Laptops

HP’s Envy Notebooks Finally Look Great

HP's Envy line of serious fun notebooks (as opposed to serious business, bleh!) have always been a bit on the tacky side. I hate to say it, but they looked like expensive toys. Now they're grown up, in and out.

The new Envy 15, 17, and yes, 3D models borrow heavily from Apple. It's disappointing to see a derived work, but on the other hand, it's great to see a handsome Windows laptop. The new Envy line is sturdy, rid of corny ornamentation, and clad in clean, smooth metal. They're substantial without being bulky, offer nice touches like individually backlit keys and a nifty audio jog wheel, and displays that pop very well. Beats By Dre is baked in, for those who care, and the 17-inch 3D model will attract those for whom a 3D laptop makes sense. Inside, this is a mere refresh—you'll have your choice of quad-core processors (up to Core i7), Radeon graphics, and an SSD—but outside, a very nice upgrade.

The new lineup of 15, 17, and 3D 17 start at $1,100, $1,250, and $1,600, respectively, starting December 7th. [HP]