[Merged] Voodoo Envy, New Ultrathin Notebook

[evirob]

ModNote: Merged thread for discussion of the Voodoo Envy, an ultrathin Windows Vista notebook from the specialty PC manufacturer that is now a part of Hewlett Packard. Briefly, the Envy is a 0.7" thick, ~3.4 lb notebook with a power supply that also doubles as a WiFi access point. Please continue discussion of the Envy in this thread instead of creating new threads. Thanks! --mkrishnan

Hi Guys,

What do u think of this?

http://www.electronista.com/articles/08/06/10/voodoo.envy.133.and.omen/

[vendettabass]

looks hot! Although - it ain't "the worlds thinnest notebook"

[aussieinrome]

Does it run OSX? Then it's not even in the running. Windows is DEAD! Why on earth get a windows machine?

[Lunja]

Those are some stunning looking PC's!!

The 7in screen at the front is a neat idea, although I can't see a real need for it, unless it it used to display activity monitor-type info...

[Roller]

Pros: Removable battery, extra USB/eSATA port, security slots

Cons: No OS X

It's not as good looking as the MBA, and I suspect that the glossy surface will pick up fingerprints more easily. Although I wouldn't buy one, I give them credit for overcoming some of the MBA's shortcomings, though.

It's interesting to note that the SSD and HDD options are identical to Apple's. I suspect that if there were something better out there, it would have been available. I guess that means no refresh for the MBA in the short term.

[BongoBanger]

Does it run OSX? Then it's not even in the running. Windows is DEAD! Why on earth get a windows machine?

That must be why Windows is used by about ten times as many people as OSX then. :rolleyes:

These machines are beautiful.

[SimD]

That must be why Windows is used by about ten times as many people as OSX then. :rolleyes:

These machines are beautiful.

Ignorance/lack of motivation to have to "learn" a new OS (even though it takes what? 10 mins?).. well atleast for the general Windoze population.. there are the genuine reasons of course..

I'm not a fan of HP and I personally find it to be a complete rip off of both the MBA and Intel's new laptop.. whatever it's called.. oh well..

[bigjnyc]

Glossy exterior aside, those look more like the macbook than the MBA.

[Andrew Henry]

Does it run OSX? Then it's not even in the running. Windows is DEAD! Why on earth get a windows machine?

Cite your source? :rolleyes:

[aussieinrome]

Cite your source? :rolleyes:

A guy I met at a bar.

[aussieinrome]

That must be why Windows is used by about ten times as many people as OSX then. :rolleyes:

These machines are beautiful.

That's changing, if EeePC (running Linux) and Mac sales are any indication...

[wordmunger]

I like their solution to the ethernet problem -- ethernet port in the power brick. That said, the photos don't show how big the brick is. One of the huge pluses of the MBA is its tiny power brick. It's not even really a brick, more like a briquet.

Also, it's 3.4 pounds, not 3.0. Not sure this is the best compromise between size and power.

[clevin]

looks hot! Although - it ain't "the worlds thinnest notebook"
actually, it is

http://gizmodo.com/395419/voodoos-envy-133-is-thinnest-notebook-alive-based-on-intel-metro-concept-laptop

[NT1440]

whats up with that dotty trackpad thing?

[bigjnyc]

actually, it is

http://gizmodo.com/395419/voodoos-envy-133-is-thinnest-notebook-alive-based-on-intel-metro-concept-laptop

wow it doesnt even look that thin in the pictures, but i guess it is.

[Sound Evolution]

Wow! Really nice laptops! They steel from apple though. The screen hinge for example. The MBA still look more sexy and classy in design, but I have to admit the Vodoo Envy is the sexiest PC laptop I've ever seen.

With kind regards,
Bas

[Heavenkittykat]

I don't know about you guys but I think my MBA still looks better than that notebook.

1. I mean it doesn't even look that thin because the the 0.7 inch thickness is even all around the computer while the MBA looks thinner because it tapers on its side.
2. Plus I think the MBA made a cleaner and simpler, and has more elegant look without it's ports, fan, etc being exposed on the sides. Also, I still prefer aluminum than carbon fiber any day.
3. The sensors sound pretty cool but since it doesn't run OSX I don't even consider buying this thing.
4. Looking at all the specs of the laptop here http://gizmodo.com/395419/voodoos-envy-133-is-thinnest-notebook-alive-based-on-intel-metro-concept-laptop. I .
somehow felt like they are REALLY trying hard to beat the macbook air like those companies that manufacture "ipod killer" and "iphone killer" products
5. I don't know if people can notice this too but it also lacks ports like the air, As far as I know it only has 1 USB port.

[SodiumBenzoate]

whats up with that dotty trackpad thing?

A lot of HP's newer trackpads are like that. There's nothing really strange about it, they just incorporated the trackpad into the case and that's how they decided to show you where it is. It's also a "multi-gesture" trackpad. It'll be interesting to see if it's true multitouch (3+ points of contact) and, if it is, if their drivers can be used with the MBA to improve some of the trackpad issues MBA users have had while running Windows.

This laptop is about as close to a direct MBA competitor as it gets. Similar size, similar feature set.

VooDoo/HP chose a user-replaceable battery that gives up about an hour's worth of power to the MBA. Interesting decision.

5. I don't know if people can notice this too but it also lacks ports like the air, As far as I know it only has 1 USB port.

It has two USB ports. One of the USB ports is inside of the eSATA jack.

It also has an Ethernet port on the power brick, which, in my opinion, is a pretty creative decision. People don't often use Ethernet without a power brick, so it makes sense.

[Philflow]

Why on earth get a windows machine?

Cause Firefox runs on Windows too.

I agree OS X is superior, but really i don't care so much. I'm quite happy running XP too.

[ert3]

ITs a voodoo PC ofcourse it is nice.

[wheezy]

For once someone (other than Apple) made a laptop without bumps all over the place... and it looks good! The ethernet in power brick is also creative... kudos to HP. That looks so much better than the VAIO... if I had to get a PC Laptop I'd consider this one quite a bit.

Thankfully I don't have to buy a PC, or use Windows... so my not as ultra but still portable white Macbook will suit me just fine.

[mkrishnan]

It's pretty -- really pretty -- but it's huge, and I think 3.4 lbs is firmly outside of anything that I'd call ultralight or subcompact.

[Shotgun OS]

It's a nice looking PC. Better than most I've seen. But it still doesn't look as nice as a Mac, and it still doesn't run OSX. If I were in the Windows world, I'd prolly buy that (if the specs are decent.)

