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 it in my son’s video room for him to use. He’s autistic, and anything cool like that, he’d totally get. Might have to get a turquoise desk, too! :)
I posted about your contest on my blog!
http://merlotandtheinternet.blogspot.com/2009/12/hp-giveaway.html
I would put it in my son’s room. He is an 18 year old boy. He doesn’t have good use of his hands. It is very difficult for him to get around the computer using only his right index finger. He loves to go on the computer but it is like a chore to him. Please consider Derek’s bedroom for the HP give away!!!!!
Thanks, Lynne
Oh man, this would just be SO fantastic for us. My computer is dying very quickly and I fear it will die before I get a new one (you know, cause there is no money ;) ), so this would help me to continue blogging and stuff :)
I would use it for homeschooling my kids, for movies and day to day activites. It would be a blessing to us.
I would put it in the school room!
I would put this in the office, because even though it looks like something my whole family would be fighting over, I would still want to share its awesomeness!
In my kitchen. My one is dying and I’ve had it reboot all by itself while I’m trying to follow a recipe while cooking. I would LOVE one of these!
This would go in my living room to replace the desktop dinosaur I currently use!
I would put it ont he bedroom desk. This would make me happy. Really it would.
blogged: http://www.shebecameabutterfly.net/?p=5813
My teenagers would be in cyber heaven! Merry Christmas!
I would put it on the desk in the kitchen where my kids could use it while I kept an eye on them. What a great giveaway!!
What a great gift this would be for 4 grandchildren when they come to visit
I would put the TouchSmart 600 in my room where my old clunker needs to be replaced. I gave my girls the newer computer.
This computer would be a HeavenSent gift!!! I would put it in the Kitchen and use it to manage the family .. i have 4 sons, 1 husband, no pets and 100 jobs (it seems) … with the touchscreen and slim profile, I would mount it on the wall!!! Oh, I want one!
I would build a shrine!
If I won, I’d put it in my office, where I’m desperate for a new computer. :) Thanks for this amazing opportunity.
It would definitely go in the office!
I would actually give this computer to my dad who has been wanting a computer for quite some time…but cannot afford one :( He would probably put it on his desk in his bedroom!
totally in my closet where little buggers can’t get to it! yea!
Gosh, I would say the bathroom, where people spend the most time in my house. Does it come with a sanitary cover? ha ha! Noooo, actually, I would want it in the living room – full parental control, and fun for everyone at the same time!
I tried playing with one of these while out shopping a few weeks ago, but then I was suddenly too busy keeping grimy little fingers away. I would keep this all to myself, as my last pc died and have had to resort to stealing Hubs’s laptop when he’s not looking. Thanks for the giveaway!
I would put in in my office!
I would put it in my kitchen aka central command!
Seeing as how our is 8 years old already, I’ll put it on our desk in the office to replace the oldie. My 5 year old daughter will love playing on Nick Jr!
I think you should give it to the woman with the disabled son(#5202).. how can anyone compete with that? Im a nurse who’s done pediatric home care and I know what a Godsend it would be for a child like that. I was going to enter for myself because my computer recently bit the dust.. but how selfish would that be??
Oh that is so cool. It would be awesome in my sewing room.
I’d put it in the loft where my desk is.
I would put it in my office to replace the nasty laptop with half the keys missing!
I would put this computer in my little office space – which is located in the hub of the house, the kitchen! We transformed the bay window nook into an office for me to write in while keeping track of the kids. This computer would be so awesome there!
queenoftheclan@gmail.com
I posted this contest on my blog sidebar.
http://www.QueenoftheClan.com
queenoftheclan@gmail.com
I would probably put it in the basement “office” which is just a desk set up in the middle of the toy area! … actually, something this nice would look great on my kitchen counter. Then the kids can’t reach it!
I blogged about this…
Recipes read aloud?? Oh, it would go right in the kitchen!!
I would love to give this to my hubby!! He works so hard and so deserves this. His computer is dying and is 8 years old.
We are trying to adopt from China and funds are so tight that we can’t afford any new items for us.
It would look great on his desk.
Jody
I will blog about this.
