This is a compensated review by BlogHer and HP.
A few weeks ago I got an email asking if I’d be interested in reviewing a new HP TouchSmart 600 computer. And yes, I was interested, because I am a nerd and always terribly entertained by anything that plugs in and has a screen, but since I’d never seen the TouchSmart before, I had a mental image of a big, clunky desktop coming into the house. Besides that, we haven’t owned a PC in about ten years, and part of me wondered if accepting the HP was some unforgivable act of Mac betrayal.
But then I remembered the 10 year-old Mac desktop in my office (that, bless its heart, can’t run more than two applications at a time before it starts to wheeze), and I got over my reservations. BRING ON THE HP.
The new TouchSmart arrived a few days later, and y’all, I cannot tell you how impressed we have been by this computer. We love it. It looks great (do you see how skinny it is?), and when David was setting it up, I actually asked him where the rest of it was. It’s essentially the same size as a flat-screen TV. In fact, it can work as a TV – you just plug in your cable and you’re good to go. It can also work as a DVR (CAN I GET AN AMEN?) or a BluRay movie player. There’s even a remote. Be still my heart.
And I wish y’all could have seen my husband’s reaction when he realized that you can mount the TouchSmart on the wall. Suffice it to say that his eyes lit up and then glazed over and I thought for a brief moment that he might need to sit down and put his head between his knees.
We started using the TouchSmart approximately 53 seconds after we set it up, and while I didn’t know how much I’d use all the bells and whistles in our day-to-day routine, I have to say that the touchscreen features are actually my very favorite part. Besides the fact that it makes me feel like Tom Cruise in “Minority Report” when I move my finger around the screen and resize pictures and create collages and pretend like I’m some sort of technological wizard, it’s just so EASY. I can write notes, save recipes, browse the web, play a movie via our Netflix account, laugh at something on Hulu, listen to my Pandora playlist, edit photos and so much more – all without touching a keyboard or a mouse. The computer HAS a keyboard and a mouse, of course (they’re wireless!), and you can use them with any of the TouchSmart applications – but once you get the hang of the touchscreen, it’s oh-so-convenient and fun.
I really could go on and on – about how Alex loves it, about how the touchscreen is COMPLETELY intuitive for a child, about how I adore the Recipe Box feature that lets me add any recipe I happen to run across on the web and will even READ THE RECIPE OUT LOUD TO ME while I cook. But I’m going to quit talking now because we need to get this giveaway started. I think it’s time.
So.
If you’d like to win an HP TouchSmart 600 computer, leave a comment below and tell me where you’d put the computer if you won. Family room? Office? Playroom? Kitchen? Inside Mama’s closet where NO ONE ELSE CAN TOUCH IT? On top of a thrift store desk that you overhauled with turquoise spray paint?
Or, if you’d like, you can leave a comment with a link to a post about the HP on your blog.
And whatever you do, please make sure that your email address is correct.
This contest will begin December 9th and end December 24th.
Before I forget:
1) If you’d like more information about this computer, just click on over to HP’s official site.
2) Rules!
• No duplicate comments.
• You may receive an additional entry by linking on Twitter and leaving a link in the comments.
• You may receive an additional entry by blogging about this contest and leaving a link in the comments.
• This giveaway is open to US Residents, aged 18 and older (I’m so sorry, Canada).
• Winners will be selected via random draw, and will notified by e-mail.
• You have 48 hours to get back to me; otherwise a new winner will be selected.
• Please see the official rules here: Official Rules.
The winner will be selected using random.org.
Also, there are four other bloggers giving away the HP TouchSmart 600 (that means there are five free computers up for grabs, people), so check out the BlogHer.com special offers page for links to their sites. You can enter to win on all five blogs.
Happy TouchSmarting, everybody!
Thursday 12/10 at 8:40pm – comments seem to be working just fine again. Thanks for your patience!
This giveaway is now closed.
I would totally put this in our little office, on top of the beautiful desk my father in law made for us!
So fun. Would love one of these for my house.
My fiance is starting law school next fall and this computer would be absolutely perfect on his new desk! We will be newlyweds living on just my teacher’s salary (if I can find a job) and wouldn’t be able to afford a computer like this on our own!
I would put it in our bedroom on our desk, so I can continue to work on the book I am writing. Our current computer sounds like hamsters running in a squeaky wheel!
What a great prize! Perfect for a poor college student like myself, whose computer currently sits at IT Services :)
I’m thinking that somewhere like a closet where no one else will touch it sounds like a great idea! But I’m guessing that somehow my hubby will talk me into putting it on his desk at home!!!
