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 this in my soon-to-be office and would utilize it for my new photography business!
I tweeted! http://bit.ly/4EOzNi
Oh, i would put it right next to me in bed while I sleep – I kid, I kid, I would put it in our office/playroom:)
My parents desperately need a new computer to get updated pictures of my 18 month old daughter! Their computer kicked the bucket and they aren’t able to purchase a new computer right now. Thanks for all that you do!
I blogged it!
Awesome give away. Dare I say, “Pick me! Pick me!”
I don’t think I could sneak this into the office without my husband finding out, so the only way that this get into the house is if it’s in a place where EVERYONE can use it.
Family room for sure.
Did I mention “Pick me?!”
I also blogged about it!
http://hubsandcaps.blogspot.com/2009/12/giveaway-galore.html
I would definitely put this in my kitchen!!
wow, my husband wouldnt know what to do with one of those! the tv/dvr feature would keep him very happy as well as a million of the other features! the rest of us would also be thrilled to enjoy it! until we get a bigger house with either a guest room or place for a computer in our main room, it would probably be used most in our bedroom. :-)
I think this one would have to be mine, all mine!
well, if i had a touchstart, it would sit mostly on the desk in my craftroom…but i’m sure i’d tote it to my bedroom for movies, and to the kitchen while i cook, and maybe to the guest room to share when friends/family are in town…that is, if i can bear to part with it!
I would put this in our home office.
who wouldn’t want this?! I need one, bad….photography takes up a lot of memory, space, etc…and I’m just not set up like I should be, but this would do it!!! And my desk is in my “family room…” so I can see it all as I work :)
I would love to win a HP Touchsmart, so I can continue to read the Boomama blog!
If I win I would put this computer in the office…it would replace the dinosaur that currently lives there :)
I’d keep it at my in-law’s house in Arizona- then they could use it to check in on our blog (and their 10 month old granddaughter!).
AMAZING!
I would love this computer and I would put it in my family room…just for me!!!
Me likey! I would put it on our desk which is in the guest bedroom at the moment.
I would love my own personal computer for pictures :)
I would love to win one! It would go in my home office on full display! Also on twitter at http://www.twitter.com/eahund
I blogged about the giveaway.
http://www.avahoward.blogspot.com/
http://thelifeofmem.blogspot.com/
I LOVE THIS!! I think I would put it on the hutch in the dining room…Or maybe on the bookshelf in the living room!! (txtricia97@gmail.com)
wow, would love this
OO OO OO Pick me BooMama PICK ME!!! PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE!!
I want one ;-)
i would use it everyday to help me stay more up to date and organized!
Also, I blogged about this giveaway here:
http://tricia-nae.blogspot.com/2009/12/oh-my-christmas-giveaway-goodness.html
Tricia (txtricia97@gmail.com)
I would love to have this great computer! I love Hp products too!
I would put it in the kitchen, so everyone could see and use it DAILY! and the lovely chair I’d be sitting in is refurbished. This computer is fascinating! thank you thank YOU just for the chance to win.
I would LOVE this!!! We so need a new computer!!!!
nikkijb78@hotmail.com. I would put this computer in my awesome computer room that is not being used anymore because my desktop got a bad virus and is junk now!
I’d put it in our family game room so everyone could use it! Thanks so much for the opportunity!
Meredith
I would love a new computer to look up new recipes!!
I would put it in my new work room. I am opening an etsy.com shop & this would be perfect sitting on top of my husbands old drums (turned into a table, of course) across from my chocolate brown chaise lounge.. :)
I would put it in our family room where the 3 kids could also have access to it.
If I were to win this AWESOME computer, I would put it in my office on my antique desk, where my current 10 yr old computer lies dead. It just crashed almost 2 months ago, so I would be beside myself if I won your giveawy! My fingers are crossed and I’m already praying. :)
FUN!!!!
we would love to win this and would get lots of use out of it…and the recipe feature sounds fab!!
I would put it in my bedroom so no one else could mess up the screen w/fingerprints!!!
http://thelifeofmem.blogspot.com/ its on my blog
I’d love to have this computer to replace my old clunker personal laptop so I can quit blogging and tweeting from my work laptop!
I kind of like the idea of Mama’s closet so no one else can find it, HAHA, like mama could ever actually NOT be found.
Anyway I would love to put in in my college son’s room (which is now the official computer/workout/sleep when someone is sick room when he is gone.)
My first guess would be the kitchen, although I just might have to carry it around wherever I go!!!
Ohhhhh….so purty!! I have just the place for it!! Crossing all my limbs to win!!
I would love this computer bc my laptop broke!
I would actually give this computer to my parents, who are 3,000 miles away from me. they’ve got a slow old hp that doesn’t allow them to video chat, i see my family about 1 time a year and would love to be able to communicate with them this way.
.. they would put it in their computer room :)
I would probably put it in the family room so that we could all use it. It looks amazing! Thank you BooMama and HP!
WOWZA caps was necessary. EEK. Does it matter where Id put it? Bc Id be crying in every room over its awesome-ness. Really, prob my bedroom? Or Kitchen? Or basement? I don’t know… Id love it.
Oh….in the kitchen where everyone can use it and see it!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Would definitely put it on the end table right next to my couch – within easy reach!
I would put that baby right in the desk where the computer I’m typing on is!! Out with the old- in with the new!! We need a new computer anyway, so this would be great! :)
I’d put in the kitchen or living room for all to use!!
