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 be on my kitchen counter. The center of my home. From there I could cook, plan, coupon and link to the world.
It would go in our livingroom, that’s where we have our computer desk for now.
I’d put the computer in my dining room. I know it’s a strange place for a computer, but that’s where our family computer has always resided.
In the kitchen tucked between the bar counter and the kitchen table….maybe we could even get rid of our prehistoric desktop if this sweet little guy came to live with us!
As an HP owner I would be very excited to own the new All-in-one pc with touch screen. It will definitely go in my spare room next to the kitchen for quick recipe retrieval. HP is the brand I feel is the best on the market.
We’d put it on the 1800s sewing table converted to a desk that’s on the landing upstairs for my boys. Don’t have the cash for a 2nd computer, this one would make an awesome addition!
sounds like a winner!
It would replace my dinosaur of a computer (15 yrs old and barly hanging on!) that sits on a computer desk in the playroom, next to the kitchen! Pick me, pick me and contact me at olsons01@gmail.com
I would put it on my mothers desk so that it could replace her extremely old desktop. =)
I’d put it in the home office. It would look so nice there!
I would put it in the dining room – close to the kitchen would be perfect, thanks!
tweet, thanks! http://twitter.com/idahojill/status/6612558413
blogged here: http://contestsandgiveaways.blogspot.com/2009/12/hp-touchsmart-600-giveaways-end-1224.html
thanks!
It would live in our family room on the cute red desk left here by our landlord. I think that sweet little computer would be quite comfortable at my house.
I would put it in our office and replace our bulky monitor and slooow computer.
Thanks!
As much as I would love to have this, my grandson in college needs it much worse. What a nice computer!
If I win it, I will put it in our new office in our new house!
I would put this wonderful piece of technology where it would replace a PC that is older than my 8 year old runs less applications than he does! Would make my school work, and the kids school work, so much easier! Thanks bunches!
I would put the new computer in our living room.
Now that the kids are getting older and we’re adding another child to our home (who’s 6) it would be nice to have an additional computer when it’s homework time!
I would put it in the family room so we could all share in its loveliness. It would replace our old, really old, obsolete but hanging in there, desk top. katklaw777 ay yahoo dot com Great giveaway, thanks!
If I were to win this I guess I would be the happiest 66 yr old Nana this side of the Mississippi! I would put it on my lap desk in my recliner since I do not have an office. This computor would keep me in touch with my children (yes 2 sons) in Iraq and my other son at Ft Belvoir Va who has a new son I’ve never seen.I live alone and this computor I’m using is antique. Thanks for this opportunity. I read several blogs every day and they are so uplifting to me.
I can’t wait another day for you to email me and Tell me I’m the winner !! Great machine!!!
This is so exciting!! I would put in on the kitchen counter, since I never seem to leave that area for long. Unless I’m driving children somewhere.
Oh my gosh, what a great giveaway! I would have to put this in my family room for all to share if by some crazy chance I happened to win!!!
I’d put in on my computer desk. ;o) LOL
This would be such a great addition to our homeschool room! THanks for the chance to win one!
In the Office…but the kitchen isn’t a bad idea…
In the bedroom on the 60 year old desk that has been painted too many times to count.
I would put it in a big bag, wrap it up and give it to my friends for Christmas (:
My blogging link:
http://daviscameron.blogspot.com/
I’d place this computer in my new home. To be specific I’d place it in the office. A school principal can always use a new computer!
I would put it on a black desk in my loft.
I would love for something I touch to turn to magic, seems like just the thing!
I would put it in our office!!
This lovely computer would go in our office at home. It would be so great to win this wonderful computer. It looks so fun!
Cool blog, this is the first time visiting.
Not that I have a chance in the world but what the heck…
I would really love to win this to put in a room away from the kids so my husband or I could have it as a get away space.
All we have now is my laptop that my daughter poured water on(twice)and it is on its last leg.
