HP Envy m4-1115dx

The HP Envy m4-1115dx is a 14-inch entertainment laptop with great specs. It comes with the Intel Core i7-3632QM CPU with four cores and a high speed of up to 3.2GHz via TurboBoost clock rate boosting technology, 8GB of RAM which is a kind of overkill (4GB is enough in 99.9% of situations), a spacious 1 Terabyte hard drive, built-in DVD burner, and Intel HD 4000 integrated graphics. This is a powerful laptop in terms of performance, except in the graphics field due to the usual and greatly under-powered Intel’s on-CPU graphics processor. HP has managed to squeeze these components into the 1.1-inch aluminum chassis, so the m4-1115dx is a good choice for those who want a full-blown standard voltage processor and a thin laptop at the same time. It’s thicker than ultrabooks usually measuring around 0.7 inches, but the i7-3632QM with 7,561 PassMark CPU points easily outperforms the top-of-the-line ultrabook classs i7-3667U with a score of 4,093.

If audio is important too you, the m4 is probably the best choice in the 14″ and thin form factor, not only because of included Beats Audio-branded technology for improved sound quality, but also a built-in subwoofer besides two standard stereo speakers.

Other nice touches are keyboard backlight for typing in dim light and a fingerprint reader for enhanced system security.

Overall, the m4-1115dx is a good ultrabook alternative without speed compromise and without a too expensive price. It costs $780. But, let’s mention some good alternatives to it. The best one in our opinion is the 15.6″ Lenovo P500 – 59372845 with a slower i5 and smaller RAM and HDD of 6GB and 750GB respectively, but also a much lower price tag of $500. Also, if you like the HP Envy brand but don’t want to shell out so much cash for the m4, you can grab an i5-based m6-1225dx with 8GB RAM / 750GB HDD for $680.

HP Envy m4-1115dx Specifications:

• Display: 14″ LED-backlit high-definition display, BrightView technology (1366 x 768 resolution)
• Processor: 3rd Generation Intel Core i7-3632QM quad-core processor, 2.2GHz (Turbo Boost up to 3.2GHz)
• Graphics: Intel HD Graphics 4000 integrated
• Memory: 8GB DDR3 SDRAM system memory
• Storage: 1TB hard drive (5400 rpm)
• Optical drive: DVD burner
• Webcam: yes, HD
• Audio: Internal Stereo speakers + subwoofer Beats Audio
• Network: Wireless-N, Gigabit LAN, no Bluetooth
• Input: Backlit island-style keyboard, touchpad with multitouch gesture support, fingerprint reader
• Ports and Slots: 2 USB 3.0; 1 USB 2.0, HDMI and VGA video ports, multi-in-one media card reader
• Battery: 6-cell lithium-ion battery
• Dimensions: 1.1 x 13.5 x 9.2 inches
• Weight: 4.4 pounds
• OS: Windows 8
• Warranty: 1-year