Hey All,
Sorry, I realized after writing it, that this message is a bit longwinded and I appreciate the help of anyone who reads it.
To start with I should say that while this would become my main laptop I do have another main use laptop. I have found that for my sanity I do infact need two laptops (more on that later).
So I currently have a 10 month old HP dv6t and a 5 year old Dell Inspiron 1520, which I was using sparingly at this point due to its age and mainly on the dv6t. I am now forced to use the Dell as my main computer over the dv6t since the monitor just died on it this weekend and now has to go back to HP for repair. Since I learnt earlier on I that I needed 2 computers I am not completely freaking out that I don't have a computer during the time they repair it. In the past when I went a while without a personal computer at home I really do get antsy/upset, this my need for a backup computer to use when situations like this arise.
However my Dell is and always has been a lemon, the fact that it has muddled through 5 years is a truly amazing feat and I was considering replacing it soon anyways since I feel I got my use out of it. I also wanted to get a computer now before windows 8 releases as I have heard and read bad things about it. Up until this weekend the dv6t (2nd generation quad core i7, 1080 display, 2gb video card) was working perfectly fine which is why I wanted to go for the Envy.
I do have a 3 year old sony P series computer which I bought for travel purposes (as my netbook) but just didn't work out for me. However that could never replace a main computer for me.
The only thing other thing I should mention is that the dv6t was the first laptop I ever owned with a numeric keypad and I really dislike it. I would like to keep to a 15 inch laptop with a 1080 display option and an island style keyboard. This seems to limit me to the envy 15 or the xps 15z. The Envy seems like a better computer than the XPS 15z though.
I saw a good coupon for the HPs this weekend and I was going to pull the trigger on it but now that the moniter on my dv6t failed I am a little reluctant. If I bought this laptop I would not be looking to buy another for approximately 4 years. Does anyone have any thoughts on the Envy in general? Was it just a fluke on the screen of the dv6t and I should go ahead with the Envy? I understand these thing happen but I don't want to drop another > $1000 on a high end computer and not get a good product. The island style keyboard is important to me
This is the envy I was going to build:
HP ENVY 15 customizable Notebook PC
•Genuine Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit
•3rd generation Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-3720QM Processor (2.6 GHz, 6MB L3 Cache)
•1GB Radeon(TM) HD 7750M GDDR5 Graphics [HDMI, VGA]
•8GB 1600DDR3MHz System Memory (2 Dimm)
•300GB (Solid State Drive Flash Module)
•$20 OFF Microsoft(R) Office Professional 2010
•FREE 2-year Norton Internet Security subscription (a $99 value). Pre-installed.
•8 Cell Lithium Ion Battery - Up to 10.25 hours of battery life +++
•15.6-inch diagonal Radiance Full HD Infinity LED-backlit Display (1920 x 1080)
•SuperMulti 8X DVD+/-R/RW with Double Layer Support
•720p HD video streaming webcam supports Skype
•Intel 802.11a/b/g/n WLAN and Bluetooth(R) with Wireless Display Support
•Full-size Radiance backlit keyboard
•Adobe(R) Photoshop(R) Elements 10 & Adobe Premiere(R) Elements 10
•2 year limited warranty included
•HP Home & Home Office Store in-box envelope
________________________________________________________________
In case you were wondering, the computer forum I posed this question has a few inital questions they ask to get a feel for waht you are after and I posted them here too in case it would help you out:
1) What is your budget?
$1600 - $1700 on the computer itself. I want Office Professional but that money is budgeted seperately
2) What size notebook would you prefer?
15'' laptop, no others
3) Where will you buying this notebook? You can select the flag of your country as an indicator.
USA
4) Are there any brands that you prefer or any you really don't like?
I have learnt that no one manufacturer is great. I avoid toshiba and gateway but more for style than quality
5) Would you consider laptops that are refurbished/redistributed?
No
6) What are the primary tasks will you be performing with this notebook?
Gaming and general, but I don't want a flashy computer
7) Will you be taking the notebook with you to different places, leaving it on your desk or both?
Both, but battery is not important
8) Will you be playing games on your notebook? If so, please state which games or types of games?
mostly CS
9) How many hours of battery life do you need?
not important
10) Would you prefer to see the notebooks you're considering before purchasing it or buying a notebook on-line without seeing it is OK?
online is fine
11) What OS do you prefer? Windows (XP or Vista or Windows 7), Mac OS, Linux, etc.
7 is fine, no vista
Screen Specifics
12) What screen resolution(s) would you prefer?
1080 only
13) Do you want a Glossy/reflective screen or a Matte/non-glossy screen?
not important
Build Quality and Design
14) Are the notebook's looks and stylishness important to you?
Yes, and it needs an island style keyboard
15) When are you buying this laptop?
Before windows 8 releases preferably
16) How long do you want this laptop to last?
3 years minimum but would prefer 4-5.
Notebook Components
17) How much hard drive space do you need; 80GB to 640GB? Do you want a SSD drive?
Want an SSD 256 or 300
18) Do you need an optical drive? If yes, a DVD Burner, Blu-ray Reader or Blu-Ray Burner?
the DV6t mentioned above has a blu-ray and widi,I have a Ps3 and separate blu-ray so while a blu-ray reader is preferable it is not important. my only disappointment in the envy really
Sorry, I realized after writing it, that this message is a bit longwinded and I appreciate the help of anyone who reads it.
