Yay I finally got a Bag of Coal. Can't wait for the soul crushing disappointment.

You'd have to pay me $800.00 to use any HP product. Every single HP product my household has used over the past 15 years has had a hardware failure within two years. Terrible experiences, and terrible customer service. At this price point you could find an equal or better laptop from a quality brand!

My $0.02.

Talking about the HP Envy Laptop:

How can anyone stand that Chicklet style keyboard. It reminds me of the failed IBM PCjr.


Talking about the Santa's Bag of Carp:

My hope is that this isn't the typical 2lb bag of carp that Woot has been doing for the last year to year and half. They have been buying super cheap junk specially to put into these grab bags, where they barely are worth the $3 paid. Let's hope for a Santa's Bag, Woot returns to their roots and fills with with leftovers from around the warehouse. That would be a Christmas miracle.

jobezark wrote:You'd have to pay me $800.00 to use any HP product. Every single HP product my household has used over the past 15 years has had a hardware failure within two years. Terrible experiences, and terrible customer service. At this price point you could find an equal or better laptop from a quality brand!

My $0.02.

HP makes excellant quality equipment for the Enterprise customer. Their servers are terrific and their business class workstations aren't bad. Their consumer stuff is a different story. That is why they were going to exit the consumer market before a change in leadership changed the corporate direction.

BigRedDogATL wrote:

Talking about the Santa's Bag of Carp:

My hope is that this isn't the typical 2lb bag of carp that Woot has been doing for the last year to year and half. They have been buying super cheap junk specially to put into these grab bags, where they barely are worth the $3 paid. Let's hope for a Santa's Bag, Woot returns to their roots and fills with with leftovers from around the warehouse. That would be a Christmas miracle.

I'm hoping the same thing!

BigRedDogATL wrote:


Talking about the Santa's Bag of Carp:

My hope is that this isn't the typical 2lb bag of carp that Woot has been doing for the last year to year and half. They have been buying super cheap junk specially to put into these grab bags, where they barely are worth the $3 paid. Let's hope for a Santa's Bag, Woot returns to their roots and fills with with leftovers from around the warehouse. That would be a Christmas miracle.

I wouldn't count on it... They got us all hooked on the "old" style bags, and now that they have us, they change it up.. So, loyal minions that we are, we continue to come to the woot-offs waiting for the Burgandy Olfactory Center. We come on woots birthday.. We come at Christmas, and again on April Fools Day... Always HOPING that woot will listen to the very people who made them what they are today...

But alas, the dollar store wins again... Woot's creativity now lies in their writing staff alone...

I haven't seen too many Roomba's, Sansa's, broken (or not broken) DVD players.... I'm afraid those days are long gone...

rlj1010 wrote:Actually, last year, there was no secret hidden link. It appeared right at midnight for everyone...trackers included.

But it was the year before last, where they also did the hidden link.... I still have it bookmarked!

http://www.woot.com/special.aspx?k=nice

My bad 2010 was a blur. I blame it on my two kids.

Thanks for clarifying.

Merry Christmas.

As far as I can tell, this is a pretty great deal. Configuring a similar Envy via HP's website results in a $1240 price tag. The only difference is that the base model Envy now comes with a i5-2430M (2.4Ghz) processor versus Woot's i5-2410M (2.3Ghz) processor. So this is probably a slightly older version, but for the $400 discount I'd jump on this if I needed a midrange gaming laptop.

Speaking of which, check out Notebookcheck's 6630M Review for an excellent review on the graphics card used in this laptop and what you can expect gaming-performance-wise.

I do not know how I got a SSOC. I hit buy on HP, saw it was not it, went to link in desc, then entered my CSV and wham 503's I tried for 20 minutes all of a sudden I got a connection and it went fast and I got one. WOW!
I saw a aiCache on the 503 page. I wonder if that had anything to do with that.

Thank you very much Woot. Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays and Happy New YEars!

madmod20061 wrote:Anyone know how HP laptops compare to their desktops. I'm thinking of replacing my older Asus laptop that is starting to show signs of it's age. I had an HP desktop a few years back and despised it with every fiber of my being. It was so slow and clunky even though the specs said it should have been top of the line for a budget PC at the time. That HP desktop actually drove me to a Mac Mini (I said I'd never buy a Mac due to price). I'd still like to keep my laptop windows based though.

Hp, Acer, Gateway, and Lenovo all fall into the same catagory as poop. Usually lower quality parts and you get what you pay for. I would say that applies to their lower end, cheap computers but because of this, I would never buy one of their higher end ones.

For laptops I would go Asus, Sony, Toshiba, Samsung, MSI even Dell. Probably in that order too, although not the biggest fan of Sony as they are kinda like Apple, BUT I still think they make quality products that last.

You get what you pay for and the better brands are usually slightly more but usually last longer. Up to you, my family and I have always had luck with our computers/laptops and they have always lasted. I say that from never buying any of those in the first paragraph recently.