This would replace our old, outdated computer in our basement family room. So awesome!
Megan
powski9876@hotmail.com
This would be totally amazing!!!! What a neat gadget!
I would put a new computer on my desk in the kitchen!!!! I’ve never won anything, so it would be so fun to win!
Hi,
I would put the computer in my kitchen and store all my recipes on it!! WOW!! To cook and check e-mail in the same room would be great!!! I’ve never had my own computer, I’ve always SHARED ONE would be fabulous!!
Janet
Would love to win this computer! I would even share with my family!!!
Julie
oh, Where oh where would it go?? Maybe my bedroom, or maybe I would have to make a special spot for it somewhere else. =)
Oh, I’d definitely hide in my closet with it so no one else could use it! Haha! Just kidding! We are about to move our computer area to the family room so I’d definitely put it there (with a bubble around it!). I’d so love to win this!!
robin@lolidots.com
I’d put this in our dining room on our computer desk and finally get rid of my ancient Compaq. While everyone would use it, I’d get the most use out of it between work that I bring home and surfing the web.
Blogged:
http://auntiethesis.blogspot.com/2009/12/hp-touchsmart-looks-really-smart.html
Tweeted:
http://twitter.com/auntiethesis/status/6620210790
It would def go on my kitchen desk for the entire family to enjoy.
Thank so much!
I’m an artist, so I’d probably try to figure out a way to put it very near my desk…it would save me so much ink and paper if I didn’t have to print all of my pictures to paint from!!
Thanks! :)
I use this computer at work and love it. I would love to have one at home :)
I posted it! Thanks!
Oooooh, this one would totally go in the kitchen. Or maybe the loft. Or maybe my bedroom on a cute little potterybarn looking desk painted turquoise. Except that I don’t have that desk, or the paint. But I’d go get it if I won a computer to put on it.
I would put it in my family room so we could all use it together!
While I’m sure this is intuitive for children, I don’t want my 2 1/2 year old or 1 year old intuiting on it. So, it would go in my bedroom at the computer desk. But, as they got a bit older, I know they’d love it!
Thanks for the chance to enter!
I would put this computer in my kitchen where all my kids and grandkids could use it!
And I blogged!
http://lalepop.wordpress.com/2009/12/13/awesome-hp-touchsmart-giveaway/
I would put it in the family room where everyone could enjoy it!
I blogged about this contest!
http://www.lolidots.com/loliblog/hp-touchsmart-600-pc
robin@lolidots.com
This computer is absolutley amazing! I would love to be the winner and have a new computer to assist me with my school work!
Thanks for the opportunity to win one.
I would put it on my desk, if I could just find a spot!
Awesome. Pick me!
I would put it in our sunroom!!
It would go in the den replacing our old desktop which is having some problems! My husband retired this year and we were looking into a laptop but this would be great.
Have a wonderful Merry Christmas.
wow…what an amazing computer….top of my Christmas wish list for sure!
I’m so tired of my freezing,pain in the bee-hind old computer!!! I’m so sure I NEED this new one with all it’s new fangled technology I just know it’s for me!!!!
blesings,Flora
This would go on my craft desk, althoug i would have to invest in a gate to keep my husband and brother in law away from it, they would love to play on it all day long
I would put it on the WALL. Not sure which wall yet….but totally on the wall.
I would use it in my kitchen in the alcove so I could use recipes, listen to music and watch some hulu while I’m at it.
I would put it on my son’s desk.
I would put it on my parent’s desk. The desktop I bought them a few years ago is showing its age, would love to replace it!
I would love this and would put it in our den.
It would go in my soon-to-be-finished-out-office-storage-space. That little alcove of unfinished storage – yeah, that’s about to be my office and we’re doing it ourselves! It belongs right there on my Ikea desk. ;)
Thanks!
This cool PC would go right on my desk. Then I’d lock the door so no one would take it. Oh wait..but I’d want to show it off too!
