HP Envy dv6t i7-3630QM REVIEW

A laptop computer featuring a switchable graphics card is hard to find. And when you couple it with a fast processor and stunning resolution, you get the HP Envy dv6t. With such high-end performance, it's easy to see why this laptop receives our TopTenREVIEWS Gold Award. We are highly impressed with the large screen and the Beats Audio built into the system. This laptop has a two-year warranty in addition the excellent customer service you get with HP. This multimedia powerhouse is a solid bet for anyone looking to upgrade their current laptop.

Performance:

10/10

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HP Envy dv6t

Apple MacBook Pro

Dell XPS 15z

Apple MacBook Air

Sony VAIO S Series

ASUS K73E

Toshiba Satellite P870

Lenovo IdeaPad Z580

Dell Inspiron i17R

Sony VAIO E15 Series

10

9.4

8.8

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8.8

9.4

8.8

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8.1

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The HP Envy dv6t model we reviewed has an Intel Core i7 processor with a core speed of 2.4GHz. Speed boosts can ramp it up to 3.3GHz. This makes for quick load times for programs, especially graphic-heavy games and photo editing software. Plus you can set the computer to continually give you these boosts of speed. This is a third-generation processor, so it has lower power requirements and better cooling than previous generations.

One of the best things about this laptop is its video card. The GeForce GT 650M comes standard, which is good enough for running games like Diablo 3 on medium-high settings. But best part is this: the graphics card is switchable. This means the graphics card isn't integrated into the processor but runs as its own GPU. This option is hard to find since most laptops come with integrated graphics cards. The Envy lets you pop out the current card and make any necessary upgrades you want.

All HP Envy models come with Beats Audio built in. This bass-heavy technology makes it easy to hear all tones of audio, even on laptop speakers. Beats Audio gives you full control over every portion of the audio levels with easy-to-use settings. The six speakers and the dual-bass speaker setup in this laptop sound good, but Beats Audio is at its best with high-quality headphones plugged into the auxiliary jack.

The HP Envy dv6t provides an ample amount of memory for all of your needs. The laptop we reviewed offers 8GB of RAM. It also provides a large amount of hard drive space. The 750GB of hard drive space included on the laptop provide plenty of storage for all kinds of files. However, there are several options for adding additional RAM and hard drive space to your laptop if you'd like; the choice is up to you.

This laptop computer has a decent battery life with an eight-hour charge with minimal use. You can expect to get up to seven hours of power on a single battery charge with continual use, giving you the power you need for work, entertainment and additional computing needs throughout the day.

Design:

10/10

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One of the first things you will notice about the HP Envy dv6t is its attractive design. This laptop features an aluminum chassis, which gives it an appealing look and provides it with the durability and protection it needs to last a long time.

We are impressed with the keyboard on this laptop computer. The Envy dv6t features a full-size radiant backlit keyboard. Controls on the keyboard allow you to make the keys as bright or as dim as you would like. It even features proximity sensors that will sense your presence, so when you have stepped away from your computer, the lights will dim to save the battery life.

The Envy dv6t features a large 15.6-inch display screen with a 1366 x 768 HD screen resolution. The large display screen is excellent for enjoying multimedia entertainment, and the sharp, crisp display makes working with images and videos a breeze.

However, the design of the HP Envy dv6t did not meet our full expectations, simply because this laptop computer is very large and heavy. It weighs a little over seven pounds, and its large size makes it difficult to carry compared to smaller laptops. If you are looking for a laptop to take on the road, the size of the Envy dv6t may be prohibitive.

Feature Set:

10/10

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The Envy dv6t laptop provides a wide assortment of features and tools, ranging from entertainment and multimedia tools to security features and more. This computing device features an HP TrueVision HD webcam and a built-in microphone, which makes video chats possible. This laptop also comes with both Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Premiere Elements.

This laptop comes with all the basic networking tools such as Wi-Fi and Bluetooth capabilities. A standard DVD optical drive is available on the device, with the option to upgrade to a Blu-ray player. There is also a wide assortment of connectivity options on the Envy dv6t, such as four USB ports, three of which are USB 3.0 ports. An HDMI port is also available, which allows you to connect the laptop to an HD monitor or an HDTV for an enhanced viewing experience.

This HP laptop features HP ProtectSmart, which is designed to keep your data safe from any bumps your laptop may experience. ProtectSmart senses when the laptop is in motion or is on an unstable surface such as you lap. It then turns on certain safety precautions to protect your hard drive.

