Take That, Jessica Chobot and Olivia Munn! Maximum PC Scores Voodoo Envy Hands-On and First Licking (Size Comparisons Too)
Posted 07/17/08 at 11:00:59 AM by Norman Chan
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Just call us licky. We mean, lucky. You've seen the official super-hot photos of the Voodoo PC's Envy laptop, but we got our hands on one and were able to take tons of close-up photos of the as well as try out the highly touted instant-on feature. Our initial impressions: the laptop is really light. HP claims the laptop (it was the SSD version) weighs three and a half pounds, and even though we didn’t have a scale in our messenger bags, it sure felt about the same weight as the Macbook air, power supply notwithstanding. Stacking the Envy against a Macbook Pro and Thinkpad X300, Voodoo’s pricey portable was both smaller and slimmer, though it sports a 13” screen.
With the instant-on function, Voodoo claims the Envy boots from the BIOS to a simplistic GUI menu in three seconds, though our test clocked the boot-up at four seconds. Launching the pre-installed Linux kernel took another six seconds (you have the option to just launch Windows), which is pretty handy if you just want to surf the web or run an instant messenger client. The custom Linux build lets you surf the web with Firefox, browse photos (which have to be stored in specific folders), listen to music, instant message with Pidgin, or even chat with Skype. Voodoo chose all of these apps because they were open source. The UI menu looks simple and can be configured to dock to any side of the screen. The look of the Linux UI still isn't final, so what customers will see might look a little different from our photo.
We like the Envy’s slim design and light weight, though the lack of an onboard Ethernet port and optical drive are unfortunate sacrifices. The square-ish (yet still thin) power brick didn’t look too cumbersome to inhibit portability, and includes an Ethernet port to broadcast wi-fi to the laptop. The shiny carbon fiber weave surface looked really stylish and sleek, though this was a pre-production model, which explained why it had a few scratches and signs of wear. Our fingerprints were also immediately noticeable after handling the laptop for a few minutes, so wiping the surfaces down with the included soft microfiber sleeve is probably recommended.
Once our hands-on time was up (our review unit is coming later), we (meaning Norm) decided to make his mark on the Envy with a slobbery lick. So what did Voodoo’s Macbook Air killer taste like? Says Norm: “ a single plum floating in perfume served in a man's hat.”
(edits made to clarify the pre-production nature of the unit and Linux UI)
Continue to the next page for more photos and a truly terrifying image.
It's a super portable laptop
Submitted by Keith E. Whisman on Wed, 07/23/2008 - 9:46pm
It's a super portable laptop Norm. It can't possibly have the performance that would deserve the kind of excitement you showed towards it. Perhaps you were just happy seeing a PC laptop that is lighter and faster than the Mac Air. It fits in an envelope. Whoop dee doo. Who cares. This is Maximum PC. What kind of Power User is going to be happy with the limitations necessary to produce an ultra portable laptop? You guys are turning into Computer shopper.
Norm I would hate to see you alone with a top of the line Sager laptop in a shady motel room. If you lick an utterly slow ass tiny laptop then I'm sure you would do more with a gaming laptop.
Things have really started turning south about the same time Norm joined Maximum PC. Connection maybe?
Hey Keith, I'd suggest that
Submitted by willsmith on Thu, 07/24/2008 - 9:34am
Hey Keith,
I'd suggest that ultra-portables are just as worthy of geek lust as 19-pound desktop replacements. With today's ultra-portables, you can do damn near everything you need to (short of playing games) with a 3 pound notebook. It isn't like the old days, where thin and light laptops sucked for normal desktop work. They're actually quite capable machines.
I wouldn't recommend any Maximum PC reader use an ultra-portable as his main PC. But, I have a desktop and a laptop. As much time as I spend on the road, my next laptop will definitely be a sub-three pounder.
I get that you're paranoid about us fucking up the magazine that you love. The changes you're seeing are a result of us having a nigh-infinite amount of space to discuss tech now. Instead of being limited to just the 55 or so pages in the mag every month, we can talk about whatever we think is interesting and cool. And, it's a big world out there, so what you've seen in the mag all these years is a small sub-set of what the editorial staff thinks is cool.
///Will
Would You Suggest?
Submitted by TheDuck on Tue, 07/29/2008 - 1:42pm
Will, would you suggest a server with 2 Intel Xeons and 4 to 12 GB of memory to any PC gamer?
Submitted by Keith E. Whisman on Fri, 07/25/2008 - 2:05am
Yeah your right. I have a coworker that is looking for a cheap ultra portable to load up with all the routes. Right now all the bus drivers have to carry a large black binder with all the route details for every bus route in Phoenix, Tempe, Mesa and Glendale. It's a rather big book and having all the routes available to print out if need be would save our backs.
