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MBP 13" Base or Hp Envy 14.5"?

OriginalNot said:
Why on earth would I come to MacRumours to convince myself to get an Envy? I come here for you to convince me that MBP is a better deal will be better suited to my needs and such.
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I get your point and it makes perfect sense to come here with another computer in mind but you would like to get ideas on why a MBP would be good idea against this HP. But I don't think you're getting my point. Each time someone points out an attractive feature in the MBP, you rebuttal it and say, "I don't care about that, the HP Envy will be work fine for me without that feature.....", and each time someone gives you some constructive criticisms about the HP, you rebuttal saying, "I don't care about that, I haven't had any problems with HP's......"
It's not really discussion of help, it's more a fight between you and the forum because you're not open to the good points about the MBP. I came to this thread to offer some good points of the MBP for you but I feel like you are gonna shoot me down.
Again, if you like the HP, and obviously it has amazing specs that are much better than the MBP then why not just get it?
 
HLdan said:
Again, if you like the HP, and obviously it has amazing specs that are much better than the MBP then why not just get it?
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Mainly because I've heard that HP products are made really cheaply. They break down easily if what I've heard is correct. MBP on the other hand seems to rarely need repairs and such but when you do dang the price is expensive if you're not still under warranty.

Speaking of the warranty it is absolutely amazing. From what I've heard apple is often willing to completely replace the product if it is malfunctioning? What really sells me on the warranty is that anytime during the first year I can add on to it and have the full three years.
 
I went ahead and bought a MBP 15" i5 AG.

The Envy 14 though really looks like a good deal but in the end I wanted to try OSX for sometime now, the MBP looks better, support is better and resale value is good incase something better shows up. Also I was sick of waiting and the Envy is still not released and the Envy15 really sucked.

The pros are:
You have decent Windows 7 support. You don't have to restart for games, but can simply fire them up. Yes steam is coming to Mac but the performance sucks. Details are lower and it still has fewer fps. Runnin Windows7 on the MBP for a longer time sucks because of the bad drivers. Terrible Idle battery life and temps. It is ridiculous that Win7 and OSX get the same battery life on playing some movie but Win7 has an Idle batterylife that is equal to its playback battery life. There are a lot of power management options not available in Windows.
Awesome battery life in general. HP says up to 7 hours with one battery. It is probably more life 4-5 but with the 12 cell slice your get a real usable battery life of 10+ hours which is probably double the MBP. And you don't have to carry around the battery if you don't need too.
It has a 5650 1GB with Eyefinity support. It powers two ext. displays. The 5650 has probably a lot more overclocking head room than a 330M and performs a lot better anyway in games.
You don't have to deal with the ****ed up auto switching Apple so brilliantly implemented. Windows 7 doesn't need a restart or log out either, but it makes a little glitch. It is with ATI cards the same hardware tech.
You get otherwise also a good screen but no AG option so I'd have to use an AG film.
The Envy is also a lot cheaper compared to 15". With i5 and a battery slice you will probably be arround the 13" MBP price.

Compared to the 13" it has also the better high res and brighter screen and significantly more performance. Envy 14 vs 13" MBP is hardly comparable in performance.
 
Bill Gates said:
I hope you like talking to India when (not if) your HP has problems. That's a HUGE reason to NOT buy one.
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What's wrong with talking to people from India??
That comment is a bit ignorant especially considering most of the tech company execs and engineers are Indians....
 
TheNewDude said:
What's wrong with talking to people from India??
That comment is a bit ignorant especially considering most of the tech company execs and engineers are Indians....
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My comment isn't ignorant at all. Obviously you haven't had to deal with the perpetual incompetence of outsourced technical support.
 
Bill Gates said:
My comment isn't ignorant at all. Obviously you haven't had to deal with the perpetual incompetence of outsourced technical support.
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I have dealt with enough US based tech support to also know that "poor" support and service isn't an Indian phenomenon.
 
