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 put it in my bedroom so my kids couldn’t use it, they have one that I hardly get to use because they are on it all the time.
Mine would go in the kitchen, where I might (just maybe) share it with the kids…!!!
This computer would just be the PERFECT addition to our new kitchen/office nook…LOVE IT!!!!!!!!!!!
I could really use one and we would put in our desk in the dining room!
WOW! That computer looks AWESOME! I’d probably put it in our family room! Thanks for the opportunity to win this great computer!
If I won-it would go in our family office area for everyone to enjoy!
I would roam the house with it, no specific spot. Thanks for the opportunity to win!
I would put this in my mom’s apartment! Her computer died a while back and I would give this to her!
In the kitchen.
I would love to win this awesome computer. I think I would use it in the kitchen. Love the idea of it reading my recipes to me…that would be fantastic! We are in great need of a new computer in our house! Thanks!
meobrien02@comcast.net
I would love to have one of these in my kitchen…if I could find a place.
Oh, I would LOVE to win the computer. It would definitely go in my home office. You see, I work from home for Loving Choices Pregnancy Center (the non-profit crisis pregnancy center) and I use a laptop that is getting outdated and is rather slow. A zippy new computer would be awesome and the ministry would not have to spend our donors money to get me a new computer which would be even more awesome. With the cuts we are having to make for 2010 in our budget at Loving Choices, I would never complain about my laptop though. We just want to continue to serve the women in a crisis pregnancy by showing them they have options other than abortion. That is our priority. sharon@lovingchoices.org
I’d put it where we home school- what a wonderful tool this would be for the kids, and a fun TOY for me! :)
I would love to put this in our family room! My husband would totally love this!!!
I would put this beauty in my kitchen…so everyone could see it!
In the kitchen nook–to have movies and the internet and cooking videos right there? Who needs a microwave?
I would put it on my desk which is currently in the living area. I need a bigger place
This wonderful computer would love it in the office that my husband created out of one of our Master bedroom closets!
The desk in the kitchen, for sure! It’s a great spot for everyone to use.
I also blogged about this amazing giveaway…
http://www.harrishappeningsinrichmond.blogspot.com
I would love this computer for my office!
I have a HP lap top I love but my husband has a 10 year old computer that used to be my daughter’s. I would love for him to have something as cool as this after putting up with the old, on it’s last leg computer.
i would put it at my dining room table. i do not have a desk or room for a desk, but i eat dinner on the couch, so who cares?!
I would LOVE one of these!
in the bedroom
I would love to see this HP on my pretty new desk in our office! Please please please pick me!
I would put this lovely computer in my sons room so maybe he can leave my computer alone!
I would put it in my office/hobby room, so I could study for my MBA in peace? Thanks!
It would go in the living room, so the whole family could enjoy it!
On my desk in my bedroom where I and only I would be allowed to use it.
Yeah, right. As if THAT would ever work.
On my desk in my bedroom where the entire family would gather ’round and watch me work. And bug me. And watch movies.
*sigh*
I’m expecting my first baby in spring, so our office is becoming the guest room so that the guest room can become a nursery – if I won this, I’d totally ditch the bulky old desktop in the office (and the wheezing laptop) and put the TouchSmart somewhere convenient in the kitchen or family room. You know, for all that free time to surf the net I’m going to have during midnight feedings….
I would love to have this to help my daughter with CP advance her learning! I also LOVE LOVE LOVE the cookbook option!
Wow! Wow! Wow! I would love a new computer. I could impress my husband with the new technology! He always beats me to the punch when it comes to the “latest greatest” tech gadget! Plus I need my own computer turf. My many small children have taken over my current laptop! Thanks BooMama and HP!
I would put this in my bedroom! We don’t have a DVR so that alone makes me want this computer. Plus it sounds like one that my 4 year old would be able to use for a variety of programs. Awesome giveaway!
In my lap. I will never ever let it go. No one else would be allowed to touch ‘er. All mine.
I would love to win this fabulous computer for my husband!
This lovely and most useful item would have its permanent home in my room, tucked all cozy warm into the computer armoire. However, I feel it might would travel!
I would love to win this and not have to share the laptop with my husband anymore! Especially, with twins on the way we need a new place to store all the photos we will be taking! I would keep it in our living room/office!
I would put it in my office, my family would love it!
We would keep it in our family room to replace our old dinosaur computer!
i am BEYOND excited about this giveaway…HOPING, WISHING, & PRAYING that I win this new computer…WOOHOO….Awesome!
I would put it in our living room so me and my husband could both enjoy. Plus the recipe feature would be Handy so close to the kitchen :)
I would put it in my new house! Probably in the kitchen so I can use the recipe feature!
I would put it in the kitchen so I could pull up recipes!
Wow, I’d love to win!! I’d put it in my sewing room.
I would put it in my office.
Ooo- in the desk in our new kitchen!!! Pick me- this barren corner will become our new haven!
So glad to find your blog via this contest- another loyal reader here!
I would love to win this! I need one for blogging, pictures, recipes and homeschooling!
This lovely machine would go nicely in my office hidden away from my beautiful nine month daughter who wants to touch everything! thanks so much
I am not sure where I’d put this computer in my already overcrowded house but I’d definitely find a place so that I can have a computer all to myself and not have to share with my computer game addicted husband. :)
I would put it under the covers with me…and snuggle it. I love it!
