HP Touch Laptop Bundle for 340 - Walmart (ad) Black Friday 2014 - 15-F014WM

HP 15-F014WM 15.6″ Touch Laptop

HP Touch Laptop Bundle for 340 - Walmart (ad) Black Friday 2014 - 15-F014WM

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The “HP Touch Laptop Bundle” for $349 listed in Walmart’s Black Friday 2014 deal catalog is among the best discount offers. Alongside an unspecified HP laptop model with a 15.6-inch touchscreen display, AMD A8 processor, 4GB of system memory, a big 750GB hard drive, and DVD burner, the bundle contains a mouse, USB Flash memory drive, sleeve, and a free anti-virus subscription. A search performed on Walmart.com has revealed the laptop model in question is the HP 15-F014WM. It currently sells with the same bundled extras for $448.

HP’s 15-F014WM is an entry level model. It has plastic chassis and a common 1366-by-768-pixel display panel. It however brings a very good computing performance, well ahead the majority of budget laptops. Instead of the usual Intel Celeron low-cost and underpowered processors, the HP 15-F014WM integrates the mid-range AMD A8-6410 quad-core chip with AMD Radeon R5 series integrated graphics. Combined with 4GB of RAM memory, the A8 can crunch the daily duties with ease. For comparison’s sake, the widely adopted Celeron N2830 used in Walmart’s $159 and $249 Black Friday laptops has around 1,100 points in the PassMark CPU test, whereas the A8-6410 racks in around 2,600 points. Another benefit of the AMD processor is its Radeon R5 graphics, which is much faster than the Intel HD found on the Celerons. This Radeon graphics processor is still just another integrated non-gaming solution, but it provides better playability than the Intel HD and can even run some of the latest demanding games on low settings and low resolution.

As for the HDD, the included 750GB unit has noticeably higher capacity than the commonly used 500GB drives, meaning more space for your music, movies, and other files.

Regarding upgradability, the official specs sheet indicates the laptop is upgrade-friendly, since the RAM slots are marked as “user accessible”. The 15-F014WM has two RAM slots, one of which is populated by a 4GB memory module, so you have a free slot if you want to put in an additional module. This convenience is omitted on many modern laptops you can find on the market.

Touchscreen display on a laptop isn’t a novelty these days, but isn’t a common feature among cheap models either. For input and interaction with software, it is accompanied by a full-size keyboard with numeric pad built-in and a standardly-sized trackpad with real “click” buttons.

In terms of other features, the Windows 8.1-based laptop includes all necessary stuff an average user might need. Besides stereo speakers and a web chat camera, the machine provides three USB ports, HDMI video connector, Wi-Fi wireless and Ethernet LAN wired network interfaces, and a multi-format media card reader.

HP hasn’t provided info on battery life. The capacity rated at 31WHr doesn’t look promising, given the laptop has a big screen and a mid-range CPU which is not among the most power efficient ones.

Regarding the bundled stuff, the wireless mouse is certainly the most useful item, since many users dislike trackpads. The included Flash drive has 8GB capacity. The sleeve offers just basic protection while you’re carrying the laptop around. The bundled security software is McAfee LiveSafe, a 180-day subscription. Due to relatively short subscription period and availability of many free security software solutions on the market, LiveSafe isn’t among the strongest selling points of this bundle.

Clearly, the laptop itself is. Even if you don’t count the extra items, $349 is a great price for a touch-enabled notebook with a mid-tier processor and a large hard drive.

Black Friday sales of the HP Touch Laptop Bundle (15-F014WM) starts on Thanksgiving evening, at 8PM.

For a comprehensive list of Black Friday and Cyber Monday laptop deals please visit this page.

Here are the specs of the HP (15-F014WM) Touch Laptop Bundle for $349 - Walmart (ad) Black Friday 2014 Deal with descriptions of its features. For comparison against other laptops, you can use the "Compare Specs" button.

Brand HP
Screen Size 15.6-inch

This is by far the most popular laptop screen size. It provides a lot of screen real estate, while avoiding bulkiness of the 17.3" laptops.
Screen Resolution 1366x768 pixels HD

This is an entry-level screen resolution, oftentimes found on budget laptops. It doesn't deliver picture sharpness and space on the screen like the Full HD or higher resolution laptop displays do.
Touchscreen Finger multi-touch input

The screen supports finger touch input, including multi-touch gestures.
Other Display Specs TN type

Displays based on the old TN technology lack wide viewing angles you can find on IPS screens. The colors may look washed out or inverted at certain viewing angles.
Processor (CPU) AMD A8-6410 quad-core 2-2.4GHz 2MB cache (User Benchmark CPU score: 24)
Graphics (GPU) AMD Radeon R5 integrated graphics (only for lightest gaming)
System Memory (RAM) Size 4GB RAM

4GB is a small RAM size for computing in 2023. For smooth operation of a laptop during everyday tasks, at least 8GB is recommended.
Data Storage 750GB HDD

This is an excellent capacity, but HDD is a slow type of storage.
DVD Optical Drive DVD writer
Keyboard & Input Non-backlit keyboard with dedicated number pad

The keyboard has a separate numeric pad on the right side of the keyboard, but it has no keyboard backlight.

