Though we've been waiting for Minority Report-style interfaces to arrive for years, so far we've been stuck with touchscreens, their infinitely more practical but much less futuristic cousin.
However, with the Leap Motion controller now out and gaining support in applications, we're a step closer. And the HP Envy Leap Motion here is the first laptop with this gesture-based technology built in – you won't find it even in more expensive machines such as the MSI GS70 Stealth or the MacBook Pro 15-inch with Retina display.
It also comes with a regular multi-touch trackpad and a touchscreen, so there is a degree of overkill for control methods, it's true, but the ergonomics of laptops make it kind of a natural fit here. Your hands normally use laptops in the right kind of spots for the Leap Motion – you just need to lift them up off the surface a bit.
The Leap Motion sensor, a black bar on the right of the front, can detect your hand motion across the width of the laptop. You hold your hands over it, about half way up the height of the screen, and you can control compatible apps and games with a wave. The laptop comes with a dedicated app store for Leap Motion software, with some games and drawing tools available immediately.
Interestingly, the HP Envy Leap Motion isn't coasting on its namesake technology, though: being part of the Envy line, the company hasn't skimped on specs.