I would put this beauty on our desk in the living room; that way, we can watch Netflix and Hulu on it AND I can see it from the kitchen! Thanks and Merry Christmas!
Erica Gaertner
I also blogged about it on my blogspot for another entry…thanks again!
Erica Gaertner
http://sugarbubs25.blogspot.com/2009/12/hp-giveaway.html
What an awesome giveaway. That computer is BEAUTIFUL! :)
I would put it in “MY” room. There is a room in our home that my hubby calls “MY” room, because I turned it into my closet / craft / sewing / computer room. :) It’s really a great room and that computer would look so lovely mounted under neath my inspiration boards. Of course I would share it with my hubby. :)
Love & Aloha, Sharon
mademoisellekitty@gmail.com
http://www.elisharon.blogspot.com
So amazing that you’re giving away a computer! Cute desk, by the way. I hope I win, it would make my year :)
I laugh at the idea of putting it in the closet because we had a semi-closet- office set up when we first moved into this house! I would definitely replace our 10+ year old office computer. We have made a real office in the guest room but haven’t replaced the computer yet!
I’d definitely put it in my dorm room at college- it would make doing homework a whole lot more fun!
What a generous giveaway!
I would put it in the craft room/office…this would be such a huge help with my class work, designing, blogging, and general organization and correspondence.
I have posted the link on my blog! Good Luck everyone!
I would give this to my granddaughter who would put on her desk in her bedroom where she does homework. It is an amazing give a way! and it’s been fun reading how you came to have such a computer to offer other bloggers. I was wondering how this was happening as I visited the other 4 blogs. Thank you for taking the time to explain the process. Good luck to everyone! and someone is going to have a very, very Merry Christmas!
I am short of stature. This would be the one thing in the house I would insist was placed where I could reach it.
I would hand put it on the antique secretary in my dining room (it’s a big secretary with a fold out desk).
I would LOVE to win this computer for my husband! If I won I would place this BEAUTY on his night stand so he could google ESPN and I could have the TV remote for once!
If I had an HP Touchsmart, I would put it in the office/guest room to replace my old Dell (complete with CRT monitor!).
I blogged about the giveaway. I have never done this before, so this is a first.
http://www.houseworths.blogspot.com
Casey
WOW! This would be the perfect computer for my mom, who is the process of going back to school after she was laid off and her former employer’s business shut down. I have a feeling that she’d put it in her living room in order to use it to the max, and to give full access for her granddaughter (and my only niece) to play with it and stretch her imagination.
Thanks to you, and HP, for this amazing giveaway!
My beloved computer has begun to take the long slow walk to the recycling center. It is poky, noisy and it never responds to my touch anymore…wait, it never responded to my touch. Clearly, I need a new and better computer with which to continue blogging about my fantastically interesting life.
I blogged about it!
: ) Jody
I would put it in my husband’s mancave, so he could stop taking over the family computer every everning to read basketball stats!
Ohh, I love it!! I’d put it in my living room or office. Because it’s so handy, there is no telling where it might end up!
I would put it our great room, which isn’t very large, but it is a really good room. By the way when I said I was entering this, my son asked who BOO MAMA is, he then said, “oh, I know, he’s the president.” Pretty darn funny. He just turned six.
I would put it in my bedroom…where my old pc is
I don’t really needddd anything but this sure would be mighty helpful as I continue pursuing my nursing degree!!!! And it might be just what I need to finally create my own blog!
kelsie.j.brandt@gmail.com
I would put the computer where it would by easily accessible to my children: playroom, living room, or kitchen. My children would benefit from it the most because they have Autism. We have three children that are affected by Autism with the 11 and 15 year old not being able to speak yet. I watched a video about how they are using the new HP Smartscreen’s to help autistic children comminicate. Wow! That would be an answer to a 13 year prayer request.
I would put it in my office – but hey, with it so thin and minimal, I would move it the kitchen one day, maybe the family room the next. Just wherever!
Cool.
and thanks.
I would put this on the wall of my living room, above a very narrow desk that would never hold a regular computer. Thanks for the amazing giveaway!!!
I will put it in my stitching room! Thank you in advance! :)
Amy Frazier
amyfrazier@hotmail.com
Would love to win this and put it in my sewing room! Thanks.
