<p>I'm pretty sure that I'll be getting this when it comes out. I'll be a freshman this year, majoring in chemical engineering. Anyone else heard anything about it?</p>
<p>There’s a whole huge thread going on about this at NovebookReview – over 140 pages. [HP</a> Envy 14: Availabilty, etc.](<a href=“TechnologyGuide - TechTarget”>TechnologyGuide - TechTarget)</p>
<p>Personally, I bought the HP dm4 because it’s a few hundred dollars cheaper, and the Envy 14 doesn’t have any features that make it worth the considerable premium (in my opinion). Plus, it doesn’t have VGA output!</p>
<p>(by the way, I’m also going to be a freshman chemical engineering major :D)</p>
<p>I’m 90% certain I’m getting the HP Envy 14. I don’t think it’s particularly expensive, given the features, but I can see how that comes into play. I can’t wait until it comes out.</p>
<p>Question: is the finish on the Envy 14 glossy or matte? The specs look great but I won’t buy it if it has a fingerprint-magnet finish.</p>
<p>I’m not sure, but it has al aluminum cover, so I’m guessing not too finger-printy.</p>
<p>Question: So there are two i5s. They have different Ghz measures. There’s the standard and then there’s the $100 upgrade. Do you think the $100 upgrade is worth it? Would the upgrade even be noticeable?</p>
<p>I plan on getting the standard i5. I’ve heard that engineering software is really intense though, so I may just spend the extra $100. I guess it all depends on your intended uses. </p>
<p>I would like to hear an answer to this from a knowledgeable person, though.</p>
<p>soadquake981, thanks for the link! yay for chemEs, haha. I don’t know what it is about the Envy line, but I really like the sound of it. I’ll decide though if it’s worth the extra hundreds…</p>
<p>after the first time i heard about it a few weeks ago i plan on getting it as well</p>
<p>I still stick by my assertion that the HP dm4 is a better deal, but I guess that’s your call. In regards to the question about the different Core i5’s… as far as I know, you’ll see minimum increase in performance if you get the i5-520m (the $100 upgrade), unless you’re running CPU-intensive calculations all day. You might as well stick with the i5-430m.</p>
<p>I saw it too. Looks awesome for the price.</p>
<p>I’d go for the base core i5 because unless you already have a hardcore engineering job, you won’t need one. Think, engineering students before 2010 survived with core 2 duos. Engineers survived with pentiums and celerons.</p>
<p>Anyway, I’m definitely going for this once a big coupon comes out.</p>
<p>big coupon= 25% HP bing cashback. Let’s hope it lasts 'till June 27…If not, there’s the all-the-time 10% student discount.</p>
<p>Yeah. I’ve heard that for the really intensive programs there are computer labs with top-of-the-line computers, so it shouldn’t be too much of an issue.</p>
<p>Ever since seeing it online, I’ve planned on getting one too. Though I’m still going to wait a bit and see some reviews first, just in case.</p>
<p>The wait is finally over!</p>
<p>Too bad the Envy’s etching on the cover is ugly. That’s what stopped me from considering it.</p>
<p>The slice battery is so freaking expensive.
I think I’ll just order it without that and wait for that price to go down…</p>
<p>i5 430M vs 450M vs 520M… which one are you guys getting?</p>
<p>Looks awesome! Better specs than the MBP. I hope the touchpad works, because that was a huge problem before.</p>
<p>I’d go for the i5 430M. It has turbo boost/saves battery. And for me, I won’t ever notice the difference in clock speed.</p>
<p>I just ordered it.<br>
Here’s the specs…</p>
<pre><code>* Genuine Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit
- Intel(R) Core™ i5-520M Dual Core processor (2.40GHz, 3MB L3 Cache) with Turbo Boost up to 2.93GHz
- 4GB DDR3 System Memory (1 Dimm)
- 640GB 5400RPM SATA Hard Drive with HP ProtectSmart Hard Drive Protection
- 1GB ATI Mobility Radeon™ HD 5650 switchable graphics - For Dual Core Processors
- 14.5" diagonal HD+ HP Radiance Infinity LED Display (1600x900)
- SuperMulti 8X DVD+/-R/RW with Double Layer Support
- HP TrueVision HD Webcam + Dual Digital Integrated Microphones
- Intel Wireless-N Card with Bluetooth
- Corel(R) PaintShop Photo™ Pro X3 + Corel(R) VideoStudio(R) Pro X3
- Full-size island-style backlit keyboard
- 8 Cell Lithium Ion Battery
- Microsoft(R) Office Starter 2010
- HP Home & Home Office Store in-box envelope
</code></pre>
<p>Price: $1,389.99<br>
Discount: -$139.00<br>
APP Price: $1,250.99</p>
<p>I got 1 dimm 4 GB memory, and in a year or two I plan on buying another 1 dimm 4 gb ram. I don’t need it now, and it’ll be cheaper then. Estimated build is July 7, so I should have it well before August. :D</p>
<p>I had to call and add on Windows 7 Professional for VPN settings. I also took the HDD to 500 GB since I have a 1 TB EHD and the 500 is 7200 rpm whereas the 640 is 5400 rpm.</p>
<p>Beta, im probably going to order the same thing. Im conflicted between getting the 4gb 1dimm, and upgrading with another if necessary, or the 6gb 2dimm. Are you just getting Professional for added security? </p>
<p>Waiting for cnet and other for reviews to order.</p>
<p>Mmm I ordered pretty much the same configuration as Beta_Fist except with i5-450M (2.4 to 2.66GHz) and 500GB 7200RPM HD.</p>
<p>Also ordered a 2210M 21.5" Monitor and an HP USB Media Port Replicator.</p>
<p>I don’t think I’ll need more than 4GB RAM right now (I’m typing on a computer with 1.28GB RAM right now so anything will feel like a massive improvement LOL). And in one or two years 4GB RAM will be much cheaper so upgrading to 8GB will be pretty easy. IMO get the 4GB 1DIMM right now.</p>
<p>I’m debating whether to get speakers… supposedly this thing has BEATS premium audio or something. I’ll have to test it when it comes.</p>
<p>PABank,
I would (obviously) get the 4 gb 1 dimm. You probably won’t need the extra 2 gigs for a few years (most programs can only utilize 4 gigs ram), and it will be A LOT cheaper to upgrade by yourself. </p>
<p>I got Prof. for the VPN network…engineering software is very expensive and my school’s license lets us use it over VPN. Funny story…I got a $90 refund from HP because the upgrade can be bought from microsoft for $29.99 for students…it was an easy transition, and they were very nice about it.
They have a 21-day no questions asked return policy, so I just ordered blindly without seeing any reviews. I’ll check the internet and notebookreview forums to see how the general reception is, and if there are any major faults then I’ll just return it. Only cost will be the shipping, but I have orientation in mid July and would like to bring it to that.</p>
<p>Feux, I got the 500 GB too and the same monitor! Might I recommend this cable… [Amazon.com:</a> HDMI TO HDMI 6 foot cable: DVI Gear: Electronics](<a href=“http://www.amazon.com/HDMI-6-foot-cable/dp/B0002L5R78]Amazon.com:”>http://www.amazon.com/HDMI-6-foot-cable/dp/B0002L5R78) . I just ordered it. I plan on having a setup in my dorm with the monitor, a mouse, a keyboard, and speakers. I’ll put the laptop off to the side or something…it’ll look like a desktop. 
I already have a mouse and speakers, so I just have to get a keyboard. But as to the speakers, I would wait until you hear the laptop’s. No harm in waiting a bit; they might even surprise you.</p>