TR Forums

Right now you can get $500 off an HP ENVY 14 configured over $1399 with coupon code NBK4267893.

Finally decided to take the plunge myself since supposedly the 1600x900 screen is back for a limited time only.

This is exactly what I've been waiting for, personally. Got a decent looking, feeling, & performing notebook for $899.

Just thought I'd share in case anyone else was waiting for the same thing. I'll post feedback on it when it arrives.

Wow, that's tempting. Trouble is, I'd never buy a laptop without seeing it first (in the flesh, as it were) to see if subjective things like the screen and keyboard were to my liking. And I've never seen the hp with that screen in real life (I've seen the Sony Z series that offers the same resolution, and it's very nice, but that doesn't really help). So yeah, I look forward to you posting your impressions. And I hope one of these turns up at Fry's or Best Buy or something so I can see it for myself.

Just got this email:

Dear Valued Customer,



Thank you for your recent computer order. Due to an overwhelming response to our Envy 14 series and Radiance Technology we are unable to build your notebook as ordered. Unfortunately, the Radiance display is no longer being made by our supplier. As a result of this supply situation, we have had to cancel the notebook portion of your order. We regret this occurred and sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this may cause you.



If you ordered any peripheral products (printers, cameras, monitors, etc.) they have not been affected and most likely have already been shipped to you. You will be receiving an email confirmation of the cancellation. Your credit will be processed immediately and electronically transmitted to your bank and will reflect in 3-5 business days.



To compensate you for this cancellation, we are offering a $500 discount off the price of another Pavilion PC or Envy 14 priced at $1399 or higher (excluding the Envy 17) if you choose to reorder by February 4, 2011. We will also cover the cost of express shipping. To place a new notebook order, we have three options available to you:

* Place a qualifying new order on our website (www.hpshopping.com) and respond to this email with your order # (starts with H). If you have any questions you can chat with one of our agents at www.shopping.hp.com/shop/liveassistance. A credit at order shipment will be issued.
* Respond to this email and request one of our specialists call you. Please provide a recommended day, time, and contact number.
* Call our Sales Center at your convenience at 866-217-6014.

Our apologies that this issue occurred as we value your business. We hope to hear from you soon.

Regards,
Ryan Presley
Custom PC Escalation Manager
HP Home & Home Office Store
www.hpdirect.com

Damn. So did anybody get the Radiance display, or was it a mistake in their order pages that it was even possible to specify it in the first place?

Overwhelming demand, but for a machine whose primary feature requires a part that is unsuppliable... at least at the prices hp was quoting to its customers. Weird. The pricey Sony Vaio Z series offers both 1600x900 and a full HD (1920x1080) option, albeit at 13", so panels like that do exist. I wonder what price HP would have to ask on the Envy to get a supplier? (Assuming that's the real problem, and not just HP's handwave over some other issue, like overheating with that panel or something).

Bummer, dude. So what's your alternate? Wait for the Lenovo E420s and hope it has a higher-res option?

WOOHOO........ oh wait they canceled!?!??! ARRGGGGH. DAMNIT.

Stupid HP.

Honestly I'm a PC guy and would always go with a DIY machine for a desktop. But as far as notebooks are concerned, I just don't see anything that comes close to the MacBook Pro line in terms of build quality. The ENVY 14, on paper, was the dream come true that I was hoping for: a MacBook Pro-like design without having to deal with the integrated battery, compatibility issues, and inflated pricetag of Apple's systems. In fact, the ENVY 14 has the beefier internals that I desire for gaming and *HAD* a much nicer 1600x900 resolution screen. To me it was a no-brainer when it first launched, but I chose to bide my time for a while to see what reviewers had to say about it. Then when I was about to make that final decision, the configuration option for the radiance screen vanished. I've been in no hurry to get something else because I do most of my computing at home and really this system was supposed to be for traveling which doesn't happen often.

In the coming months I saw coupons of increasing quantities popping up in the shortbread under Dealzon Deals all the way up to $500. To me, that seemed like they are possibly refreshing their line of ENVYs and putting the current line up on clearance. I've been hoping that their new line will also sport a 1600x900 or higher resolution screen. But when I saw them advertise that their Radiance screen was back while simultaneously offering a $500 coupon which undoubtedly will not be available with the launch of any Intel Sandy Bridge or ATI Radeon HD 6xxxM Series refresh, it just seemed like a good time and a great deal to get the system I was once going to buy anyway, ignoring whatever improvements they have in store for their future products. It's still a good value considering the radiance screen is a $200 upgrade that you could put toward an SSD, faster CPU, or more RAM. But now with Sandy Bridge and new ATI Mobility GPUs out, which aren't even options on the ENVYs currently, and the RAM and SSD being things I could probably do myself later and save even more money, the Radiance screen seems like it's really the only upgrade worth getting and the only reason to buy now for $500 off.

So anyway, to answer your question, I am not going to be shopping around for competing products right away as I really have no immediate need for a notebook. I'm pretty disappointed with this decision by HP to cancel my order but I might possibly still give them another chance, hopefully the "overwhelming response to our Envy 14 series and Radiance Technology" will mean something to them for the future products that they develop. The only other notebook I was seriously considering is the Dell XPS 15 which also seems like a pretty good compromise between portability and performance. I like this whole "premium notebook" concept that's surfacing. It is nice to see that Apple's design strengths have been rubbing off on other notebook manufacturers from the HP ENVY to Google's own CR-48 notebook. I'm hoping these trends will continue and that there will be more options to choose from when I actually do find myself needing a new notebook.