I would put i on my antiqued singer sewing machine table that I refrurbished in the living room where I can keep a close eye on it. LOL
This would go in our “office” where everyone could use it.
stefany at tobethode dot com
I would put it in the living room/dining room/office room. Basically on the 2nd floor.
http://twitter.com/lambchop1965/status/6909522447
I would put it in the family room for the kids to do homework on.
I would put this computer in my craft room.
so put this in my room, all just for me, me, me. I have wondered how it works for the “touch screen impaired” my husband just cannot make those things work, at grocery stores, phones, little easter chicks that squeak when you hold them etc.
I would put it in my living room and in my small apartment that means I could see it from anywhere.
Oh, please pick me to win this beautiful computer. We have a little computer corner we use for school that currently houses a very old, not quite up to par computer. We’d love to switch that one out for this one. It would be the prettiest thing in our family room, I think! I’m sure it would get the most use – even more than the TV or the couch or the… well, you get the idea – it would be used a LOT!
I would put it in my sewing room where I could use it and my grandchildren could use the touch screen and help make time with grandma better.
when it comes down to it, I don’t need this computer, there are really many people who need it more than I do. But I would like, just once to have something brand new, not a hand-me-down, and not something that is literally on it’s last leg. Plus for reals I have seriously never won anything!
Robyn
This is so great! It would be a great replacement to our 9 year old family computer!
This is so great! It would be a great replacement to our 9 year old family computer! I would put it right where our old one is in the den!
I would put it in our kitchen so the kids and I can all use it! :)
My grandson is a very smart 7, his dad is an elementary school teacher (aka: makes no $,comes home exhausted BUT has a winter vacation!)and I’d like his mom to have a better computer so she could begin allowing him to use her 6 year old, (almost-ancient)computer that he can’t really touch now. She works for the Boys and Girls Club and can’t let him mess up/break hers! It’s time for him to get up to speed like a lot of kids his age already are! We would put it in the kitchen where she could keep an eye on what he is doing, what parents should be doing these days! Thanks for taking the time to read my post, Karen
I would put this in my very large purse and carry it with me every where!!!
I would put this right in the middle of my living room it would be my center piece for all to see! (not touch though only me hehehe)It is the prettiest thing I have ever seen!
I tweeted!
http://twitter.com/Haydensmommy05/statuses/6913528263
I LOVE the idea of a touch screen! I’d put this baby in my sewing room. How cool would that be?
I’d love to be entered into the giveaway.
OHHHH. I’m glad to have stumbled on this before the deadline. I would have to replace my 1994 PC with large monitor in the bedroom. FOR SURE.
We would soooooo put this in the living room and LOVE it to death ! jtrophy at gmail dot com !
http://www.icoulduseadeal.blogspot.com
I like the idea of hiding it in my closet…!
I would put this in our living room. Thanks for this opportunity!
I would put it in my home office.
courteneycourteney@yahoo.com
in my office!!
We would love to put this in our home school room! What a great kid friendly PC!
I would put it in my dining room, that way the whole family could use it.
I would put it in my living room.It doesn’t look like a “normal” computer, but more like a piece of art.How great would it be to have precious family & friend pictures scrolling on the screen while I’m entertaining!
Hmmmm…that’s a tough question. Probably upstairs in the gameroom since the computer the kids are using now for homework dates back to like 2003.
I would put it in the living room and do all my teachery school work on it!!!
I would put this in the basement where our family room is!
I’d put it in our office, where I work at night. And it would look amazing, no doubt!
I blogged: http://bloggiveawaysimfollowing.blogspot.com/2009/12/boo-mama-is-giving-away-hp-computer.html
I tweeted: http://twitter.com/mommyof2andrea/statuses/6915757377
Ooo, pretty! I’m in the market for a new computer as I get serious about my writing career. My first book is in final revisions and I will start looking for an agent next spring. If I get extremely lucky I’ll send you a signed copy. Do you like science fiction with a bit of romance?
I would put it on my desk in the family room.
I would put it in my bedroom, and give my computer, which is still really nice, to my in-laws who really need one but can’t afford it right now due to layoffs.
I would put it in our kitchen…thanks