Customer review from the Amazon Vine Program I have several traditional laptops and an HP Ultrabook to compare this to, and it does quite well. The Ultrabook is all the rage now, and they tend to be amazing, but there are a couple of requirements to be an "Ultrabook" that this computer does not meet. This is not necessarily a bad thing, as I will explain.
First off, the term "Ultrabook," is owned by Intel, so since this has an AMD chip, it cannot be an Ultrabook. The AMD chip in this computer, however, is a quad-core lightning beast for a laptop, so you really aren't losing out there. For your every day programs, this performed a little faster than my Gateway and Lenovo Windows 7 laptops and only slightly slower than my i5 HP Envy Spectre XT Ultrabook. The slight difference in performance is likely due to the second Ultrabook requirement, a solid state drive.
Having a solid state drive can really speed things up, but it also significantly adds to the production cost. So, for an almost imperceptible difference in speed, you get far less drive space with a solid state drive. In my case, the HP Ultrabook has a 128 GB drive, while this HP Sleekbook has a 500 GB drive. If you use a lot of music and movies, the choice is already clear. The only other place where the solid state drive comes into play is boot time.
My Gateways boot to Windows 7 in 65 seconds. My Lenovo does the same in 46 seconds. This HP Sleekbook boots to Windows 8 in 40 seconds. The Ultrabook? Four seconds! OK, once you get past that amazing stat, ask yourself how many times you tend to re-boot your laptop? It really shouldn't be that often, and with the tweaks of Windows 8, even many updates won't require a reboot. Therefore, once I got past the part where I was rebooting my Ultrabook just to show off to people how fast it boots up, I was using it the same way as this Sleekbook. In other words, don't let the difference in boot time sway you away from this Sleekbook.
Another requirement for an Ultrabook is a unibody design which means no optical drive. The Sleekbook follows this pattern, so there is no optical drive. If there is a deal-breaker for many people, this may be it. You can download all the Windows 8 apps from the app store, but your legacy software will have to be loaded some other way. If you have other computers, this isn't a problem. If this will be your only computer, it may be a problem for you.
At 4.6 pounds, this is significantly lighter than my other standard laptops, but also significantly heavier than the Ultrabook. The comparison, however, is more fair to the standard laptops because it matches their screen sizes (it isn't fair to compare the weight of a 15" screen to a 13" screen). Therefore, this is actually a pretty light and portable computer.
The 15" screen is bright and clear, and really a joy to watch. Movies play flawlessly, and the crawl at the bottom of ESPN3 doesn't jitter at all! As for games, well this is one area where this Sleekbook really beats the other computers, including the Ultrabook. It handles some graphically intensive games like Star Trek Online at the highest video settings without the slightest problem. Again, there is no optical drive, so you are limited in your gaming options. If you have a game that checks to see if the disk is in the drive before you can play, you will be out of luck.
Like many HP products, this comes with Beats Audio. It has four speakers and it actually has a sub woofer of sorts. Nevertheless, while it sounds better than any other laptop, there is only so much you can do with so little speaker space. Attach a pair of decent headphones, however, and the audio soars!
Battery life is amazing. I've gotten over four and a half hours while pushing it pretty hard. That's with factory default power settings, but playing an online game that pushed the graphics (Star Trek Online). For normal, non-gaming tasks, this computer clears the six hour mark easily without a charge. The battery is built in (again chasing the Ultrabook crowd), so you cannot change it on the fly, but you probably won't need to.
As for appearance, the red bottom with the brushed metal black top is a great look. Very unique. The rubbery bottom surface is great for grip, so it doesn't slide. About the only problem with the design is that the heat exhaust is from the bottom rather than the sides. As a result, if you put it on your lap with your legs together, they can get pretty hot. It has HP Cool Sense technology, so it will throttle the CPU and graphics if necessary to keep it cool. Also, with the accelerometer, it is able to tell whether the computer is on your lap or on a table. It will throttle performance a bit to keep cool on your lap while going flat out on a table. The accelerometer also provides protection to the hard drive in the event of a drop. If you drop this computer, it will save your data (although it will probably break the screen).
