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’d put this in our family/play room, and swap out my big huge desktop. -Anna (fowlerfam at gmail dot com)
I wouuld love to win this. I’m going back to school and this would come in handy!
I would put it in the Living Room of course, so I can show it off!!!
I would definitely put this beautiful computer in my classroom!
I have a one bedroom apartment so I would put it in my living room. :)
This is definately pretty enough for the living room! Love that turquoise desk by the way!!
I NEED one of these! Ok, ok, mostly I just WANT one. I am a fan of HP… my dad’s ‘ole HP lappy has gotten me through many college finals. It’s dying on me now, and I want THIS one so bad. So this is my first entry.
I blogged about it here for my second entry:
http://thelifeofjuje.blogspot.com/2009/12/dont-judge-me.html
I facebooked about it too:
http://www.facebook.com/jujiannabella?ref=profile
I would put it in the living room
I would put in our kitchen/dining room which is the nerve center of our home.
It would either go in my little corner in the kitchen or the office. My computer just started acting funny today, so I would love this! :)
In the kitchen, the recipe box feature sounds amazing!
I would love to win this computer to give it to my parents. They recently had their computer crash, and with it being the holidays they are spending their money on buying gifts for their kids instead of themselves. Many years ago they bought me my first computer and I would love to give the gift back to them!
-Allison
3buckets@gmail.com
i would plop it directly in my husband’s lap as a gift and let him decide where he would like to to live :)
I would put it in an empty computer cabinet we have in the living room that is just sitting there waiting for this new computer!! Thanks! Oh…and I blogged about it.
http://this-is-beca.blogspot.com/2009/12/i-love-macs-but.html
I would put the computer right next to this one for my daughter with autism to use, she cannot fathom why this computer screen doesnt do anything when she pokes at it and she would love to see one actually react to her poking!
tweeted! http://twitter.com/Crystal42683/status/6526091359
blogged :-)
http://crystalsaidwhat.blogspot.com/2009/12/like-seriously-you-cant-have-too-many.html
Awesome give away! I haven’t seen that system yet but looks so awesome!
I would toss everything on my very messy desk (old computer included)in our family-room to make space for this beauty!
I would put this new computer in my kitchen. The thought of it talking to me while I cooked is amazing!
LindaSimmons4@gmail.com
I would put it in my kitchen!
I would love to win this and would put it in the living room. I have MS and use my wheelchair most of the time so this would be the perfect access spot for me. I have had 3 eye surgeries so this large screen would really help me enjoy everything online much better. Thank you.
mollywilson49@yahoo.com
I’d love to win since my laptop is on its last broken leg.
TaraTheSpaz@aol.com
I would love a new computer!
This computer is beautiful…especially on your teal desk :)
I would put this computer in my playroom so that I can work and watch my kids at the same time. I’m such a multi-tasker ;)
Thanks for this opportunity!
I tweeted this giveaway!
http://twitter.com/babymacdesigns
shannon@babymacdesigns.com
Well, I guess I’ll throw my hat in the ring too :)
Let me say that computer is beautiful! I don’t know if I would hide it away in our backroom (where we usually keep our PC), I may have to buy it it’s own special desk for a place in the family room instead :)
Smiles, DianeM
basketblessed@yahoo.com
I need some ‘sassy’ in my life.
I would put it in our family room…where we spend the majority of our time. I would love to get this and get rid of all our “bulky” computer stuff. Maybe just have a simple desk.
Thanks for doing the giveaway and have a great day.
pscole3456 at gmail dot com
My husband’s Christmas gift to me this year is to clean up our spare bedroom (currently full of junk) so that we can transform it into an office/guest room. This computer would definitely have a place of honor in that newly renovated room so our whole family could enjoy it!
I’d put it on my desk in my college dorm room! I need a new computer!
I have been wanting a reason to get and old desk and refinish it (I love doing that kind of thing). This computer would give me just the excuse. It would live in the kitchen, but across the room from the cooking area after all with that screen I could still see it!
