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.
It would go in my bedroom with police tape all around it to keep the kids away! hehe
I would hide it in a cabinet so my husband can’t monopolize it! LOL
In my brand new DIY/Craft room!!! PLEASSSSSSEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!?!?!??
I would put this gorgeous computer in the eat in kitchen at out little desk! I wouldn’t take up ANY space and would be a great way to keep me organized with pictures, recipes, and bills! What a life saver this will be!
I would love to put it in my study, in place of this antique thing that I’m currently using. :)
Thanks for the opportunity and Merry Christmas!
Laura, in Michigan
my current computer is on its last legs! I would put this on my home office desk. It would look so pretty!
i would definitely put it in the living room. love your desk by the way!
i would put this in my office at home on my desk and not let my husband play on it!
I would put it in our master bedroom!!! It would be a definite upgrade from our current computer!!
I would put it on our desk. How awesome for a chance to win. Thanks!!
I would put this in our School Room. It would replace the computer that my children do their school on as we are home schoolers. :)
I would put it in our new computer/video game room! My fiance would be BEYOND THRILLED – he really wants one of these!!!!
I would love to get this to help me finish up my grad school stuff and get prepared for having a family of my own. Thanks for the opportunity!
I would use this as our family computer and for my growing photography passion! Thank you!
I blogged about this giveaway. http://www.lifewiththelooneys.blogspot.com
I would put this in our office. It is SO cool that you can hang the screen on the wall- LOVE IT!
Oh I would put this Gem in the Living room, on the wall above our television so that the whole family could enjoy it! Maybe utilize it as a family Home Entertainment PC!
Thank You!
I tweeted!! http://twitter.com/ETsmommy/status/6543887800
I would love to put it in the office for all of my family to enjoy!
I would put this computer in my husband’s home office. He is using an older acer computer that gives him tons of problems.
Oh, I would have it right in the kitchen (where I spend all/most of my time). I have the perfect “me” corner to place it so that I can keep up with your blog, ha! Thanks for the chance. Merry Christmas to you & your family!
The family room! (My husband would say his office if he were here.)
Looks great. An awesome addition to our computer room.
I would put it in my kitchen so I could access it easier during the day (currently our computer is located in the basement) and so that I could use the recipe feature! Thanks!
I’d put this in my bedroom. YAY! I love it!
What a fantastic giveaway!! I would put it in our bedroom (that’s where our computer lives).
This would be so great for my husband and I to share or he can maybe have his own now!
in the girls’ room so they can do their homeschool work in a place that offers a little peace and quiet!
would love to have this in MY room!!!
Oh
Em
Gee
I would love to have this HP in the corner of my living room, where we could use it for business AND my girls could use it for school.
What a rockin’ prize!
If I won this, I’d put it in my living room right in front of my TV! Then I would never ever leave that area and would tell Twitter how amazing HP is all while watching TV and doing my job.
Ahhhhh, awesomesauce!
I blogged about this.
http://pleasepickpipandsqueak.blogspot.com/2009/12/win-awesome-computer.html
I just bought my very own little bungalow. This computer would be an awesome addition! Plus I have Rheumatoid Arthiritis and this would be great for my achy fingers!
blogged http://abdoggett1.blogspot.com/2009/12/boomama-is-giving-away-hp-touchsmart.html
The touch screen is amazing to me. I’ll be a very happy winner!
I would so love to have a new computer since my laptop is getting ready to die anytime now. But if I were to win one I actually would not keep it for myself but instead give it to my son and daughter-in-law who have 3 small girls. See they live on an extremely limited income as they are missionaries that totally rely on others loving generousity to support them. Buying things like computers is just not something in their budget. But they could really make use of one as they do have an older used one that I was able to buy second hand for them but it is slow and dying and soon they will not have one at all. Wow what a gift from God if they were to get something like this!!! God’s blessings never stop amazing me!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I’d put it in my kitchen! Please enter me!
i would put it on our kitchen island – aka “my desk” :)
I would put this bad boy in the computer room and use it all the time! This is the computer to have! With so many features, I so want to win this!
linzendrsn@yahoo.com
I would put that lovely NEW computer on my desk that is in the converted breakfast nook in my kitchen ! ! ! The one I currently have works terribly and I would love this beautiful, lovely, new computer! Thank you! ! ! !
I blogged about it!!! http://crawforddiary.blogspot.com/2009/12/odds-and-ends.html
Tweeted! http://twitter.com/itsmecassieb/status/6549899261
I want this for my students! I would love to use this in my classroom for my students who are either learning disabled or cognitively impaired. This computer could help them transition to life after high school! I WANT IT FOR THEM!
I would put it in our newly finished office/nook. The room needs something wonderful like this to turn it into an actual office. It’s been just a nook for six months … hehe!
Well, that is nifty swifty! I think it would live in our kitchen!
I would put this in my room! (since I am a college student who is about to graduate) BUT when I become a teacher, I will use it in my classroom :)
We would love this computer! We would keep it on our kitchen counter. Thank-you.
What a great computer! My husband and I would love to win it!!!!
This would go straight into our office. My husband and I both operate small businesses from home, so it would get tons of use!!
This would have to go in my room. I am wanting to write and have no access to a computer in my room, and my girls all need the other one for homework, so I am last in line.
This is so awesome that it would definately go in the living room on our 60 year old antique desk! Our kids would love it, and so would we!!
I completely can not believe this! I would have this awesome computer on the desk in my craft room! I would be sooooo happy there!