[SodiumBenzoate]

It's pretty -- really pretty -- but it's huge, and I think 3.4 lbs is firmly outside of anything that I'd call ultralight or subcompact.

Sarcasm, I hope? :confused:

[mkrishnan]

Sarcasm, I hope? :confused:

No... it weighs almost twice as much as what I own now. :eek: Granted, it is more featureful and faster, but 3.4 lbs is too much. I guess it's not that large for a notebook with a 13" screen, but again... I'd rather they made it with a 12" screen (or even smaller) and it weighed half a pound less....

[savar]

Hi Guys,

What do u think of this?

http://www.electronista.com/articles/08/06/10/voodoo.envy.133.and.omen/

I used to work for HP, and let me say this: I will never, ever buy an HP laptop. Our discount was about 33% on HP products, but I purchased a macbook while I worked there instead.

The envy might have some neat engineering in it, but I have no doubt that it will be an overall letdown.

[SodiumBenzoate]

No... it weighs almost twice as much as what I own now. :eek: Granted, it is more featureful and faster, but 3.4 lbs is too much. I guess it's not that large for a notebook with a 13" screen, but again... I'd rather they made it with a 12" screen (or even smaller) and it weighed half a pound less....

What do you own currently?? An R500?

As far as 13" laptops go, this is very small. It weighs marginally more than the MBA and X300, and is thinner at its thickest point than both of them.

[NT1440]

frankly, i dont like the trackpad, those dots look raised to me, and i like smooth trackpads. if it is smooth, wtf is with the dots?

[SodiumBenzoate]

frankly, i dont like the trackpad, those dots look raised to me, and i like smooth trackpads. if it is smooth, wtf is with the dots?

Presumably they're dimples like many of HP's other trackpads. They feel basically smooth to the touch.

[mkrishnan]

What do you own currently?? An R500?

Eee... almost, as I said, but not quite 2x. For a 13" screen, yeah, it's not too badly sized. But I guess my standards have gone down in terms of what I think is as big or as heavy as an ultraportable can be. There are too many computers coming onto the market at 2.5 lbs or less to go for 3.4 lbs... again, for me.

[illtype]

vodoo is amazing. Dont know to much about there laptops. The omen is the best pc I have ever seen in real life...

[Scott6666]

Does it run OSX? Then it's not even in the running. Windows is DEAD! Why on earth get a windows machine?

Hackintosh it?

[dmw007]

The Voodoo Envy does look nice, but it is still a PeeCee.

Not sure what to think of the Omen though...it looks nice, but I like the design of my Mac Pro better. :)

[NT1440]

Presumably they're dimples like many of HP's other trackpads. They feel basically smooth to the touch.

i still dont like the way they look at all.

[Phillyzero]

Hmm, here's a rundown of the Envy (http://blog.laptopmag.com/voodoo-envy-133-mini-review-air-killer). I do give kudos to the look and such, the instant on thing seems pretty neat.

[punkybadhip]

Long video of Envy, shows it from every angle, and its powerbrick.

In addition, it shows the "Voodoo IOS" in short, you can check your email, or surf the internet without booting into your OS! Very nice feature for an ultra-portable!

This is very tempting for me, looks like I might consider trading my Mac for a ... PC!

The only thing that bothers me about the Voodoo, is that it looks "glossy" particularly when it is open. Glossy is bad, and rather tasteless.

Price is around US$2000.

http://www.engadget.com/2008/06/10/voodoo-floats-13-3-inch-envy-133-in-the-air/

[dmw007]

Hmm, here's a rundown of the Envy (http://blog.laptopmag.com/voodoo-envy-133-mini-review-air-killer). I do give kudos to the look and such, the instant on thing seems pretty neat.

I agree, the instant on feature is nice. :)

[mBurns]

I have one of the older Envys. This model is definitely a step-up. I'm surprised it is so nice for Voodoo's low end model. My Envy has a 12" screen, is green, and has a tattoo. I rarely use it these days since I love my MacBook Pro SO much!

[illtype]

very very nice

[ezekielrage_99]

I really do like the case design, very slick. However the killer for me would be no Mac OSX...

[carve]

Nothing comes close to competing with apple if it runs windows.

[Heavenkittykat]

it does look and sounds nice. I bought a macbook air and I still love my air after seeing that but now I want to own both. It seems that it polished the problems that macbook air has. I would have to say good job for all the makers of this machine

[ntrigue]

If it ran OSX and updated successfully I would get one tomorrow. Carbon-fiber...bad ass!

[KompleX]

i don't understand how people can say that laptop looks "nice". how can it be w/ those huge grills, squared design, unappealing material type, tasteless juxtaposition of black and white (especially when opened), and it is just too da*n glossy!

[SchneiderMan]

this owns apple mba..

[Watabou]

i don't understand how people can say that laptop looks "nice". how can it be w/ those huge grills, squared design, unappealing material type, tasteless juxtaposition of black and white (especially when opened), and it is just too da*n glossy!

I agree completely.

[em500]

I'm not a fan of HP and I personally find it to be a complete rip off of both the MBA and Intel's new laptop.. whatever it's called.. oh well..
Intel doesn't produce laptops. They did make a demo or concept laptop (http://gizmodo.com/gadgets/notebook-supermodel/intel-unveils-worlds-thinnest-laptop-almost-skinny-as-a-razr-263359.php) hoping to encourage some better designs from the laptop makers. And VooDoo has done so as intended.

[netdog]

It's okay...for a Windows box. I'll keep my MBA, thanks, but I can see why someone who wants a Windows machine might opt for this.

[wordmunger]

Hmm, here's a rundown of the Envy (http://blog.laptopmag.com/voodoo-envy-133-mini-review-air-killer). I do give kudos to the look and such, the instant on thing seems pretty neat.
Ah, that new review shows the power brick: another failing; it's enormous. Overall, it's pretty nice for a PC though. Even if it ran MacOS X, I think I'd probably still keep my MBA.

[Sesshi]

I have an Air and have just got rid of an X300, but this whole class of 13.3" machine is IMO in the half-ass area - especially the Air, but that's an argument for, well, many, many other threads.

X300 is not hugely short of a Sony SZ once you deck it out with everything, and the Envy 'starts from' 1.53Kg's. I'm sure the Envy will have significantly less build quality problems than the Air, but ultimately it's too heavy for what it is (a 2.5Ghz Penryn, dual X3100/8400m, 6-hour SZ's weight 'ends at' 1.79kg) and it's also kind of uninspiring-looking to me. Perhaps it's the colour but it just doesn't do it for me.