Support & Warranty:

10/10

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One of the advantages to using an HP computer is the company's excellent customer support. By accessing the HP customer service webpage, you can view manuals, warranty information and variety of online help topics. There is also a FAQs section on the HP website that provides additional assistance. You can also communicate directly with a technical support representative through live chat, email and telephone support.

Summary:

The HP Envy dv6t is an outstanding and powerful laptop computer. This computing device offers a large feature set and powerful performance tools that can handle all of the extras this computer provides. The hefty size is a bit of a drawback with this computer, but it's only because of the superior performance packed into the design. The display screen on this laptop is stunning, and there is plenty of RAM, hard drive space and battery life to handle all of your computing needs. With so much included on this computing device, it is no wonder that it is one of the best laptop computers available.

Apple MacBook Pro MD311LL/A REVIEW

If you are an Apple fan, you know the MacBook Pro is a laptop computer with a lot to offer. The display makes pictures and videos pop, even when you zoom in. Quad-core processing and an integrated GeForce graphics card only add to the screen's already stunning resolution. You may hit a snag when trying to get in touch with support, since it can take a long time over the phone, but this laptop will accomplish all your business and multimedia needs. As one of the best laptop computers on the market, it earns our TopTenREVIEWS Silver Award.

Performance:

9.4/10

Compare 

HP Envy dv6t

Apple MacBook Pro

Dell XPS 15z

Apple MacBook Air

Sony VAIO S Series

ASUS K73E

Toshiba Satellite P870

Lenovo IdeaPad Z580

Dell Inspiron i17R

Sony VAIO E15 Series

10

9.4

8.8

9.4

8.8

9.4

8.8

8.1

8.8

8.1

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The MacBook Pro boast a powerful, Intel Quad-Core i7 processor designed to run any level of software. This third-generation processor gives you a faster and smoother transition between programs. It also has lower power requirements and better cooling. In addition, the turbo Boost 2.0 makes the device even faster (3.6GHz), giving it the extra push which truly enhances your experience.

This laptop features excellent graphics and sound capabilities. First, the AMD Radeon HD 6770M integrated graphics card will handle a multitude of programs and you won't have to worry about the GPU overheating if you spend time editing video or photos. The second part of this multimedia duo is the speakers. Custom, high-definition speakers provide high-fidelity sound with a wide range of treble and bass.

This 15-inch laptop computer offers 4GB of RAM and 750GB of hard drive space. This is definitely plenty of hard drive space and provides a large amount of space for storing all your important files.

The Macbook Pro offers up to seven hours of battery life on a single battery charge. Battery life can fluctuate however, depending on your use of the device

Design:

9.4/10

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The Apple MacBook Pro has small dimensions, even with a large screen. This computing device is only 0.71 inches thick, making it one of the thinnest laptops available on the market. It also weighs 4.46 pounds, so it is easy to carry from one place to another. Even with the smaller body, this laptop is still sturdy and strong. It is built from a single piece of aluminum, which prevents small pieces from breaking off the device.

This laptop features a display with 1920 x 1200 resolution at 220 pixels per inch with support for millions of colors. This gives you stunning images and makes the color on the display screen pop. It also is an Energy-Star qualified device, meaning it has met the specifications proving it is an energy-efficient device.

Feature Set:

10/10

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This laptop computer features Wi-Fi and Bluetooth technology. This allows you to connect to the internet easily and in more areas. There are several ports located on the side of the laptop, including an Ethernet and FireWire port, two USB ports, a SDXC slot and a headphone jack. The HDMI port allows you to connect this device to any HDTV or HD monitor, and there are also two ultrafast Thunderbolt ports. Another benefit of this laptop is the 8x SuperDrive that reads and writes both DVDs and CDs.

This laptop has an HD camera for capturing widescreen HD video. The camera, along with the built-in, dual adaptive microphones, makes it possible to place video calls from one computer to another through Apple’s FaceTime software.

Support & Warranty:

7.5/10

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The MacBook Pro comes with a one-year warranty. Apple provides phone support for your apple products, but it is time consuming. The site also offers user forums, and you can submit a support ticket requesting them to call you back. There is no email support from Apple, so you are likely better off going into a local store and talking to a specialist.

Summary:

The Apple MacBook Pro is an excellent computer with a sleek design, sharp display and fast performance. This device offers several multimedia features, including an HD camera and FaceTime software for video chatting. It also boasts up to seven hours of battery life on a single charge. This MacBook is something to brag about. With a powerful graphics card, excellent design and a quick processor, this laptop will do just about anything.

