of their strategy is specifically to try and run with the already commonly accepted premise that Apple machines are egregiously overpriced.

It’s not entirely untrue either. Apple basically charges “List Price” on all their products and they never eat into their margins. Still, you kind of wonder where that $450+ price difference really comes from. How much of it is simply Apple being Apple(read: simply charging a ‘premium’), and how much of it is HP being HP(read: coming up with ways to drop the sticker price as much as possible, and generally having small margins).

It’s tough to say. Apple isn’t likely going to lower their prices in response to HP throwing down the glove like this, so it will remain up to the user to judge whether that $450+ difference is justified.

Posted on Jan 05, 2012 | 4:35 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions

id4andrei's reply:

The benchmark is also higher because it is taken from a different source and pointlessly added to their own benchmarks.

Posted on Jan 06, 2012 | 4:26 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions

id4andrei's reply:

The bootcamp drivers make for a crippled Win experience. But in general terms you are right, Apple is better as it is more open and gives you choice while HP and the others don’t give you choice in the OS department.

Posted on Jan 06, 2012 | 4:29 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions

Dramos says:

Someone tell me why they didn’t use their own MacBook Pro 15-inch (2011) benchmark test…

Posted on Jan 04, 2012 | 7:32 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions

id4andrei's reply:

To advertise the laptop pro magazine. Anyway it is pointless to collude benchmark results from tests made by different reviewers and call it best.

Posted on Jan 06, 2012 | 4:25 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions

decfrv says:

im kind of dissappointed in the verge for review the i5 envy 15 but comparing it to the i7 macbook pro….. my i7 hp envy 15 begs to differ on losing to the macbook pro…

also, I dont think that the touchpad is all that bad, i havent played with the settings but i find it comparable to my friends macbook in all areas accept one:two- finger scrolling. thats the only place i have trouble.

Posted on Jan 04, 2012 | 7:49 PM EST reply Recommend (3) Flag actions

whatsnext says:

Why!? Why the trackPad again!?

Posted on Jan 04, 2012 | 7:52 PM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions

r v i says:

I don’t like the design!

Posted on Jan 04, 2012 | 7:54 PM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions

Jaerba says:

I agree with the complaint about touchpads. The best touchpad I’ve used, including having used a MacBook Air, is the one on my Lenovo which uses physical buttons. The buttons have a great springy feel but are near silent, and the touchpad itself has a nice texture on it.

MacBooks definitely do a better job on the trackpad than PC makers have with buttonless pads, but I think they could all do it better by having real buttons again.

Posted on Jan 04, 2012 | 7:57 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions

MayorBloomberg's reply:

When you enable touch-clicking on a Mac trackpad, you’ll never find a more silent trackpad.

Posted on Jan 05, 2012 | 12:11 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions

abgenx says:

I can’t wait for the ultrabook version of this thing.

Posted on Jan 04, 2012 | 8:05 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions

wilkinsonseth's reply:

I can’t wait either!

Posted on Jan 05, 2012 | 12:30 AM EST reply Recommend (16) Flag actions

brockorr's reply:

LG beat HP to it…

Posted on Jan 05, 2012 | 2:34 PM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions

brockorr's reply:

Asus.. wtf is my problem.

Posted on Jan 05, 2012 | 2:34 PM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions

floobie says:

While I’m most definitely not a fan of HP… I have equated their products to excrement on many occasions… I have to admit that these are actually half decent. Playing with one at a store, the build quality was leaps and bounds ahead of everything else HP has ever made. It seems like a decent, legitimate choice…. if you’re willing to own something that looks like a Chinese knock-off.

Also: How in the hell has every laptop manufacturer besides Apple not figured out how to make a decent trackpad? I realize personal preference certainly applies here. Some people just like to have buttons, I guess. But, I’ve yet to use a trackpad, buttoned or otherwise, that even came close to feeling as natural and genuinely usable (often more so than a regular mouse) as the ones on the Macbook (Pro/Air).

And: HP really needs to learn how to work with batteries. Not only do they seem to consistently under-perform, they also seem to lose their charging capacity alarmingly quickly. My Macbook’s battery is still at 80% of its capacity after 3 years. I know people with Asus, Sony, and Lenovo laptops that perform similarly well. But, everyone I know who owns an HP curses the battery for the reasons I stated above.

