HP Envy 14 (Summer 2011)

The good: The HP Envy 14 gets updated with newer Intel processors and a new multitouch touch pad.
The bad: Despite the improvements, the touch pad gestures still can't match what you get from Apple's trackpad.
The bottom line: A much-needed update to its internal components makes HP's Envy 14 one of the best high-end laptops for those looking for a PC with the flair of a MacBook.
The past couple of generations of MacBook Pro and MacBook Air laptops from Apple have focused on improving the internal components while keeping the high-design exterior largely the same. Hewlett-Packard is taking a similar path with its Envy line of laptops (which not coincidentally also start at $999). The 2011 version of the 14-inch Envy 14 trades up to a second-generation Intel Core i5 processor and adds USB 3.0 and an improved touch pad, built around Synaptics' ImagePad technology.
Still, the multitouch gestures are not as smooth as Apple's, and the system as a whole is heavy for a 14-inch laptop. Despite this, the Envy line, currently available in 14- and 17-inch models, is probably the closest Windows users can come to the solid metal construction and sleek, understated design of a MacBook Pro.

Price as reviewed / Starting price $1,079/$999
Processor 2.3GHz Intel Core i5-2410M
Memory 6GB, 1,333MHz DDR3
Hard drive 750GB 5,400rpm
Chipset Intel HM55
Graphics ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5850
Operating system Windows 7 Home Premium (64-bit)
Dimensions (WD) 14x9.3 inches
Height 1.1 inches
Screen size (diagonal) 14.5 inches
System weight / Weight with AC adapter 5.3 pounds/6.4 pounds
Category Midsize


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