HP Envy 17 3D

Overview

TechSpot Metascore

Based on 18 expert reviews

Excellent:

3
Good:

10
Average:

3
Bad:

2

Pros:

Full aluminum construction.
Minimalist design.
Excellent screen.

Cons:

Graphics engine bottlenecks performance.
Extremely large and heavy.

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Last revision on September 5, 2013

Reviewers Liked

Full aluminum construction
Minimalist design
Excellent screen
Great audio
Manages to create immersive 3D experiences
Comfortable to work on
Bundled active-shutter 3D glasses
Comes with Elements and Adobe Photoshop and imposing “Beats” audio system
Powerful in both computing and games
Full sized backlit keyboard

Reviewers Didn't Like

Graphics engine bottlenecks performance
Extremely large and heavy
Not a gaming machine
Bulky and heavy
Poor battery life
Cumbersome 3D setup process
Runs very hot
3D is gimmicky, poor and really boring
The cooling fans for the notebook are too loud and ruin the experience of the awesome speakers of the system
The arrow keys are disappointingly small
Mouse pad doesn't register all gestures
Supplied GPU is a bit weak for games at 1080p

Expert reviews and ratings

On the whole, the new Envy 17 3D is a highly versatile notebook with an impressive design, feature set and build quality. The fact that it is also comparatively slim and lightweight for a laptop in its size category improves our overall impression....

By NotebookCheck on February 20, 2012

The HP Envy 17 3D is a notebook with a lot going for it. We love the clean, minimalist design and full aluminum construction with its subtle floral dot matrix pattern that keeps the notebook interesting without being gaudy or attracting too many...

By HardwareZone.com on December 14, 2011

Given its positioning its disappointing that the Envy lacks gaming grunt. If gaming isn’t a concern however, you’ll find the Envy 17 a capable app machine and an immersive 3D entertainer....

By ITP.net on September 14, 2011

The HP Envy 17 3D is a powerful multimedia and gaming machine that serves well as a desktop replacement laptop for the home. Its 3D effects are good both in games and movies, but you are limited to just one person at a time as it only comes with a...

By TechCentral on August 15, 2011

Let’s compare the HP Envy 17 3D with the nattily named Sony Vaio VPCF21Z1E/BI, both being home-user 3D entertainment portables. Although the Sony Vaio is more powerful and has more comfortable 3D shutter glasses, HP’s Envy has a nicer design...

By RegHardware on August 08, 2011

There are many laptop manufacturers that come out with high-end machines that are more focused on power than aesthetics. In terms of brilliant engineering by bringing high power in a robust yet eye catching chassis is concerned, none have beaten Apple...

By Tbreak.com on June 10, 2011

High-end gaming notebooks are a rare breed with few takers. If you are one such person, the HP Envy 3D 17 is a good package - strong graphics, Blu-ray playback and a stereoscopic 3D display with bundled glasses. It's expensive, but a good buy for...

By ThinkDigit on June 07, 2011

Stylish and well-specced, the Envy 17 3D is an all-round multimedia performer with added 3D goodness - at a...

By Pocket-lint on April 18, 2011

As one of the biggest computer manufacturers in the world, HP certainly knows how to put together an attractive laptop, and since its conception, looks have been one of the major raisons d'être for its Envy line. Unlike some rivals, HP...

By Trusted Reviews on March 01, 2011

This 3D-capable laptop is identical to the 2D-only Envy 17 we loved, but its finicky 3D makes the price premium tough to swallow. Stick with the non-3D version for now....

By Computer Shopper on March 01, 2011

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