And if it's powerfull enough to allow office software and networking to allow for internet access for net meetings it would be a compelling buy but at the very least IMHO any ultra portable needs to have a cd/dvd RW. This can come as a usb device just don't limit it to drive access off the network.
This was featured on Gizmodo
Submitted by pellier on Fri, 07/18/2008 - 4:28pm
This was featured on Gizmodo
Submitted by PCIV on Thu, 07/17/2008 - 6:37pm
Why would anyone pay for this? A blackbook looks just as good, OS X boots in 20 seconds clean, and the 1.7 pounds extra will do your body good, old man.
Yes, I'm posting a Pro-mac comment here. Cancel my subscription if you want.
Mmm
Submitted by Darth Ninja on Thu, 07/17/2008 - 6:47pm
Mmm Koolaid
____________________
DarthNinja
www.DarthNinja.com
Submitted by Darth Ninja on Thu, 07/17/2008 - 5:55pm
I hear I might be winning something ^^
____________________
DarthNinja
www.DarthNinja.com
Future hands-on
Submitted by Rainier on Thu, 07/17/2008 - 2:11pm
So, Norm...will you be licking everything you review from now on? That would be funny. Disturbing, but funny.
Submitted by willsmith on Thu, 07/17/2008 - 2:23pm
I think it's a good policy. You?
Submitted by norman on Thu, 07/17/2008 - 2:55pm
are we abiding by the "if i lick it, it's mine" policy?
-- Norm
Submitted by mikeart03a on Thu, 07/17/2008 - 11:56am
Yeah... that's a prime example of how not to handle a laptop....
- mike_art03a
IT Technician
Gov't of Canada
I got all excited when I
Submitted by horzo on Thu, 07/17/2008 - 9:30am
I got all excited when I saw couple of girl's names combined with
"lick", but then discovered that they work for IGN and G4 respectively
and lost interest.Pretty laptop there, but I can't deal with a 13" screen - even if it weighs next to nothing.
Disturbing
Submitted by bytor7 on Thu, 07/17/2008 - 8:54am
Norm, that is going to be the most disturbing picture I see all day. Maybe all week. Thanks a lot.
Submitted by bholstege on Thu, 07/17/2008 - 6:52am
Since when is Skype open source?
Submitted by norman on Thu, 07/17/2008 - 7:29am
you're right. my mistake. skype was included because the linux distro they're partnering with has a deal with skype.
-- Norm
Norm, when I said I hoped
Submitted by Haipyng on Thu, 07/17/2008 - 6:10am
Norm, when I said I hoped you were having fun out there, I didn't mean that kind of fun. Someone call the SPCA for laptops.
Submitted by Darth Ninja on Thu, 07/17/2008 - 4:51am
Taste good?
http://mine.icanhascheezburger.com/view.aspx?ciid=1561522____________________
DarthNinja
www.DarthNinja.com
Submitted by linuxcrazy on Thu, 07/17/2008 - 10:47am
Bwahahaha funniest picture ever.
Submitted by norman on Thu, 07/17/2008 - 5:07am
i love it. contest declared.
-- Norm
Submitted by PCIV on Thu, 07/17/2008 - 6:47pm
How do you do IMG?
Edit by willsmith: you just use HTML
Submitted by Haipyng on Thu, 07/17/2008 - 6:20am
Too funny! Dugg.
Oh I Dugg your story too Norm.
First prize is getting licked by Norm? DarthNinja is in the lead so far...
Wow norm, now I dont even
Submitted by Strongbad536 on Thu, 07/17/2008 - 4:39am
Wow norm, now I dont even want to touch my laptop
Norm needs a date. nice
Submitted by beezn on Thu, 07/17/2008 - 4:31am
Norm needs a date.
nice tie by the way.
srsly?
Submitted by whisp on Thu, 07/17/2008 - 3:27am
norm, this better be the most revoltionary notebook this side of the world hath ever seen, srsly? wtf even teh intern is WTF ?!?!
"we Plan for Tomorrow, but we Live for Today"
Submitted by norman on Thu, 07/17/2008 - 5:06am
really, reed. what the hell are you doing up at 4am. sleep fail.
-- Norm
Submitted by whisp on Thu, 07/17/2008 - 1:22pm
I had just returned from my evening on the town, city endeavors run late
"we Plan for Tomorrow, but we Live for Today"
/yawn dis gunna be long
Submitted by dreamreality on Thu, 07/17/2008 - 9:28am
/yawn
dis gunna be long dai fur intern.
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