But it has some really nice touches - The power brick is one of the most innovative parts of the Envy. It incorporates a wifi access point with an RJ45 jack, so wherever you're charging it (with higher wattage than the chronically slow-charging Air) that has a cabled network port you can get online with the Envy. That is a great idea for roving people.

While the Envy doesn't tempt me, the Omen on the other hand - it looks great. I already own two 'Skulltrail' PC's at the moment but once it's available on these shores I may just have to shuffle them off for some other use and buy a couple of Omens with a similar spec.

[Scott6666]

Actually for the specs, it's also kind of expensive. MBA innards at MBP prices.

Wonder if it will be loud like the MBA though. Looks like a large vent over a large heat sink. May mean lower airflow over lots of fins.

[evirob]

I believe it's the best alternative to the MBA in the ultraportable segment if u're not comparing the OS, Sony's TZ is too small and Asus EE looks like a toy...

Took a look at the X300 and didn't like it too as the display is really a turnoff and it looks really dated.... Batt life with stock batt ain't good either...

Guess Voodoo copied loads of ideas from the MBA...LOL

[Sesshi]

I suppose whether you consider the TZ too small depends on whether you consider it your primary computer (which, like the Air it isn't really) or a true traveling companion. For me it's a quantum leap over the Air in terms of functionality in that mode.

[Westsider 4 Mac]

I believe it's the best alternative to the MBA in the ultraportable segment if u're not comparing the OS, Sony's TZ is too small and Asus EE looks like a toy...

Took a look at the X300 and didn't like it too as the display is really a turnoff and it looks really dated.... Batt life with stock batt ain't good either...

Guess Voodoo copied loads of ideas from the MBA...LOL

They address the shortcomings of the MBA as well. Fact is, the Voodoo is kinda sweet looking! I like the fact that the Apple MBA is being challenged to improve. Not a windows person by any stretch, but removable Battery and other improvements over the MBA make for a compelling comparison. :apple:, Keep stepping your game up....:D:apple:

[NT1440]

Ah, that new review shows the power brick: another failing; it's enormous. Overall, it's pretty nice for a PC though. Even if it ran MacOS X, I think I'd probably still keep my MBA.
just to be clear, the power brick doubles as a wifi extender or something similar, still doesnt any less enormous.

As for looks, i dont particularly like it, not my style.

For a windows machine, i guess its alright.

[Westsider 4 Mac]

go back and do more research on both laptops.

[SimD]

I just feel that the designers looked at an MBA, asked themselves what they could do to be "different", and then made the sides all right angles... Although I guess it happens quite a bit now days... all those iPhone posers.. hehe oh well..

[Chappers]

looks like an ugly macbook but better than the average PC laptop.

[Trip.Tucker]

actually, it is

http://gizmodo.com/395419/voodoos-envy-133-is-thinnest-notebook-alive-based-on-intel-metro-concept-laptop

No... its not.

[aussieinrome]

It's an incredibly ugly machine and it runs that dog of an OS, Vista!

[BongoBanger]

It's an incredibly ugly machine and it runs that dog of an OS, Vista!

Dear God, just stop. Please.

[Trip.Tucker]

Damn ugly machine and Vista just makes me barf.

[Consultant]

Funny their desktop mockup seems to be inspired by the Mac Pro.

No... it weighs almost twice as much as what I own now. :eek: Granted, it is more featureful and faster, but 3.4 lbs is too much. I guess it's not that large for a notebook with a 13" screen, but again... I'd rather they made it with a 12" screen (or even smaller) and it weighed half a pound less....

Someone needs to workout? I use my MBP as 17" iPod. Thank you.

[Antares]

It actually doesn't look too bad. But it doesn't have OSX...so that's an automatic "no buy" for me.

Regardless, it looks like PC makers are finally getting their act together (with regards to case design), thanks to Apple. The laptop and tower both look really good. But man...that laptop is going to be covered in a mighty nasty amount of smudges in no time.....

Time for Apple to continue it's lead of the design front!

[SodiumBenzoate]

No... its not.

No, it really is.

Thickest points:

MBA: .76"
Envy 133: .70"

I don't really see how you can argue that. It certainly doesn't mean the Envy is a better laptop, but it's thinner.

[LinMac]

That is dead sexy. It is very impressive coming from a builder other than Apple too.

I think we need to give credit where credit is due. This laptop might raise the bar a bit more for the next incarnation of the Macbook Air. Competition is good. :)

Edit: The Voodoo may run Windows Vista, but that doesn't mean it can't be replaced with Linux such as openSUSE or Ubuntu. :D

[monke]

I like the 'squareness' of the Voodoo, but that's about it. It looks thicker then the Air because its thicker in most places. Remember the Air gets as thick as 0.76" but the Voodoo is 0.70" thick.

The gloss is just asking for finger prints. It looks good none the less, probably the best looking PC laptop, but I like the MacBook Air a lot better for numerous reasons.

[jonswan]

It's pug ugly, and has the unfortunate distinction of using a garbage operating system. Why do we bother?

[Sedulous]

The problem with carbon fiber is that it is an insulator. That will make it more difficult to disperse heat. Aluminum is a conductor and will help remove heat.

[tom1971]

It does not even look half as sexy as the MBA.

[punkybadhip]

To people complaining about they just "copied" the MBA, try using common sense if you have any!

[Eidorian]

i don't understand how people can say that laptop looks "nice". how can it be w/ those huge grills, squared design, unappealing material type, tasteless juxtaposition of black and white (especially when opened), and it is just too da*n glossy!It's called ventilation. :rolleyes:

It is a glossy nightmare but the firmware level quick boot OS is a sexy feature.

[iNikon]

Does it run OSX? Then it's not even in the running. Windows is DEAD! Why on earth get a windows machine?


LOL, and to think people this ignorant really exist...

[SodiumBenzoate]

The problem with carbon fiber is that it is an insulator. That will make it more difficult to disperse heat. Aluminum is a conductor and will help remove heat.

Not to trash the MBA, which I think is a very nice notebook, but the aluminum certainly doesn't seem to help the MBA stay cool.

[NT1440]

Not to trash the MBA, which I think is a very nice notebook, but the aluminum certainly doesn't seem to help the MBA stay cool.

aluminum is a fantastic conductor of heat tho, if the case is warm i guess that just means its drawing a good amount AWAY from the components, which certainly cant be bad.