Posted on Jan 04, 2012 | 8:14 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions

Eingoluq says:

Any black beats edition in this line?

Posted on Jan 04, 2012 | 8:18 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions

EngadgetRefugee's reply:

Hopefully, Then the Apple comparisons might lessen a bit

Posted on Jan 04, 2012 | 8:53 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions

dicobalt says:

It’s gray and black. Very much so.

Posted on Jan 04, 2012 | 8:44 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions

Sammael says:

Did Sean have to fight Joanna in a cage match to get his hands on one of these before her?

Posted on Jan 04, 2012 | 9:07 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions

brockorr says:

Wait.. has anyone had a crack at it’s name?
I’ll give it a shot:

Wait.. has anyone had a crack at it’s name?
I’ll give it a shot:Isn’t it obvious? The reason it’s called the Envy is because it wants to be the Macbook Pro.

Posted on Jan 04, 2012 | 9:10 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions

BadPlasmid's reply:

Do you work for Apple? You seem to have taken a lot offense to HP’s design, and I can’t help but wonder why people get so emotionally invested. Being an Apple employee would certainly explain it, so I am just curious.

I personally don’t care who copies who as long as it offers me better products on the market. As far as the Envy name, it comes from the company HP bought like 6 or 7 years ago called Envy. They have had this line since the purchase, I think you are reading too far into it.

Posted on Jan 04, 2012 | 9:15 PM EST reply Recommend (2) Flag actions

cjschris's reply:

So you’re okay with copies instead of differences?
If all everyone did was copy other companies, we’d have nothing original.

Posted on Jan 04, 2012 | 9:26 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions

BadPlasmid's reply:

There are differences, though small. there are differences that some might argue were improvements in some places. But that is totally ignoring my point. There are many choices on the market for notebooks, but not nearly as many that are similar to Apple’s design aesthetic. It’s a bit of a red herring to claim that copying the design of one line of computers is going to result in uniformity in the industry.

As it stands now – we have two options for an aluminum unibody windows PC where there was before only one. The newer one has more ports and the addition of some physical controls – they are new options. Options aren’t bad. And honestly, if HP or some other company begins selling a PC that does what Apple does but better, or equal and at a lower price point, it’s not going to end originality, it’s going to spur innovation.

There are plenty of differences, and I would argue that another Macbook Pro like computer is going to spur more change than not.

Posted on Jan 05, 2012 | 3:11 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions

gotoAndLego's reply:

“And honestly, if HP or some other company begins selling a PC that does what Apple does but better, or equal and at a lower price point, it’s not going to end originality, it’s going to spur innovation.”

It will spur innovation at Apple, which HP or some other company will then copy.

Posted on Jan 05, 2012 | 6:32 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions

ounkeo's reply:

which Apple will then copy and you people will say it is innovation. Then Hp will copy again and you people will say it’s copying. Then Apple will copy and you will say it is innovation.

Give it a rest. Noone is going to hate you for making choices in your personal tech. There is no need to be so defensive and insecure. Sometimes, there are things to be said fo rhaving a laptop at starbucks that’s different from 99% of your peer’s there.

Posted on Jan 05, 2012 | 10:35 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions

Dwight Schrute's reply:

This surprises me too. Why do people CARE so much? Like Apple is sacred or something… Please Mac people, Don’t get offended by the fact the this laptop looks like your’s. You have nothing to do with Apple even though you own their products.

Posted on Jan 04, 2012 | 11:00 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions

RandySquirrels's reply:

People care about Apple more than most brands, but more importantly they care about being smart and making the right investments. Apple products were a riskier investment long ago, but any investment in today’s market is risky. The buying motives are still the same usual suspects (for ego, for love, or for fear of not being included, etc.). Unfortunately no other companies are making anything worthy of caring about, although Sony, Samsung, ASUS, HP and HTC all have a few near-hits recently so there is hope. Apple’s market share and brand stranglehold will diminish in coming years.

We should be happy with what we have now which is choice. Soon technologies will converge to a point where all apps and operating systems will speak with each other and all products will essentially be the same – the best of what is currently available. The best design is no design.

