HP Envy 14

1. PCMag.comDetails/Subscribe

Brian Westover finds a lot of things to like about the HP Envy 14, including its discrete graphics, fast 7,200 rpm hard drive and excellent-sounding Beats audio technology. He dislikes its weight of roughly 5.6 pounds, and says its battery life is merely "so-so."

Review: HP Envy 14 (Sandy Bridge), Brian Westover, Aug. 5, 2011

2. Laptop MagazineDetails/Subscribe

Sherri L. Smith doesn't find many flaws in the HP Envy 14; she says the CPU, GPU and touchpad have all been improved over last year's model, and the mixture of low price and strong performance make this laptop a contender. Like Brian Westover at PCMag.com, she says the battery life could be better.

Review: HP Envy 14 (2011) Review, Sherri L. Smith, Aug. 8, 2011

3. Computer Shopper

ComputerShopper.com gives the HP Envy 14 a 4.5-star rating (out of 5) and an Editors' Choice award. While reviewer Matthew Elliott complains about the battery life and lack of a Blu-ray player, he says the notebook performs well on all other fronts. He also appreciates the lack of bloatware and the generous two-year warranty.

Review: HP Envy 14 (2011 Version) Review and Ratings, Matthew Elliott, Aug. 30, 2011

4. CNET

The HP Envy 14 gets thoroughly benchmarked by reviewer Dan Ackerman, who compares the laptop's ratings against a handful of other competitors. The laptop holds its own in testing -- even when playing "Street Fighter IV." Unlike other experts, Ackerman feels that the Envy 14's battery life is sufficient for all the notebook offers. "While it falls just short of hitting all our marks, the HP Envy line is tough to beat when it comes to high-end, high-design, metal-construction Windows laptops, with its only real competition coming from Dell's XPS line," he writes.

Review: HP Envy 14 (Summer 2011), Dan Ackerman, Aug. 3, 2011

5. NotebookReview.com

The HP Envy 14 gets a rating of 4 (out of 5) stars at NotebookReview.com. While the Envy's performance and extras shine, Charles P. Jefferies dislikes the loud fans and 4.5-hour tested battery life -- but those aren't enough to turn him against the notebook. "At the end of the day the Envy 14 is certainly recommendable -- its design and quality are unparalleled amongst immediate competitors; additionally its performance is above average, especially for gaming," Jefferies writes.

Review: HP Envy 14 Review (2011 Update), Charles P. Jefferies

6. Engadget.comDetails/Subscribe

Dana Wollman's review of the HP Envy 14 is long, detailed and largely positive. Dana Wollman is disappointed that the screen resolution has decreased from last year's 1,600-by-900-pixel display, but she is otherwise very impressed by the price-to-performance ratio of the machine. "Its well built, beautiful design hasn't changed and frankly, most competitors haven't delivered anything as memorable in this size/price class," she writes.

Review: HP Envy 14 Review (2011), Dana Wollman, Sept. 15, 2011

7. DigitalTrends.com

The HP Envy 14 earns an 8.5 (out of 10) rating and an Editors' Choice award from reviewer Matt Smith. Unlike other experts, Smith dislikes the swirling, textured design inlaid in the laptop's aluminum lid. He praises the touchpad, Beats audio technology (though he expected a bit more bass), cool temperatures and the combination of the Sandy Bridge Core i5 CPU with the discrete AMD Radeon graphics. "Just as critical is the fact that there isn't anything unforgivably wrong," Smith writes.

Review: HP Envy 14 Review, Matt Smith, Sept. 26, 2011