Bill Gates said:
My comment isn't ignorant at all. Obviously you haven't had to deal with the perpetual incompetence of outsourced technical support.
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TheNewDude said:
I have dealt with enough US based tech support to also know that "poor" support and service isn't an Indian phenomenon.
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djasterix said:
I have to agree, mexican support for HP is just incompetent and arrogant, they made me turn to Apple... Thanks HP...
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I avoid Apple Stores and the associated phone support like the plague.

I'm lucky enough to have the luxury of an AASP within walking distance.
 
I just switched from windows to Mac, I just want to say that I love the OS and the build of the MBP feel so solid.

Just want to give you a head up.
I talked to several people owning HP laptops and salespeople in retail stores.
People owning HP computer all had problem with the heat. There is clearly a heat issue with the HP laptops. The problem occurs after about 1 year of use according to salespeople I've talked to. To prevent the heat issue or try to prevent it to occur this early, you should buy a coolingpad for it. According to the salespeople, HP is well known for their heat issue?

My GF have a HP and it's almost 2 years old. Some weeks ago it died after struggling with heat and screen problems. Same thing happened to her sister's HP.

However, maybe they have fixed this in the Envy? Don't know if the people i know is just unlucky or if it's a known problem?

Anyway, the HP envy is indeed a very nice computer. And it is probably a better gaming computer.
But the MBP is also a really solid and nice laptop :cool:
 
Daiken said:
I just switched from windows to Mac, I just want to say that I love the OS and the build of the MBP feel so solid.

Just want to give you a head up.
I talked to several people owning HP laptops and salespeople in retail stores.
People owning HP computer all had problem with the heat. There is clearly a heat issue with the HP laptops. The problem occurs after about 1 year of use according to salespeople I've talked to. To prevent the heat issue or try to prevent it to occur this early, you should buy a coolingpad for it. According to the salespeople, HP is well known for their heat issue?

My GF have a HP and it's almost 2 years old. Some weeks ago it died after struggling with heat and screen problems. Same thing happened to her sister's HP.

However, maybe they have fixed this in the Envy? Don't know if the people i know is just unlucky or if it's a known problem?

Anyway, the HP envy is indeed a very nice computer. And it is probably a better gaming computer.
But the MBP is also a really solid and nice laptop :cool:
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I've owned a few laptops over years.

Details starting with the first laptop i ever bought...

1. Compaq - Defective motherboard and trackpad. Futureshop replaced the computer under there warranty within 6 months after purchase for a SONY laptop. (At that time Compaq was a premium brand NOT owned by HP)

2. SONY - Lasted me about 2.5 years. The HDD was about to crash according to diagnostics and the screen had a very annoying line running through it. Futureshop deemed it too expensive to fix and replaced it.

3. Compaq - This was a massive laptop, but I picked it when Futureshop replaced my Sony. Lasted me 2 years. HDD gave up on this one too. Futureshop couldn't find parts for it and eventually had to replace it cause they couldn't repair it within 30 days. (At that time Futureshop offered a 30 day repair guarantee)

4. HP - This one was the replacement for the Compaq from Futureshop. Came with a 12 cell extended battery which use to last me 7 hours. I've had the laptop for 4.5 years now. Still works just fine. Haven't had ANY problems with it. Haven't had to take it in for a SINGLE repair. Still works perfectly. I just wanted something new and fast so I bought a MacBook Pro, but the HP is still working hard!


So out of all the laptops I've owned, the HP has been the only one which hasn't required a single repair.
Will let you know how things go with the MBP.
 
You keep pointing out price as a factor. Did you just not bother to read my post?
 
OriginalNot said:
Mainly because I've heard that HP products are made really cheaply. They break down easily if what I've heard is correct. MBP on the other hand seems to rarely need repairs and such but when you do dang the price is expensive if you're not still under warranty.