Touchpad with separate physical click buttons

The touchpad features physical left and right click buttons, as opposed to click buttons integrated into the touchpad surface.

Touchscreen
Speakers & Audio Stereo speakers

As usual, the device features a pair of built-in stereo speakers.
Camera Front-facing web camera

Laptops usually feature a frontal webcam located on the display bezel. This laptop is no exception.
Wi-Fi Wireless 802.11N

802.11N is an old Wi-Fi standard, precursor of the 802.11AC and the latest 802.11AX with improved data transfer speeds and connectivity. 802.11N is rarely used in modern laptops.
Ethernet Network Port Yes

This laptop has an Ethernet LAN port for wired internet and networking connectivity.
Mobile broadband (4G LTE) No
Bluetooth No

This laptop has no built-in Bluetooth module.
USB Ports 2 x USB 3.0 + 1 x USB 2.0

A total of three full-size Type A USB ports.
Video Output Ports 1 x HDMI

HDMI is a widely used digital video output port. You can find HDMI-in ports on most computer monitors and TVs.
Media Card Reader SD card reader

The laptop has a slot for full-size SD memory cards, used in many digital cameras. You can also use microSD cards with a card adapter.
Other Features 8GB Flash Drive

McAfee LiveSafe 180-day subscription

Sleeve

Wireless mouse
Battery 3-cell 31WHr 2.8Ah lithium-ion
Weight 5 pounds
Height 0.9"
Width 15.2"
Depth 10.2"
Windows Version Windows 8.1

Windows 8.1 is eligible for free upgrade to Windows 10 Home. Check Windows.com for more info.
Warranty 1-year

A typical laptop warranty.

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Published on November 15, 2014

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User Reviews and Q&A

Below you can read and submit user reviews, questions, and answers about the HP (15-F014WM) Touch Laptop Bundle for $349 - Walmart (ad) Black Friday 2014 Deal. Thank you for your contribution.

Current rating: 3.67 out of 5 stars

  1. 3 out of 5

    Don –

    Well I have had almost a week with the laptop here is my official review.

    Use caution, First unit I got was defective, Dull screen with a line down the right side.
    Had to call around and find a Walmart with them still in stock.
    Second unit (One I have now) did not have the memory cover installed correctly. Someone left one of the tabs out which Had it bowing out on the bottom.
    Check your unit carefully before personalizing it etc..

    *****Second warning!!!!*****
    If you buy this at walmart, VERIFY YOUR WARRANTY!!.
    I had a pop up which stated My warranty expired 8/Something/2015 Problem I bought it in November, and Thats when my warranty should have started!!.. Check your systems people make sure your not getting ripped a few months either.

    Supposedly some “Purchase verification team” Is supposed to get in touch, We will see its been DAYS now.. Nothing!

    Its not horrible, Seems to have good boot time, touch pad and screen have nice sensitivity. Seems to so far *(Factory software pretty much all on it now) to have a decent load time for programs.
    USB ports, Seems the USB ports on the left are finicky at best. USB port on right side Loads up whatever device etc and has no issues at all. Typical use stuff It does not do bad at all..

    My stress test and epic FAIL as of now Would be I tried to import into the GoPro editor a video clip I had just filmed at 1080 100 fps. and It does NOT play the video back smooth at all.. This for me would come across as a major FAIL. I bought this laptop figuring It would be able to handle everything, and actually expected a long rendering time. This Laptop once Video was imported into the GoPro editor would not even preview the video smooth without 1 to 2 second lags. Now I was not trying to edit a hour long film, I was TRYING to work on a clip with about 2 minuets of total video.

    The Video and Screen leave a lot to be desired, Oddly lower resolution than I expected at max for a 15.6 inch screen, Does not look the sharpest either. While touch screen is nice option and all. I would have much rather seen higher resolution and crisper look.

    I have not tried out the DVD RW drive yet, Although I would say it feels to free on the door holding the laptop sometimes accidentally nudge the DVD draw and it wiggles sup rising a lot for new.

    I read(Have not confirmed) Unit can be upgraded to 16gb Ram, this is unknown to me, Budget wise was thinking about dropping in another 4GB.