[SodiumBenzoate]

The gloss is just asking for finger prints.

Yeah.. Gloss finishes look awesome when they're clean, terrible when you actually have to touch them. I'm not really a fan of the trend towards gloss, though its understandable.. nothing looks better in marketing pictures..

[Eric.]

[snip]

So - my thoughts on the Envy. I think it looks more attractive than the MBA, but I really don't like the black keyboard on the Air. Otherwise they'd be about equal aesthetically. The black gloss will wind up being a pain to keep looking nice, unfortunately. If I really required to have an ultraportable like this it would be hard to choose between the two. It probably would come down to choosing an OS. I don't own a Mac just yet (Montevina MBP will be mine) so I can't say for sure that OS X would win me over.

Edit: And the Omen - I like the Mac Pro design better. And at those kind of prices, its stupid to buy any system unless its going to be a workstation. You could build something just as fast for half the price or less, especially with a name like Alienware or Voodoo involved.

[BongoBanger]

It's pug ugly, and has the unfortunate distinction of using a garbage operating system. Why do we bother?

Well obviously you don't.

[iMpathetic]

In the name of all that is good and holy, stop with the "it can't run OS X" ************.

Fist of all, yes it can!
Secondly, as a previous poster said, you guys' fanboyism should not go to that much of an extreme. Using what OS it runs as an argument is merely pathetic.

[aussieinrome]

LOL, and to think people this ignorant really exist...

Hahaha... it's more wishful thinking actually... but you can mistake it as ignorance if it makes you feel good about yourself.

[Sound Evolution]

Dear,

Well I like the cooling/vent system of the Envy. I think it is better then the MBA fan's which are placed onderneath. I hoped apple someday will adopt it in the MBA. It is almost impossible to use the MBA in bed or on my lap when I wear my long coat.

With kind regards,
Bas

[AboveTheChaos]

I'm a die hard Apple fan, but I have to admit it looks really good and it has features I wish my Air had. But, in the end, it doesn't run OS X. I've got both Macs and PCs and I just find myself really hating Vista more and more.

[Westsider 4 Mac]

They address the shortcomings of the MBA as well. Fact is, the Voodoo is kinda sweet looking! I like the fact that the Apple MBA is being challenged to improve. Not a windows person by any stretch, but removable Battery and other improvements over the MBA make for a compelling comparison. :apple:, Keep stepping your game up....:D:apple:

I still feel the same way...:D

[SodiumBenzoate]

aluminum is a fantastic conductor of heat tho, if the case is warm i guess that just means its drawing a good amount AWAY from the components, which certainly cant be bad.

I wasn't referring to the temperature of the case. The MBA has overheating issues and core shutdowns and such. The components aren't staying cool.

[Sesshi]

Edit: And the Omen - I like the Mac Pro design better. And at those kind of prices, its stupid to buy any system unless its going to be a workstation. You could build something just as fast for half the price or less, especially with a name like Alienware or Voodoo involved.

Is the Pro a workstation? Do you know what a workstation is?

With the cooling systems inside the Voodoos - which are not so far away from the cooling in one of my current PC's - it's going to be a heck of a lot better than the Pro at keeping itself cool under stress.

And right now, I much prefer Vista 64 for stability and flexibility on comparable hardware than Leopard. The cat is a real dog on these pretend workstations.

[iNikon]

I've got both Macs and PCs and I just find myself really hating Vista more and more.

Help me out here - why are you hating Vista so much?

[Insulin Junkie]

Definitely not nicer than the MBA, though if someone were to give me the white version of the voodoo I certainly wouldn't complain :)

[Insulin Junkie]

Help me out here - why are you hating Vista so much?

I know you didn't ask for my opinion, but I'll tell you why I dislike Vista.

1.) It runs slow. I don't care how fast your computer is, it could be faster if you were running a different OS. It carries too much extra baggage, takes up too much HD space, and my old computer that was fitted with 2 GB ram reminded me more of my mother's 8 year old computer running XP with 500 megs of ram.
2.) I installed it twice and both times it ****ed up my sound drivers and I had to get a repair man to fix it, before I found a cumbersome way to do it myself. I heard this is a common fault. All I keep hearing off people who installed Vista is how it wrecks havoc with your drivers.
3.) For all its supposed "wow" it's still a pretty ugly OS. Purchase WinCustomize to make it prettier. But really, do you want to have to pay for that?
4.) It closes its native applications for "security reasons". I could not use the volume control that came with the operating system because Vista kept shutting it down due to "suspicious memory usage", or something like that.
5.) The sidebar might look good at first, but it gets extremely annoying after a while. I ended up closing it and installing a freeware dock. (Nothing like OSX's dock, but hell). Using a dock seemed more practical and native for me.

I can see why some users would prefer a PC over a Mac, (After all they're usually cheaper, and some applications only really work well on a PC) but there is - in my mind - no single excuse to switch from XP to Vista. Not one. Although obviously I'd recommend buying a mac over a PC. A friend of mine's a PC computer repairman, and he owns a mac. I don't think I need to ask him why ;)

[iNikon]

I know you didn't ask for my opinion, but I'll tell you why I dislike Vista.

1.) It runs slow. I don't care how fast your computer is, it could be faster if you were running a different OS. It carries too much extra baggage, takes up too much HD space, and my old computer that was fitted with 2 GB ram reminded me more of my mother's 8 year old computer running XP with 500 megs of ram.

Not correct. I'm running Vista here on my desktop and it's faster than XP. Not only that, but it does everything faster than XP. Applications load instantly, it's rock solid, and I never had any issues with it. People that install Vista on an older machine? Sure, they will have issues. Vista is not meant for old machines - it's designed to take advantage of new hardware. I'm not a Vista fanboy - heck, I dogged it too in the beginning, but then I realized that experience really is the only answer here. Vista works great.



2.) I installed it twice and both times it ****ed up my sound drivers and I had to get a repair man to fix it, before I found a cumbersome way to do it myself. I heard this is a common fault. All I keep hearing off people who installed Vista is how it wrecks havoc with your drivers.
This sounds like an issue with your computer and not Vista. I use Vista for music production and again, it's rock solid. Vista's disk performance is much better than XP ever was. Any new OS will have some teething issues with drivers. Leopard was not exempt from this either.