We did buy gateway when they used to have the cow boxes, but that was way long ago before hp or whoever bought them.

probably doesn't help too much and is probably an opinion shared by many with a few exceptions. Goodluck and look for sales and you should find a quality one somewhere.

I purchased their at home service full warranty including spill protection. After the computer crashed following a spill they first denied that I purshased the protection (It was $300.) Then after I faxed them the proof they made me send the computer to them. They said at home serice is not for all repairs only some. I then waited a week to get my computer back. I;m not sure if I will ever buy another HP but if I do I will get a square trade warranty for less than half the price of their fraudulent at home service warranty.

karolyn9 wrote:Fooled me I guess I should of read the description and clicked on "bag" sooner. This should have been a April 1st trick.

Read a book - perhaps two - maybe even join a library, and you'll not only have practice at reading descriptions quickly, you'll also be aware that you should _have_ read the description.

a review from an owner -

i own the 1st gen version of this laptop, very similar.

Overall it's a decent laptop, especially with the SSD which makes it very quick. The build quality is great, mine was dropped onto a tile floor, on its corner, and was barely damaged. The keyboard has a lot of flex, but the feel of the keyboard is not ruined by the flex like some are.

The speakers are poor, and while it looks like the sound card is set up for DJing (with 2 separate audio out) it's not possible.

I LOVE my screen but I got the very rare high resolution version, 1600x900. I paid about 1,000 for mine, used, with the dent, but it was a steal, that screen can not be had at any price now.

Overall, at this price, it's competitive. You could do better but you could do a lot worse. Because of the screen I have, I give mine 4.5 out of 5 stars, this one, 3.5 of 5.

I wish woot would offer a laptop with a SSD in a brand I could trust. Bad experence with HP.

ohyaok wrote:I wish woot would offer a laptop with a SSD in a brand I could trust. Bad experence with HP.

So which brand of laptop do you trust? Any? We had a ton of HP's, one bad laptop of many. Dell was been my bad experiences.

Oops. I was having so much fun last night that I forgot all about the Christmas Box of Cats. Oh well. Merry Christmas everyone!

pz@woot wrote:8088! How many of us got that joke? Too funny.

The reference's too old for most of today's youth. They probably don't even get it when I tell slow-loaders on Left 4 Dead 2 that they need to upgrade their Pentium II...

mikezav wrote:First step on any new HP is to reinstall Windows without all the CRAPware. This thing is full of crap; I know that because it says HP on it. I don't know how you do that legally today since you have to activate windows. A restore from the disks will bring back the crap so you have to buy or install a pirated copy of Windows on it.

My Asus G74SX has the Genuine Microsoft sticker on the bottom with the Windows activation key. Supposedly you can use that key to reinstall Windows from scratch with a generic Windows 7 DVD.

The Asus G74SX forum has this:

Windows 7 Home Premium w/SP1 Integrated ISO
(burn to DVD with Windows Disk Image Burner for install disk, use activation code on label under notebook)

BigRedDogATL wrote:Talking about the HP Envy Laptop:

How can anyone stand that Chicklet style keyboard. It reminds me of the failed IBM PCjr.


Talking about the Santa's Bag of Carp:

My hope is that this isn't the typical 2lb bag of carp that Woot has been doing for the last year to year and half. They have been buying super cheap junk specially to put into these grab bags, where they barely are worth the $3 paid. Let's hope for a Santa's Bag, Woot returns to their roots and fills with with leftovers from around the warehouse. That would be a Christmas miracle.

don't hold your breath,big business owns them now(amazon)

Haha. The order status page for my Christmas coal still says my order is processing. I already checked last night, and my account says I got one.

Geniekid wrote:As far as I can tell, this is a pretty great deal. Configuring a similar Envy via HP's website results in a $1240 price tag. The only difference is that the base model Envy now comes with a i5-2430M (2.4Ghz) processor versus Woot's i5-2410M (2.3Ghz) processor. So this is probably a slightly older version, but for the $400 discount I'd jump on this if I needed a midrange gaming laptop.

Speaking of which, check out Notebookcheck's 6630M Review for an excellent review on the graphics card used in this laptop and what you can expect gaming-performance-wise.

I'm spoiled by my desktop's HD5850. I bought a G74SX-XC1 about a month ago and its GTX 560M (192 version) was about the lowest I wanted to go (would have reluctantly settled for a 555M). That system, while on sale at the time, cost quite a bit more than this one of course.

I like this page at NotebookCheck. Select your own games that you're interested in.

andrewkl wrote:I wouldn't count on it... They got us all hooked on the "old" style bags, and now that they have us, they change it up.. So, loyal minions that we are, we continue to come to the woot-offs waiting for the Burgandy Olfactory Center. We come on woots birthday.. We come at Christmas, and again on April Fools Day... Always HOPING that woot will listen to the very people who made them what they are today...

But alas, the dollar store wins again... Woot's creativity now lies in their writing staff alone...

I haven't seen too many Roomba's, Sansa's, broken (or not broken) DVD players.... I'm afraid those days are long gone...

