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.
What a great giveaway! I know just where it would go!
I would put this in our family room and say goodbye to our massive, slow, 8-year-old Dell!
I would put the computer on my kitchen desk – seems to be the “hub” of my home!
Hi! I would love to win this computer because I’m a hard working teacher finishing up my Masters, and heading right into my Doctoral program. I also love to blog, http://www.jarvisnoelle.blogspot.com, and the computer is my stress release….well, when I’m not writing papers! Thanks for the chance!
Jarvis
I would put in my all-purpose room (aka my bedroom) of course!
I would put a new computer in my bedroom. Love the touch-screen monitor!
I would put this in our family room for everyone to enjoy!
Sounds neat! I think I would put it in our oldest teens room. Maybe then she would not *need* to borrow my laptop! Thank you kindly for the giveaway!
Though a desktop, it would probably be portable – dining room table for homeschool, server in the kitchen for cooking, and my studio the rest of the time. Great giveaway!! :D
Definitely the living room….for all to see that I actually won something for a change!!! And to show that “posting a comment” is a worthwhile thing to do!!
Ooooo! I would put a fabulous computer like that on my office desk (and replace the dinosaur!)
in front of the TV :)
I blogged about this!
http://jesseandkaylacrane.blogspot.com/2009/12/utterly-amazing-giveaway.html
I’d place it on our desk in our family room. It be perfect there…so at home and loved. :-)
tweeted! http://twitter.com/katemcraig
blogged it! http://katemcraig.blogspot.com/2009/12/oooooooooo.html
I would put this in my rec room for everyone to use and enjoy!
I’d have Hubs mount it over the built-in desk in our school room, and our kids would use it for their homeschooling.
What a GREAT prize, BooMama; thanks!!!
I would so put this bad boy in my laundry/office room…..how cool it would be!!!!
I would put this in my “secret room”!!! You can see my secret room here….
http://clarksvillecapers.blogspot.com/2009/06/show-us-where-you-live-playrooms.html
Love the review! The Recipe Box feature makes me want to put it in the kitchen/kids hutch area… but then I’d have to SHARE! So maybe in my office/craft area? Fun to dream…
It would go in the kitchen… where I spend most of my time!
Tweeted! http://twitter.com/bunnytrails/status/6520568708
http://melissaperkins.blogspot.com/2009/12/two-happies.html
I blogged!
Boo Mama- This is too good to be true! Alright, well I am on the househunt to buy my first house. And, I’m a writer, so the only room I have complete vision for in my new home is, of course, the office. I splurged and bought my dream desk from Pottery Barn, so this computer would go very nicely on my new desk. Thanks for the chance to win!
Awesome! I’m about to quit my job of seven years to stay at home with my sweet boy. I’m super excited but sad to have to say goodbye to my nice work laptop! Since my hubby is in medical school, it’ll be tough to find the extra money to replace it. How cool would it be if I won this AWESOME HP computer!!!
I would love the computer. At first I thought if I won, I would put it in my den. Then, I saw the word Kitchen and I thought wow that would be a neat place to put it.
I would definitely put it in my living room! Being able to use Netflix, work on my photos, read recipes and blogs while sitting on my couch would be fabulous!
I posted!!
http://oh4petesake.blogspot.com/2009/12/i-want-this.html
I’d probably keep it in the living room… where, even though it’s a touchscreen, the kids could MAYBE LOOK at it ONCE in a WHILE!
LOL… no I’d be nice and share. Sometimes.
mnkarbonne@gmail.com
Bedroom. Where the dinosaur of a desktop lies dead. :)
I’d put it in the family room to replace the my ancient laptop. Oh how wonderful this computer would be!
Jessica
jnjferrier@yahoo.com
It would definitely go in the kitchen. The “Recipe Box” sounds great. I can’t wait.
My husband is currently working with the Saharawi people of Western Sahara. He and my 14 year old daughter will be going in February 2010. This computer would be taken on this trip and left there to help them.
You can read more about their story at betheirvoice.org
We would love for you to consider taking a trip. Your blog could give awareness to these precious people.