If you knew me, you’d understand that I could really use a computer that read a recipe to me. I would sure love to win the computer.
I would love to win this computer! I would put it in our family room and share it with my husband and son. It would go on my childhood desk that I have updated!
Honest to goodness, if I win this…I will give it to my sis-in-law who desperately needs a computer!!!! :D WHOOT WHOOT!!
I would love to win this computer. It would definately go in the family room, close enough to the kitchen to help with those recipes, yet, still in good eye-shot to know what the girls are doing online.
I also blogged about this giveaway…
http://adventureswiththeabramyans.blogspot.com/2009/12/i-am-in-looooove-and-giveaway.html
I tweeted about this too!!!
@ http://twitter.com/kateinparadise
I would LOVE to win this new computer for my family! We would defiantly put it in the living room so that the whole family could use this awesome computer to have fun on and talk to daddy when he is in Iraq serving our country!!
I’d put this sweet computer right in the living room where everyone can use it. While I would want it all to myself, this baby needs to be shared for everyone to see how sweet it is. :)
I have been plotting and planning a tiny little space in my kitchen office for my kids to enjoy. This would just make it perfect!. Touch screen! how cool is that!
I would put the TouchSmart in my bedroom to replace my old computer. If someone wants to use it, then I’ll think about letting them come in my room. :)
This lovely would live in my kitchen the heart of my home.
If I won this totally cool computer, it would go in the office armoire located in our living room!
Oh, so tempting to hide it away in my bedroom for myself! But this computer I’m on is dying a (hopefully) slow death, so I would use the new one to replace the family computer. I’m nice that way!! ;-)
Um, it would probably go in the dining room, or maybe the living room. Definitely in the house….
I tweeted: http://twitter.com/Elkaye/status/6632150197
I would put it in our bonus room/office and get rid of the gigantic L-shaped desk!
It would be great to put it in our play room/ office area.
I would put that beautiful computer on our giant desk in our office, right next to Husband’s computer.
I would put it on the only piece of furniture we ever bought new, my desk, in the family room. I do feel a twinge of guilt since I am a Mac lover, but if I got it for free, I am sure my Mac wouldn’t be jealous, plus it is on its last wheezes as well. Thanks for a great giveaway.
OMGosh!! My 6 year ols son would go bananas over this! He has autism and LOVES (not even sure that LOVES in all caps is strong enough to descibe the feeling he gets when he is on my laptop)computers. He doesn’t have the coordination for the mouse so I usually have to do it for him. What a great opportunity for him to gain more independence!!!
WOW! What an amazing computer!
I would love to have this computer sit atop my beautiful black desk that has sadly never had a very nice computer to have sit on it before. The desk is in my office/guest bedroom that one day I would love to transform into a craft/inspiration/I finally have free time on my hands room. My black desk would like you very much for the beautiful new computer. : )
I would put this in my playroom/computer room. Crazy place for a playroom but that is where the desk is:)
Oh I wanna win this so bad! I tweeted! http://twitter.com/LyssaRolyn
I’d put it on the writing desk in my living room!
I need this computer because I had to give up my home office to watch my baby and others’ babies, so my old, tired computer is taking up too much room on a tiny writing desk. Now I use it and watch the babies, but my wrists are killing me since there’s no space for a real keyboard or a mouse pad with a wrist pad. Ouch!
I would boot my husbands older computer off our desk and put the nice new shiny one on it instead!
This is the most amazing giveaway! My husband has been dying for a new computer for years… we’ve had this one since we were both in college and it is not going to make it much longer. I know how much my husband would love this, and it would make me so happy to get this for us.
This looks awesome, although by the time I figured out how to use it, they would probably be coming out with a new model. I would probably put it on the desk in my kitchen. Our current computer is upstairs in the office and I’ve always thought it would be wonderfully convenient to have one in a spot where I can multi-task!