HP has just updated their Envy 15 page, updating the 1/2 year old Envy with 1 GB of new ATI Mobility Radeon 5830 graphics and USB 3.0 standard with all models. The starting price has also dropped to $1299, with options for Intel’s dual core Core i5 processors for those wanting to go the affordable route.
Well, great. They just had to put ATI 5000-series graphics in this one and not in the Elitebook line?! Well, I’m not really swayed just yet because the Elitebook 8540w is more all-rounded compared to the Envy (in my opinion). Let’s just see which one ends up with a higher price after matching specifications to each other… and well, decide from there.
Brad, will you be able to give us a review about Elitebook 8540w?
I agree with you that 8540w seems to be a more all-round (and more professional) machine that Envy (and many other “multimedia” offerings from several manufacturers too).
Your 8440w review was excellent, keep up the good work! 😉
Hi, thank you so much for your comment. Yes I do have the Elitebook 8540w with me now and I will be doing a couple of software tests (covering both gaming and design/CAD). Agreed with your statement that it’s more all-rounded than the Envy and competition. I personally am in the market for the Elitebook 8540w… but I’m somewhat torn between the Elitebook 8540w which I’m really loving at the moment, and the Envy 15 because of the sole reason that HP recently plopped in ATI’s new Mobility 5830 graphics into it. It’s likely the 8540w’s Quadro FX1800M card will do better in CAD and design applications that I use, but I’m also into PC gaming a lot… and the Envy’s ATI will certainly beat the Quadro card, hands down.
Hmm, any chance you can try out the UEFI stuff I asked about in the 8440w review thread here? http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?p=5699811
Hi Dana, okay, will try it out and report back with results =)
and now the starting price is up to $1399.99 and there is no longer a Blu-Ray option. so i guess that makes my mind up for me…no Envy for me.