On a final note, it is running Windows 8. This means the Metro interface and multitouch capabilities. The touchpad handles the interface very well. Windows 8 is still not perfect, but this is the best implementation I have come across. Nevertheless, I set this up initially for two users. When I removed one of those user accounts, I had some trouble with Windows, and it eventually died in an update. This required me to perform a full factory reset. This is a fault of Windows 8, not of this computer. The reset did take 17 hours to complete. That was pretty bizarre. After that, however, it has worked perfectly. I wouldn't let this put you off from buying this computer, but I would suggest that you do not remove user accounts once you have made them!
Overall, this is an amazing computer. It is certainly a step up from any other standard laptop out there. While it doesn't have some of the abilities of an actual Ultrabook, it comes pretty close, and it is even better in terms of drive space and gaming. Also, the price cannot be beat for what you are getting here. Add this puppy to your Christmas list this year, and hope Santa thinks you've been good!
Customer review from the Amazon Vine Program This HP Envy 6-1110us 15.6-Inch Sleekbook (Black) is not just another ultra-light ultra-fast notebook laptop; this one has Bluetooth! With this sleekbook, I can connect wirelessly not only via 1x1 802.111b/g/n WLAN but also via Bluetooth! So I can wirelessly listen to my music through bluetooth headset and access the laptop through bluetooth keyboard and mouse. Also, I can use bluetooth to sync my bluetooth-enabled smartphone with my Envy Sleekbook 6-1110us! This is handy for whenever I am not around wifi, I can still connect my smartphone with this sleekbook since it is bluetooth enabled. I can wirelessly sync and print from up to 30 feet away on this sleekbook with Bluetooth.
The HP Envy 6-1110us 15.6-Inch Sleekbook (Black) has the same brushed aluminum in midnight black finish that I prefer and HP really delivers! In addition this sleekbook has a red soft-touch base which is easier to grip, doesn't scratch as easily and looks super cool; the red/black combo reminds me of a ferrari for some reason. Not only does this sleekbook look awesome, it is sensual to touch. It seems the bottom of my laptops get scratched before the top does, so this new soft-touch base is a big plus for the laptop looking awesome for a longer period of time. I anticipated it feeling softer and rubbery from reading the description than it actually does in person. It feels like solid metal when I touch only the base and it is not until I touch both the base and the top that I can tell the softer grippier texture of the bottom. It looks like red metal not rubber or soft. The red goes up on the sides where the ports and plugs are but not onto the inside around the keyboard or screen. It is a really cool looking black with ruby red combo and each day I seem to fall a little bit more in love.
The HD BrightView LED-backlit display is so impressive. I just love photos and videos on it as they look more vivid and crisper than even on my HDTV and that is amazing as every cable provider comments how my HDTV makes their feed look the best they have ever seen!
The HP TrueVision HD Webcam with integrated dual array digital microphone delivers a superb Skype experience.
This HP Envy 6-1110us 15.6-Inch Sleekbook (Black) is super fast with its Next Gen AMD Quad-Core AB-4555M Accelerated Processor with 1.6GHz up to 2.4GHz speeds, 4MB L2 Cache, 4GB DDR SDRAM (1DIMM) (up to 16GB is supported). It is nice to know my sleekbook and data are protected on the 500GB 5400RPM hard drive with HP ProtectSmart Hard Drive Protection.
The touchpad as well feels great to touch and use and includes the normal mouse moves including double tap, 2finger scroll, pinch or stretch to zoom, top-edge swipe to display app commands, right-edge swipe to display the charms (search, share, start, devices, and settings) and left edge swipe to switch between open apps. You can quickly return to the start screen by pressing the windows logo key on the keyboard.
Windows 8 just came out so it is new to me and of course there is a learning curve but so far I like it. I like that it is linked to my Microsoft account which means that every time I sign into a Windows 8 device, my settings and custom tweaks will come with me and be applied. Because Microsoft accounts are linked to SkyDrive storage, Office 2013 will back up automatically uploading to the cloud. Windows Media Center will not be included for free in Windows 8 but right now through January 31, 2013, you can request a free product key for it at the microsoft windows website.