3.) For all its supposed "wow" it's still a pretty ugly OS. Purchase WinCustomize to make it prettier. But really, do you want to have to pay for that?
That's subjective. Unlike many Apple fanboys, my OS does not have to look like a work of art - it just has to work, and Vista does that very well.


4.) It closes its native applications for "security reasons". I could not use the volume control that came with the operating system because Vista kept shutting it down due to "suspicious memory usage", or something like that.
I never had that happen. Sounds like your machine has issues and Vista is not to blame.


5.) The sidebar might look good at first, but it gets extremely annoying after a while. I ended up closing it and installing a freeware dock. (Nothing like OSX's dock, but hell). Using a dock seemed more practical and native for me.
It can be customzed any way you want. If you don't like it, don't use it. Again, this is subjective.


I can see why some users would prefer a PC over a Mac, (After all they're usually cheaper, and some applications only really work well on a PC) but there is - in my mind - no single excuse to switch from XP to Vista. Not one. Although obviously I'd recommend buying a mac over a PC. A friend of mine's a PC computer repairman, and he owns a mac. I don't think I need to ask him why ;)

XP worked great for me, just like Vista does. On a current machine with proper hardware, Vista is faster... Much faster. Again, its disk performance fantastic, but again, on a current machine. It's a popular trend (especially here) to bash Vista, and most of these people bashing it have either never used it, or heard from a friend "that installed it on a two year old Dell". Come on people, I thought the Mac was a "think forward" machine? Vista can't be a "think forward" OS?

Let's also remember that Vista and XP don't have the luxury of being built to support a "Microsoft PC" like OSX has. I do not think Vista is perfect, but if you dig a little deeper, you'll see it can be tweaked far beyond what most people think.

[BongoBanger]

Err, can I also point out that Leopard has about the same HDD footprint as Vista and actually has more lines of code? Plus it's on its third service pack already whereas Vista is on its first.

[NT1440]

Not correct. I'm running Vista here on my desktop and it's faster than XP. Not only that, but it does everything faster than XP. Applications load instantly, it's rock solid, and I never had any issues with it. People that install Vista on an older machine? Sure, they will have issues. Vista is not meant for old machines - it's designed to take advantage of new hardware. I'm not a Vista fanboy - heck, I dogged it too in the beginning, but then I realized that experience really is the only answer here. Vista works great.


Let's also remember that Vista and XP don't have the luxury of being built to support a "Microsoft PC" like OSX has. I do not think Vista is perfect, but if you dig a little deeper, you'll see it can be tweaked far beyond what most people think.

Hey, im running Vista on a brand new toshiba satellite

2GB RAM
120 GB HDD
AMD Turion 64 Dual Core


What exactly isnt good enough to supposedly run vista right?:rolleyes:

When switching from any program to another, Explorer.EXE crashes, aim freezes up regularly, windows movie make , well, we just wont tlk about that train work.

Its sad when your opperating system has to luck into running right.

[BongoBanger]

Hey, im running Vista on a brand new toshiba satellite

2GB RAM
120 GB HDD
AMD Turion 64 Dual Core


What exactly isnt good enough to supposedly run vista right?:rolleyes:

When switching from any program to another, Explorer.EXE crashes, aim freezes up regularly, windows movie make , well, we just wont tlk about that train work.

Its sad when your opperating system has to luck into running right.

Take the porn off your machine. :)

But seriously, you may want to check your drivers are up to date and install SP1 if you haven't already.

[iNikon]

Take the porn off your machine. :)

But seriously, you may want to check your drivers are up to date and install SP1 if you haven't already.


Or better yet, I'm willing to blame Toshiba for the bloatware they likely configured the machine with. Unfortunately, I always format and reinstall the OS on any new Dell I buy and that's been the way to go. Once done, everything is perfect.

[NT1440]

Or better yet, I'm willing to blame Toshiba for the bloatware they likely configured the machine with. Unfortunately, I always format and reinstall the OS on any new Dell I buy and that's been the way to go. Once done, everything is perfect.

Im no fool when it comes to my comp, ive gotten rid of any unused crap (except the vista part;) ), the crashing just happens when it happens.

and to the guy above me i dont download porn on my comp, i just watch it via website:cool: lol

[alphaod]

It looks nice, but I think Voodoo is a boutique brand not a mainstream brand...

[SodiumBenzoate]

It looks nice, but I think Voodoo is a boutique brand not a mainstream brand...

It is, as much as a company owned by HP can be a "boutique".

[conchshell]

nice computer, i especially like that it has backlit keys. i've had good experiences with hp laptops personally, but i bet you are not given an xp option on this computer. I am also one of those who would ditch vista completely if i could.

[Shackler]

i do think its actually nicer than the MBA cant lie.
BUT my good friend vista is under the hood:eek:

[JCT]

Having owner a Voodoo Envy laptop in the past I wouldn't touch one without hearing it first -- mine sounded like an airplane taking off. If you guys think that the Air fans are annoying -- whoa boy, this is a whole different level of sound.

Had to relegate mine to a lab environment where the noise didn't annoy others. Not to mention the terrible Voodoo service.

Maybe things have changed for the better since they were bought by HP, but I wouldn't never buy one again.


JT

[Vster]

IMO the prettiest windows based laptop. Like the minimalist style. But I still really like the Air. :D :apple:

[iNikon]

Im no fool when it comes to my comp, ive gotten rid of any unused crap (except the vista part;) ), the crashing just happens when it happens.

and to the guy above me i dont download porn on my comp, i just watch it via website:cool: lol

Well if you're no fool, then you should have Vista running perfectly, shouldn't you? It's not the software, and unless you have an issue with the computer, it's not the computer. It's how it's configured.

[NT1440]

Well if you're no fool, then you should have Vista running perfectly, shouldn't you? It's not the software, and unless you have an issue with the computer, it's not the computer. It's how it's configured.

yes, because every tech savvy person has absolutly no problems with vista at all:rolleyes:

vista is downright **** and everyone knows it. it seems to me the ppl running it with no problem are generally just the people that got lucky.

[SodiumBenzoate]

Having owner a Voodoo Envy laptop in the past I wouldn't touch one without hearing it first -- mine sounded like an airplane taking off. If you guys think that the Air fans are annoying -- whoa boy, this is a whole different level of sound.

Had to relegate mine to a lab environment where the noise didn't annoy others. Not to mention the terrible Voodoo service.

Maybe things have changed for the better since they were bought by HP, but I wouldn't never buy one again.


