HP Envy 15-3040NR 15.6" LED-Backlit Notebook, Intel Core i7-2670QM 2.20GHz Processor, 8GB RAM, 750GB HDD, Windows 7 , Black/Silver

HP 15-3040NR

HP Envy 15-3040NR 15.6" LED-Backlit Notebook, Black/Silver

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HP 15-3040NR 

Buy: HP Envy 15-3040NR 15.6" LED-Backlit Notebook, Intel Core i7-2670QM 2.20GHz Processor, 8GB RAM, 750GB HDD, Windows 7 , Black/Silver Operating System: Windows 7 Home Premium, Processor Speed: 2.2GHz

The laptop does not have a "numeric keypad". I don't mean a seperate one on the right of the keyboard but embedded in the keyboard. I haven't figured out if there is another option to enter alt#### characters. I also have to press the fn key for the function keys to work f1, f2 etc, instead of pressing the fn key for the other options to work (raising or lowering the screen brightness, etc). The touch pad is not very good. Does not have seperate buttons to click.
I do like the keys, feel and backlighting. The screen and speakers are also very good.
BUT: I placed my order at the end of July (2012), received it within a couple of days and now, less than 2 months later, it STOPPED WORKING.

I'm very disappointed.

It's a good laptop. It was fast enough for my needs which is a lot of surfing and streaming shows. It's great that the laptop is not installed with a lot of unwanted applications that you would get if you bought it at a store such as Best Buy.

Nice

I see a lot of one-two line reviews here, with people giving the envy top marks. Almost makes me think that I got a bad unit.
1. AMD graphics card is the laptops biggest weakness. The switching between the AMD card and Intel HD is horrible compared to the Nvidia Optimus. My screen flickers couple of times and my desktop icons and post-its end up in different positions.
2. The USB 3 ports never work - They give me an error code 43 each time a drive is connected. I have to install the USB 3 driver each time i connect something. (all drivers are upto date. I even re-installed my OS) (With the ivy bridge since the USB 3 is natively supported this should no longer be a problem)

The screen is great the build quality id brilliant..

Think twice about getting this

I used my Envy to play music, burn CDs, and surf the web. It has incredible "wow" type of sound. It is very easy to use, fast, and nimble. My Envy sounds much better than my Macbook Pro. I wish it was all aluminum as I am not a fan the black top cover. The price is just about right at $1300. My friends love the sound it produces.

The best feature I personally like the beats audio

I purchased the 15-3040nr ENVY a couple of weeks ago and it has worked out pretty well thus far. The computer is fast, with a great amount of storage and it did not come overloaded with preinstalled junk programs. I purchase a new computer every couple of years to keep up to date, so what I am about to say comes with some prior biased knowledge. Out of the box this computer runs smoothly. The battery lasts 4-5 hours with normal use (ie the backlit keyboard enabled, the monitor not dimmed, surfing the internet, not using the DVD drive).

I am an engineer, and many of the programs that I run require a large amount of computer resources. Thus far, the computer has been able to keep up with everything that I do, often running multiple resource taxing programs at once.

The aluminum finish of the computer and the backlit keyboard give a very sophisticated appearance and I have received many compliments in the short time that I have owned the computer. Also, the Beats audio that comes with this computer is great. The sound quality is good, very loud, and the volume adjust knob is very convenient. This computer is great, but I have noticed a few things that I would change if I had designed this model.

The touch pad mouse is the most annoying feature on this computer. The integrated keys of the mouse are difficult to get used to because the mouse keys and the touch pad are all one piece. If you press one of the mouse keys and move your finger on the key you will move the cursor. It takes a little while to get used to using this mouse and not accidentally sliding your finger on the key. I usually use an external mouse, but when using a touch pad mouse, I prefer the keys to be separate and to not have any control on the position of the cursor.

The other issue that I have with this computer is that it was not available with a Blue-ray player option. I do not watch movies on my computer all that often, but I would think in a computer that focuses on entertainment performance and superb audio quality, that a Blue-ray player would be a logical option to give the best visual experience to the user.

I would recommend this computer to anyone looking for a high performace laptop for a good price. If you are someone that prefers to use the touch pad mouse and/or likes to watch Blue-ray movies on your computer, I would not recommend this computer for you.

Stylish and sleek, runs well, just a few quirks

everything is great including the 1080 which looks fine on a smaller screen, except i have probs with the touchpad. i never use a mouse so getting used to the eratic behaviour is annoying, i have updated the driver but it still skips.

i love it

I've been using the same old laptop for...wait for it... 8 years now, so I was more than thrilled to get my HP Envy. It arrived early even though I chose standard ground, and was tastefully packaged. It came with a really nice suede-like sleeve, and everything was neatly packed. It was almost like getting an Apple.