Would LOVE this for my den!
This would go right next to my mother’s bed, where she will fall asleep over it at 2 am because she cant tear herself away :)
PS your son is yummy!
I have a huge walk-in closet and I would so put this in my closet and make myself a nice little area where it would be out of reach of the littles!
The HP TouchSmart could make such a big difference for my family right now! I’m struggling to get my new therapy practice off the ground. A new computer, especially such an incredible one, would help me get up and running so much easier! And make it that make sooner until I was able to have a baby!! Just think – you could be the “auntie”!! I’d even consider naming rights! ;) Thanks for the opportunity!!
What a cool computer! I would put this in our office. We just got new office furniture, so we have a perfect spot for it!
Would love this computer!!
I would totally put it in my bedroom and forbide any little people that live in my house from touching it :) It would be ALL MINE!! :)
I want this!!!
I would love to win this computer and I would put it right on my coffee table as a decoration because its so gosh darn pretty! Plus, then it would be right where I needed it to be – in front of the couch! YAY HP for a great computer!
Already got the spot picked out in my kitchen!
OOOOHHH, pick me! I have to try this recipe box feature!
My kitchen!! I can already see it in its place!
What an awesome computer!!!! If I won, I would keep this in the playroom- so it could be enjoyed by ALL! Our computer is on it’s last leg, so, this would be a lovely addition to our home!
I would absolutely put this in the kitchen – we have a little nook and I would stick it in the corner so I could enjoy it while I cook and the kids could enjoy it as well! Such a great X-mas Gift!
I would put it in my office so we would actually use that room again!
I couldn’t help but to blog about such an awesome giveaway. http://jandshoughton.blogspot.com/2009/12/awesome-give-away.html
I would put it in my bedroom on the new desk I plan on purchasing.
We would love a new family computer, what an amazing giveaway!
we would put it in our living room/office.
Ohhhhhhhh I NEED a computer SOOO badly!!! I actually asked for one for Christmas, but I know “Santa” can’t afford it this year.
I would probably keep it in my home office on the desk my grandpa built for me when I was a wee little thing ;) lol.
oh gosh…my fingers are crossed for this prize!!!!
I would put it right where this one sits now…on top of this wonderful, HUGE old wooden teacher-style desk that I have…my hubby hates it but I love it…and it has drawers to hold all the mess I don’t need anyone else seeing lol!
This would go in the office, to replace the current computer which is slower than molasses in wintertime!
Yea!!!
This computer looks so cool.
I tweeted about it!
http://twitter.com/elmusic4kids/status/6508177245
how cool!!!
I NEED IT! MY PC IS FAILING SLOWLY!
Oh I love this! I’d put it right on MY desk haha
Sadly, it’d be in the living room since our desktop still works fairly well, but our laptop is DYING.
I love the desk! And the computer!
I’d put it in my office. I have actually truly been wanting this exact computer since it came out. I saw it demonstrated when it was released and I fell in love right then and there.
I would love to have one of these computers! My husband is going back to school and this would make life so much easier!!
If I won this computer, it would give me an excuse
to RUN to my favorite thrift store, buy an old desk,paint it black,and stick it in my spare room. It’d be awesome!!
I would love this computer! I dont have my own at home and this would be perfect. jhorspool7@hotmail.com
I would put this computer on my husband’s computer desk. I would love to be able to give this to him as a surprise.
That Recipe Box is calling to me!!
Oh man! I would love to have this computer, since ours is about to die!
I would put this baby in our family room so we can all enjoy it.
My husband would have the BEST Christmas ever if I won this!!
It would be in our living room!
Our computer is SO OLD that like yours, it starts coughing and wheezing when we ask it do do anything like say…turn on!
I would put this in my room where I can do bills, hubby can do school work, and I can oooh and aaaah over the amazing picture quality it will give when I upload pics of my kiddos! I WOULD LOVE THIS COMPUTER!!!
This would go wonderfully in our den!
I would be able to put it on the cute little vintage white writing desk, which is all mine.
i would put it on my desk in my office….right where the old one i could finally get rid of sits!!
Oh no! This would totally be in my bedroom; no touchy!
I love love this giveaway! What a great Christmas gift!!!
I would put it in my new home office! That sounds surreal I actually have a home office. I just bought my first home and this would be a great house-warming gift :)
I would love to win this because my computer is about to bite the dust, and we don’t have the money right now to replace it. I am getting ready to start an Etsy site to earn hopefully some extra money, but with the computer dying I hope I have a way to post. Anyhow, this is an awesome opportunity for everyone…thanks SO much!