JT


This laptop is completely different than previous VooDoo laptops - it's not a gaming laptop. You haven't heard this laptop, and there's really no reason to expect it to be terribly loud.

yes, because every tech savvy person has absolutly no problems with vista at all:rolleyes:

vista is downright **** and everyone knows it. it seems to me the ppl running it with no problem are generally just the people that got lucky.

I guess I could have gotten lucky, but it's been great for me. Doesn't seem slow at all, and I haven't had any stability issues whatsoever.

[SodiumBenzoate]

I just feel that the designers looked at an MBA, asked themselves what they could do to be "different", and then made the sides all right angles...

Or they could have done the much more likely thing, and looked at the Intel Metro concept (which was revealed 8 months before the MBA) and based it off that.

[Roller]

In the name of all that is good and holy, stop with the "it can't run OS X" ************.

Fist of all, yes it can!
Secondly, as a previous poster said, you guys' fanboyism should not go to that much of an extreme. Using what OS it runs as an argument is merely pathetic.

I'm not going to say anything about Vista either way - I've never used it. For those who want to run it on a lightweight laptop, the Envy looks great. But don't call those of us who won't buy one because it can't run OS X without hacking pathetic fanboys. Give me a way to take a retail copy of OS X and run it on the Envy without hacking and I'd consider it. You may feel comfortable trusting your work to a kludge, but I don't.

And by the way, if invoking the phrase "all that is good and holy" in this context isn't extremism, I don't know what is.

[JCT]

This laptop is completely different than previous VooDoo laptops - it's not a gaming laptop. You haven't heard this laptop, and there's really no reason to expect it to be terribly loud.


Sorry, mine wasn't sold as a gaming laptop, I don't use laptops for games (have never played a computer game in my life.) I wouldn't expect or assume anything from this company a priori.

JT

[ahaxton]

First machine to come along that does give me a bit of motivation to get rid of my MBA and get the envy.

[aussieinrome]

After seeing the video, I must say it looks quite nice... His 5 seconds to run skype was more like 20. So Vista takes how long to boot?

[BongoBanger]

I guess I could have gotten lucky, but it's been great for me. Doesn't seem slow at all, and I haven't had any stability issues whatsoever.

Actually that's the norm. Vista just doesn't seem to like some component combinations though.

[mBurns]

Sorry, mine wasn't sold as a gaming laptop, I don't use laptops for games (have never played a computer game in my life.) I wouldn't expect or assume anything from this company a priori.

JT

Yeah, the fans on my Envy are loud too. I also agree Voodoo customer service isn't too good. Granted, they built this case instead of purchasing them like for their old PCs but I'd be hesitant to buy another.

[Savagestorm]

Wow, nice for a pc, but that looks like an intense fingerprint magnet.

[jessica.]

I really like it. I guess if I needed a windows machine I'd buy that.

[iNikon]

yes, because every tech savvy person has absolutly no problems with vista at all:rolleyes:

vista is downright **** and everyone knows it. it seems to me the ppl running it with no problem are generally just the people that got lucky.


LOL, ignorance sure is bliss, isn't it? I must be extremely lucky, since I have Vista installed on 14 PCs at my office - all different - and I haven't had a single issue with any of them. Not one. We game on them, we use some for file servers, and we even use some for watching HD movies. Wow, and all work perfectly, 100% of the time.

Get off the fanboy pills.

[SodiumBenzoate]

Sorry, mine wasn't sold as a gaming laptop

I wasn't aware that VooDoo had ever sold any non-gaming laptops before this one. What were the specs?

And honestly, anyone who bought a VooDoo in the past couple years probably made a poor decision. The markup was ridiculous for something that was just a rebadged Clevo with a very nice paintjob.

[SodiumBenzoate]

So Vista takes how long to boot?

Chances are it will boot very quickly with the SSD model and slowly with the HDD.

FWIW, it takes my Vista desktop about two minutes to boot, though I have a much faster HDD than the one in the Envy.

[mhnajjar]

The MBA is sexier, sleeker and the most important thing (runs OS X!)

[JCT]

I wasn't aware that VooDoo had ever sold any non-gaming laptops before this one. What were the specs?

And honestly, anyone who bought a VooDoo in the past couple years probably made a poor decision. The markup was ridiculous for something that was just a rebadged Clevo with a very nice paintjob.

Bought by the company-- their video + RAM configs + fast hard drives were always ahead of the curve, very fast at running some of our proprietary imaging and modeling apps. Just way too loud....distracting in meetings.

JT

[ravenvii]

Watching that video really shows how thin the Envy is. It *is* a very nice-looking laptop. I agree that it's a glossy nightmare, however. At least in that video it seems so. Maybe in real life the gloss is less of an issue.

One thing I did note is that the power block isn't bad at all. I read posts of people saying that the block is huge, etc. But I think it's not that bad. Not all that bigger than my MacBook Pro's power adapter (old, large version).

To be honest, I really do like the look of that laptop, right angles and all.

[iMpathetic]

This is a post 50% or more of people here probably need to see.

Anyway, on the subject of Vista (and the new Envy is hawt BTW :D), I'm running a Q6600 with only 2GB RAM with dual WUXGA monitors, all sorts of different brands of hardware, plus doing video editing and Vista has not given me a single problem.

So, no matter how much the IT guys say it's horrible and no one runs it well, they're wrong. While I do admit that Vista generally more bug-ridden than XP (at least at the onset), it's by no means a horrid OS.

[bsheridan]

That is one sweet looking notebook!
I can't help but thinking when looking at the galleries on their site (http://www.voodoopc.com/#/home) that the computers look like pc versions of apples lines :D

On the envy 133 -
power button in basically the same place as the macbook lines,
No latch,
'Voodoo' logo in same place as on macbook lines,
No disc drive similar to MBA,
Quickboot interface looks suprisingly like apples dock.

I guess it was inevitable :p:p

Does any1 have any hands on experience with it?

[alphaod]

I would get the X300 any day.

[Ankaa]

Tell me, what's the REAL important difference between the Air and the envy?

It's got about the same dimensions, weight, processor, same graphics chip, disc space and options (80GB at same speed vs 64 SSD), no included superdrive, without ethernet-port...at about the same price.

wow cool, it got one more usb-port. but it doesn't have OS X and in my opinion isn't that beautiful at all. and what's the sense in making an ultralight notebook and give it a heavy power adapter? (well besides that it can transform ethernet lan to wifi...what's the real sense in that anyway?)