The computer itself, which I took to a conference this past week, looks awesome. In fact, it was confused with a Macbook Pro by more than one person, and looks very similar to one on the inside. Sound system is great, if a bit treble-y. The flywheel volume control is really slick and fun to use. I also enjoy the ability to turn the backlit keyboard on or off using one of the function keys.

Performance is fantastic so far. The system boots up in no time and everything is very responsive. There is minimal extra software to worry about and I haven't gotten too many of those annoying HP popups.

My only complaints are: (1) the left click is a bit off. I find myself clicking and moving the cursor up at the same time, such that my clicks are not usually where I expect them. I use a USB mouse anyway so this isn't a big deal. (2) The battery life is *terrible.* I think this is unique to me since the battery runs < 2 hours on a full charge, so it could be a bad battery. I'm working with customer service on this.

I would highly recommend this computer.

Besides the battery, everything is great

dont look at the reviews talking about the red-orange thing. it was only on the first batch. this pc is awesome. comaped it to my 2012 mackbook pro and the envy 15. the envy was faster by a mile.
its sleek and comes with a microfiber sleeve that is just awesome. it also has all of adobe elements 9. and to top it off the beats speakers. it is just awesome especially the volume wheel on the side really smooth and convenient. this is a monster packed into a 1 and half inch thick 15 inch screen laptop. and also the bttery is like 5 hours its awesome. 5 hours and i am a gamer so thats a lot.

best hp overall

first one didn't turn on, i returned it, got a new one in 4 days. A little bit heavy, trackpad is not good, but besides that, excellent machine.

good overall computer

Received my ENVY 15 a few weeks ago and it arrived in stunning fashion. However, strangely enough, the monitor appeared to be loose from the frame in a few locations. So I had to push around the edges with my fingers to ensure it "snapped in" correctly. I am not sure if this was something to do with the fact that this was a quick-ship model and someone forgot to check the screen? I have not had an issue since.

Ever since that it has been great. The screen is absolutely brilliant and the design is sleek. The computer runs amazingly cool in a general sense, though there is a significant change in temperature while gaming. Programs run quickly, though that is to be expected in the early stages of a laptop. Multi-tasking is good.

The toughest thing to get use to (coming from a Dell Inspiron) is the keyboard and mouse. The chiclet keys do take some getting used to (if you weren't a chiclet typer before) and the up arrow is tiny. I still find myself hitting the shift button thinking it's the up arrow. The backlit keybpard is wonderful and bright. The mousepad is smooth to the touch, but not as good as a macbook pro and the click button is certainly stiffer than most laptops. However, the Synaptics click pad program gives you lots of options I haven't seen with other products so that is a plus. Sound is great on the system though I cannot tell that there is a subwoofer.

If you can get over these minor kinks, the envy seems like a great overall laptop. It is snazzy and performs great. I have no doubt I will get used to these new features and honestly, what you get for the money is unmatched. I spent several months researching this product and do see why it was voted best mid-sized laptop on the market. No laptop is perfect, but this is the appears to get you the most bang for the buck.

Overall a solid choice, couple of minor kinks

This computer is nice looking,has many premiun features. My only objection is the finger pad, it is hard to operate and very touchey.

Excellent Product

The speed is good, but it hangs up periodically. For the price, I expect better performance. The keyboard is like an apple, so it is centered and does not have a number keypad on the right side. Definitely like the volume dial. Also, screen quality is great. However, this generation of 15" laptops does not fit into my rolling laptop bag- they are just a bit too long. Returning it in favor of a 14" laptop, which this does not come in.

Decent laptop

When i first opened my envy i was very impressed at the design but after looking at it through and through, i do have dented usb ports. I love this machine but i have had problems with it freezing up during start up. hopefully i don't have this problem anymore otherwise i may have to return it. I'm having fun with the included Photoshop elements. the screen is great, the orange reds are not that noticeable (to me anyway).

semi satisfied

I love the envy 15. I only wish that a recovery cd would have came along with it.

