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I'm in the market for a sleek, stylish, powerful 15" laptop. I want something that is built solidly, has at least average mobility (regarding weight and battery life), and that looks as good as it performs. It doesn't have to be in the uber-gaming or desktop replacement category, but I don't want to feel restrained by my hardware when doing normal day to day stuff and some moderate gaming.
I have absolutely zero interest in big plastic horrors like Alienware systems or Asus's gaming laptop offerings, regardless of the performance. I'm in love with the general idea behind HP's Envy line of laptops (a sophisticated, powerful package that ISN'T a Mac), but upon closer inspection each model shoots itself in the foot with various shortcomings. The Envy 15 is currently #1 on my shortlist, but there are a few things about it that make me wonder if it's the right one for me; for example - no USB 3.0 on Core i5 models, no edge-to-edge glass screen, no backlit keyboard. It just feels like HP came extremely close with that system, but missed the mark just a bit.
The general ballpark I'm considering is rougly $1500, give or take 200-300 in either direction. Hardware wise, I'm looking to get something along the lines of a Core i5 (or cheaper i7 - I don't need a quad core) system with higher-end graphics such as a Radeon 58xx or thereabouts. A 1080p edge-to-edge glass display is a must, as that lack of that is one of my biggest disappointments with the Envy 15.
Ultimately, this system will be acting as a compliment to the desktop system listed in my signature. My desktop will always be my fallback for the most extreme of tasks, but I need a laptop to get me through the day while away from home. The most common tasks it'll be performing are web browsing, MS Office use for class, watching movies on the go, and moderate gaming with current and near-future titles (nothing crazy like Crysis or Crysis 2, but Starcraft 2 and current mainstream titles will be played).
Battery life is important; it HAS to be able to last at least 3 hours or so while running Office and browsing the internet during class. Battery life during video playback and gaming isn't as important as I can plug in if I'm sitting down for a game or movie.
If anyone has any suggestions given the above rough parameters, I'm all ears. I don't doubt that the Envy 15 would fill my needs adequately, but I can't help but wonder if there is something out there that is even closer to what I want.
(also, just on the off chance someone was going to suggest one: I am not at all interested in buying a Mac. Ever.)
I have absolutely zero interest in big plastic horrors like Alienware systems or Asus's gaming laptop offerings, regardless of the performance. I'm in love with the general idea behind HP's Envy line of laptops (a sophisticated, powerful package that ISN'T a Mac), but upon closer inspection each model shoots itself in the foot with various shortcomings. The Envy 15 is currently #1 on my shortlist, but there are a few things about it that make me wonder if it's the right one for me; for example - no USB 3.0 on Core i5 models, no edge-to-edge glass screen, no backlit keyboard. It just feels like HP came extremely close with that system, but missed the mark just a bit.
The general ballpark I'm considering is rougly $1500, give or take 200-300 in either direction. Hardware wise, I'm looking to get something along the lines of a Core i5 (or cheaper i7 - I don't need a quad core) system with higher-end graphics such as a Radeon 58xx or thereabouts. A 1080p edge-to-edge glass display is a must, as that lack of that is one of my biggest disappointments with the Envy 15.
Ultimately, this system will be acting as a compliment to the desktop system listed in my signature. My desktop will always be my fallback for the most extreme of tasks, but I need a laptop to get me through the day while away from home. The most common tasks it'll be performing are web browsing, MS Office use for class, watching movies on the go, and moderate gaming with current and near-future titles (nothing crazy like Crysis or Crysis 2, but Starcraft 2 and current mainstream titles will be played).
Battery life is important; it HAS to be able to last at least 3 hours or so while running Office and browsing the internet during class. Battery life during video playback and gaming isn't as important as I can plug in if I'm sitting down for a game or movie.
If anyone has any suggestions given the above rough parameters, I'm all ears. I don't doubt that the Envy 15 would fill my needs adequately, but I can't help but wonder if there is something out there that is even closer to what I want.
(also, just on the off chance someone was going to suggest one: I am not at all interested in buying a Mac. Ever.)