Posted on Jan 05, 2012 | 3:10 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions

KeegdnaB42 says:

Not written by Joanna
Not worth reading

Posted on Jan 04, 2012 | 9:11 PM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions

Sammael's reply:

+1 Joanna Stalker

Posted on Jan 04, 2012 | 9:23 PM EST reply Recommend (3) Flag actions

NeatOman says:

It be fare in the Graphics department, the tame 15 inch macbook pro scores ~9380 in 3DMark06 running a Radeon 6750, the high end model runs a 6770 witch is about %15 faster.

Source,
Macbook Pro 6750
http://www.notebookcheck.net/Review-Apple-MacBook-Pro-15-Early-2011-2-2-GHz-quad-core-glare-type-screen.50344.0.html
Macbook Pro 6770, wtich coinsides with the higher score from Laptop Magazine witch is used as a source for the Macbook Pro 15inch late 2011
http://www.notebookcheck.net/Review-Apple-MacBook-Pro-15-Late-2011-2-4-GHz-6770M-glare.66918.0.html

Posted on Jan 04, 2012 | 9:13 PM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions

NeatOman's reply:

Just want to point out, that is a difference of 30fps vs 31fps and 30fps vs 35fps, and if play enough games you know that makes a difference.

Posted on Jan 04, 2012 | 9:19 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions

_aurel_ says:

I have a Asus G53sw, which cost me about 1200 bucks when I got it almost one year ago. It’s big for a 15 incher, and kind of thick. Because of this, I usually only take it with me on trips longer than a week. But, this thing handles everything that I throw at it. The examples that the author gave for this laptop review would be a joke for the one I’m using. I’d do all that, plus photoshop for some texturing or maybe even rendering in maya in the background while its hooked up to a second 1080p display. That’s what I’d consider ‘heavy usage’. It does all that and it still doesn’t need a external fan to stay cool. To me, these laptops are jokes. The moment you throw something actually taxing at it, you’ll get overheating problems and your frame-rates struggle to stay up. You’ll notice that these reviews never go over sustained performance in gaming or graphics, which makes me feel the evaluation is not very thorough.

Posted on Jan 04, 2012 | 9:14 PM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions

jaggedspike's reply:

These are not gaming laptops. Your laptop was built for gaming. These are workstations. They have different goals to meet. That’s industrial design, power, battery life, portability, screen tech ect.

Posted on Jan 05, 2012 | 5:33 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions

jontseng says:

I think that just reminds me that one of the reasons Apple has done so well is not only because their products are good but because everyone else’s are so bad.

I mean come on… five years later and still no-one in the combined R&D muscle of DellHPLenovoAsusToshSamsungSonyPlusalltherest has come up with as good a hero design (same true for smartphones too).

Maybe its because everyone else fragments their R&D across multiple devices, and maybe aiming for a lower price point means less R&D bucks. But come on guys… How hard can it be to hire ten great designers, stick them in a room and get them to build something magical?

Grrr. Industry fail.

Posted on Jan 04, 2012 | 9:27 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions

sbattey's reply:

Hiring 10 designers and putting them in the same room would be the equivalent of buying 10 beta fish and placing them in the same tank.

In the end, you have one winner and 9 injured/dead losers.

Posted on Jan 05, 2012 | 12:01 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions

jmanes's reply:

Excuse you but IBM hired the best designers in the world back when they were in the computer making business. Lenovo ThinkPads may not be pretty but they ARE well designed. They are much more durable than any MacBook. Asus and Sony have good designs too. So does Dell. You just have to stop comparing their 500$ entry level material to Apples material. Do ACTUAL comparisons.

Posted on Jan 05, 2012 | 8:51 AM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions

jaggedspike's reply:

The assumption is they can’t do the unibody for the same/similar price.

Posted on Jan 05, 2012 | 5:34 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions

ounkeo's reply:

IBM’s laptop’s industrial designs were something else. They aren’t pretty but they had a certaiin aesthetic appeal. And unlike any macbook, thinkpads had instant respect from people despit ebeing signifgantly heavy, thick and “not pretty”.

Even to this day, the thinkpad’s are synonymous with durability, quality and understated professionalism.