Dell XPS 15z -5834ELS REVIEW

Dell has always been a powerful player in the laptop game, and their XPS 15 is no small player. This laptop computer features a third-generation Intel processor and a screen with full HD resolution. The screen pairs well with the Blu-ray disc drive, though this is an optional upgrade. This high-performance laptop comes with enough RAM and hard drive space for anyone who enjoys occasional gaming. It doesn't take much searching to discover that even the best laptops have both pros and cons; the trick is finding a device with far more pros than cons. The XPS 15 effectively stacks the pros column and earns our TopTenREVIEWS Bronze Award for being a laptop suitable for business, school or multimedia projects.

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Performance:

8.8/10

Compare 

HP Envy dv6t

Apple MacBook Pro

Dell XPS 15z

Apple MacBook Air

Sony VAIO S Series

ASUS K73E

Toshiba Satellite P870

Lenovo IdeaPad Z580

Dell Inspiron i17R

Sony VAIO E15 Series

10

9.4

8.8

9.4

8.8

9.4

8.8

8.1

8.8

8.1

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The Dell XPS 15z runs on the second-generation Intel i5 processor, and this quad-core processor is fast. It runs standard at 2.4hz, but with Turbo Boost 2.0, this laptop can give you an extra speed of 3.1GHz. That's one of the bigger jumps we have seen with these new processors.

Couple this processor with the GeForce 640M graphics card and you will see smooth web browsing, responsive applications and detailed graphics. Remember though, this is a mounted graphics card. It has no dedicated cooling system, and if you run games that are graphics heavy, the graphics card can heat up quickly, and you will notice it. But whether you are running games, editing videos or watching movies, the MaxxAudio 3 sound system gives you pure highs and deep lows. We noticed it is comparable to Beats Audio with some songs and movies.

The Dell XPS 15z offers an excellent amount of memory and storage. There is 6GB of RAM, upgradable, available on this device and 500GB of hard drive space available. This device offers a decent amount of memory and an ample amount of space for all your important data.

You will get up to eight hours of battery life on this computing device. This battery life provides plenty of time to accomplish your tasks on the computer and also benefits those who are traveling.

Design:

9.4/10

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This laptop computer sports a 15.6-inch display screen. With a screen this large, you have an easy time browsing web pages, viewing movies or photos. It is also ideal for gaming or creating presentations. It features a high-definition 1280 x 720 pixel resolution. Having pretty good resolution, and the HDMI port, makes it enjoyable to watch HD movies on a large TV, too.

The small design of the Dell XPS 15z enhances its portability. This laptop is 0.91 inches thick, making it one of the thinnest laptops you will find on the market. The thin design makes it easy to store the laptop and carry from place to place. Although, this computing device weighs 5.54 pounds, making it a little heavier than several similar devices.

Feature Set:

10/10

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This laptop computer offers an extensive feature set filled with tools for both business and pleasure. There are several connectivity options available on this laptop. Wi-Fi is available along with Bluetooth 3.0. There is a 1.3-megapixel webcam featured on the XPS 15, along with dual array digital microphones. These features make video chatting possible.

There are several slots and ports located on the device including an HDMI port. This allows you to connect the computer to an HDTV or other monitor for larger viewing. There is one mini display port, one headphone port, one microphone port and three USB ports. There is also a 5-in-1 media card reader for added versatility.

You will also find Stage software available on this laptop computer. This software acts as an interface and allows you to jump back and forth between your favorite multimedia programs including photos, videos, music and more. The design of this software's interface is similar to a movie reel, allowing you to easily scroll and find what you need. This software includes programs such as PhotoStage where you can upload and edit photos or videos. Also, MusicStage is included, which allows you to expand and manage your music collection.

Support & Warranty:

8.1/10

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Dell offers quality customer support in case any problems or concerns arise while you're using this laptop computer. You can reach a customer service representative through email, phone and live chat support, though we don't recommend trying to call them. They bounced us around between departments like a pinball when we called with a few questions. In addition, you can find a user forum for added assistance and feedback from other users. There is also a section of the support webpage where you can download drivers and software updates.

Summary:

The Dell XPS 15z is a laptop computer with an outstanding feature set, battery life and design. It offers one of the thinnest designs we have seen on any laptop in its class, and the high-def 15.6-inch screen and second-generation Intel Core i5-2430M processor are just a few added benefits. But despite the thin size, this laptop is heavy. If you are looking for a computing device that is media-centric, fast and offers an ample amount of battery life, the Dell XPS 15z is worth your consideration.