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 love this computer! I would love to let my little girls use it! It would be nice to have such a user friendly computer…without a mouse!! PICK ME, PLEASE!!
THANKS!
I’d give it to my mom and dad. Their’s is fossilized.
In my kitchen! Especially if it reads recipes :-)
I think I would put it in the office or possibly upstairs in the game room. The computer the kids use for homework is fried and they could really use a new one!
I don’t know that I deserve this more than anyone else. After all, aren’t all of our reasons compelling? Still, I would love to have it and I know it would help me significantly in this time in my life. Best of luck to everyone!
Emilee
emilee.cluff@gmail.com
I was going to mount it in the bathroom where I thought I would have COMPLETE privacy, but turns out that is a lie. So, I am building an office on the roof with a tarp in case of rain or other weather and will be climbing the ladder to be alone and have something that is only mine. A working, wonderful computer. Thanks for your blog posts, and this giveaway!
Merry Christmas!
This is way cool!
I blogged about this: http://www.jewelsandtreasures.blogspot.com/
this would go great mounted on the wall in our office! is it really ok to switch to a pc? :)
I would put the computer in our “craft” room (probably known as a dining room in other people’s homes!!!).
We’d LOVE love love to win the computer….. along with thousands of others. LOL. Who wouldn’t?!!!
Someone’s gonna have a fantastic Christmas!
Blessings,
Kari
This would be a great addition to our family room..thanks for the chance to win this amazing machine.
Our family computer is in the dining/living room and we’re a family of six…EVERYBODY WANTS TO BE ON THE COMPUTER! LOL! I would put my new computer on my desk in my bedroom, my family will follow me there, then i’ll spend QUALITY time with them and my computer LOL!!!
I would put it in my bedroom. Oh my goodness… it’s so pretty.
My new house with my new husband in the new year!
Practically speaking, the office is the best choice for location. However, it’s so pretty, I think I might want it in the family room where we can all OOH! and AHH! over it. :)
This computer looks so AWESOME!!! I need a new computer so please, please, please pick me to win!! This would just make life grand!!
Please, please, please let me win this. I desperately need a new computer as my desktop died 4 months ago and I’m trying to edit all my photos on my mini laptop.
If I won this it would be placed on my desk in my kitchen so I could use it for everything from getting recipes to finding sewing patterns and editing photographs. would I let my family use it? of course, right after they washed the stickiness off their hands.
thanks for the opportunity to win! Merry Christmas!
I would put it in the kitchen so my mom could listen to some tunes and watch vids while she cooks.
It looks so cool!
I would put it at my kitchen desk.
Merry Christmas to you and your family!
I would put this in our kitchen, it seems like it would be VERY helpful for all the cooking i do for my kids!!!!
I have a 1 in 4300 chance of winning and putting that beautiful computer on my desk, so I could bring my old computer to school for my students to use!
ohhh! i’d love this!
i tweeted, too!
http://twitter.com/amybeth78
I would put this AWESOME…AMAZING computer in our family room. We really need it as my girls have LOTS of homework to do on it!!
i blogged!
I would put this on my desk in the kitchen. You know so I could see if anyone touched it. I’m not sure if I would share it. LOL. This is the only computer I would consider leaving my imac for.
I would keep it in the dining area, which is connected to the kitchen. That way I could get good use out of the recipe program, and be able to watch some TV online while I cooked. Thanks for the amazing giveaway!
Hi, That is a cool computer. I think I would put it in the basement play room so the kids could play on it or I could if they are crafting/playing.
Joan.
I WOULD BE FOREVER GRATEFUL FOR THIS COMPUTER. OURS CRASHED AND MY DAUGHTER IS TRYING TO PUT HERSELF THROUGH COLLEGE (TO BE A DR.) I AM ON PERMANATELY ON DISABILITY AND DON’T HAVE ALOT TO HELP HER SO THIS WOULD BE SUCH A WONDERFUL GIFT FOR HER. PLUS I WOULDN’T MIND IT EITHER! LOL BUT WHAT A BLESSING IT WOULD BE FOR HER.
GOD BLESS AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR TAKING THE TIME TO READ MY COMMENT.
HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO YOU AND YOUR FAMILY.
definitely in the family room so everyone can use it!
i would love to be able to win this for my dad. he suffers from macular degeneration and is losing more and more of his eyesight every day. i think it woudl be fabulous to have this “read” the news articles to him, since he is no longer able to read any printed articles anymore
I would love one and so would my 5 little boys!!! :)
Hi,
That is the coolest computer ever! My laptop is on its last leg, I would love to win!!