While we’re here in this apartment, the HP will go in the living/dining room. There is no other space for it. BUT when we finally get a house, it will go in
wait for it
my STUDY!
Can you imagine such a thing? It’s like living in the Clue mansion!
I would love this computer! HP offers great products and this computer would just be the absolute gift!
I have really wanted to buy my grandad a computer so he can get online but never seem to have the money so I would give this to him … or maybe he could have my Dell laptop and I could have this?
I would LOVE LOVE LOVE this computer. We need a new computer so bad. My husband would be so happy if I won this for him
OH this would be perfect in our room !! Our laptop from Dell..HA actually went out and our other one is just ancient.
Would love to win this…
lisa.x.smith@verizon.com
I’d put it in the spare bedroom!
Tdstout57@aol.com
I would put in our spare bedroom/junkroom.
I would put this upstairs in our study which is currently doubling as a junk room:)
I would love love love to win this computer!
A computer as smart as this would travel around the house with me! I have a beautiful, newly cleaned off desk that is just waiting for a desktop computer to replace my dying laptop (which won’t happen for quite awhile, unfortunately!), but I do love to organize photos on the sofa… Of course, all the nifty recipe features would require moving into the kitchen so I can try things out for my friends who are always willing guinea pigs. :)
Are you kidding me? This is amazing. I’ve twitted (mell1201)and blogged about this. With a new college student at home this spring, this would be an amazing win. Our current computer is SLLLLOOOOOWWWWW..You get the picture. :)
http://melissaandchristopher.blogspot.com/2009/12/giveaway.html
I would place that beauty in the kitchen – that’s where I am 85% of my day anyway!
This would be an amazing thing othave in our kitchen! Thanks for the chance to win!
Hmmm… If I had this beauty, I would just have to share! It would go in – well – we’re moving THIS weekend and haven’t quite figured out where we are putting what yet – but wherever the desk ends up, that’s where it will be!
Oh how i would love this, i think i would hide it in my bedroom in my armoire, noone ever looks in there…….candy
I would probably keep it by my bed. I love to surf the net on my laptop before I go to sleep and since this computer is contained all in one thing, I think it would be easy to carry from room to room as needed!
Thanks for the chance!
I would be sooooooo happy if I won this. It seems really cool.
How cool! I would put mine in our living room …it would be PERFECT!
wow!
Oh my goodness, I would put this computer in our family room. My twins are 5 now and my youngest is almost 4, they have just found the computer and love to play games from sprout and pbs kids, but our computer is old and slow and with no budget in sight for a new one there is little time to play on it. If we win I can’t wait to find the perfect little desk to makeover and share with my family!! :)
Absolutely awesome!!
Oh what a wonderful giveaway. I would love to win this for myself.
oh how i would love this, i think i would hide it in my bedroom in my armoire, noone ever looks in there …….candy
bama3451@aol.com
I would put it in the office area. :)
I would put it in the kitchen because I need someone to read me the recipes.
I’d put it at out kitchen desk, where everyone can easily access it.
I would put this on my kitchen counter so that everyone would have access to it!
I think it would have to go in our bedroom, so DH and I could play video games together or watch movies from the comfort of our own bed!
Oh, Boo Mama, I will put it in my kitchen, up on a high counter…and I will give my old laptop to my 6 year old son and there will be no more arguments about who’s using the computer now….
Oh how I would love this! We need a new computer in our office so badly. Although the kitchen would be a cool place too.
I would put this in the office and would never get off of it.
I TWEETED! http://www.twitter.com/JoAnnaHale
I would love to have a new computer!! we got ours at a garage sale for 10 bucks! I would put it in the office!
I would put in in my bedroom, were I would probably stop sleeping for days from excitement!
How perfect would a new computer be!!! I am a recent SAHM and plan on starting back to school once our 2nd child arrives, this would be very helpful in taking online courses. Thanks BooMama!!! and HP :)
My husband just started his mba and I would love to win this for him!!
I BLOGGED it!! http://a-creative-name.blogspot.com/2009/12/hp-touchsmart-600-for-free.html
I’d put this beauty in my daughter’s room, so she could have her very own up to date, latest and greatest HP TochSmart 600 computer! She would love it!
If I were to win it I would put it in the living room so that the whole family could and would use it!
WOW!!! I recently bought a new computer desk for my archaic computer…and i think it really needs a new HP Touchsmart Computer!! Right? And can i just say…boooooo, it would have to be in the living room because i live in a teeny tiny house right now with no room anywhere else!
Wow! What a great giveaway! I would put it in the family room.
I would put it on my coffee table in the living room. Cause even though I would love to hog it I would really like to get my husband using it. He is not a computer guy but this might make him one.
Thanks
I tweeted!
http://twitter.com/kwilliams0507
Also blogged about it.
http://thenewjarvisaddition.blogspot.com/2009/12/hp-touchsmart.html
I’d be tempted to hide it from everyone (laundry room would be a safe spot since I seem to be the only one doing laundry!)
But I think it would wind up in our homeschooling room!
Neat, I bet this baby would be fun to use in the kitchen, den .bedroom, heck any where, right?
Boo Mama, I sure would love a new computer for Christmas!!! We need a new computer!!!
Well I would give my computer to my Mum and she would probably put it in her bedroom :) She would LOVE this her old computer is horrid!
I would put it in my kitchen, for sure! I am in there all the time, and with that in there, I could LIVE in that room!