[mhnajjar]

The Envy's battery sucks big time. In addition, the Envy is warmer and heavier. In other words, it cannot compete with the MBA even with its flaws. I am sure the refreshed MBA would show what I am talking about more.

[Molopo]

mhnajjar: I wonder where you came up with those assumptions. As far as I know, the Envy has not even been shipped to anyone, and the only thing people know about it is what they've gleaned from the few videos by the president of VooDoo. How, then, can you know the Envy is warmer and "has a sucky battery"?

[mhnajjar]

mhnajjar: I wonder where you came up with those assumptions. As far as I know, the Envy has not even been shipped to anyone, and the only thing people know about it is what they've gleaned from the few videos by the president of VooDoo. How, then, can you know the Envy is warmer and "has a sucky battery"?

There are reviews about the Envy already, haven't you done your HW? :p

Maybe I got one! :eek:


Well, take a look at this for instance, http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1895,2326435,00.asp

:cool:

[Molopo]

There are reviews about the Envy already, haven't you done your HW? :p

Maybe I got one! :eek:


Well, take a look at this for instance, http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1895,2326435,00.asp

:cool:

Oh. :eek:
Had no idea there were reviews out and they were shipping Envy's already. I only searched about 2 days ago...

In any case, thank you and accept my deepest apologies.

[mhnajjar]

Oh. :eek:
Had no idea there were reviews out and they were shipping Envy's already. I only searched about 2 days ago...

In any case, thank you and accept my deepest apologies.

It's okay :)

[ayeying]

The envy would be nicer if they included a different video card. Even the ATi's HD3200 Integrated would work nicely.

[waffle911]

I see some Mac people envy the "envy". Hence the name. Why hasn't anyone said this yet in 25 posts?

Also, for a laptop like this, I highly doubt VooDoo had much choice in its graphics solution. Intel does not play nice with AMD/ATi in notebooks, so the AMD M780G chipset is out of the question unless VooDoo was willing to go AMD all the way. Intel outclasses AMD in outright CPU performance and power efficiency (though at a higher price), and VooDoo was not about to make that compromise.

As a general electronics nerd, I have to wonder how many people have previously heard of VooDoo PC before or are even familiar with their old product lineup.

HP has finally changed everything -- for the better. The old lineup was outrageously expensive compared to competitors such as Falcon NorthWest, Alienware, and Velocity Micro. Their notebooks were mostly nicely painted generic MSI Whitebooks, their towers were beautifully crafted, painted, had a window, white CCFL light and water cooling. And could easily be configured to cost over $15,000 for a NON-workstation based desktop. They also dabbled in custom Shuttle PC's, a micro desktop like the Mac Mini, a media center with a touchscreen panel built in, and an ultra-quiet with a tank-like case that was its own heatsink. Everything was over priced. Everything came in custom colors, some with "VooDoo Tatoos", but it all looked good, for an enthusiast PC. And they were Canadian.

Now, I'm reluctant to call it the same company; they built the Blackbird 002 (which is spectacularly engineered, better than their own old cases, but more plasticy) for HP, and for the first time I can remember, built a laptop from their own design. Or rather, redesigned the MacBook Air into an edgy, futuristic high-purpose clone. They really pulled an Apple on this one. Make something so basic, clean, and generic that it is completely original. Except, ya know, Apple did it first. And second. And many more times afterward.

[alphaod]

As a general electronics nerd, I have to wonder how many people have previously heard of VooDoo PC before or are even familiar with their old product lineup.


Their older models used generics chassis with expensive paint.

As an electronics nerd you should know it's Voodoo, not VooDoo. ;)

[Ankaa]

*lool*

The Envy 133's dimensions (9 by 12.7 by 0.7 inches, HWD) are thinner than those of the Air (8.9 by 12.8 by 0.7 inches, HWD) at its thickest part

Can you please tell me where it is thinner? Come on, that's ridiculous

Just read that report linked on page 1 and I'm convinced one more time that it's just a black copy of the MBA for all those, who don't like round edges

[gkarris]

overrated...

[waffle911]

Their older models used generics chassis with expensive paint.

As an electronics nerd you should know it's Voodoo, not VooDoo. ;)

No, they weren't really generics, they were (very) expensive aluminum chassis, possibly made by LianLi, but modified with a custom front face mesh and side panel, and mirror-finish innards. With expensive paint.

VooDoo was more of a joke on my part, partly because they were way more overpriced than any Mac, and because their display at some expo in New York (I think it was PC World's Future of Gaming or something) was absolute crap with broken driving simulators and no organization for getting people to take turns (as well as a poorly fabricated display structure). HP's Blackbird display was much better, ironically.

[tMac85]

Does anyone know anything about Voodoo Computers? They introduced a new computer The Envy, stating it is better designed and thinner overall than the macbook Air? What are your thoughts? Reliable computer company? Or are they all about the looks and not about the power?

Here is a link to the Envys website.

http://www.voodoopc.com/#/productsenvy

[iPave]

Voodoos are Hewlett-Packards

[NextTuesday]

Voodoo is now owned by HP, I believe. So they're pretty solid. That notebook your on about is absolutely beautiful, it starts at mid-2k though. The Lenovo Ideapad U110 (http://shop.lenovo.com/SEUILibrary/controller/e/web/LenovoPortal/en_US/catalog.workflow:category.details?current-catalog-id=12F0696583E04D86B9B79B0FEC01C087&current-category-id=BB7A3067A7454A81BE04E9B145EF0BFA) is similar to the Voodoo (and similarly priced too ;)).

[glitch44]

One word: Vista.

Vista kills any desire I have for other laptops. If they made a thinkpad with Leopard I'd be all over it, but I can't just handle Vista.

[NextTuesday]

One word: Vista.

Vista kills any desire I have for other laptops. If they made a thinkpad with Leopard I'd be all over it, but I can't just handle Vista.

That's usually my first thought. The second being OS X86.

[SFStateStudent]

I expect to pay $400 - $900 for an HP laptop, so that's where I'm at with this overpriced Vista running paperweight...:p

[thebrain74]

I hopes you like black, because any other color is an extra $500-600

[Stampyhead]

That notebook your on about is absolutely beautiful...

You think so? I think it looks like a cheap Macbook knock-off. I much prefer the look of the Macbook and Powerbook (and to a lesser extent the Air) to that one.

[mobilehaathi]

I hopes you like black, because any other color is an extra $500-600

LOL that's even worse than Apple!!

And you know, on looking at it a bit closer, I'd rather just buy the Air...

[jessica.]