The PC consumer laptops, sure there aren’t very many good industrial designs going around, but Asus had/has some really good designs in the past as does HP. The HP Envy Beats edition looks pretty spectacular in an understated way with the soft touch materials all around. My own Hp Envy 17 is superb and my Presario laptop looks really good in an understated way; semi matte materials, matte black lid, silver trims.

Posted on Jan 05, 2012 | 10:28 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions

ThaVerge says:

I think HP might have one-upped Samsung in the copy-Apple business— they took the design and added a red line (I actually think the line is very nice). GASP!

Posted on Jan 04, 2012 | 9:54 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions

Scape3d says:

Sigh. I can’t do it. I simply can’t support such blatant design copying.

Posted on Jan 04, 2012 | 10:17 PM EST via mobile reply Recommend (1) Flag actions

Transient Jet Lag's reply:

Core i7 + 8GB + 1080p display for $1162 with current coupons, I think some can look past that.

Posted on Jan 04, 2012 | 11:00 PM EST reply Recommend (8) Flag actions

Hugo Pinto's reply:

Please explain?
It has been proved time and time again that Apple is the one copying others.
And remember: just using different materials does not make it completely new.

The original iPhone copied the LG Prada.
The MacBooks are copies of Sony laptops. I had chiclet keyboards since the early 80’s.
Almost all other Apple product designs are copies / based on very old Braun designs.

In design and technology, EVERYONE takes what works from others before them.
You Apple fans should start thinking different.

Posted on Jan 04, 2012 | 11:07 PM EST reply Recommend (3) Flag actions

Hamaki's reply:

The original iPhone copied the LG Prada.

I’m as much an Apple hater as anyone else, but please, please, can we stop making fools out of ourselves by repeatingly mentioning the Prada?

Go to GSM arena, Google it, do whatever you want: the LG Prada came out two months AFTER the iPhone.

And the “old Braun designs” thing, i mean… ¿really?. Just because Steve Jobs did say that Apple designs where somewhat inspired by Dieter Rams’ design philosophy, and Dieter Rams happened to be lead designer at Braun some 12 years ago, that makes all Apple designs a copy of a late 80’s toaster?. Eric Scmhmidt has been working at Apple for years as memeber of the board…¿does that make the Galaxy Nexus a copy of, say, the Newton?.

There’s tons of ways to criticize Apple; ¿why is there people still using the same dated, uneducated, and proved wrong ad nauseam arguments?

Posted on Jan 05, 2012 | 12:37 PM EST reply Recommend (3) Flag actions

jaggedspike's reply:

Listen.

If the iPhone, you know the phone that changed everything. Is a copy of the Prada. Then where the hell is the Prada. Don’t be so stupid as to downplay what the iPhone was. It was a phone that destroyed RIM, Nokia, Windows Mobile, reshaped Android. The Prada was a feature phone compared to the iPhone.

The Macbooks are not copys, oh dear, oh dear. There is no comparison between a Vaio and a MBP. Plastic vs industrial aluminium design.

Posted on Jan 05, 2012 | 5:36 PM EST reply Recommend (3) Flag actions

ounkeo's reply:

I don’t get your logic one bit. You use popularity and influence as a measure of whether one is a copy?

So a blatant copy of the prada suddenly becomes not an issue because the iphone destroyed all other phones? Is that even human logic at work?

A copy is a copy whether one is more successful or not.

FYI I don’t think the original iphone copied LG. I think the iPhoen 4 is nearly a blatant rip off of the original LG prada.

Posted on Jan 05, 2012 | 10:21 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions

jaggedspike's reply:

No. If the Prada was anything like the iPhone. It would have created the same storm. But it didn’t. A company that has never made a phone, with 0% marketshare destroyed companies. That is logic. All the things that made the iPhone were missing from the Prada.

I think the iPhone 4 is one of the uniquest phones out there.

Posted on Jan 06, 2012 | 4:30 AM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions

cris178's reply:

have you even considered other factors such as advertising. Maybe the prada didnt take of because there was no advertising for it. if apple does one thing right its advertising their able to brain wash people in to thinking they are the first to do everything.