Thanks for hosting this great giveaway!
XoXo
Michelle
If I won this I would put it on my husbands office desk. He is a minister and uses his computer to do extras for his sermons.(power point etc)So many people are visual learners. He also works on computers for people who can’t afford to take them to a computer shop. Many he fixes for free and has built and given away several to families who needed one.
So I would love to give this to him. He’s such a giver. Thanks, Pam
This sweet item would go right in my bedroom and replace the old broken down one I have!
Great giveaway!!
Hugs,
Carla
hmmm… how about next to my bed as its the most comfortable place to be as i spend hours working and playing on this lovely computer. =)
This computer would be such a nice gift for my family.
A family who is currently about to lose our home to foreclosure, a family who had to move 200 miles away from family & loved ones in order for Dad to accept a new position, a family who lost their patriarch in August, a family whose main breadwinner has had 4 jobs in 3 years due to the failing economy, each time paying slightly less. A family with an 8 year old precious boy with learning disabilities and seizures.
A family who just wants something good to happen to them. To open the door and be greeted by a nice surprise and not a collection letter.
A family of 6 who shares a computer.
A family who would donate the old computer to charity.
A family who even if we dont win will keep looking up.
Thank you!
My oldest is going to college-(that’s sad enough for a stay at home mom)- but my husband just lost his job and we are trying to pay for all of his adventures… what a blessing to win. Thanks for the chance
I would love this. It would sit in our living room where my current dying lap top sits and no one but me would touch it. maybe I might share with my daughter every now and again maybe.
I would use this new computer for school and fun!!
What an amazing giveaway and since the laptop I’m typing on is giving me the blue screen of death every other day..I would love this!!! I would put it in the heart of my home–my kitchen!
Awesome giveaway! I would put this in the “study” off my room to be used for school and photos and so many things!
OH meeeee! I woould put this in the family room for the kiddis to use! (sometimes!)
Oh My Word! I would put it in the family room in place of the one we have there that is always messing up!
Oh my gosh! I would definitely put this in my living room…it’s like a huge picture frame! The laptop I’m typing on right now has shut down on me twice while trying to post this comment…a new computer would be so helpful!
I would totally put that beauty in my dining room. Because – unfortunately – my dining room is also my office. Who says no one ever uses their dining rooms anymore?
I think I would mount it to the wall in my living room….. best of both worlds, a new TV and computer!
Definitely in my family room/dining room for the whole family to enjoy.
i’d be the perfect addition to my study!
I think I would HAVETA decorate an entire office around this…can you say inspiration?
In my kitchen, how cool to have that on my counter while I am cooking dinner!
I’d want to put it in the office, but I’m sure I’d end up putting it in the living room for everyone to enjoy. The office is too cold, and the computer would get lonely!
My family would love to own the TouchSmart (it’s on my wish list) for many reasons. The question of where to put it – um, do I have to have it one place ;-) I’d love to have a computer in the kitchen when I making food from recipes online. Running back and forth can tire a mommy. Finally, with not having cable, I’d love to watch Netflix, etc. on a nice screen in the comfort of any room, not just my office. Great review by the way :-)
I am in love with this computer – I’ve now read several of the reviews, and can’t lie. Want want want it! I dare say it would end up in our family room, where we can all get to it- kids for homework and games, me for the recipes, husband to DVR sports events. In love.
I would put it in our family room so we could all use it. Super cool!!
OH my we are in need of a computer so bad. I would love to win one!! Thanks!
I would put it in my computer niche right off the kitchen so I could blog there, look up recipes, and watch my show with the dvr feature and do who knows what else with it! It sounds amazing!!
I would put it in our office, just shortly after throwing our old one out the window!
I would put it in the kitchen since I love to cook.
oh how happy i would be to have such a cute and stylish computer in the living room. i’d certainly have to get rid of the bulky computer desk we have now, and find a nice little desk at a garage sale or thrift store. i’d probably paint it white, maybe red, but probably white. i’m with ya on everything but the turquoise.
I would love to put this in the family office. I have two high school boys that would really love to use this.
If I won, this marvelous computer would certainly go in my home office — since this room is off limits to everyone else in the house. Thanks so much for the fabulous giveaway – I would be SO thrilled to win!
I would put it in my “future husband” and my office. We’re getting married March 6 and between us have very few funds. But we would use it as a joint computer for both of us to share. What an awesome give-away! And wishing you a blessed holiday season.
* Tweet *
http://twitter.com/Nelsby/status/6604619639
Thanks!
