HP Envy 13

 Now that Windows 7 is starting to close the gap with Apple’s operating system, it’s only fitting that it runs on systems that come closer to Apple’s vaunted design. One of the first to approach this ideal is the HP Envy 13 (starting at $1,699; $1,899 as configured). In both looks and performance, this system meets or exceeds all of its Windows competitors. However, the Envy 13 costs $500 more than the 13-inch MacBook Pro. For that premium, HP rewards you with faster performance, switchable graphics, a brighter screen, and up to 14 hours of battery life (with the optional slice). However, the Envy 13 has a few flaws that otherwise prevent this system from being the ultimate ultraportable.

Design

We’re not the first to say it, and we won’t be the last: The Envy 13 bears a striking resemblance to the 13-inch MacBook Pro—not that it’s a bad thing. From the metallic lid, black island-style keyboard (in a recessed area of the deck), edge-to-edge glossy display, and integrated buttons in the touchpad, the Envy 13 could be easily be mistaken for a Mac. However, there are some subtle differences. For one, HP clad the Envy 13 in a darker aluminum and magnesium alloy chassis, and the palm rests are dimpled using a Metal Etching process. It’s a neat design, but we wonder how much crud is going to build up in those crevices over time.

Powerful as it may be, the Envy 13 is quite svelte. At 12.6 x 8.5 x 0.8 inches, it’s slightly smaller than the 13-inch MacBook Pro (12.8 x 8.9 x 1.0 inches), but a big reason for that is the Envy’s lack of an integrated optical drive; the system ships with a separate Blu-ray reader/DVD burner which matches the notebook’s design.

Coming in at 3.8 pounds, the Envy 13 falls into the ultraportable category, but is still somewhat heavier than the Samsung X360-34P (2.8 pounds) and the Lenovo ThinkPad X301 (3.4 pounds); adding the battery slice brings the Envy 13’s weight up to 5.2 pounds.

Keyboard and Touchpad

As noted above, the Envy 13 has a full-size island-style keyboard. Its plastic black keys are smooth and comfortable to the touch, and snap back responsively when pressed. There are no dedicated multimedia buttons, but the Function key operations have been reversed, so you no longer need to press Fn in order to adjust the volume, change music, and so forth; it’s a welcome change.

Refreshingly, the Envy 13’s touchpad is both large and friction-free, unlike other glossy, but resistant touchpads we’ve seen on HP’s Pavilion line. The two buttons are built right into the bottom of the multitouch–enabled pad. This approach creates a sleek look, but we found the touchpad finicky. For instance, two-fingered scrolling in documents or Web pages rarely worked on the first try, and pressing one of the buttons didn’t always register. Plus, if we left a finger resting on the pad, or on the button, the cursor would jump around the screen. After a while, we preferred double-tapping the touchpad over pressing the buttons. On a system this expensive, the touchpad should work flawlessly.