Thank you!
rhondasexton@gmail.com
m7703619944@gmail.com
It would go on my desk…where I won’t have to share with my husband… :o)
I would put it right square in the middle of my kitchen counter! I would enjoy my new computer while cooking for my children.
It would definately find a place in my craft room…or my kitchen. Hard choice ;)
I would replace my 6 year old, shuts down all the time for no reason, desktop in my basement! Sadly enough, it is our only computer so we love it dearly, lol!
Me…me…me…pick me! It would be great to win this,ours is ancient…so this would be great.
Merry Christmas!
This computer is beautiful and would be great for my family!! Thanks for a great review and awesome giveaway!!
The family room – for the kids to use!
I would love to have this in my sewing room/slash office. It seems like a really cool thing. I bet after using one for awhile you try to “touch” every screen you see!
I tweeted abou this contest here at
http://www.twitter.com/mommyof3gifts
Hmmm where would I put it?!? Should I be selfish or practical!? If I was selfish I would put it in my laundry room because no one goes in there but ME!! And if I was practical.. I would take it to work! As a speech-language pathologist there are all kinds of interactive links that would be great for kids! Plus the touchscreen is a great fine motor activity for kids with developmental disorders! GREAT product!!
I would hide it in my room. I may not even tell anyone I had it! But my children always sniff out new items in the house.
Well, as you’ve already got near 3,000 comments, I’m fairly certain I won’t be putting this computer ANYwhere in my home. :) BUT if a miracle happens and by some CRAZY stroke of luck (if I believed in luck…) I get picked, then I’m thinking I may need to paint myself a piece of thrift store furniture and plop that “sassy” ‘puter somewhere in my kitchen so EVERY one can “ooh” and “ah” over it!
Here’s the link to the post on my blog as well for this great giveaway!!
Thanks again!
Blessings,
Michelle
http://zieg-journey.blogspot.com/2009/12/incredible-giveaway.html
I would LOVE to win this computer! I would put it at my desk in the main living area! It would be wonderful for the entire family to use – kids for educational work/activities, movies, internet, photos, need I say more?? :) Pick me, Pick me!!
I posted about this giveaway at http://fthhopluv.blogspot.com/2009/12/incredible-2.html
I just blogged about this give-a-way! I also put it on twitter. We are thekindyfamily on twitter! http://thekindyfamily.blogspot.com/2009/12/who-needs-new-computer-anyone.html
I would love to put this computer in our kitchen and use the cooking tools it offers!!!
I would put it on the kitchen counter, away from my toddler’s sticky fingers. :)
I would love to win this touch screen computer for my nephew. He is autistic and recently started school for autistic children. He uses a touch screen at school and has excelled tremendously. The school and his teacher urge parents to provide a touch screen computer for home use as well. With the current economy, my brother and sister-in-law are unable to afford the computer at this time. With all the struggles they’ve faced anything that makes the learning process easier would be a true blessing to their family.
We’d probably put it out in the kitchen nook area so when others come over they can ohh and ahh just like I’m sure we will.
I would keep it in my den so everybody could drool over it!! Fabulous giveaway!!
I would love to win this so that I can give my son a new computer. Therefore, it will go in his room.
I’d put it in my “computer room” as my kids call it! Ok,it’s just a room with a desk (rescued) from a curb.:)
I would love this!!!!
Awesome giveaway! What a great option for a family computer!! I SO want to play with it and have it for my very own!
I would definitely put this in my family room if I won. We are desperately trying to come up with another bedroom in our house as we are running out of room. However, the only option we have is our office, but that is where our computer is. If we won this, we could use it as both a computer and a TV. That would be awesome!
I would love love to put this in our children’s playroom! We have one computer in our house and between me and my husband with our jobs/work there is simply not time for our kiddos to have some face time. My son who is 6 is really starting to show some interest in learning how to use the computer more and I would love to give him more of that! I have to say this is such a wonderful give-a-way! Thanks for the opportunity!
I tweeted this!
http://twitter.com/britany85
my room!
I would love to win this!! I homeschool my three boys and this would be wonderfull!!! Thank you for the chance to win!
I tweeted about this also http://www.twitter.com/fthhopluv
definitely in the kitchen
I think I would put it in our bedroom. It would put my five-year-old laptop to shame.
