[yelnats8]

Hey guys looking for some advice or suggestions on which laptop to get. I don't really game but willing to pay more for one that comes with a decent graphics card in case I do decide to play some games. Primary use would just be surfing the internet, streaming videos and downloading. Has to be 17" and under $900 and good enough to last the next 4-5 years.

I've narrowed down my search to these two laptops:

HP ENVY 17-j070ca for $899.
HP Envy (E0K89UA) Laptop, 17.3", 2.4GHz Intel Core i7-4700MQ, 1TB HDD, 8GB DDR3 RAM | Staples® (http://www.staples.ca/en/HP-Envy-E0K89UA-Laptop-173-24GHz-Intel-Core-i7-4700MQ-1TB-HDD/product_75522_2-CA_1_20001)

Lenovo Z710. Found one retailer selling it for $899
Lenovo Z710 17.3" Gaming Laptop - Black (Intel Core i7 4700MQ/1TB HDD/8GB RAM/Windows 8.1) : Laptops - Future Shop (http://www.futureshop.ca/en-ca/product/lenovo-lenovo-z710-17-3-gaming-laptop-black-intel-core-i7-4700mq-1tb-hdd-8gb-ram-windows-8-1-z710/10285040.aspx?path=d110a8a88c27fa0e2ab835796ad8423 6en02)

I've checked out both in person and at this point I'm leaning towards the HP Envy. Good choice or would you recommend something else between the $700-$900 range?

[Presto]

I hate HP laptops, but spec-wise, the HP wins out. It has a discreet video card, so you can actually play games smoothly.

[yelnats8]

Doesn't the Lenovo have a better graphics card, NVIDIA GeForce GT745M compared to NVIDIA GeForce GT 740M on the HP?

[Presto]

Apologies. I was just looking at the Future Shop link, and on the product page it says it has Intel HD Graphics. I clicked on the Specs tab, and it does say 745M for the video.

Get the Lenovo.

[Vansterdam]

I've been looking at HP ENVY laptops as well for DJing/Music Producing . havent seen any good deals for em lol

[lilaznviper]

I would avoid HP laptops at all cost unless they are the business ones. too many bad experience with them.

[!MiKrofT]

Of the 2? Get the Lenovo. It has a FHD screen while the HP only has 1600x900. With a 17" screen you'll want the higest resolution available.

[yelnats8]

Ya Lenovo does have the better resolution and video card but i do like the look and feel of the HP more. I think i might just buy both and test them out for two weeks and return the one i don't like.

[Jer3]

i will never buy an HP again. i went through one and it was the biggest piece i've ever encountered. my sisters gone through two HP laptops over the last three years. go for the lenovo purely based on reputation.

[yelnats8]

For those who say HP is crap, are those the lower end models? I've checked out the Envy in store and the build quality, keyboard and track pad is noticeably better than HP models in the $500-$700 range. The HP Envy has gotten good reviews from bestbuy shoppers as well

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/envy-touchsmart-17-3-touch-screen-laptop-intel-core-i7-8gb-memory-1tb-hard-drive/3700073.p?id=1219093055929&skuId=3700073&st=categoryid$pcmcat247400050000&cp=1&lp=1

[Jer3]

For those who say HP is crap, are those the lower end models? I've checked out the Envy in store and the build quality, keyboard and track pad is noticeably better than HP models in the $500-$700 range. The HP Envy has gotten good reviews from bestbuy shoppers as well

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/envy-touchsmart-17-3-touch-screen-laptop-intel-core-i7-8gb-memory-1tb-hard-drive/3700073.p?id=1219093055929&skuId=3700073&st=categoryid$pcmcat247400050000&cp=1&lp=1

can't speak for the envy but this is based on the pavilion series. the reviews do seem pretty decent so maybe HP's quality control has gotten better over the years.

[Vansterdam]

I had a HP PC years ago and said never again will I buy HP lol

the HP ENVY/SPECTRE line looks pretty awesome though.

considering it if I find a good deal.

[yelnats8]

I picked up the hp today but when I unboxed it and opened up the laptop I noticed that there was no plastic film covering the screen. All brand new laptops should have this right? I have a feeling they sold me an open box laptop.
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[Presto]

Now's your chance to do something radical, and get the item that the forum recommends!

HINT: All replies have recommended against HP or for the Lenovo.

[yelnats8]

Don't worry I'm going to pick up the Lenovo too and test them both out for a week
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[underscore]

I don't recall ever getting a laptop with plastic on the screen itself, but it's been a while since I got one new.

That said, I loved my HP, my only gripe would be their stupid preloaded software but it seems every mfr has some variant of that junk. IMO most of the problems with laptops comes from the users themselves, most people abuse the hell out of their laptops and then wonder why they die in 2 years.

[yelnats8]

I actually youtubed some unboxing videos of the HP Envy to see if other ones came without a plastic film on the screen and from what I saw they don't come with the film on the screen so the one I got is brand new after all. Will pick up the Lenovo this weekend.

[lilaznviper]

most laptops now don't have a plastic film over the screen or anything between the keyboard and screen.

[Presto]

The plastic film seems to be used when there's a high-gloss finish. Of course, it's only super-glossy for the first minute after film removal. Then, come the hairline scratches ;)

[svelt]

I have two HPs, an Envy Spectre 14 and a Split X2. Both work flawlessly; the Spectre gets a ton of attention amongst my colleagues when I bring it out for its Gorilla glass body, palm rest and screen (owned for a year and a half now and still going strong; got even faster and more stable with Win8.1), and the other was bought for under $500 for my gf to use as a tablet/laptop hybrid for her design work. I can't comment on the Envy 17, but my point is HP laptops have gotten much better than they used to be and are getting a bit of an unjustifiably bad rap on this thread. It isn't fair to trash a model just because HP "supposedly" has some maligned laptop reputation when in recent years it really hasn't.

[Token]

Not sure about that specific model, but I've had nothing but awesome experiences with lenovo. The warranty program was the best I've ever seen, free overnight shipping both ways. Usually got my stuff back in less than a week.

Have you seen the Lenovo Friends EPP page? It might give you a cheaper price than futureshop will, and it'll definitely be cheaper than the lenovo website.