Posted on Jan 06, 2012 | 10:46 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions

jaggedspike's reply:

Brain wash? You people are astonishing. How old where you in 2007? Because if you were old enough you would have known the hype behind the Prada and the iPhone. Teh advertising for the Prada was HUGE, I was in India at the time and a country with a non-existent smartphone market had adverts about the Prada everywhere, when I returned to the UK it was the same story.

I’ll tell you what, go get a Prada. I would know, I had one. I didn’t buy an iPhone because it was so expensive. And compare it to a first gen iPhone. And you’ll be embarrassed you even hinted they are similar phones.

Posted on Jan 08, 2012 | 8:10 AM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions

Gandalthewhite says:

GAH…i just keep coming back to the price.

You can get a fully loaded HP dv6000 quad i7 6770m bluray 1080p screen for $900 on a good coupon day.

That said, the Envy 15 does look nice, although too much like Apple.

Posted on Jan 04, 2012 | 11:22 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions

JTO's reply:

What you’re getting over the DV6t is better build quality, better speakers, and an IPS screen.

Posted on Jan 04, 2012 | 11:58 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions

jmanes's reply:

The “better build quality” part is debatable. Can both survive a 4 foot drop? Probably not. Same build quality IMO.

Posted on Jan 05, 2012 | 8:47 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions

JTO's reply:

Build quality is not the same as survivability of dropping the damn thing. What would you rather have, a solid feeling aluminum notebook or a cheaper feeling plastic notebook?

Posted on Jan 06, 2012 | 1:36 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions

Gandalthewhite's reply:

Despite my dv6000 being built almost entirely of plastic, it is not cheap feeling in the least.

Posted on Jan 09, 2012 | 1:21 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions

Agreb says:

The thing is… I don’t think I could pay that much for a Windows laptop. Sure it was a premium feel, but I think I would rather just go with at Apple at that price. I guess the only thing to stop you would be if HAD to have Windows.

Posted on Jan 04, 2012 | 11:53 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions

Chris_A says:

Awesome review! I think I’m going to start reading The Verge.

Posted on Jan 04, 2012 | 11:55 PM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions

MayorBloomberg says:

What’s funny about the Envy line is that this was the last series of PC computers I researched before deciding to buy a Mac. Once I admitted that I was looking for a PC that looked like a Mac, I realized that what I really wanted was a Mac. After years and years of keeping faith in Windows machines, HP convinced me to convert.

Posted on Jan 05, 2012 | 12:14 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions

Ephemerol-'s reply:

Funny you mention this, since that was the decision I faced when right before I bought my last MBP. Reading page after page of horror stores about the Envy on Notebook Review is what finally convinced me.

Posted on Jan 05, 2012 | 4:45 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions

YaScott says:

It’s an ugly MacBook Pro, just a few months before the MacBook Pros get prettier.

Posted on Jan 05, 2012 | 4:10 AM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions

vishesh says:

no video review?

Posted on Jan 05, 2012 | 4:35 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions

id4andrei says:

Have to love the fanboys that shout “blatant copying”, “Apple should sue”; while they also vocally assert that all other fanboys should “go back” to Engadget.
Now on to the topic. Good review, I am impressed with HP’s offering and mostly its price. Such incredible value. Add the 1080p option and it easily trumps the lower MBP offerings.

Posted on Jan 05, 2012 | 4:35 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions

see_wor says:

I like the design except for the beats button by the side

Posted on Jan 05, 2012 | 7:14 AM EST via mobile reply Recommend Flag actions

toure.henry says:

Do want !

Posted on Jan 05, 2012 | 7:37 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions

darwiniandude says:

So it’s a bit cheaper, but is:
Heavier
Bigger
Thicker
Slower, Dual core vs Quad core & slower in tests

And has:
A bad trackpad powered by bad trackpad software
Worse battery life
Worse screen base model (but can be speced up to 1080p which is a huge plus admittedly)

Not for me. And honestly, I think anyone who wants a solid Windows portable would probably be better off using Bootcamp on a MBP, especially if you factor in resale value.

But at least there are more non-plastic options now.

Posted on Jan 05, 2012 | 7:54 AM EST via mobile reply Recommend (1) Flag actions

sahaskatta's reply:

It’s not slower. Configuring it with the same processor would show similar results.