I would keep this computer in the family room so my husband and I can use it while we are sitting like lazy bums on our couch. Just kidding. It would probably travel the house and go wherever we go.
I would put this in my homeschooling room. It would be a huge boost in the amount of resources we would have there.
A new PC would be a great gift to our family right now.
In my kitchen
O I would love to win this computer. I would put it in our office/mudroom to replace our ancient 1990 computer we have now. We could so use this!!
I would put it in my family room. I would love to have one our house was burglarized while my son & I were sleeping and they took our laptop.
This is awesome!
sbutler@littlerock.org
I would put it in my kitchen. There is a little nook that is just begging for some technology. Then I wouldn’t have to run back and forth from the stove to the computer.
I would put it in our office to replace one that’s going out! But oh how fun would it be to have in the kitchen!
I am thinking hard about whether I would put this in the loft/family room where I could do my online teaching and blogging while the children are happily playing with the toys or whether I would be so kind as to let it go to the office where my husband could have a chance to be all fancy and use a new computer too. I hope I win so that I get a chance to decide. This would be an amazing thing to have!
I would love to win this computer b/c my laptop is about to give out on me. It’s barely hanging on right now- I am having to squeeze the screen with my left hand and type one handed with my right just to keep the screen from freezing up. I took it to be repaired, but they said it wasn’t worth it and currently do not have tons of money sitting around to replace it, as it’s definitely a “luxury.”
Amazing giveaway! FIngers crossed!
Chastity.guidroz@gmail.com
I would love to win this awesome computer! I’ve seen the HP website and I think these are amazing! My lap top is ancient so I am in desperate need for one just don’t have the extra cash. This would help me so much in the nursing program! Thanks for such an awesome giveaway:) God Bless! I WILL BLOG ABOUT YOUR GIVEAWAY!
I would put it in the kitchen so it could read me the recipes! And so my husband could do schoolwork at the table with his books..he is going back to school!! Thanks!
What I wouldn’t give for a computer like that!
Yes Please!
I would definatley make a CLOFFICE with this computer (closet office)!
I would put it in my family room! I would love to have one our house was burglarized while my son & I were sleeping and they took our laptop.
This is awesome!
sbutler@littlerock.org
Would love to win this for a Christmas present for my husband! That would be so stinkin’ sweet!
Thanks for doing this.
cindy
Would love to have a new PC for out family.
I would put it in my kitchen where I could work on it while getting the day to day stuff done.
I also tweeted! =)
http://twitter.com/BTElkins
The wall mounting feature makes it so feasible in any room. In fact, I think my husband may put a vote in for the bathroom! But, thinking practically, it would probably end up in the office. And it would be sooooo awesome!
What an amazing giveaway. the recipe application sounds awesome. Thanks.
I would put my computer in my desk in our office – right next to my hubby’s computer on his desk in our office – and I would be so happy no to have to share a computer with my hubby any more!
I totally want (translates to NEED) one of these awesome babies! Thanks for the chance!
As great as this new computer looks…I don’t want the new computer for myself. I would love to win the computer for my older sister. She has sacrificed so much to be able to stay home with her children. She recently got a hand-me-down laptop and it broke. I want so badly for her to have a new computer that her family can use. She deserves the best and what a great Christmas that would be for her (and me)!!!
This beautiful computer would go in my kitchen. I could keep track of my recipes, email and photos. The best use would be to talk to my grandkids that live across the country.
Perfect in my office.
I want one, I want one! What a cool giveaway!
God Bless
I would put one in my dad’s office because he needs a new computer.
I would absolutely love that computer! The recipe box and voice to read the recipe is dreamy! I can dream though!
rhondamm@windstream.net
Thanks for the chance!
Hi! I would put it on the desk in my fabulous laundry room!
I would most definitely put this up in my little loft area where I have a oversized leather chair and ottoman!! :) Yep, I think that would be the perfect spot for it! :)
I would put it in my living room!!:)
I would put it in the family room for everyone to enjoy! It would be such a blessing to finally have a dependable computer and we’ve actually never had a new computer before…they were all hand me downs…this one looks amazing!
Oh my… I was going to say office, then realized you can mount it ON THE WALL…. I think I might go with KITCHEN. I like that whole reading the recipe out loud thing!! WOW ~ I’m lusting ~
I tweeted! http://twitter.com/rentaduckie
It would go in the office/spare bedroom/hunting/gifting wrapping room!
We would love to have this computer to put in the kitchen area for an extra tv, for the recipe box feature, and to not have to go to the office to “compute” since we are laptopless.
I am feeling lucky!! Pick me!! This would be so great for our family!
james.hudson3@insightbb.com
Me me me, pick me :o) I would put this computer in my laundry/work room and put a lock on the door so I can have it all to myself!!!
Mine would go in the kitchen so I could use the recipe applications while I cook and Pandora while we eat.
I would love to put this in my kitchen!!!
I would put this in our game room at my desk. It is where our family hangs out all the time and I try to do my daily blogging. I love it!!!!
I sooooo need a new computer!!!
A new computer is low on the priority list for our growing family, and winning one would be a blessing and a half. I am a stay-at-home mom who runs a small childcare out of my home. This computer would help with the paperwork I pass out, programs I run, and schedules I complete. A new computer would help make it easier.
too cool! how nice of the folks at hp! i would love it to skype with friends overseas!
I would put it in our den where our current computer is but our current computer struggles. It’s high time for a new one! Crossing my fingers!!