It would replace our old computer which is going out! Sadly it and our “office” is in our Master Bedroom but that right now is the only spot available. One day slightly bigger house with a family room we can all use. But happy and content just the same!!!God is good!
Thanks
What a wonderful giveaway! I am 70 years old and started a blog this year, learning through trial and error. I am having a blast with it. The “new” HP computer would go in my little craft/sewing/office where I do the fun things in my life.
Blessings to all at this wonderful time of year.
Starting back to school and having a reliable computer would be priceless!
I’d put it in the corner of my bedroom that is the “office” :-)
So fun – would love to have it for our kids!
I would put it in my family room, where I could use it and keep a close eye on it!
Blessings,
Karen
I would love to have this in our dining room!
I would put it out in our office and I would never let my kids touch it! :) Alright, so yes, I would.
I tried to enter the other day and couldn’t. I hope that this takes.
I’d put the computer in our recently remodeled office nook. There is nothing office in their yet, so basically it has been a nook for six months. So not cool!
I would love to put this in the living room.. would look great there and be accessible to the whole family
Wow, this is awesome! I really, really want one. When I was preggo with my first child I was told that he had less than a 5% chance of surviving. I was devastated of course, but now he is a beautiful 6 year old. The reason why I tell you this is because of the stress from the pregnancy and stress of thinking I was going to lose my baby, I now have Rheumatoid Arthritis. I don’t let it get me down, but sometimes just the simple things are hard for me to do. I think it would be wonderful to have an amazing computer like this, it would be AWESOME!
We’ve been wanting to put a computer in a little hallway area adjacent to our family room, but our current computer is too big. That skinny one would work perfectly there!
It would totally go in my kitchen because that recipe program is too cool.
I would keep this sweet, sweet baby in my room on a small desk that now houses a dinosaur desktop we have been baby-ing along since 2001. I would wake up every morning and smile at it, because it would afford me the opportunity of trashing the giant box we call a TV/VCR combo that takes up all the space on my dresser. I would be getting rid of two major space hogs in my little 1300 sq. ft. home and replacing them with something that can do all they did plus so much more and way more efficiently. Thanks for the giveaway! julie536 at gmail dot com
In my husbands home office. He recently started up his own business and things are tight…as they typically are in this kind of venture. He spends 95% of his day on the computer and at this point he just has a laptop. It does the job…but this computer would be AWESOME!!!! It would make his year!!
My nephew has low-functioning autism. He attends a special school that has several touch screen computers and my sister-in-law just raves about them and how much her son loves them. I would love to be able to give one of these to her family. Despite the everyday challenges they face she does so much for me and my little family as well as everyone else.
I would replace the four -year old HP that we currently have in our computer armoire.
This looks awesome! It would be a wonderful asset in our kitchen.
thanks for hosting!
My bedroom! I need another distraction to keep me up until the middle of the night :)
Sounds wonderful! I would put in my kitchen in my office nook.
Seems like the perfect way to set up the home office/exercise room I’ve been dreaming of (so I can watch DVDs while on the treadmill)
I would love to put it in my soon to be newly remodeled office!
I would put this in my kitchen for my kids to use.
I don’t have a computer of my own so this would be awesome! I have wanted a touch screen computer for a while and when I used to work at JCPenney, I would come home and try to touch the computer screen!
I would put this in our basement which is being transformed into in office due to baby #2’s impending arrival
I would put this in my little room downstairs that I hope to morph into a proper study. I currently only have a desk and lamp in there and this computer would fit right in!
blogged http://the-prestigiator.xanga.com/718160022/hp-touchsmart-600-pc-giveaways/
I would put it in my kitchen. But I like the idea of hiding it so no one else could use it!!
I would put this in our family room so everyone could enjoy its awesomeness!!! Thanks for the chance to win!
Blogged it! http://themonkeyboysmama.blogspot.com/2009/12/taking-my-chances-im-optimistic.html
http://twitter.com/DeeGee13/status/6609902072
tweeted
it’d would go in my office/family room. or i will carry it around in my purse-my place of honor :)
I tweeted! http://twitter.com/baf6306
Oooh!! Trust me I would find a place. Ideally, would be my scrapbook room/walk in closet!! Thanks for the chance to win!!
Would love the opportunity to update our current old, slow computer! I would share it with the rest of my family on the computer desk in the living room. I would just make them promise to be extra careful with it!! Thanks for the chance to win. Merry Christmas!!
What a great prize! It would make a great gift for my daughter and her family. Thank you for offering such an opportunity! Merry Christmas!!