I don’t have a turquoise desk, but it would look lovely on my brown counter top!
nbillock@neo.rr.com
I would love to have it because we are home schooling our 13 yo and it would be very helpful to her for her school work! She is using a very old laptop that sometimes just randomly shuts down causing her to loose all that she has been working on…
Thank you for the opportunity to win!
I already have a nice space picked out for it. We have a sweet little empty corner in our dining room that is just begging for some technology! This computer would fit the bill nicely!
WOW – Over 3000 entries already. I’m behind the times. Anyway, that looks like an awesome computer. I’d put it in my office so that I can have a ‘dedicated’ computer for my use only!!
Amazing giveaway!!! I have been working on creating an office space in my den, this would be more than enough inspiration to get it done!! Luv this!!
It would be in my kitchen
oooh = I’d have this out in the kitchen nook area.
I would totally put it in the kitchen because if we have other rooms in the house no one has told me about them.
I’d LOVE to win this computer for my kids. We haven’t had a family computer for several months and they’ve asked for one for Christmas – but my single mom budget just can’t find room for it. Thanks for a fabulous promotion!
In our office. Our other computer officially died a month ago.
I would love to put this in my kitchen on the wall. Or maybe I just need to create a getaway for myself. Thanks for such an amazing giveaway!
My daughter is in college to be a teacher. This would be so great in her classroom!
Santa is bringing me a spiffy new (although sadly not turquoise) desk for Christmas. My old desk is currently in pieces, sitting in the garage. I loved that desk, but it just gave up the ghost (well, that and the movers lost over half of the parts). So, you just know MY DESK needs a new spiffy jazzy computer. I entering for my new desk, to make it happy – and to show it that it’s welcome in our home. See? The things I will do to make inanimate object feel welcome.
I would love to put it in one of the rooms vacated by my children – the college grad who got ‘the’ job and moved (!) or the one who is a mere semester away from graduation who has already accepted ‘the’ job and will not return home. It’s lonely in those rooms…
I would but this computer right by my bed so I could say goodnight to my husband who is always downstairs on the computer…isn’t technology great, it just brings us closer together…hee, hee
I would LOVE to give this to my baby who is going away to college in the fall to put on his desk in the dorm. We both would be so thrilled if I win!
Wow, this is wonderful! What a blessing this would be to win this computer! I would use it to stay in close touch with my family! Good luck to everyone!
I’d recycle our current pc and give it to the kids. The HP would totally go on our desk in the family room!
Tweeted here: http://twitter.com/Melissa-Mc80
I blogged about this contest.
http://evergrowingpennfamily.blogspot.com/2009/12/giveaways.html
annaelaine@hotmail.com
Gorgeous Screen, if I won I would have it placed in my bedroom, also known as my “Office”.
I already have made room for this handy helper in my kitchen!
Following & just tweeted- http://twitter.com/ThisFineLife/status/6529249946
I would put this in my kitchen where the kids tend to do all of their ‘projects’.
What a wonderful giveaway! I would put this lovely lady right into my home office, where I just started my own business! Thank you!
I would totally put it in my kitchen.
Man I would love one of these! I don’t even know where I’d put it! LOL But it would be mine, allll mine & I’m not sharing it with my hubby! LOL Ok, well maybe I would!
I would put it in our office where we desperately need a new computer!!!
I tweeted about this!
http://twitter.com/MamaLacey/status/6529250403
I also blogged about this!
http://missinglandan0306.blogspot.com/2009/12/i-soooo-want-one-of-these.html
I would probably put it in our office. No, bedroom. No, kitchen. Or maybe the living room. I just can’t decide so it’s good that it is portable too!
I’d put it in the spare room/office. We’d give our older HP to my SIL who really needs a puter.