Some people complain about the "missing DVD drive" as we have come to think of them as standard must-have but I think soon we may view them as obsolete because now most software and media are downloadable/ uploadable to cloud or social media, flash drives are faster and more portable as well as safer, and technology is moving toward syncing via cable or wirelessly through wifi or bluetooth between devices including those specifically designed for media storage. When I mention a floppy disk or floppy drive, people in their 20s give me blank stares having no clue what I am talking about and ask "what is that?"; undoubtedly someday I will get the same questions when I mention the optical/dvd drive, but how soon/long until that day? Secondly, on those seldom occasions when a dvd drive is needed, one could easily use an external DVD drive when needed or connect via USB cable to a pc or laptop that has a dvd drive. The benefit of not having a dvd drive is a lighter thinner notebook. I think I prefer having a lighter thinner laptop going commando without the DVD drive.
The bluetooth feature is costly though as for the same $699MSRP, the bluetooth-less HP Envy dv6-7210us 15.6-Inch Laptop is available which has:
a faster AMD Quad-core processor,
50% more Memory (6GB DDR3 RAMM compared to 4GB DDR3 RAMM).
50% larger hard drive (750GB compared to 500GB),
a 3rd USB 3.0 port (only two on sleekbook),
a VGA 115-pin port (not on sleekbook),
a super-multi DVD burner driver (not on sleekbook)
Beats Audio quad speakers and a subwoofer (sleekbook has Beats Audio dual speakers and a subwoofer)
a numeric keypad
HP SimplePass with integrated fingerprint reader
50% larger battery(6cell compared to 4-cell) its battery life is up to 5:15 while sleekbook's is up to 6 hours. This results partly in sleekbook being lighter (4.53lbs) than laptop (5.66lbs).
However, not only do you give up the bluetooth but also the supercool red soft-touch base.
HP is also coming out with a 14" touchscreen sleekbook which I am also interested in what features you get on that at what pricepoint as it sounds super cool as well.
What is a sleekbook?
A sleekbook is an HP Ultrabook-like thin-and-light laptop that can't be called an Ultrabook, in some cases because it uses an AMD processor (Ultrabook is an Intel trademark; all Ultrabooks are therefore Intel machines, by definition.) or for one reason or another, can't qualify as Ultrabooks under the Intel's specific criteria:
quick start up and app launching
21mm or thinner for notebooks with 14-inch and larger displays
5 hour minimum battery life
CULV Intel processors
Flash storage if not completely solid state, then at least in a hybrid format
7 second resumption from hibernation
Ultrabooks and sleekbooks are nothing fundamentally new. They're just the latest gloss on thin-and-light laptops/notebooks. Maintaining that they're something else just confuses matters, especially when some Ultrabook-like computers don't qualify as Ultrabooks for reasons that consumers shouldn't need to care about. All these different names are just marketing by manufacturers trying to cut out their own niche. Everybody knows technological devices/equipment keep getting slimmer, lighter, faster, cheaper, and brighter; does that warrant a new name different from notebook or laptop? I don't think so.
If you are looking for a bluetooth-enabled ultra-fast ultra-light sexy notebook
especially in the black/red soft touch bottom combo, look no further!
You will be thrilled with the HP Envy 6-1110us 15.6-Inch Sleekbook (Black).
I am. Thank you so much HP and Amazon Vine. I must be the luckiest girl in the world.... what a super awesome laptop is the HP Envy 6-1110us 15.6-Inch Sleekbook (Black)
Buy HP Envy 6-1110us 15.6-Inch Sleekbook (Black) Now
Customer review from the Amazon Vine Program I've got to admit, I wasn't expecting much from the HP Envy 6-1110us Sleekbook, as I had my doubts that the AMD processor could keep up with some of the processor heavy applications I run. My doubts were nicely proven wrong, and I found out this AMD powered Sleekbook is a real powerhouse for an incredibly reasonable price.
The build quality of the Sleekbook is excellent, the fit and finish is somehing you'd expect from a top of the line product. Nowhere does it feel like any corners were cut. Even the chicklet style keyboard has a nice feel to it, not at all dead and lifeless like I was expecting.