For the specs you get starting at $2k I'd rather get a MB. Though I do find them to be quite slick.

[Roller]

Say what you want about their aesthetics, but the recent crop of ultra-light laptops has really set new targets for Apple to meet with the Air. At a minimum, they'll have to offer a larger SSD or HDD and improved battery life.

[SFStateStudent]

Say what you want about their aesthetics, but the recent crop of ultra-light laptops has really set new targets for Apple to meet with the Air. At a minimum, they'll have to offer a larger SSD or HDD and improved battery life.

All the specs on this HP match the MBA...

[tMac85]

Say what you want about their aesthetics, but the recent crop of ultra-light laptops has really set new targets for Apple to meet with the Air. At a minimum, they'll have to offer a larger SSD or HDD and improved battery life.

yeah for apples standards. the air was shafted.

[NT1440]

i dont like the dot/bumpy trackpad thing

that and, vista = no go

the instant os thing sounds interesting but really i think its just to make up for the loooong time vista takes to boot.

[NT1440]

yeah for apples standards. the air was shafted.

u gotta remember that they set the trend tho, of course the competetors are going to up the ante, now we need to see if the air 2 will take the lead

[tMac85]

u gotta remember that they set the trend tho, of course the competetors are going to up the ante, now we need to see if the air 2 will take the lead

i agree. i hope the specs on the next air are somewhat close to the current macbooks. i mean, 80gb hardrives....come on, their ipods at their least have that capacity!


THe voodoo envy to me just looks sick. Very clean and streamlined. and i agree, i dont like the trackpad. a nice smooth one would fit better with the design. but i would love to see the ENVY in person. Pick it up and see how light it really is. Anyone know Does it have a removable battery?

[mobilehaathi]

Anyone know Does it have a removable battery?

The downloadable tech specs on the site indicated that it was. So I guess that's the one thing it has on the MBA.

[Tosser]

I really don't like the MBA, but this has the same glossy screen at the same poor resolution, and on top of that the entire exterior is glossy :(

Even though that most specs are the exact same, it does have some real stuff over the supersized PDA called the MacBook Air:

*LED-backlit keyboard

*Two (2!) kensington slots

*expresscard slot (!)

*1 USB/e-Sata on top of a normal USB-port

Four pretty nice additions to the crippled MBA, making this a much more useful piece of machinery.

I still wouldn't buy it though. I really, really dislike glossy.

Edit:
The downloadable tech specs on the site indicated that it was. So I guess that's the one thing it has on the MBA.

I forgot that one. The standard practice of actually being able to remove the battery. Afaik, only the mba doesn't do that, so I guess I just took it for granted from anyone else but Apple.

[tMac85]

I do hate that they put a glossy screen on the macbook air. I have a matte mbp, and a glossy mb. and i HATE the screen on the macbook. Of course the MBP has a led screen, the macbook screen is just ******. not bright enough for me.

[mkrishnan]

It seems fairly nice, but it's ridiculously heavy for an ultraportable notebook....

[Tosser]

It seems fairly nice, but it's ridiculously heavy for an ultraportable notebook....

Well, it does have more slots and ports than the MBA, and the MBA isn't an ultraportable either. Hell, the MBA has less useful slots and ports than any decent pda.

[chrono1081]

Voodoo PC = Overpriced POS. Seriously.

Even before they were HP owned they were overpriced and underspeced. There were many many better gaming PC options out there that gave you a lot more for the price. They aren't a problematic computer but they are not even close to being worth what they charge.

Also I'm not sure where everyone seems to think HP is making good computers at the moment because they are not. 2 and 3 years ago they were unstoppable in the quality and reliability department but right now with the new ones all I see is harddrive, wifi (card goes bad), and cd rom problems. Not to mention they seem to run vista slower then most of the other vista computers we have. I dont want to sound like I'm hp bashing but their latest models just do not impress me.

[tominated]

I expect to pay $400 - $900 for an HP laptop, so that's where I'm at with this overpriced Vista running paperweight...:p

if voodoo wasn't owned by hp, like they used to be, you'd be paying ~$3000 or so. voodoo are a very exclusive gaming pc manufacturer, just look at the voodoo omen (i don't know why they didn't make a new envy for gaming though).

[tominated]

Voodoo PC = Overpriced POS. Seriously.

Even before they were HP owned they were overpriced and underspeced. There were many many better gaming PC options out there that gave you a lot more for the price. They aren't a problematic computer but they are not even close to being worth what they charge.

Also I'm not sure where everyone seems to think HP is making good computers at the moment because they are not. 2 and 3 years ago they were unstoppable in the quality and reliability department but right now with the new ones all I see is harddrive, wifi (card goes bad), and cd rom problems. Not to mention they seem to run vista slower then most of the other vista computers we have. I dont want to sound like I'm hp bashing but their latest models just do not impress me.

hp don't make the voodoo pc's, they are hand made by the technicians at voodoo (sorry bout the double post)

[MajereXYU]

The one thing the Voodoo has that I find really innovative :

the power brick has an ethernet port, allowing you to connect to your home/business network.

How does the data get to the laptop? Wirelessly. Yes, you read correctly.

The power brick doubles as a Wi-Fi access point.

I would've expected something creative like this from Apple, but hey, you gotta give credit where credit is due.

[QCassidy352]

Even though that most specs are the exact same, it does have some real stuff over the supersized PDA called the MacBook Air:

*LED-backlit keyboard

MBA has that.

[NT1440]

The one thing the Voodoo has that I find really innovative :

the power brick has an ethernet port, allowing you to connect to your home/business network.

How does the data get to the laptop? Wirelessly. Yes, you read correctly.

The power brick doubles as a Wi-Fi access point.

I would've expected something creative like this from Apple, but hey, you gotta give credit where credit is due.

ive also read on Gizmodo (i beileive that was the site) that the power brick is just that, a massive brick

[Definity]

I saw carbon fibre mentioned. :D

[Tosser]

MBA has that.

I guessed I missed that part because I was thinking of the MBA as a pared down MB. :p

[chrono1081]

hp don't make the voodoo pc's, they are hand made by the technicians at voodoo (sorry bout the double post)

That was my bad. I was talking two separate computers but after rereading my post I made it sound like one.

Voodoo makes very nice computers, but they are overpriced big time.

HP used to make awesome laptops, about 2 - 3 years ago but somewhere they took a turn and their latest ones are not even close to what they used to be. I own 4 of them and work on many many more and you can see way more problems with the new ones then the old ones.