The new Envy 15, 17 and, yes, 3D models borrow from Apple. But on the other hand, it’s great to see more handsome Windows laptops. Have a favourite laptop? Gizmodo Awards 2011: Best Laptop Nominations Now Open.
The new Envy line is sturdy, rid of corny ornamentation and clad in clean, smooth metal. They’re substantial without being bulky, offer nice touches like individually backlit keys and a nifty audio jog wheel, and displays that pop very well. Beats By Dre is baked in, for those who care, and the 17-inch 3D model will attract those for whom a 3D laptop makes sense. Inside, this is a mere refresh — you’ll have your choice of quad-core processors, Radeon graphics, and an SSD — but outside, a very nice upgrade.
The new lineup of 15, 17 and 3D 17 start at $1699 in Australia and are available from mid December. [HP]
Sicarius123
Thursday, November 17, 2011 at 1:10 PMIf I could design a good looking laptop that doesn’t look like the Macbook, why can’t HP?
I know the whole “bla bla they’re copying mac” is getting old, but so is that design. Come up with something new!
Ozoneocean
Thursday, November 17, 2011 at 2:27 PMThese are my thoughts too. It even has the same black keyboard!
The whole laptop shape is generic, metal ones have been out for years before Apple thought of doing one and thinness is just a dimension…
But this does have the LOOK of an Apple machine and that just isn’t necessary. It’s not like those borrowed traits are even particularly nice or striking, they’ve just adopted them for imitation’s sake.
The Gremlin
Thursday, November 17, 2011 at 3:16 PM“Come up with something new!”
Don’t worry, Jony Ive will.
Tim
Thursday, November 17, 2011 at 2:22 PMA rectangle that opens up does not mean its copying Macbook.
I quite like the design, and it could be enough to make me go back to HP laptops again after the Compaq Presario 1000 i had which was shocking and killed its own video card from overheating.
Pat
Thursday, November 17, 2011 at 4:43 PMI personally don’t have a problem with the design, but I think you’re in denial if you say the Envy is not heavily inspired by the MacBook Pro.
Sure, the details make all the difference, but as far as I know prior to the MBP there were no laptops with a silver/aluminium body, black glass screen/bezel and black chiclet keyboard.
Tim
Thursday, November 17, 2011 at 10:23 PMAhh but, the fact that it is a rectangle that opens up, is the same colour, same material and looks exactly like a MacBook Pro does pretty much completely defeat your argument about it not being copied from Apple.
Tim
Friday, November 18, 2011 at 12:05 PMI’m sure there has been other silver laptops prior to MBP, not made of aluminum because back then it woudl have been too costly.
@Pat, inspiration and copying are two different things. the only way we get better things is to build on what others have done and make it better.
Cameron
Thursday, November 17, 2011 at 3:47 PMIt’s good to see they’ve actually put all the necessary keys on a keyboard. It’s a shame it only comes in 15″ though. Far too big for my liking. Give me a 13″ any day.
dan
Thursday, November 17, 2011 at 4:18 PMEnvy it’s the perfect name for it… as they definitely envy apple…. lame…
Aaron
Thursday, November 17, 2011 at 4:24 PMstill happy with my 17″ MBP
Dawesi
Thursday, November 17, 2011 at 4:38 PM——– HOW COOL IS THAT VOLUME CONTROLLER!!! ——–
This looks sooooo much better than an iMac and it’s not running OSX so it’s soooooo much more useful….
BenDTU
Thursday, November 17, 2011 at 4:53 PMI refuse to believe it’s not possible to make a laptop that doesn’t look like a Macbook Pro or Air.
TheFoxMan
Thursday, November 17, 2011 at 5:35 PMIt might look close to the design of the Macbook Pro, but remember..
- Is the build quality that of a mac?
- Does it run Mac OSX?
So don’t compare it to a macbook pro, its a insult to the Macbook Pro line consider it a rival.
Tim
Thursday, November 17, 2011 at 10:24 PM^^^ I agree that yes, this is a huge insult to the MacBook Pro
robarino
Friday, November 18, 2011 at 2:25 AMI am ordering one tomorrow. Very nice. I love the mac but a comparable 17 inch mac is more than twice the price. Slightly better CPU sure but lousier GPU. The sound on the Envy is the best in the business. I suspect this is going to be a huge it!
Funny thing about MBP is that yes it was original in the choice of materials but I am not entirely sure those color schemes were anything new. I also think the early ones were hideous. Great quality all around though..Apple makes the best bar none.
robarino
Friday, November 18, 2011 at 2:26 AMI do hate MAC OSX though.
POTUS Exec
Friday, December 9, 2011 at 4:36 PMAt the risk of my words sounding like PR hype, I still have to be totally honest. I really-really like this HP laptop. Here’s the whole story why. Simply, the HP Envy 17 is mostly the best of two worlds: genuine work and real fun. Being the fortunate recipient of this magnificent monster of a PC for my birthday, it has resolved all of my serious work related and down-time computer fun issues. Someone noticed me doing my homework on 17-inch PCs. Hewlett-Packard rightly should pump fists in the air for staying loyal to the Envy series’ creation and continued production.
The HP Envy 17 is the portable desktop workhorse I’ve been waiting for, and at a truly fair price. In fact, it comes with the quality of built-in upgradable options that will give me my monies worth of real use over time. I recommend getting 6 to 8 gigabytes of memory for fast processing and the newer software that’s coming in 2012 and beyond. Thankfully, I was given the 8 GB I need for my heavy small business work, and weekend high-def games. The quality is durable, stylish and clean. The overall computing engine and user functions make the Envy 17 a genuinely enviable choice if you’re considering a strong, feature-rich, and truly affordable PC in these shaky economic times. I hope HP continues its loyalty and widely promotes this great product.
Inevitably, there will be the comparisons to other laptop computers, both Windows and Mac. No matter how hard anyone may want to churn the Apple hype, feature-for-feature, the HP Envy 17 stomps MacBook Pros and anything similar to them. That’s fact over hype. It’s not a Mac killer or competitor. Having used a MacBookPro, I believe it out-classes them. Envy 17 is really a PC game changer, period!
Compare the actual specs, along with the many potential ways the HP Envy 17 can be used right out of the box and over time. I work in the federal government sector. Among my friends that now drool at my new birthday machine are a fine artist, gamer, architect, two musicians, an office administrator, a video hog, and one public official. If you’re like me and need to get some serious heavy-duty work done, and then have some outrageous entertainment fun, this very portable laptop PC is the one.
Moreover, the price is fair and affordable for its class, quality, features and user-friendly assets. Dollar-for-dollar, you get more than what you pay. For me, it was a birthday gift. Thankfully, I received my top PC wish for 2011-2012 and beyond: the HP Envy 17. I didn’t mention that it has a wrap-around Beats Audio system, and a bass-pounding sub-woofer on the bottom. OMG!!! My Hip-Hop classics, Jazz and Classical music now have a new life, even without headphones.
Again, please do your homework, take a little time to compare the specs with other hot brands. You’re likely to spend your money wisely on an HP Envy 17. In stressful financial times (to use for night college, self-employment, personal finances, secure online shopping, bill paying, home entertainment, or better job searching), this will surely be your best computer investment over at least the next five years. Maybe you’ll receive yours as an unexpected gift too.