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 computer in my bedroom…the only quiet place in the house!!! This would help my husband in finishing his bachelor degree online!!
This great new computer would encourage me to clean up and organize our home office. If I win this pc, I’d put it in there and I might even buy a new desk, too!
I tweeted it!
http://www.twitter.com/mrsb1996
I also blogged about the computer giveaway
http://nichole-longandwindingroad.blogspot.com/2009/12/super-duper-boomama-giveaway.html
I would put this computer in my office!!
I’m thinking this computer would go in my office and this old one would go someplace where the kids could play on it without getting into my stuff. . .it would probably mean a lot of rearranging but who wouldn’t be willing to do that???
I would give it to my husband to put in his home office – he has the oldest desktop, and is in need of this sassy thing!!
I would put it in the kitchen where we could all use it!!
OOOOOOOOOHHHHHHH! I would put it wherever it wanted to be! {probably in my room where my boys (ages 3 & 1) would be less tempted to mess with it :) }
ours would go in the empty computer armoire in the playroom ;o)
I would use it in my office/craft room.
I would LOVE this computer and I would put it in my office at home!
Oh sweet niblets! This is has turned out to be a beautiful day! I would most definitely put the TouchSmart in my office, where my poor old computer is on it’s last legs. I listen to Pandora while checking my e-mail. Its to tough for the old girl to handle. This would be so great! Thanks for entering me!
Oh yes! I would so love to get this to my house and set it up on my desk in the office. I can see it now…I would never come out!
lesliegbarton@gmail.com
Ohhh…. let me seeee…. I think I’d put the computer on the little table that my in-laws purchased when they were married in 1942 and which was relegated to display a “train track & layout” in about 1954 and finally rescued (after sitting in the basement for 40 + years) two years ago and is again enjoying life as a table … thank you very much. Life is good. A new little computer would make life good and sweet!!
It would definitely go in our big family room and be community property … unless my husband were to snag it for his music studio. How cool is that!
I would DIE if I won this! I would put it in my bedroom on top of my brand spanking new desk!
I tweeted! http://twitter.com/lesliegbarton
lesliegbarton@gmail.com
twitter: http://twitter.com/clkight
I tweeted about this super awesome giveaway!!
http://twitter.com/audriesmom
It would definitely find room in my living room, thanks!
Here’s that tweet floating around! http://twitter.com/Mar2Mom/status/6504104180
I would love this, considering I am grounded from my husbands lap top:)
Oh wow! My 9yo son actually checked out the one at the electronics store and I must say I LOVE that it’s so kid-friendly! We have kiddos with fine motor problems, and a touch screen is just so fantastic for them! It would go right in our living room, on the desk so the kids can use it for school! Thanks for the chance!
WOW a shiny computer just for my very own desk!!
I would put this in our Family room. But it would be MOMMYS computer.
blog: http://atouchofsassafras.blogspot.com/2009/12/boomamas-stinkin-awesome-giveaway.html
This lovely HP computer would would enjoy a place of honor right in the middle of the family room!
I would put this wonderful computer in our little(little haha) family study! It would be a blessing to win!!!! God Bless
I would put this in my office. Our desktop computer is no longer working and we need to get a new one!
I tweeted. http://twitter.com/LHSMom/status/6504253029
It would go in my home office.
It would go in hubby’s office, to replace his laptop which died an untimely death last month when our son spilled a Dr Pepper on the keyboard…. Ugh!
Adrienne
I would put the new computer is the family room so all of us could enjoy it.
Yes, Please, and Thank You! This would SO go somewhere where only I would have the key!
I WOULD LOVE THIS! Our computer is so old and even thought we have fast access internet, it is still slow. We would put it in our little computer room/office for the whole family to enjoy! SO AWESOME!
That awesome thing would be hidden away for only mom and dad to use. Then the kids could have the old one to wreck!
I would put it on my brand spankin’ soon-to-be-new desk in my new kitchen in our new house!!!
I would put the computer in our family office. It would be used by our entire family… but mostly ME during the day!
How about my lap!?!
If I won the shiney new computer, I would put in the computer room and replace the not so shiney old computer that sits there now.
I would put the new HP in our playroom. It’s right off the kitchen with access for everyone in the fam. Thanks.
we have a spot waiting in the breakfast room :)
I would put it on my $10 Craigslist desk :-)
Thanks for a great giveaway!
I would put it in the office area of our house – it’s a very open and public area, because we have a teenager, and … knowing there are lots of eyes watching can help us all avoid temptation!!
Tweeted it too :)
Oh. My. I’ve always wanted to see one of these in real life…on my desk, perhaps? :)
I would put it in my family room where I could enjoy it the most!
I would put this computer on the computer desk in our library upstairs. Replacing the one that isn’t working upstairs.
I would put it in my daughters room , she is graduating this year and needs a computer for college.
If I won, it would look great in my room! :)
Wow!! That’s really all I can say.
OH! Our computer is about to die, would LOVE this!
I posted about this SWEET giveaway on my blog!!!
http://rudasillfamily.blogspot.com/2009/12/check-this-out.html
In my dreams this would go in the kitchen. I’d love to have a computer in my kitchen, but reality – it would probaby go in the family room. It would probably be used more by the whole family than just me. Ah well. Dreaming is good too.
I would put it in my sunroom/office, where my empty desk is just waiting for it!