The Sleekbook runs quietly for average tasks, but when starting to heat up under a load you'll definitely start to notice the fan starts to ramp up in speed. During general use you can set the Sleekbook on your bare lap and it is barely warm at all. Once it starts heating up and the fans kick it, you'll really start to notice some warmth, but it isn't nearly enough to cause any discomfort.
The screen size and resolution are excellent, the resolution is just right for the size screen, proving a clear, sharp display with reasonbly accurate colors. No noticeable color shifts were noticed on my unit, nor were any dead or stuck pixels spotted.
Audio from the speakers leaves much to be desired, as is the case with all laptops, but once a pair of headphones or IEM's are plugged in, the audio processing engine really brings the sounds life, especially good for music lovers.
HP is a company that is well known for the excellent customer service, so if any problems are ever experienced under warranty, you can rest assured HP will take care of you.
This is a great laptop, powerful and cool running for a great price. You'd be hard pressed to find a better model at this price point.
Read Best Reviews of HP Envy 6-1110us 15.6-Inch Sleekbook (Black) Here
The HP ENVY 61110-US, a 5 Star Computer! Thin and light, comparable to a Macbook Air with a brushed aluminum
cover (instead of Apple's silver aluminum) as well as weight and screen resolution. At 1/3 the price of an Apple
Laptop and a savings of $1,000, the HP ENVY also throws in EXTRA FEATURES beyond Apple's including Beats audio
dual speakers with a subwoofer, at 15.6", a larger video screen, and a 500GB Hard Drive.
Like a Macbook Air, no DVD\CD drive, as USB Memory sticks and cloud computing make the need for a DVD\CD drive
less important than ever, and the absence of of a DVD\CD drive allows a thinner sleeker design. If a DVD\CD
writer is occasionally important to you, then purchase a lightweight USB DVD\CD\Writer for $35 to carry in your
laptop bag for the occasional time that you will need it. In economic terms, DVD\CD\Writers have a declining
utility, so much so that Microsoft has decided to save the bucks that it pays for licensing patented DVD player
technology, and not include copyrighted DVD playback as part of its included Windows 8 Media Player. But that can
be easily overcome by simply downloading the free opensource VLC Media Writer or pay WindDVD, PowerDVD, or a
plethora of other companies $50 or less.
Both Macbook Air and the HP Sleekbook work seamlessly with the cloud, and free 5GB storage (or more) is available
from Amazon, Google, Microsoft, Dropbox, etc. If you don't need to store video, free storage on the cloud will
be more than adequate for most needs. For those that might need to store video, the HP ENVY includes a 500GB
Drive (Macbook Air provides faster electronic memory up to 500gb and no hard drive, but at additional cost over
and above the base price of a Macbook Air), or you can pay to store your video on the cloud. The HP Sleekbook
battery lasts up to 8.5 hours when fully charged, if properly configured and when new.
So, what is it that you're actually paying APPLE $1,000 extra for? The Apple Operating System. Is it worth it?
Less than 20% of the world seems to think so. 75% of the world would rather save $1,000, not be bound to Apple's
choices for Hardware and Software there is no computing system in the world more versatile or with more choice
or options than Microsoft Windows. Apple provides a more user friendly experience, but limits consumers to the
choices that Apple makes in its limited line-up of laptops and computers. The beauty of Windows 8 is it allows
you to make the choice of hardware features and options, go outside of the box and create the user experience that
you individually desire, and saves you $1,000 in the process.
If the power cord for your Macbook Air goes bad, expect to pay Apple's exorbitant $85 for replacement. Apple's
computers and accessories are typically patented or proprietary, and as a result, non-OEM Apple power cords are
junk (read the Amazon reviews). Genuine HP accessories, parts, accessories and repairs are typically 1/2 of
Apple's, and non-OEM replacements are often of good quality and even cheaper. So, you'l save money in the long
run as well.
