HP Envy 14: Solid, but Now Unspectacular

At a Peek

Expert's Rating

Pros

• Excellent sound and video recording
• Pinnacle-pass features and connecitvity

Cons

• Mediocre ergonomics
• A tur heavier than the acceptable every last-purpose

Our Finding of fact

This all-purponse laptop has looks, great features, and reasonable performance, but the ergonomics are only mediocre.

The HP Envy 14 offers performance and flair, though it's no Macbook operating room Lenovo U260 in the latter section. The glow HP logotype happening the top of the unit as well arsenic the rough-textured surfaces on the top and keyboard deck tend to spoil the art movement effect. Only the slot-loading optical drive, clean lines, and relatively svelte profile (for an complete-desig model) will seize attention on display shelves. Updated from a year ago, it's at present suffering in comparison with the competition, which has caught up then just about.

Opening at $999 for a system equipped with a Core i5-2410M, 6GB of RAM, Radeon HD 6630M art, and a 7200-rpm, 500GB hard drive, the Envy 14, with its 14.5-inch, 1366-by-768-pixel display is hardly bargain-basement material. The components are top-notch, which is function of the argue for the somewhat elevated cost. The laptop has Bluetooth, gigabit ethernet, and dual-band Wisconsin-Fi (5GHz and 2.4GHz). Ports include three for USB (nonpareil of which supports USB 3.0), and one each for HDMI and a mini-display, plus an SD Carte slot, audio frequency-in and -forbidden, and a Kensington lock port.

Ergonomics on the Envy 14 are possible, but the lack of sculpted keys makes for insecure finger placement when you're typing. The layout is discriminating, with no undersized keys, but the equidistant spacing between the alphabetical and the special keys means the latter aren't as easy to pick verboten visually as they should be. The touchpad is located dead center, which is better for righties, but the response seemed to fall back somewhat when swiping. Taps registered easily, and the pad wasn't overly sensitive to them. The Envy 14 is slightly effortful for an every last-desig of its size at well-nigh 6 pounds–the heft is noticeable when you piece IT up.

Our test configuration of the Enviousness 14 ( costing the $999 minimum) turned in center numbers pool: a score of 109 on WorldBench 6 with gaming frame rates in the sixties (low-set detail) and thirties (squeaking point). The WorldBench score is 8 points deficient of the similarly configured, albeit uglier Toshiba Satellite M645-S4118X, but the frame rates are playable if non ultrasmooth. Assault and battery life was 4 hours and 40 minutes–a decent run time for this configuration.

The Envy 14 had no problems playing HD video, straight-grained with a high-bit-rate file. The Beats Audio secure is excellent direct headphones, and the sound through the speakers, while lacking bass, ass Be very clarion and has a punchy midrange that cuts through when ambient dissonance levels are high.

Give HP props: In a world of laptop and desktop screens untidy with "value-added" software icons, demos, and links to places where you can buy stuff, IT takes some establishment to opt for a absolutely unqualified screen. The only thing you'll envision when you boot the Invidia 14 is the Pop out menu, the taskbar, and the recycle ABA transit number. The software's there, information technology just hasn't been down in your face. Included with the Windows 7 Home Premium operative organization are Adobe Photoshop Elements 9 and First Elements 9 for photos and video, Cyberlink PowerDVD 10 for playing movies, Microsoft Office Starter 10, utilities for the Webcam, and more.

The Envy 14 is qualified or better in all heed, but a close-neglect in its attempt (by its name) to invoke same of the septenar pestilent sins. It's obedient, but not great-looking; straightaway, but not the fastest; and full-featured, but non spectacular ergonomically. It's pricey, but not out of line with similarly organized general laptops. IT would be a fortunate leverage on sale.

Source: https://www.pcworld.com/article/481875/hp_envy_14_solid_but_now_unspectacular.html

Posted by: saucedamagning.blogspot.com

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