    Keyboard, There is quite a few keys which seem just slightly off. So not sure how long one would expect to use this as a daily machine and not have a key fall off etc.

    I would say for a “Average to light user” Ok, But if you expect to edit a even small at best Gopro video. Don’t look at this unit.
    I am currently having a internal debate of taking it back and getting a refund, and wait for tax return time.
    I am on beyond a laughable budget, I think a friend of mine hit the nail on the head when he told me I bought a “Facebook” Machine.

    So If you need a laptop for Work school etc, This will be probably a good fit for you. But If your wanting to do video editing GoPro etc whichever, You should probably look higher up.

    Sadly my income is very restricted, but at $350 I thought I was getting a decent deal, but seems so many little issues make me wonder if I made wrong choice buying it. Debating taking it back, even though I JUST got done setting everything up.

    • 5 out of 5

      David –

      Hi Don,

      Thanks for your detailed review.

      I’m sorry to hear you didn’t have the best experience, with the iffy screen and USB ports. I too am on a strict budget, and that’s exactly what these laptops are aimed at. Considering it has a mid-range processor with touch screen, for $350, it really is a great deal, “facebook machine” or not. My girlfriend, whom this is for, watches videos online, uses office to do her college work, and browses facebook, youtube, etc. She also plays a few older games (Sims 3). I’ve tested the device’s playability of Sims 3 and it more than meets the needs of the game. I was able to also put SimCity on, which has a higher graphics need, and not had a problem.

      I didn’t experience any issues with the USB drives, but will keep an eye out for them. Touch screen response was excellent, and no lag that I could see. I have updated all the updates via HP i could find – audio, trackpad, video drivers, BIOS, etc., and Windows updates are all complete, so it is ready to go. The last startup services reported a ready time of 2.4s, which really is excellent.

      I admit the battery is not stunning. It’s a 31wh battery which is light, but again, designed for low-budget, and keeps the laptop sleek. There is a 41wh battery available for this if you want to boost the life a little. Most people do keep their laptops plugged up though, so this shouldn’t pose too much of an issue unless you start whirring up the DVD drive, in which case it’s going to eat through the battery life quickly.

      Danijel Z also makes a valid point – depending upon video processing needs, this laptop should be more than capable. I am surprised that you are having so many issues with your GoPro video editing.

      I streamed a couple of 1080p movies and found no stuttering, freezing etc.

      All in all, I would highly recommend this laptop for someone on a budget. I definitely understand your frustration and hopefully you find a device that is more suitable for your needs.

    • David –

      I should add – no issues with warranty (correctly shows 1 year warranty), memory cover, etc.

      You had a bad run – I can definitely understand your trepidation.

    • Don –

      Here is what I’m getting. Short phone filmed 30. Seconds. Audio was tv in background lol.

      http://youtu.be/tz5HZA_MAS4

    • Danijel Z –

      Thank you for all info, Don. It looks like GoPro software and AMD A8 don’t cooperate well, which is a shame since the A8 is overall a decent CPU. Or maybe the high fps of 120 and 200 is too much for this particular CPU… Anyway thanks for warning other readers about the issue.

    • Don –

      I haven’t tried to stream, But where I did find the video wasn’t up to snuff was using the latest gopro software and importing and previewing footage I made. Max was about 2 min 30 seconds. 120 and 200 fps. I was given a deal on a Late 2006 Imac with 4gb ram 250gb hdd.
      It loaded the go pro software and it played the same recording in editor preview fine.

      And Yea, I think the difference is like Daniel said, Intel based processor. It seems like the gopro software is really written for intel threading. This may be also part of the issue.

      I am going to try and update all drivers and software and see where it goes.

      If anyone has the time, please run this
      http://download.cnet.com/PerformanceTest/3000-2086_4-10030322.html
      and post your results. I just got 818.. Curious to see specs and what else others get.

    • Don –

      I have since returned it feels horrible had lots of hope. If anyone else has this laptop please run the benchmark and post your score. Would like to know did I just get a lemon?

      Least credit card is back to 0 but bummer willing to not have latest and all but when it could not do what a 10 year old computer did just time to cut my losses and hope to find another super deal.

    • Don –

      Add on to review about the warranty issue.
      A few days later I received a survey about my dell experience and asking is if my issue was resolved. Well obviously at that point it had not been. Filled it out and submitted it. A few days later I get a email not a phone call as I was told to expect requesting copy of the recipt. Snapped a pic of original defective unit recipt and exchange recipt. Attached it to the email and sent it in. Couple more days go by and they say they got it and updated their system as to my warranty status. Still not explaining how a warranty was activated on a factory sealed unit months before. Just seems poor customer service to even have to go through all that when buying a new laptop.