You also get an IPS 1080p display on ENVY 15 vs the TN 1680×1050 on MacBook Pro.
ENVY 15 also has two USB 3.0 ports while MacBook Pro is still on USB 2.0.
Bluetooth 4.0 is also a neat addition. (iPhone 4S has it, MacBook Pro doesn’t yet.)
Individually back-lit keys with proximity sensor to turn off while away. MBP only has ambient light sensor and back-lit keys have a lot of leakage.
HP ENVY has 6 speakers and 2 subs, much better audio quality than basic stereo on MBP.

I have the new ENVY 15 and MBP 15. I would have to agree that the trackpad on the MBP is significantly better. Battery life on both running Windows 7 x64 Pro is about the same. MacBook Pro actually gets immensely hot and unbearable to keep on your lap, but the ENVY 15 remains incredibly cool.

The price I paid for the same processor Intel 2760 QM, same amount of RAM 8 GB (though ENVY has faster 1600MHz), same 750 GB 7200RPM HDD, and even with a 1080p screen the price difference was HUGE. ENVY 15 is $1,502 with a coupon code easily found on their home page. The MacBook Pro was almost ~$2,770.

I bought both to see which I like better. The asthetics were nicer on the MacBook Pro for sure, but I can’t justify the price difference especially when I am saving money and getting better performance. Did I mention tht the $1500 price tag includes a two year accidental warranty as well for the ENVY 15? That’s another $350 addon for the MacBook Pro.

Posted on Jan 05, 2012 | 5:36 PM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions

ounkeo's reply:

It’s misleading. The price to performance ratio is signifigantly higher with the Envy. Trick it out with the same internals as the mbp and you’ll see that you get a better machine for the price.

I’m not sure about the 3d performance though. I find it hard to believe that this Envy has worse 3d performance than my own Envy (early 2011 model) with 6850M radeon.

Posted on Jan 05, 2012 | 10:15 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions

Qfax's reply:

I can’t pretend to know everything about ATIs naming scheme. But I have noticed that x8xx and x9xx models tend to be the ones that still hold their salt even when the generation moves up from 5xxx→6xxx or from 6xxx-7xxx). Similarly, I think the guideline has often worked out that a 58xx model will compare favorably to a 67xx model and a 67xx model will compare favorably to a 76xx model…etc.

But ATI doesn’t exactly make their numbering completely obvious or logical either and sometimes, especially with mobile cards, you might get a situation where the older card has a little faster raw performance than its successor(as in the card put in place on a comparably priced product, not necessarily the direct successor), but the successor is cooler, uses less power, and features more current tech.

Posted on Jan 06, 2012 | 8:19 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions

Qfax's reply:

Er. AMD. Still have the habit of calling them ATI.

Posted on Jan 06, 2012 | 8:20 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions

jmanes says:

I had an HP Envy 15 Second Generation. It was loud, hot, fast, and got terrible battery life. I ended up selling it and grabbing a ThinkPad T420 with an SSD for less money.

So basically the new Envy is extremely ricer. Looks like a toy car that people put neon lights under. Still gets crap battery life, still has a terrible trackpad, and still shoves the word "beats’ into your face as if it makes the downfalls of the laptop worth it. No thanks…

Posted on Jan 05, 2012 | 8:44 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions

sighclops says:

no one else sense the irony?

hp ENVYING apple…

Posted on Jan 05, 2012 | 9:31 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions

truename says:

" I’ve never really understood what laptop manufacturers have against discrete physical mouse buttons these days…"
Amen to that!

Posted on Jan 05, 2012 | 9:53 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions

groMMit says:

I packed up and returned my Envy 14 5 minutes after powering it on due to the dire 1366 × 768 “HP BrightView” screen. The radiance display was never avialable in the UK and they even stopped shipping them in the US once were sold out.
Due to mis-information pre and post Envy 15, and Envy 14 launches and skinning the UK market HP are dead to me.

Posted on Jan 05, 2012 | 9:57 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions

verger says:

" Shameless. " – Joshua Topolsky

Posted on Jan 05, 2012 | 10:04 AM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions

volodoscope says:

WOW HP has no shame what so ever. Completely ripped off Macbook Pro.