To start with I should say that while this would become my main laptop I do have another main use laptop. I have found that for my sanity I do infact need two laptops (more on that later).
So I currently have a 10 month old HP dv6t and a 5 year old Dell Inspiron 1520, which I was using sparingly at this point due to its age and mainly on the dv6t. I am now forced to use the Dell as my main computer over the dv6t since the monitor just died on it this weekend and now has to go back to HP for repair. Since I learnt earlier on I that I needed 2 computers I am not completely freaking out that I don't have a computer during the time they repair it. In the past when I went a while without a personal computer at home I really do get antsy/upset, this my need for a backup computer to use when situations like this arise.
However my Dell is and always has been a lemon, the fact that it has muddled through 5 years is a truly amazing feat and I was considering replacing it soon anyways since I feel I got my use out of it. I also wanted to get a computer now before windows 8 releases as I have heard and read bad things about it. Up until this weekend the dv6t (2nd generation quad core i7, 1080 display, 2gb video card) was working perfectly fine which is why I wanted to go for the Envy.
I do have a 3 year old sony P series computer which I bought for travel purposes (as my netbook) but just didn't work out for me. However that could never replace a main computer for me.
The only thing other thing I should mention is that the dv6t was the first laptop I ever owned with a numeric keypad and I really dislike it. I would like to keep to a 15 inch laptop with a 1080 display option and an island style keyboard. This seems to limit me to the envy 15 or the xps 15z. The Envy seems like a better computer than the XPS 15z though.
I saw a good coupon for the HPs this weekend and I was going to pull the trigger on it but now that the moniter on my dv6t failed I am a little reluctant. If I bought this laptop I would not be looking to buy another for approximately 4 years. Does anyone have any thoughts on the Envy in general? Was it just a fluke on the screen of the dv6t and I should go ahead with the Envy? I understand these thing happen but I don't want to drop another > $1000 on a high end computer and not get a good product. The island style keyboard is important to me
This is the envy I was going to build:
HP ENVY 15 customizable Notebook PC
•Genuine Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit
•3rd generation Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-3720QM Processor (2.6 GHz, 6MB L3 Cache)
•1GB Radeon(TM) HD 7750M GDDR5 Graphics [HDMI, VGA]
•8GB 1600DDR3MHz System Memory (2 Dimm)
•300GB (Solid State Drive Flash Module)
•$20 OFF Microsoft(R) Office Professional 2010
•FREE 2-year Norton Internet Security subscription (a $99 value). Pre-installed.
•8 Cell Lithium Ion Battery - Up to 10.25 hours of battery life +++
•15.6-inch diagonal Radiance Full HD Infinity LED-backlit Display (1920 x 1080)
•SuperMulti 8X DVD+/-R/RW with Double Layer Support
•720p HD video streaming webcam supports Skype
•Intel 802.11a/b/g/n WLAN and Bluetooth(R) with Wireless Display Support
•Full-size Radiance backlit keyboard
•Adobe(R) Photoshop(R) Elements 10 & Adobe Premiere(R) Elements 10
•2 year limited warranty included
•HP Home & Home Office Store in-box envelope
________________________________________________________________
In case you were wondering, the computer forum I posed this question has a few inital questions they ask to get a feel for waht you are after and I posted them here too in case it would help you out:
1) What is your budget?
$1600 - $1700 on the computer itself. I want Office Professional but that money is budgeted seperately
2) What size notebook would you prefer?
15'' laptop, no others
3) Where will you buying this notebook? You can select the flag of your country as an indicator.
USA
4) Are there any brands that you prefer or any you really don't like?
I have learnt that no one manufacturer is great. I avoid toshiba and gateway but more for style than quality
5) Would you consider laptops that are refurbished/redistributed?
No
6) What are the primary tasks will you be performing with this notebook?
Gaming and general, but I don't want a flashy computer
7) Will you be taking the notebook with you to different places, leaving it on your desk or both?
Both, but battery is not important
8) Will you be playing games on your notebook? If so, please state which games or types of games?
mostly CS
9) How many hours of battery life do you need?
not important
10) Would you prefer to see the notebooks you're considering before purchasing it or buying a notebook on-line without seeing it is OK?
online is fine
11) What OS do you prefer? Windows (XP or Vista or Windows 7), Mac OS, Linux, etc.
7 is fine, no vista
Screen Specifics
12) What screen resolution(s) would you prefer?
1080 only
13) Do you want a Glossy/reflective screen or a Matte/non-glossy screen?
not important
Build Quality and Design
14) Are the notebook's looks and stylishness important to you?
Yes, and it needs an island style keyboard
15) When are you buying this laptop?
Before windows 8 releases preferably
16) How long do you want this laptop to last?
3 years minimum but would prefer 4-5.
Notebook Components
17) How much hard drive space do you need; 80GB to 640GB? Do you want a SSD drive?
Want an SSD 256 or 300
18) Do you need an optical drive? If yes, a DVD Burner, Blu-ray Reader or Blu-Ray Burner?
the DV6t mentioned above has a blu-ray and widi,I have a Ps3 and separate blu-ray so while a blu-ray reader is preferable it is not important. my only disappointment in the envy really