You're right.. my last post on the Burgandy Olfactory Center a few weeks ago was "RABBLE IM NEVER BUYING ONE AGAIN CAUSE WOOT HAS LOST ITS ROOTS" etc etc etc...

I still bought one And I'll buy one again and again.. until I either come to my senses that Amazon owns woot, or I'm broke.

mikezav wrote:First step on any new HP is to reinstall Windows without all the CRAPware. This thing is full of crap; I know that because it says HP on it. I don't know how you do that legally today since you have to activate windows. A restore from the disks will bring back the crap so you have to buy or install a pirated copy of Windows on it.

Other than that it may be a good machine. I couldn't get past the HP label. SSD is nice, though. You could put linux on it if you are a geek, for most people, you need Windows unfortunately.

A much easier way to get rid of the crap is to run PC Decrapfier.
http://pcdecrapifier.com/

503 for 1/2 hour in eight browser windows, and then (much like reported by others) all of them went to the order page at once. Quickly got through to the stupidly large button on one, and could have likely gotten others had I had the different browsers use different accounts (I see no need to be greedy like that, though). 8th Burgandy Olfactory Center and second straight Christmas Crap. Expecting this one to be as exceptionally crappy as my November one (where the best thing was a USB Guard Dog that doesn't work... wow... that one fit the 'crap' description to a tee... but thems the breaks...), but that's all part of the fun...

Woot!

buffaloed wrote:A much easier way to get rid of the crap is to run PC Decrapfier.
http://pcdecrapifier.com/

I'm not sure you're allowed to Decrap anything here on woot...

pz@woot wrote:8088! How many of us got that joke? Too funny.

I still have tech specs/book on the 8086 from taking microprocessor assembly language. At least not running a Burroughs main frame and a little better than a VAX

bouncefactor wrote:I still have tech specs/book on the 8086 from taking microprocessor assembly language. At least not running a Burroughs main frame and a little better than a VAX

Is this the part where we get to talk about our TRS-80 with tape drive and our state of the art Atari 2600?

Speaking of the James Brown reference/bag hidden link in the description...

A big remembrance to the hardest working man in show business... The Godfather of Soul... (And hot tub man #1.)

Who died 5 years ago today.

James Joseph Brown May 3, 1933 – December 25, 2006

bouncefactor wrote:I still have tech specs/book on the 8086 from taking microprocessor assembly language. At least not running a Burroughs main frame and a little better than a VAX

I still remember the joy (and I'm not being sarcastic) of writing huge login.com files on the VAX in college to make our dumb terminals have a decent interface.

mikebbass wrote:Is this the part where we get to talk about our TRS-80 with tape drive and our state of the art Atari 2600?

dont be hating trash 80s finest computer radio shack made and I overclocked the processor in my 2600 and it is going to bring the world down but I have to go I am still trying to crack the password on my dialup to war department as they have this cool game called Global thremonuclear war that I just have to play.

Both my wife and I picked up Santa crap. Little server delay, but otherwise smooth. Thanks Woot! Merry Christmas!

mikebbass wrote:Is this the part where we get to talk about our TRS-80 with tape drive and our state of the art Atari 2600?

Only if you get one in your BOC.

drgandalf wrote:Only if you get one in your BOC.

I would kill for a TRS-80 in my Burgandy Olfactory Center It was my first computer.

bouncefactor wrote:dont be hating trash 80s finest computer radio shack made and I overclocked the processor in my 2600 and it is going to bring the world down but I have to go I am still trying to crack the password on my dialup to war department as they have this cool game called Global thremonuclear war that I just have to play.

The TRS-80 was my first computer. No hate here. Beware of the W.O.P.R.

jedediahsm wrote:Woot is run by Santa right?

No, that is Sansa...one letter off.

Dang...I was at a Christmas Eve party and checked Woot on my phone. When I saw no bag I didn't bother to read the teeny tiny description on my phone screen, and went back to the party. I should know better!

mikebbass wrote:I would kill for a TRS-80 in my Burgandy Olfactory Center It was my first computer.

My first? A Timex Sinclair....

I have had a similar HP ENVY for the last three months (the difference mine has 600GB SATA and a second "slice" battery). The switchable graphics is great, the thing is built like a tank. Very fast. Outside surface is great if you hate finger prints. Beats Audio works well. At first I thought the speakers sucked and longed for my HK Toshiba, but after some playing around I found the proper set-up. I was a huge change from bitter disappointment to wow his sounds pretty good. Plug in some buds or phones and you will find the quality amazing. No machine interference at all. Little if any true bloatware. Don't be fooled...this is not an ultralight or even light computer 5 lbs / 7 with slice, but the feel of solidity and quality is very, very good. The lid and screen are as strong and solid as any I have every seen while maybe 4/10ths of an inch wide at most.

So far this has been a fantastic road warrior machine,

andrewkl wrote:My first? A Timex Sinclair....

Mine was the TI-994A.