Posted on Jan 05, 2012 | 11:30 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions

magadget says:

For years and years Apple laptops have been viewed as dog slow and criticized heavily in the media. Once they switched to Intel, they became state of art, industry wide standard. It’s time PC manufacturers stepped up the game. HP is doing it, by copying AND by putting the Windows touch on: ports, display for less than comparable MPB. Competition is indeed good for the users.

Posted on Jan 05, 2012 | 11:37 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions

Spart325 says:

I have one and like it, especially for the price.
I got the 2760QM CPU, 8GB 1333mhz, 500GB, 1080p option for $1200 after coupon before tax. That’s half the price of a similar spec’d Macbook Pro with a 900p screen. I’d rather take a better resolution screen over battery life.
All laptops have their advantages and disadvantages. If Macbook Pros were reasonably priced, maybe i’d get one. I think they 1up’d Apple by price point and performance for those who aren’t anal about battery life and the trackpad.

Posted on Jan 05, 2012 | 11:58 AM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions

gotoAndLego's reply:

Trackpad aside, battery life is a very important aspect of a portable device.

Posted on Jan 05, 2012 | 6:38 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions

ounkeo's reply:

4 hours is actually pretty decent considering it’s windows.

Posted on Jan 05, 2012 | 10:10 PM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions

Jdjohnson says:

If you ask me, though, the Envy 15 actually improves upon the MacBook Pro when it comes to industrial design.

That’s sad.

Posted on Jan 05, 2012 | 2:28 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions

clauzzz203 says:

envy the mbp eh?

Posted on Jan 05, 2012 | 6:00 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions

greaser says:

Hey Sean, nice review on the Envy 15. I’ve been looking at purchasing one and I had a couple of questions I’m hoping you might be able to answer:

1) Can you comment on the keyboard flex? (I’m hoping there is none or very little)
2) Does the screen go past 90 degrees? (I had heard that it doesn’t tilt back more than 90 degrees)
3) Finally, I’m torn between the 2 screen resolutions – biggest concern on the 1920 × 1080 is that everything I look at (email, websites, software such as MS Office, etc…) will have very tiny text and strain my eyes and I’m not sure if the DPI scaling will really help with this without making things look “funky”. I’ll be using the laptop for everything (email, documents, and of course…..gaming). I currently use a 15" laptop with 1440×900 resolution and it’s perfect, but needs to be replaced and sadly I can’t find anything right now with a decent graphics card (Nvidia GTX555M or higher) that has a resolution between 1366×768 and 1920×1080. It seems like it’s one or the other. Thoughts?

Posted on Jan 05, 2012 | 7:04 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions

ounkeo's reply:

The DPI scaling is good. I’ve scaled it on my Envy 17 so the text is closer to 1600 pixel resolution. It doesn’t seem to have gone funky on me since I got the laptop (may 2011). I hear the Radiance Displays are really much better than the ultrabrightview. Mine is ultrabrightview and I consider it to be pretty damn good already. It’s set to 70% brightness because 100% is so bright it’s literally blinding it physically hurts your eyes.

Posted on Jan 05, 2012 | 10:09 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions

Sean Hollister's reply:

You bet!

1.) There is extremely little flex. None at all when typing. You have to push down hard to make the tray budge, just like on the MacBook Pro. I’m not speaking from memory, either. I tried it right now with a 15-inch MacBook Pro and the Envy 15.
2.) The screen tilts back to about 130 degrees. Maybe 125, I used a cheap protractor.
3.) Don’t get the 1366 × 768 display, DPI scaling works fairly well in Windows 7, and the lower resolution display will also be deficient in other ways – it’s not a Radiance. I’d sooner get the Envy 17, which comes with the 1080p display, than downgrading to the 1366 × 768.

Posted on Jan 06, 2012 | 1:30 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions

ounkeo says:

what is most dissappointing is the GPU performance. I would think that this gpu is more recent than my Envy 17’s 6850 GPU, which can pull 13k in 3dmark out of the box.

Don’t tell me the 7690 is actually worse performer than the 6850 which came out in early 2011… That’s actually pretty sad Radeon.