excellent product

To address the IT Professional reviewer:
Agreement concering degree of pressure needed to depress click pad. Needs to be fixed. Over time, will wear on fingertips
Disagreement: My case was scratch free, both the Magnesium top and the Aluminum base.
I also agree with all his plus features adding the motion detector which turns on the backlit keyboard when you come near and turns it off when you leave. The subwoofer does have it's own individual control and is not a marketing ploy if you turn it up. The dual graphics cards was a pleasant surprise and suggest leaving it on the discrete power setting all the time, although you can leave it up to the OS to choose which card to use. I have the Envy 15 3033 whose only difference is that my Drive is 500 Gig, not 750 and 8 Gig of memory, not 6.I oted for the I7 2670 processor running 2.2 Ghz to 3.1, the slowest speed of the three offered. The machine stays eerily cool despite using it for 3D games and watching movies concurrently! The fan noise is undetectable!
The screen is as mentioned stunningly clear, but I have had 1920x 1080 before so I am used to this level of quality. When looking at the RED on the TV Guide icon, it appears RED to me. The orange of the Bing Icon appears orange.
The sound is run by Beats, which has both an analog volume control giving digital accuracy and the ability to emphasize dialog clarity when watching movies.
My system had a quirky power button which needed more pressure to engage than normal.

QUIRKY BUT kEEPING IT

So i was excited about my new hp envy 15 then i was let down when my webcam stop working, However, good built quality, excellent sound, red color issue..? i have none, key board flex is no issue.

Good machine

Very smooth operation except print connection. If it is programed for more than one copy to be printed it misprints or the connection is lost. V Rey annoying but overall the experience computing on this laptop is great.

smooth operation

The HP Envy 15 is probably the highest quality laptop I've ever purchased (and I have at least 5 under my belt.) Build quality is on par with MBPs, beautiful aluminum and magnesium build, relatively light weight, the screen has gorgeous clarity despite having a noticeable shift in reds towards orange.

Naturally the computer is very fast, the 3040NR model with the i7 and 8gb of ram is suited for speed. 4 cores, 8 threads, enough ram to accomplish the tasks of 4 average computers. Gaming is solid on the dedicated graphics. I recommend anybody looking to optimize battery life go into BIOS, and change the graphics over from dynamic to fixed. Then select which GPU you would like while using the OS. Put my operating time on battery up a couple hours from around 3 before the change to near 5 hours and 30 minutes after.

A PC in Mac's clothing.

You'll read or see issues with this notebook. Here are my opinions based on 15+ years as a senior manager in IT.
THE BAD
1) The top of the case had minor scratches as if the product lid is slid along, possible in a qc review or as part of the manufacturing line. Not a deal breaker.
2) On each side of the case the rim surrounding two USB ports is dented in. Again, most likely part of the manufacturing process that is not fixed. Not a deal breaker.
3) Track pad, horrible. The worse I've seen in the business and I work or have owned every brand out there. You have to push so hard to get the pad to right or left click. Yes you can simply tap the item, but this functionality is very buggy. I loaded two different fw/driver versions and nothing seemed to help. The track pad is the #1 reason I sent the device back in less than one week. HORRIBLE!
4) Beats Audio, more of a gimmick in my mind but to boast that you have a sub woofer on the bottom is just marketing. The speakers did not sound any better then my 2 year old Lenovo or my one year old MBP.
5) Beautiful display, but you have trouble showing reds. I used a professional program and device to sync my colors for video and photo editing and I could not get the thing to show a real red.

THE GOOD
1) Overall look of the product is very pleasing. If you're concerned for how your notebook looks, this is the product for you, as for me, I want functionality first, design second.
2) Very fast, great product and on par with other top level machines.
3) The screen is very beautiful, I had the 1080p and it did not disappoint. (other than the reds not being as red as you would expect)

QC testing failed you

Have had the laptop for 2 weeks, and very pleased with it. Fast, relatively light for its size, clear screen for productive business work, and solid. Was deciding between the 15z and the Envy: much better build than the Dell 15z

No trackpad issues here either. Zoom works flawlessly, and scrolling with fingers is smooth. Only thing keeping the laptop from 5 stars would be its color issue (red is really a bit too orange) and its battery life. 4 hours is fine, but 5-6 would really be great. Core i7 with 8 gigs of Ram. I imagine with an i5 you might have a little more time on your hands...

Summary: Crisp screen and responsive for work - solid build - fast.

Now i hope it stays that way :)

Solid and Productive

I always buy HP laptops, I like the made and style; but my new Envy 15 laptop is the best among all. The design, features, performance, battery life, and all other things are lovely.
I really all beautiful ( and maybe subtle) features of this laptop, like backlid keyboard, 2 jacks for headphones (I love this feature of HP laptops), the new Imagepad with gestures, the new Beats volume rotating button and sound system, the solid and robust design, ...
Believe me, do not hesitate to buy this product, you won't regret it ;)