Windows 8 is an absolute improvement over any OS Microsoft has delivered to date. The naysayers and complaints
about Windows 8 are primarily from old Microsoft users who are not ready to learn a new OS because its easier to
just do things the old fashioned way. So Windows 8 attempts to find a middle ground between the future of
computing (the new Windows 8 Touchscreen Interface) and the old fashioned Windows 7 and before OS. The future
means touchscreens instead of mice, the cloud instead of hard drives, phones, tablets and laptops that all use the
same interface, ultimately seamlessly so that you can move between one and another without ever noticing, and
that's what Windows 8 sets out to do and attempts to deliver. So realize that the future is not quite yet
here, and what Microsoft is moving towards, is to integrate it all. At this point in time, Windows 8 as an
unified single operating system fully integrated for phones, tablets and computers\laptops. Apple is still two
separate and disparate operating systems, Mac OS for Laptops\Desktops and IOS for Tablets\Phones. Windows 8
arrived in October, 2012, and the endeavor of writing computer code is long, complex and cumbersome, not only for
Microsoft, but for Apple as well. Apple has just a few variations to deal with, while Microsoft attempts to
integrate hundreds and thousands of disparate electronic components (thus more options). Both Apple and Windows 8
Operating Systems are continually updated while you sleep (if you choose automatic updates) to correct flaws,
eliminate bugs and improve and address the future of computing. For those who complain about Windows 8 give it
a chance, as Microsoft has no choice but to evolve or die.
As an informed consumer, make the choice for yourself.
Features:
Windows 8
AMD Quad-Core A8-4555M Accelerated Processor
CPU: 1.6GHz up to 2.4GHz
4MB L2 Cache
4GB DDR3 SDRAM (1 DIMM)
Maximum supported16GB
AMD Radeon(tm) HD 7600G Discrete-Class graphics and up to 2029MB total graphics memory
500GB 5400RPM hard drive with HP ProtectSmart Hard Drive Protection
Brushed aluminum in midnight black with a red soft-touch base
HP TrueVision HD Webcam with integrated dual array digital microphone
15.6-inch diagonal HD BrightView LED-backlit display (1366x768)
10/100/1000 Gigabit Ethernet LAN (RJ-45 connector)
1x1 802.11b/g/n WLAN and Bluetooth®
Multi-format digital media card reader for Secure Digital cards and Multimedia cards
Beats Audio(tm) dual speakers and a subwoofer
Full-size island-style keyboard
HP Imagepad supporting multi-touch gestures with on/off button.
2 SuperSpeed USB 3.0
1 Universal Serial Bus (USB Boost) 2.0
1 HDMI
1 RJ-45 (LAN)
1 Headphone
1 Microphone in
Kensington® MicroSaver lock slot
Power-on password
Accepts 3rd party security lock devices
65W AC adapter
4-cell 60WHr 4.1 Ah lithium-ion polymer battery
Up to 8 hours and 30 minutes
Warranty 1 Year Limited
I hope that this post helps make it easier for you to make your choice.
Want HP Envy 6-1110us 15.6-Inch Sleekbook (Black) Discount?
I docked this 1 star for having to return this item twice. However, this machine, once it was working, is a great computer.
I like the size of this. It is very thin and very light. It's easy to carry around.
The keys are very nice to type on.
The trackpad has multitouch and is very responsive (a must for using windows 8)
The computer is fast and runs programs easily.
I use it mostly for consuming media and wordprosessing (though my kids use it for games and don't complain) and it works just fine.
I don't like HP's QA department. We got the first one and after about 5 weeks and then it got caught in a continuous reboot cycle and wouldn't come out of it. Amazon took the return and sent us a new one. After about 7 weeks it went black. Nothing worked. Amazon wouldn't take it back anymore (a first for me), so I sent it in to HP and they fixed it under warranty saying some wires had come loose.
I also don't like that it doesn't come with a DVD drive, but I guess that's why it's so thin. I bought an external drive from amazon that works just fine with it, but it's one more thing to pack along.
I almost gave this 2 or 3 stars based on the hassle of the machines not working, but when it works I like it so much that it overcame the problem, and our machine has ran strong for many months now without a problem.
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I've been an owner for about 3 months now and I can tell you I am pretty impressed with this notebook.