Posted on Jan 05, 2012 | 10:05 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions

cult of one says:

If it ran webOS then it would have got a 10

Posted on Jan 06, 2012 | 4:08 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions

YAMSKIE says:

Holy Crap! It looks like a MacBook Pro LOL!

Posted on Jan 06, 2012 | 8:12 AM EST reply Recommend (1) Flag actions

jclardy says:

One thing I wish Apple would take away from this is the higher-res screen. I think they don’t because the OS X interface doesn’t scale up, so menus/fonts/icons would be incredibly small.

I really hope the next MBP stays at 16:10 though, so much better for doing actual work on the screen.

Posted on Jan 06, 2012 | 9:44 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions

jkbroekhuizen says:

I don’t know what it is about the Envy line and their weird trackpads…..

I’m using an HP Envy 14 and it took a lot of tweaking and prodding to get it working well.

Posted on Jan 06, 2012 | 11:20 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions

jkbroekhuizen's reply:

Also, great review!

Posted on Jan 06, 2012 | 11:20 AM EST reply Recommend Flag actions

MrHaroHaro says:

Would be a buy for me if it had a Blu-ray option and less red on the body.

Posted on Jan 06, 2012 | 12:55 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions

UlookNiceToday says:

Sloppy work
The macbook pro in performance part is a 2.2-GHz Intel Core i7-2720QM quad-core. You can upgrade to this processor in the envy for $250. (not 450) And my surprise to find that a HP dual core did so well against the macbook pro quad core. Why does and macbook seem so slow?

Posted on Jan 06, 2012 | 2:45 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions

ctbowens's reply:

I find that seriously hard to believe. The quad smokes all dual core processors. Perhaps you were running programs that did not utilize the other 2 cores?

Posted on Jan 06, 2012 | 5:13 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions

UlookNiceToday's reply:

Read the review, It was not my test. I was the Verge test and LAPTOP Magazine. It seems odd to me to that OSX would cripple a quad-core processor. That’s why i asked.

Posted on Jan 07, 2012 | 7:27 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions

Rich Kim says:

surprisingly adequate.
but the verge still should have reviewed a i7 model not the i5.

Posted on Jan 06, 2012 | 5:29 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions

mjcf1 says:

Now im glad i didn’t get the envy 14

Posted on Jan 06, 2012 | 6:01 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions

vzangel says:

After all the problems I had (and some of them I still have them) with the original ENVY 15, I sincerely recomend to anyone thinking of buying this laptop to wait some time. In my case I bought it very soon and later problems with the BIOS, graphics card and webcam were announced. I’m not saying that this one is going to have the same problems or any other, just don’t trust HP that much.

Posted on Jan 06, 2012 | 9:38 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions

railroadmaster says:

I like the design of the Original HP Envy 14 it actually looked kinda cool this however is just a straight up Macbook knockoff. My next computer purchase will probably be a Sony Vaio S because of the battery life and mobility offered by it but also the full performance of a multimedia laptop. Rather than buying a knockoff like a the HP Envy, dell XPS or Apple macbook Macbook (truth is American computer makers have poor reliability) I’m going to buy the real thing the Sony Vaio (truth is everyone copies Sony), a thinkpad, or Toshiba Portege r835

Posted on Jan 06, 2012 | 11:09 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions

Rhett says:

The Verge should consider reviewing an HP Elitebook 8560w. It’s a beast of a machine, and at $1350 starting price, its not bad at all. The battery life is only 3.5 hrs usually (maxes at 4.5) but it’s a desktop replacement so that’s understandable.

Posted on Jan 07, 2012 | 6:46 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions

Rhett says:

and as a reply to this article:

“Ol’ i wanna be a macbook lookin’ ass”

Posted on Jan 07, 2012 | 6:47 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions

n13 says:

I don’t understand why not all laptops (hello Apple) can have great sound. The price difference between great and bad speakers is very small, maybe a dollar whem purchased in volume. No thanks to the beats branding though, HP/beats/Windows/Intel branding overkill… I’d love for Apple to make a laptop without the huge logo too… Not gonna happen, I know…

Posted on Jan 07, 2012 | 9:42 PM EST reply Recommend Flag actions