Why mess with a winner? The HP Envy 14 returns with the same stylish looks and solid Beats Audio as in the original model, but it adds a second-gen Core i5 CPU and automated switchable graphics for improved performance and power management. At $1,079, this notebook is more affordable, too. Read on to find out how the Envy 14 stacks up to other premium portables.
Design
Like its predecessors, the Envy 14 focuses on elegant rounded corners and clean lines. As before, the beige-gray aluminum lid has an interesting paisley design comprised of different-sized squares, which is more than enough to distinguish it from the MacBook Pro. This motif continues on the interior deck, the exception being the keyboard well, which is pattern-free. The bottom of the deck, which houses the large black clickpad, features more of the textured paisley design. Also like its predecessors, the Envy 14 sports a magnesium body.At 5.6 pounds, the Envy is on the chunkier side compared to the 13-inch MacBook Pro (4.6 pounds) and the waifish Sony VAIO S (3.8 pounds). However, the 14 x 9.3 x 1.2-inch laptop can still fit comfortably in a messenger bag or a large purse despite being noticably larger than the MacBook Pro (12.8 x 8.9 x 1 inches) and the VAIO S (13.0 x 8.8 x 0.9 inches).
Keyboard and Clickpad
The Envy 14 features a black matte island-style keyboard with large flat black keys. The layout has generous spacing, but the clickpad isnt centered beneath the G and H keys. This arrangement will likely be a distraction to touch typists. Feedback was fairly strong with minimal flexing, and the layout is evenly backlit--great for typing in dim lighting.
As before, the Envy 14 has a 4.3 x 2.6-inch Synaptics clickpad, but the software has been updated for faster, more intuitive gestures. For example, pinch-to-zoom can now be activated without placing your fingers on a diagonal slant, and two-finger rotation now works by rotating both fingers instead of one digit.
Flicking horizontally with three fingers let us easily skim through photos. The three-finger press has been retooled to launch a designated application which we set in the Synaptics Control Panel. Two-finger scrolling was smooth in Internet Explorer but choppy in Google Chrome. Our favorite gesture on the Envy 14 is the upwards four-finger flick, which activates Windows Aero Task Switcher. From this view you can scroll through open windows and launch the one you want using one finger.
The clicking action on the Envy 14s touchpad worked well, but the hinge design means youll need to press down closer to the bottom of the pad. On the MacBook Pro you can click pretty much anywhere on the surface.
Ports and Webcam
HP switched out the USB 2.0/eSATA port on the last-generation Envy 14 with a USB 3.0 port on the right side. Its accompanied by HDMI, mini DisplayPort, Gibgabit Ethernet, a Kensington Lock slot, and the power jack. Two USB 2.0 ports, two headphone jacks, and a slot-loading DVD player occupy the left side, while a 2-in-1 card reader resides on the front lip of the laptop.
Images and video captured with HPs TrueVision HD webcam were clear, even at 1280 x 800p. Colors were vivid using the included CyberLink YouCam app, but the camera really shined during our Skype call. Callers reported crisp images from the Skype-HD certified webcam with sharp background detail. Audio was loud and clear with minimal background noise.
Heat
After 15 minutes of streaming a Hulu video at full screen, the Envys touchpad registered a brisk 76 degrees Fahrenheit. The space between the G and H keys was slightly cooler at 75 degrees, while the underside stayed a cool 83 degrees. The hottest point on the laptop was the bottom vent, which only scored 87 degrees--well below what we consider uncomfortable (95 degrees).HP takes things one step further with HP CoolSense software, which optimizes the laptops thermal settings to coincide with the computers performance. Depending on the power setting (Maximum, Optimized, and Quiet), CoolSense will adjust the internal fan speed. CoolSense also works with the built-in accelerometer, allowing the computer to detect when it is placed on someones lap and turn on the fan. The only drawback is that the Envy 14s fan can get a little loud.
Display and Audio
The Envys glossy 14.5-inch LED display (1366 x 768 pixels) is surrounded by an equally glossy black bezel. Despite some distracting reflections, we appreciated the vibrant pinks, greens, and yellows in the 1080p trailer of The Help on YouTube. This panel is certainly bright, but we could barely make out Katy Perry and Kanye West in the space-themed "E.T." video when we took the notebook outside. We also wish there was an option for a higher resolution. The Dell XPS 15, for example, offers a 1080p display upgrade for $100.
Taking full advantage of the Beats Audio technology under the hood, the Envy 14 has loud, crisp speakers that easily fill a small room. We got the best results when we used the Beats Audio Control Panel to switch between Movie, Music, and Voice settings. However, we did notice that bass was lacking. We had better results when we plugged in a pair of headphones and tweaked the equalizer setting to create our own custom preset. Big Hollywood explosions had that necessary oomph, while Jay-Z, Kanye West, and Otis Redding had the appropriate timbre on the soul-laden "OTIS."
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