I personally do not need a new computer but I would love to be able to give this to my father for Christmas. Last year on Christmas day he had a massive hemmorhagic stroke and only by the grace of God is he alive today! A strong man who was a builder a provider for his family a great father and a husband, he is still almost all of those things but no longer the physically strong person that he was (although i’m quite sure that he has grown significantly in his faith during this time.) After being in a coma for almost 3 weeks (seemed like an eternity but after reading about your trials I am now thankful that it was so short) going through surgery to remove a piece of his skull to relieve the pressure, having a trach put in so he could breath amongst other things he is now wheelchair bound the majority of the time. Due to the stroke he doesn’t have balance control and always needs assistance transferring from his bed to his chair and so on… he has lost ~98% of the function in his right side and was right handed before this happened. It would be so much easier for him to be able to communicate and see/read/enjoy things on the web if he were able to use a touch screen instead of a mouse and keyboard. Good luck to everyone, Nie i’m sure you will have a tough decision to make. I would like to wish you a very merry Christmas season and I pray that you continue to be healed as the days go by.
http://canearl.wordpress.com/2009/12/09/want-to-win-a-computer/
Here’s my blog link.
Tweeted it! http://twitter.com/MommaKnows
Awesome giveaway. I would put in where my current desktop is that is a good ten years old!
Please give me one – I neeeeeed one.
i would love to have this! i’d put it on an old door that we turned into a desk that is in my bedroom….
it’s cleared off and ready!
I would put it up on the kitchen counter, where NO STICKY FINGERS can touch it. HAhahahah (evil laugh). :) Great giveaway, thanks! I just found your page via the Nester.
I blogged about it.
tsosiebunch.blogspot.com
Oh wow! Momma soooo needs a new computer. It takes days for my Boo Mama fix to pop up on my screen. I’d put it in my office!
I would put that LOVELY THING in a corner of my kitchen that I have always thought would be a great computer spot. I would most definitely try to find myself a nifty thrifty desk like yours to fit in that spot for the computer. I have a laptop now that just gets parked on the dining room table, but I really would like to use such table in the future!
I would put this beauty in our kitchen office area! How fun! Thanks for the chance to win!!!
Hmmm…probably in my bedroom, far away from grubby hands. And those are just my husband’s. ;)
This is an amazing giveaway!!!!!!
I would so use this for my desk in my room!!
So generous of you!
I would honestly give that computer to my dad. He desperately needs a new computer to do all his work on and my computer still has another year left in her. He would love it! So I hope random.org shines its light of generosity on me and picks me (and my dad) as the winner!
Totally cool if I won!! thanks for the chance.
Won’t go into details, but it would mean a lot to my family! Thanks.
I’d put it in my living room where I am sitting right this very moment. I don’t need a new computer but it would make me sooo happy and I could give up on that whole patience thing since my current computer requires a lot of patience.
This is AWESOME – thanks, BooMama! I would put this outside my family room in a little alcove/desk/study area.
I would definitely put this in our guest bedroom. A computer that can double as a TV in there would be ideal. Love it!
I would put it on my desk in the computer room. What a wonderful giveaway!
Blogged it. (hopefully it won’t make too many more people enter!) jk :)
http://simplyextravagant.me/?p=34
this computer looks AWESOME….i would totally put it in my kitchen!
I would put it in my office! That is an awesome computer!!
Umm wow! I would put it in my office on my bare desk! I have the perfect home!!
I would put this in our office/family room. This is a great review and giveaway! Such a great computer. Thanks for sharing.
Oh awesome. I would put it in my bedroom and drift to sleep by the light of its beautiful screen.
Le sigh.
It would go right where my old one is sitting now–in the sunroom!
Most likely in the kitchen/family room, though my son would like it in his room. One this fancy needs supervision, though! A computer is all he wants for Christmas.
Easy Peasy, where I would put this marvelous prize. We have a computer room. An entire room that has as it’s sole purpose housing a computer!
Currently there is an old tired desk, but if i won this I would buy that new desk I have been eyeing at Target! It is a nice room and the HP would be very happy there. Oh how wonderful it would be to replace our 6 year old dinosaur! Thanks for the opportunity. If God wills me to win, I will be elated!
I would put the computer in my office where the old computer is not sitting. How fabulous would that be to have a new computer and then give my daughter the older one. She’s almost five and has been taking a computer class at her daycare. I’m so very impressed with what these young brains can absorb!
OH. MY. GOODNESS. This is the coolest giveaway!!!!!
Sign me up!! :)
I would put it in my great room. I am currently looking for a desk because I had to leave mine behind in our move.
Love ya,
Patty
I would totally hide that thing and keep it all to myself! No sticky fingers on my monitor!
Kelli
Oh my. I have a dead desktop now in the office just waiting to be replaced by this baby. I promise to take really good care of it!
Oh gosh. I really need this! I would most certainly keep it all for myself in my bedroom!
I think I would put it right beside my bed and say Merry Christmas to me!!!!!
I would stick that beautiful computer in my office with a big sign that says
“Mama’s computer. Paws off!”
tia
We would put it in our girls study/common room. Yea!
I would put it in the playroom, because that’s also our office. Yeah, loads of work get done in there. :)
I would put it in my now empty office!!! Would be a great addition. :)
I think I would need a new desk! My computer station is not big enough. Oh, well I always like buying more stuff!
I would give it to my beloved who would quickly mount it on the wall of his throne room.
In our TV room/family room/office/guest room :).
I would put my new HP in our office since our current desktop is a dinosaur and tends to roar at me when trying to surf the web :)
I would probably have to wrestle this away from my Hubby to put it in the office…but that would probably be good motivation for him to renovate our office next!
Our kids internet computer in the sunroom is so slow it just sits there all sad looking collecting dust. This would awesome for Christmas.
Merry Christmas