<p>Okay. Take a look at the Envy14: just as portable as the Macbook Pro. It may be a bit thicker but it weighs less. Starts with an i3 but only a $25 upgrade to an i5. It use to be base, but with the radiance display upgrade for $200, many users have been saying it beats that even of a Macbook Pro. Throw in the slice battery for $150 from the parts department and you got a PC that beats the Macbook Pro for $1375. </p>
<p>The screen is 14.5inch so it fits between the mbp 13 and 15. So I’ll just take the average of the two prices to get an comparison. $1375 vs $1500. If it were up to me, I’d take that $125 and blow it on food or further upgrades on the Envy14.</p>
<p>And if you create an education account on HP.com (with an .edu email) you get 10% off which drops the price of the Envy14 to sub $1250</p>
<p>Kinda unfair to compare a “premium” laptop like the MBP to a “mainstream” laptop like the HP Pavilions. The Envy would be a much more fair comparison, and since they’re new models, it’s very unlikely that you’ve owned them at one point.</p>
<p>Bit like comparing a Mercedes to a Toyota Camry :P</p>
<p>Previous Post by Trip regarding the Envy 14:</p>
<p>“The Envy14 is a nice computer. If it weren’t for it’s QC flaws, it’d be perfect. I’m currently working with one right now, but will be exchanging it in the coming week.”</p>
<p>“My major gripes with it right now is that it’s making a high pitched noise. I can usually tune it out, but when the room is dead silent and I’m trying to study, the noise just becomes really annoying.”</p>
<p>“Another problem that I just noticed today is that the power brick is making some kind of tapping noise. =T”</p>
<p>^So Trip, did you exchange your Envy? Are you going to exchange it for another Envy? I find it a little funny that you’re unhappy with your Envy, yet you’re recommending others to look at it over the MacBook Pro.</p>
<p>Actually yes I am exchanging it for another Envy. I love the way it looks and feels. The huge touchpad although had a bit of learning curve is great after optimizing it to your liking. No product is ever perfect and since it is a new product, I’m more than willing to give it a second and maybe a third chance. With the price I paid for it (sub $900) I should be giving it more than 3 chances, compared to how much it would cost me for a similar spec MBP.</p>
<p>The high pitched noise has been reported in about a quarter of all Envy14s, so there are people who are not dealing with the whine. </p>
<p>As for the tapping noise, as far as I know, I’m the only one with it so it can simply be that one bad one in a pile of good ones. And trust me, the bad ones also slip by Apples white gloved hands.</p>
<p>I love my Macbook pro 13 inch. It’s about a year old now, but its wonderful. The aluminum body is definitely super slick, and I find myself using nearly all of the programs on this laptop. I’ve never encountered a computer with less glitches, with less battery problems, and the internet browser has spoiled me for life. It’s everything you need and more. I’m definitely hoping for a new one when I go in for college next fall. :)</p>
<p>" * 95% of college students interviewed this spring owned at least one computer (83% owned a laptop, 24% a desktop, 15% both)
* Among the laptop owners, 27% owned Macs
* Among the desktop owners, 45% owned a Dell (DELL) or HP (HPQ) and 14% a Mac
* Among those who planned to purchase a new computer, 87% planned to buy a laptop. And among those students 47% planned to buy a Mac."</p>
<p>I have to concur with what a previous poster said: all of you lauding the battery life of a Mac compared to a cheaper PC need to look at the differential. In what situation will you being away from an outlet a couple less hours even matter?</p>
<p>People like me who hate carrying around chargers. Then again, it’s why I went for my laptop over a Mac or a netbook; 10 hour battery life is <3. And no, Macs do not get the advertised 10 hours; they get around 7-8 for the Core 2 Duo 13" and 4-6 for the i5/i7 versions.</p>
<p>Just a heads up - at a lot of college campuses Apple is running a special that allows you to get a free ipod touch with the purchase of a new laptop. Deal ends Sep. 7th</p>
<p>@HawkGuy Apple has been doing that for a while now. If you want a better deal, buy direct from Apple. They give the Touch and $100 rebate for printer.</p>
<p>Add to the list of computer-ignorant fools who were duped by Apple’s public relations machine into paying too much for a shiny status symbol:</p>
<p>Consumer Reports, in their September Issue, ranked the Apple MacBook and MacBook Pro in the top 3 places for 11-13 inch laptops. They also ranked MacBook Pros in the top 3 places for 15-inch laptops. And, they ranked the iMac in the top 4 places for all-in-one computers.</p>
<p>It’s not like they actually tested them, right?</p>
<p>@ALF
Mac fanboy? No need to spout off that same message across 3 threads. IMO a lot of those “rankings” are mostly subjective, just like college rankings. Macbook pros are great laptops but it’s the price that keeps most people away. Apple is the most overpriced computer company in the market- both the initial price and especially hardware upgrade prices. There are better alternatives for most people who just want a laptop for simple internet browsing and typing a paper.</p>