Speaking of the warranty it is absolutely amazing. From what I've heard apple is often willing to completely replace the product if it is malfunctioning? What really sells me on the warranty is that anytime during the first year I can add on to it and have the full three years.
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if you can, get the high end macbook pro 13" or the best option would be macbook pro 15" base. since you are studying, you have the option to switch to intel hd graphics, which saves your battery life by quite a lot with the 13" it has no intel hd graphics since it still uses a C2D while the 15" uses an i5. give the 15" a shot or save up for it. trust me, its worth it. my macbook pro was bought 1 month before this spectacular update.. im stil stuck with this little annoying 9400m. if you get a little to close to apple, the 9400m will stick in your mind.. eww
 
peakchua said:
if you can, get the high end macbook pro 13" or the best option would be macbook pro 15" base. since you are studying, you have the option to switch to intel hd graphics, which saves your battery life by quite a lot with the 13" it has no intel hd graphics since it still uses a C2D while the 15" uses an i5. give the 15" a shot or save up for it. trust me, its worth it. my macbook pro was bought 1 month before this spectacular update.. im stil stuck with this little annoying 9400m. if you get a little to close to apple, the 9400m will stick in your mind.. eww
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The $1,499 MacBook Pro 13" offers no benefits worth the price increase over the base model.

You're looking at the base 13" model to the base 15" model.
 
I really wish I could get the 15" but it's just not feasible for me to pay $2000 for a computer right now. If I had the money that would definitely be my first choice, but seeing as I don't it comes done to the future viability of the 13".
 
Well I'm ordering my MBP 13" tonight. The warranty and quality have won me over. I'll let you all know how it goes.
 
vant said:
If your a college student, the MBP is going to be half the cost during it's life with you.

$1200 Base
$1100 Student
-$150 (Free iPod Touch, Sell on eBay)
-$75 (Free Printer, sell)
$875 After Rebates

2 years down the road, sell it for $500.

Cost to own? $375 for two years (Conservative estimates, my GF sold her 2007 macbook in 2009 for $730 after buying it for $950)

HP ENVY?

$1000 Base
No rebates

2 Years down the road, be lucky to sell it for more then $250 (if there is anyone who wants to buy this crap).

Cost to own? At least $750.

Your choice. On top of that, you have a walk-in warranty and the best designed notebook in the world bar none.
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I am sorry but I have to disagree. After getting my MBP I can still see a lot of design flaws that came with it.
 
OriginalNot said:
Such as?
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Well the keyboard for one

Spilling any liquid onto it is a sure way to fried the internal components of your macbook Pro. My old HP 17 inch laptop have a kind of a barrier underneath the keyboard and its a good way to block any spilled liquid. I really don't see why there are spaces on the keys. Can't apple like close them in or something.

The batteries is a bit hard to get into. There are just really a lot of screws you need to take out if you want to replace it.
 
Bankaimadness said:
Well the keyboard for one

Spilling any liquid onto it is a sure way to fried the internal components of your macbook Pro. My old HP 17 inch laptop have a kind of a barrier underneath the keyboard and its a good way to block any spilled liquid. I really don't see why there are spaces on the keys. Can't apple like close them in or something.

The batteries is a bit hard to get into. There are just really a lot of screws you need to take out if you want to replace it.
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then you don't leave drinks around your MBP then. Its a sensible practice. That's why in all the computer labs I've ever used, they don't allow food or drink in them. There's a reason for it. Not having a water resistant keyboard is not necessarily a design flaw IMO.
 
to the original poster,
I'm in the same boat as yourself.

The 13" MBP is very expensive compared to Windows7 laptops with i3 and i5s, etc. I was even looking at the Envy. I chose the MBP for the following reason: the hope of dependability.

The HP laptops have a terrible reputation for quality. Even the laptops that actually have good ratings (Asus, Toshiba) felt cheap at Best Buy next to the MBP. The Apple just feels solid. I have a $1900 Sony Vaio that lasted barely 3 years and i've always handled the Sony with care. Nontstop hardware problems and heat issues. I'm not a gamer or designer, so if the 13"MBP holds up it should suit our needs for at least 4-5 years.

So yeah I'm paying almost $1200, but i'm hoping this lasts me the lifespan of two HP laptops.....that and i've always wanted to own an Apple.
 
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