The
Envy is HP’s high- performance range and is constantly improving, especially
since the arrival of the Beats audio editions. With a 17.3-inch screen, the
Envy 17 (£1,400 inc. VAT) is the big brother of the family and has the features
and performance to prove it.
While
the plain black lid of the Envy 17 doesn’t scream desirability, the inside more
than makes up for it. A sleek, brushed-aluminium design stands out against a
black isolation-style keyboard that bears an uncanny resemblance to something
you might find on a MacBook. To the far right is a large circular button that
calls up the Beats audio control panel for playback and recording options. |
A handy
button by the keyboard calls up the Beats audio panel,
for full control of your
music and high-quality recording
capabilities
|
Typing
on the keyboard was comfortable and easy, however we did notice an unnerving
spot of flexing around the far left-hand side, above the slot-loading DVD drive
(upgradable to Blu-ray). The keys themselves are backlit, and you’re also
granted a full numeric keypad. The large, central touchpad has a slightly
thicker coating that is responsive and comfortable to use. It features
integrated mouse buttons built into the pad which will be a blessing for some
and a curse for others.
Screen
envy
The
real reason you might consider the Envy 17 over its smaller relatives is the
bright 17-3-inch LED-backlit screen. With a pixel resolution of 1,920 x l,080p,
this is geared towards full high-definition content. You can also buy a more
expensive 3D-capable Envy 17, but unless you’re a die-hard 3D fan, it isn’t
worth the extra outlay. Viewing angles are impressive and the screen feels firm
on its hinges.LED-backlit screen - A screen with an LED (light- emitting diode) backlight has a more noticeable difference in contrast than traditional CCFL backlighting.
Matching the
visuals provided by the screen is the audio output from the speakers. Alongside
the larger speaker above the keyboard are smaller speakers either side of the
front of the chassis for stereo sound. Regulated by the integrated Beats
technology, the bass is much more noticeable and as a result, the sound is
thicker and fuller. You are also given a fancy-looking equalizer to adjust the
levels yourself to get the most out of your music. And, if you plan to record,
you can take advantage of the noise and echo cancellation provided by Beats.
Unsurprisingly
for HP’s premium model, the Envy 17 has some seriously powerful components,
albeit not the best we’ve seen at this price point. The Sandy Bridge Intel Core
i7 CPU is backed up with 8GB of RAM and an ATI Radeon HD 7690M XT dedicated
GPU. There’s enough power here for anyone interested in high-end gaming,
programming or editing. In fact, the HP 17 ships with Adobe Photoshop Elements 9
and Adobe Premier Elements 9 to get you started. And, thanks to the 1.5TB hard
drive, you won’t be short of space to fill up.
There’s
no doubt the Envy 17 is a luxury machine. And if you’re happy to spend £1,400
on a laptop then the Envy 17 is an excellent choice. This is very firmly an
entertainment and creative machine though - if you want portability or a
business-orientated laptop, look elsewhere. There are the smallest of
side-niggles, such as the keyboard flex and the battery life, but we were still
mightily impressed. This is certainly one of HP’s finest creations.
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