  2. Don –

    Good to hear thank you, I5 and I7 would be nice. Main issue is budget. For 350 this laptop just didn’t seem to be able to be beat deal wise. Everything similar or less I saw was Celeron etc.. Guess I will have to give it a whirl. Just keeping a eye out on that 15 day count down for return option.

    Thanks for the input and running this place.

    • 3 out of 5

      Don –

      Ok. I cracked the box tonight. Battery is jokingly light. I installed battery hooked up ac adapter and powered up. Notice logo and all starts to fire up and right hand section of screen has full line of dead pixels…

      Debating return or exchange. May look at what cyber Monday has to offer

  3. Danijel Z –

    @Don. I occasionally do video editing on a much slower laptop with an Intel Pentium CPU and still can get the job done. If we assume video editing in Go Pro isn’t your 9-to-5 job, this laptop will serve you fine. Audio production is less demanding than video editing, so I wouldn’t expect any problem with it. The only negative thing you might experience is a bit slow video file export when you finish your work (in comparison to the Intel Core i5 and i7 processors which are still the best choice for these tasks).

    • Don –

      Danijle, Yea, I don’t know, As of yesterday, I uploaded a video to it, and played it in the GoPro Editor. It was horribly choppy, audio kept going ok while video it self visual wise would pause for a full second or two. This is also while its just supposed to be playing back what I already recorded. Gotta say the 15-f014wm Was not very impressive..

    • Danijel Z –

      Sorry to hear that, really weird… It looks like a video playback problem to me. In the Task Manager (CTRL+SHIFT+ESC) is there any app that takes a lot of CPU / Memory resources, except GoPro software while you do video editing? I’m really curious about the problem. Haven’t used the A8-6410 / GoPro editor combo, but I have used much slower CPUs and they can play and edit 1080p without stutter… Have you tried some other editor, like Windows Movie Maker? Lastly, did you run GoPro while the laptop was on AC power or on the battey power?
      Another problem could be drivers, so I would check in the Device Manager if the proper driver is installed for the Radeon graphics.

    • Don –

      Daniel, Yea from some benchmarking I just did it seems to be weak in the video department. and yes, I did the same with a Imac intel dual core, same footage went smooth. I have not tried another editor, the footage I was working with is 120FPS and 200FPS.
      I was on Ac adapter power at the time. I am just about to do a drivers check and see that all are up to date.
      I have a feeling the AMD cpu is part and video card wise limited.
      I think go pro editor is really written more for intel threading..

      22 more hours then I’m out of return time
      I really am not sure on this one. Ive really kept a open mind and had high hopes..

  4. Danijel Z –

    @Bilgemaster: Thank you, I’m glad this site helped you. Please don’t forget to rate the laptop here sometime.

  5. Bilgemaster –

    No rating to offer on this machine yet, but I was able to order this $349 “HP Touch Laptop Bundle” on Friday the 28th just before noon using the red “Buy at Walmart” link below, even though its Thursday 8 PM special has long since passed. I had already purchased the $249 Celeron model on Thursday night (see: “http://laptoping.com/specs/product/walmart-black-friday-2014-249-hp-laptop-intel-celeron-touch/) as a Xmas gift for my daughter, but am quite happy to pay about a hundred bucks extra for this considerable AMD quad processor upgrade and semi-decent graphics thanks to this superb tip by laptoping.com (Thanx folks! YOU get five stars!)… And I didn’t even have to go back to the store or travel back in time!

  6. Don –

    Wondering thoughts on video editing with this? Go pro hero 3 black and the go pro video editor etc?? I have virtually no budget but figured id put it on credit card with 15 day return option and have not opened it. Also old school audio production of electronic music etc..
    Input please.

  7. anne –

    Tnx,Daniel.

  8. Danijel Z –

    Anne, my advice is to click on the red “Buy at Walmart” button below. You’ll be taken to the 15-f014wm page where you can see the laptop with AMD A8 processor, flash, mouse, and other stuff. Bookmark the page and check it again on Thursday 8PM. Check out if the price has changed then from $448 to $349 and if it is, add it to chart.

  9. anne –

    Allright, but what should I do now? I wanted the AMD laptop with mouse and flash for 349, how can I get one?

  10. Danijel Z –

    @anne: I think it is a mistake on their end. The page the ad links to isn’t a bundle page, but a page of the HP 15-f010wm which will be on sale for $249 without bundled extras.

  11. anne –

    So is this freakin’ laptop with AMD A8 or Celeron. Walmart ad says it’s AMD but links to a Celeron laptop. Confused.

    • Don –

      And a8. Sitting in front of me.

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