I would probably just put it where the current computer is. Exciting, I know.
Merry Christmas!
~Susan
I want this SO bad. Where would I put it? Upstairs where my dinosaur desktop sits. And I’d give my desktop to my stepdaughter. :) What a nice Christmas present it would make!
I would definitely keep this baby in my kitchen! It looks like a ton of fun!
Hey BooMama! I would put this is the kitchen where there is a small desk so it could read my recipes to me. Sounds like the only thing it won’t do is exercise for me…dang it :D
I would put this baby on my kitchen counter. I’ve always figured that my dishes would get done a lot faster if I had something to entertain me while I did them! I’m not a big tv watcher, but I can waste *ahem* “actively enjoy” hours upon hours at the computer. Wow–I’m actually daydreaming about doing the dishes (with a really cool computer by my side). Whooda thunk it?
I would put it in our family room, that way I can be on it every waking minute! Err, I mean… so we can all use it, umm yeah that’s right! *grin*
I would put it in my kitchen! My husband is a football coach, and his assistant coaches come over on the regular to watch football film. I decided that I would make Rice Kripie treats for them. I messed up and had to serve them in a bowl with a spoon. Maybe if my computer would read the recipe out loud to me while I was cooking, I could fix them right next time- and not have extra dirty dishes!
Probably the kitchen, if it will read my recipes to me! :) That’s awesome!!
I would put it in my hubby’s office/daughter’s room. He is such a good Dad/Husband – he wants us to have the better computers when he is the one that does business & school on his ancient one! Thank you so much for this chance! Merry Christmas!!!
On my second hand desk, which is not painted sadly,…right next to my kitchen.
I would put it in my family room. What a great Christmas surprise!
Would be SOOOO awesome to win this. I would put in my office.
I would put it in the family room where we can all fight over it. No, make that MY room so I can have it to myself.
In my kitchen!!
I’d love a new computer! Thanks!!
I would put it in my mom’s office…her computer is in a sad state!
pbradley23@gmail.com
Would love to have this! i would never splurge on something like this for myself. Thanks
I love this computer, the touchsmart technology is wonderful, I love the screen size and the recipe box would make my life a lot easier.
We have a very old computer and my family would love this wonderful computer.
I would love one to help with my husband’s new business venture! This would be a huge answer to prayer. :)
Bless~
Christal deBoer
christalsmile@juno.com
HOLY HEAVENS! I can’t believe you’re giving one of these away!!! Yes. You’ve got mad connexionz… wow.
Honestly? I’m not sure where I’d put it. I might just give it away. And I’m not even kidding about that one.
I would put it in the family room.
This would for sure require me to make a new purchase to have a place to put something this new and nice! haha! And I’d probably put it right in my den so I could always look at it, even when I wasn’t using it.
My current computer is 7 years old. I work from home so a new computer would be a blessing!
Hmmm… I’m in love. I think I’d have to put this bad boy in the kitchen! That recipe box feature is to die for and this way my 3 year old can’t reach it! ;o)
I would put it in my home office to replace my old dead Dell. My daughter would be so happy if I won because I’m always borrowing her laptop since mine isn’t working anymore. Thanks for the chance to win.
Oh wow. I am amazed by this giveaway!!
that is one truly beautiful and hig tech looking computer. I just know that one really wants to come and live at my house..ohhh pretty please! Ü Thanks for the awesome giveaway!
How exciting! I would put this gorgeous thing on my dining room table and christen it “the new office.”
I have many medical problems that keep me from going out much. I use my older-version computer to stay connected with the outside world. I also would love this wonderful high-tech computer to help me keep up with the events and organize pictures of my 2 little grandsons. They live a 12 hour drive from us and I do not get to see them much, so I depend on my computer to watch them grow.
Thank you
I would put it in the kitchen where we do our homeschooling. It sounds so wonderfully user-friendly for our 4 kids. Thanks for the giveaway!
I like it! Very nice! Pick me please!
I would put it in my husbands office for ALL to use! thanks a ton!!
I blogged about this.
http://taylor-family-blog.blogspot.com/2009/12/wanna-win.html