Tweet Tweet
http://twitter.com/MommyAnna1230
I would put this on my kitchen counter. With 4 kids– I seem to live in there. Thanks for the chance to win!!
WOW!!!! That is so cool! I would put it in my kitchen and use the recipe box daily!!
THANKS!!
I so need a new computer to put in my “office” at home.:)
Oooooooohhh, what a great giveaway!
Kitchen! This would be such a great addition to the kitchen!
eliseanderson at gmail dot com
I would put that beautiful computer in my room, where my computer desk is, then let my children have the computer I’m using now since we all share it at the moment. Wouldn’t that be a nice Santa gift? They would definitely keep believing in him then! :)
Like you, I love a great re-purposed desk. I would put that pretty little number on top of a rescued-from-the-side-of-the-road desk (we painted ours black).
Amazing giveaway!
WOW this would help me and my daughters out so much! you have no idea!!!!
tabbyluvsmichael@aol.com
It would go right straight on my desk!! I would pass mine on to my kids. :)
I would love to win a HP TouchSmart to help me keep in touch with my friends and family in the USA after our new baby is born!
I’d keep it in the family room so I could set up a webcam and capture all the baby’s firsts!
I would put my new computer on my desk which is next to the kitchen. I would be able to pull up recipes and view them while cooking! How exciting!!
I would put it on the desk in my kitchen. That way, when my kiddos need my “input” on just where they should put that new stove from the Webkinz store, I could be of immediate assistance!
What a fab giveaway!!!
The computer would take it’s place of honor on my desk where I spend quite a bit of quality time with my currently aging computer!
I need a new computer because my fiance’, future (teenage) step son, myself, and my 8 year old daughter ALL use the same old computer in our household, but were saving up for a house so cant afford to buy another one right now! Gosh I hope I win! How exciting!!!!
We are about to move, so I’m not 100% sure where it would go. But, I’m thinking on the desk in whatever room we are home schooling in. Then I can keep up with my 10 year old’s all-consuming Wikipedia interest.
I would use it in my classroom!!!! I need something large enough to show my kids clips of stuff… they are always crowding around my small laptop… and I like the touch screen feature too… since I’m always telling them to not touch the screen — now I wouldn’t have to tell them that!
i blogged:
http://janellscraps.blogspot.com/2009/12/hot-giveaway.html
In the dining room.
Love the Recipe feature!! I could really use this for home and work. Our computer has crashed and I’m limited on computer time!! This is such a great givaway
I would love to have it in the kitchen to use the recipe program!
I would put it in the kitchen. I like that it can be used as a TV and read recipes to me!
I would absolutely LOVE a new computer!
It looks AWESOME!
I would put it in our bedroom so my husband and I can snuggle and watch movies, but it probably won’t stay there very long…it will probably travel all over with me! :)
I would put it as close to the kitchen as I can! Love the recipe feature. Thanks for the great givaway!
It would go on my desk in the livingroom where my current sad and crippled desktop now resides.
We need a new computer so bad. This would go on my computer desk in the living room. My guess is that my boys will take it over and Mom will have to wrestle them for the chance to use it. Awesome givaway!
I would put it on a new desk in my front room :)
I would put it in my kitchen, since that is where I spend most of my time!
I blogged about it HERE!
It would go in my kitchen where we have our 10 year old mac set up.
I would love to win a new HP! I would place it on my computer desk [near my medicine set up] so that I can write papers for graduate school, update my blog, and keep in touch with friends that are moving all over the country all while doing my treatment.
Thank you for the offer!
WOW! What a great giveaway!
-Johnell
hello! this amazing computer would have a home on my desk in my living room (i live in a small-ish apartment, so rooms multi-task)! i am so excited – what an amazing give-a-way!
thank you!
I would like to use this computer in my study. the.irishlass@yahoo.com
I’m a graphic designer….I would put this smack on my work desk and it would be OFF limits to 3 little helpers, well, until they wear me down after minutes and minutes of begging for Barbie.com! :)