HP boffins have worked like hardware hurricanes lately, adding 14 new models to its netbook line, including the rather stylish new Envy range.
You'd be forgiven for thinking the 14-inch Envy 14 and 17-inch Envy 17 look like the 13-inch and 17-inch Macbook Pros, because they do.
Featuring a similar aluminium finish and backlit keyboards, the Envy netbooks even have slot optical drive to top off the sleek, minimalistic look.
Both Envy models are powered by Intel processors and offer 8GB RAM. The Envy 17 can support an unimaginable 2TB of memory though, by hooking up two 1TB drives.
The new Envy netbooks also come with HP's TrueVision HD webcam, a mini DisplayPort Connector and Beats Audio, which has been developed by HP in an unlikely partnership with Dr Dre.
The up-market Envy 17 boasts a Core i7 processor to power its 1920 x 1080 full HD display showing ATI Mobility Radeon 5850 graphics.
It comes with a Blu-ray drive and a USB 3.0 port, but just the one.
The lower price bracket Envy 14 still packs a punch with its Core i5 CPU and its own ATI Radeon Mobility graphics, which HP says offers pictures nearly 60 per cent brighter than other standard display laptops.
Where it shines though is in battery life, lasting up to an impressive 13.75 hours, (or 825 minutes as HP like to say) with the option for an extended battery.
You can even connect optical 3G to really take this netbook on the go.
Both the Envy 14 and Envy 17 will hit the highstreet this month with the Envy 14 starting at $999 (£660) and the bigger 17-inch at $1400 (£925).
Compared to £1,899 for an entry level 17in MacBook Pro, you may want to take a closer look at HP's efforts to keep your style cred up and still have some change left over for your Blu-ray collection.
Would you buy an Envy over a Macbook Pro? Leave us a comment and let us know.
7 thoughts on “HP Envy Netbooks Rival Apple Macbook Pro”
No macs ftw and hp relialbility sucks i mean i have bought 3 hps last week and they all broke down and crash apple is great with its ftw os not windows :P
Looking at the specs above… The envy s**ts all over the Macbook Pro. Bluray drive, wow. I was thinking of getting a Macbook Pro, mainly because the design was “minimalistic”, but now I guess Envy is within my range too.
Improved looks and features of the envy are swaying me back. Would like to see 15 inch updated. Would like to see proved battery life on a new 15. Not sure what the 17 is recording as battery life . I hope they improve there quality from here on… They sank severly last 3yrs.
Shame win 7 too has a while to go.
Snow leopard on envy 17/new 15 that could be real nice
I personally decided to order a 13-inch macbook pro. Most of my decision lies in the fact that the i5 processors available for the HP envy do not use all of the features of the i-series anyway, so whether you buy a 13-inch pro with dual core or a 14-inch HP with the i5 you would not notice any difference performance-wise.
I also wanted a small computer as possible without sacrificing too much power. Both computers are small, but the pro won with about one inch.
Compared to the post above I find HP to be very reliable, the choice for me was more of a size-thing. However, if I bought a 17-inch computer I’d probably go for the HP.
My wife wants the Macbook Pro – but I would buy the Envy hands down
– better screen
– better camera, mic and sound
– far far better graphics card
– better connection layout (USB ports etc)
– can run Eyefinity and both have the graphics horsepower to power multiple displays
– significantly cheaper (!!)
Sadly, I think she will still be buying the Macbook.
I wanted to buy the Macbook Pro but changed my mind as my friends say their IMac heats up – it is made of aluminium. May go for the white Macbook although HP is top of the range for the new Windows 7 according to Which.
Any idea yet when these will hit UK shops?
PS. These are certainly not netbooks – and it’s 2TB storage not memory :)