Heather in IN
savingmoney2@yahoo(dot)com
I would put it in my living room!
I would put my new HP in our beautifully decorated office that currently houses an old Gateway that is on its last leg!
I would put it in the spare bedroom where my ancient computer is now. I would LOVE to win this computer! Thanks for the opportunity.
I would put this in our office/playroom so that the whole family could enjoy it!
If I win will you throw in the darling blue desk too? ;-)
So fun!
sign me up! this is an awesome giveaway!
I would put it in our office/toddlers bedroom/playroom.
Would surley place this baby in mon’s room…
Wowser!
I would like to have a new computer because ours recently died.
A new one isn’t in the budget, but with the hubs starting school in January, it would be nice to have one at home for him!
3 good reason…Calleigh Crystal And Sabrina… My 3 daughters who I love to take pictures of and edit. Right now its complicated since I have to were a cast that completely immobilizes my one hand…
PLus I love HP and have been drooling on this computer for weeks now LOL
missibarraclough@gmail.com
Love learning about your blog! thanks for the opportunity to win this awesome machine. it’d become the center of our universe im sure.
Truthfully, I’d probably build a whole new room for this beauty. Or maybe I’ll just set it up in the family room.
This would go on in my sweet hubby’s office (aka a corner of our bedroom.) He would be delighted to have a computer that consistently worked!
We just bought our first house this summer and our “office” has been the last room to put together. This would for sure get me motivated to do something with that room!
I would put this computer in my office. That would give me motivation to clean up said office.
It would go in our living room/kitchen!
If I won, it would go in our master bedroom where our “office” is set up. Sadly our relatively new laptop is already being temperamental. I’d love to win, thanks!
I would put it in my kitchen!
Tweeted:
http://twitter.com/juleslunder
I’d give it to my sis — she and her fam have had a really hard year and she needs a new computer!
My husband was totally laughing at me the other day when I was using my iphone in the kitchen to follow a new recipe I found on the internet! So I would use it in the kitchen for sure, and who knows where else!
katrynkaATgmailDOTcom
When I win the HP Touchsmart computer it will look great in our office!
Would love this!!!
i would love this computer! the touch screen sounds so cool!
allisonr79@aol.com
OOOOOOHHHHHHH!!!! A computer in my kitchen for all of my many recipe searches during my dinner panic. So soothing!!
We would put this in our office to protect it from our 10 month old daughter! :)
blogged:
http://troyandjules.blogspot.com/2009/12/i-want-to-win-this.html
If I won it I would put it in my bedroom, I would remove my old, dinosaur of a computer and put it in the dining room area for my kids.
I would put it in our guest room/office (I think) or maybe the kitchen! I love the idea of it reading recipes to me as I cook…although a kitchen might not be the best idea for a touchscreen when I reach up with floury hands! I’d love to win- what a great giveaway!
I would LOVE one of these computers! It sounds like it has a lot of cool features and is user-friendly. I would put it in my office on my lovely cherry desk.
jenalmand@hotmail.com
Wow, what a cool computer. Would love to win it! It probably would hang out in our bedroom, but be moved around to the kitchen and family room as needed.
Oh BooMama, I would love that computer to sit in the little built in desk, cubbie thing we have in the kitchen…yes, it would be fabulous there! I hope I win!!
I would love to win this for my sweet dad and give it to him for Christmas!!! He just recently lost his job and is trying to do some work from his studio at home, but his computers are old and they keep crashing on him. He can’t afford to buy a new one now, so he spends much of his time just trying to get the ones he has to work. Thanks for this opportunity! :-)
I would put it in the office.
What an amazing treat for one of your readers! I am about to move and would set this up in my new living room!
Downstairs.. where I spend most of my day!
thanks.
Dena
I totally need a new computer. I would put this in our new office…replacing our old computer. Or maybe I’d put it in the kitchen.
Me! Pick me! I would put this in my kitchen!
In my bedroom!!!!! My boys are always taking my computer, this would be mine.
I would put this super cool computer in the kitchen. That’s where my desk is and where everyone would be able to enjoy it!
I would put it in our bedroom where there is currently no computer action! LOL
I would put it in my office!!!
I would love this. It would work great in the home office to get work and school work done!
While I want to say this would go in Mama’s secret closet….probably end up in the family room. :)
I blogged about this give-away!
http://powersfamily3.blogspot.com/2009/12/awesome-give-away.html
In the perfect world, it would go in my room for only my use … but I have a feeling the family would snatch it up and the computer room would become it’s new home!
curlyhair232[at]yahoo[dot]com
Upstairs in our family room.
Thanks!