I would put it in my family room. I would love to win this. My computer is ancient and while I lay here recovering from a broken foot a new computer would boost my spirits big time.
I would put this in the family room.
I think I would have to put this computer on my kitchen counter, so that it could help me with my cooking by reading the recipes out loud to me. How cool is that!?!
I would keep it in my son’s room; then maybe I could have my laptop back :-)
I would put the computer in my office. Our kids would love it and probably be better at using it than we would!
I would probably put it in my living room so everyone can have fun with it! =)
I would like to put it in my room, but our family PC needs to be replaced so it would go into the office.
I love that it reads recipes outloud!
Thank you for hosting this giveaway.
I would place the new computer downstairs in our family room where I am surrounded by beautiful pictures as inspiration for photography.
I would put this computer in my kitchen, because as a mother of five boys I spend most of my day in the kitchen.
I would give this computer to my hubby who has been ever so gracious as I have taken over his.
I would replace my old desktop (dinosaur) that is on its last wheeze…or seems to be everytime I use it, in my office.
Holy Toledo, Batman! What an awesome computer! The features! The great big shiny-ness of it all! I would love to try out that new-fangled recipe box feature! How cool! I’m crossing my fingers and toes! Thanks for the opportunity……………….
I would put it smack dab next to my easel in my art studio so that I could have better visual control over my reference images when I paint. Dang would I ever love to have that HP!
Thank you for the opportunity BooMama!
We would put this in the office off of our kitchen to help us orgainze our busy lives! Thanks:)
alliebrubaker@yahoo.com
I would put that beautiful computer in my “office” (it’s so not an office but I like to pretend it is:)) It would help put to rest my HP pavilion f1703 from 2004!
I would put in on the bar in my kitchen for a perfect addition! Thanks so much!
I’d put it in our sunroom for the kids to use.
Would so love to have one of those! I think I would put it in the kitchen on the desk by out table.
Love this!!!!It will be beautiful in my office!!!!
This would definitely be in the kitchen. I can see myself listening to Pandora while looking at a recipe on the screen. What a great giveaway. Thank you and HP.
I would definitely have it in the kitchen so everyone could enjoy it! Awesome giveaway!
this looks like so much fun!!
I would definitely put this computer in my office since I work from home. This would be a huge improvement on my dying, 3 year-old, Toshiba laptop.
Our basement is where all that fun stuff happens in our family.
I would put this computer either in my living room and replace my ancient one, or put it in the kitchen. now that i think about it. i want it in the living room.
I will put it in our diningroom…it’s the only room that currently doesnt get any use!
This will be my next computer
Really? I would love to hide it in my armoir tucked away for only my blogging hands to touch…but in the real real world it would be on our little desk area next to the dining room where my four kids hang out the most doing homework, dancing to music and being all around silly kids!
Woo-hoo! I can comment! I am totally putting this in my MOM’S kitchen – she really NEEDS a new computer!
I would put it in the family room so we could enjoy it as a family.
I tweeted! https://twitter.com/sweethomealagrl/status/6576327977
If I were to win, I would build a place for it in my kitchen to enjoy the recipe box program! and to be able to watch tv/videos while I cook!
Hi Stephanie!
I am a newly wed. We got married in June. My husband’s 6 year old laptop has just recently died and gone to heaven (or virus hell . . . not sure which.) I think it’s time we start using a desktop but like most newly weds, we can’t justify spending that kind of money on a new computer when we have other necessities. What better way to spend our first Christmas together than with me surprising him with the computer of his dreams!!!!
I’m not really sure where I would put it. I have a laptop now that has been everywhere in my house this morning. Including the bathroom! HA! I would probably put it in the kitcchen so I could cook with it. Great giveaway!
I would put it right here on this crusty computer desk where this behemoth dinosaur of a computer is sitting. Then I would lovingly watch through teary eyes as my teenager & tweenager & 8 year old baby girl & husband-farmer-windmill-junkie would completely think they have died and gone to technology heaven.
Ooh – this would be hidden from my 1 year old, probably in my room. He is all about touch screens.
Thanks for the chance to win!
I tweeted! http://twitter.com/itsmecassieb/status/6549899261
I’m in the market for a new computer…was thinking of a laptop…but I would be even happier with a FREE one!
Me!! ME!! Pick me!!!!!
I would put this computer in our study, because the computer that currently sits there is a DINOSAUR, and is virtually unusable. We DO have a MacBook, thank God, that we currently use for EVERYTHING, but our kids have started demanding computer time… we have to schedule it now! I’m thinking we could USE a second computer!!!
So… PICK ME!!! PICK ME!!!
I’d put it in the kitchen so I could look up recipes on it!
I blogged! http://lifebycassie.blogspot.com/2009/12/im-really-trying.html
And… I blogged!
http://sarahstirman.blogspot.com/2009/12/giveaways-bloggy-giveaways.html
I think it would go in our dining room, but I’d have to rearrange a bit. That’s where we spend the most family time. I am, however, tempted to keep it away from the littles and put it in the office (keep it for myself! :)).
We are building a house that has a “menu desk” in the kitchen…and it is the perfect place for this smart little computer. It would save me buying one! (Our current computer is getting old and will become a “kids” computer that we don’t worry about them crashing :))
it’d go down in the man cave/office and we’d LOVE it!!!
DEFINITELY going in the kitchen. I’m so tired of running downstairs to grab a recipe! AWESOME feature.
I’m thinking this would look fab in my kitchen!!!
I would love this computer! Thanks for the chance to win! Merry Christmas!
Meg Leonard