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.
Wow, maybe number 5,294 is lucky. I would love the new HP TouchSmart…so wicked cool. I would place it on the bridge in the command center of our house.
First – I was directed to your site unaware of your giveaway, thanks for sharing, and I’ll pass it on.
Good luck to everyone.
Where to put my HP TouchScreen 600 PC? Oh, of course, that’s simple! I’d place it in my mobile office/library/studio on wheels. [explanation below]
Thanks!
Ruth
I’m a geek’s geek and was an early adopter because of my ‘tech job’ for Fortune 200 companies for 25 years.
Because of a detour, I haven’t bought a thing in the past 2 yrs.
I was layed off the day I closed on my Arts and Crafts style bungalow that ‘needed work’ [it’s still full of ‘potential’ :)]
The next year, about 3 weeks shy of the anniversary of acquiring my fixer upper with ‘great bones’, I found a lump in my left breast.
I’ve been acting as the patient, my own patient advocate and my home care nurse. This week is the 1yr anniversary of the end of my last radiation treatment, so I’ve been cancer free for 16 months!
Some days I have more mobility than others. My body may poop out, but my min is always coming up with ideas. My cart follows me.
I’ve found that I’m happiest when I juggle multiple projects and must change my physical position frequently. My stainless steel industrial shelving (like you’d see in restaurant kitchens) on industrial casters = it’s a mobile station stocked for all I want and have scheduled to do.
It’s filled efficiently with fabrics, yardsticks, t-squares, scissors, fibers, books, a cutting board, my sewing machine, computer components, periperals, my router, sketch pads, artist pencils etc. It’s like a little RV for all my interests.
I’ve named my mobile workstation Descartes because of wonderful quotes like these:
It is not enough to have a good mind; the main thing is to use it well.
To know what people really think, pay regard to what they do, rather than what they say.
Each problem that I solved became a rule, which served afterwards to solve other problems.
Perfect numbers like perfect men are very rare.
All the best to all of you. I wish you a wonderful holiday.
Ruth
I would put it in my den on the old stand by my chair.
I’d put in in our family room!
Ooh! I would put this computer on an antique desk we have in our family room. It’s a desk that my husband’s grandfather had in his Barber Shop.
Need one, would love one, please send one.
Thanks
I would put it on my desk and it would be Loved!
I would put it on my desk in my family room
I would put it on my desk to take the place of the old desktop there. With a PC like that, I might have room for something else on the desk as well!
What an incredible giveaway! If I won the computer (which won’t happen ’cause I have absolutely no luck at this kind of thing:) it would most definitely be going in my studio/craft room. Unless hubby really wanted it…no, probably my craft room.
Thanks!
We are considering homeschooling our children and this would be a great tool to have1
did you ever think we would have a desktop computer without a bundle of cords. this is amazing. you can actually sit it in a room without worrying about all the jumbled cables looking horrible. the touch screen is so much fun and it’s great that you can eliminate the mouse. keep going hp, what’s next
I would carry it all over the house! But its real home would be in my bedroom!
I would never put it down so it would be in EVERY room with me!
What an amazing Christmas gift this would be!
Thanks for the contest. :)
I would put the computer in my home office – which I would love to make my home office again! Thank you for the chance!
Here’s my tweet
http://twitter.com/Kristi_wdk
I would put it in my living room! im alays on the computer!
I would put this crazy new computer in my cinicinnati bengals living room…who dey!
In the kitchen. Definitely in the kitchen. It would be my new BFF and keep me company. =)
I would put this the corner nook of the landing on my stairs! It would fit verrrry nicely!
This would be mine and in my BR. Guess I’m a little stingy with my own pc. Thanks for the chance.
Ok, that is awesome, seriously….we would put it in the kitchen so my teens and I could enjoy the HP forever and ever!!!
I would put in my office where I have computer that runs about like your Mac!
I would love to win! I think it would look fabulous on my desk! :)
wow! that is so great! i would put it in our kitchen/family room so that my 11 and 8 year old could share it with my husband and me. The kids could use it for their homework and after bedtime we could use if for our projects! Space is such a premium that this would be great!! and the computer we all share right now is sooooo sleepy slow.
I’d put the computer in my office to keep the little kid hand off of it.
Melendrez@mail.com
Tweeted
http://twitter.com/BustedupDaddy/status/6921800224
Melendrez@mail.com
This would go in our sunroom/office, at my computer desk that’s in there! Great giveaway!
If I won I would put this in my living room!!!
I would put the computer in my husband’s office so he could work on stuff for the children’s ministry at our church (he’s the children’s minister). It would be so amazing to be able to give him a gift like that as a late Christmas present!
I’ve blogged about this giveaway on my site: http://jenniferraack.blogspot.com/
Wow! I homeschool so my two laptops are taken up by my kiddos. As a mommy to six who loves to take pictures and blog, Facebook, twitter, and email. I would love one just for mommy! You know, where applications don’t disappear. haha. It would go in my room, next to my bed. Or possibly on my kitchen counter since I’m in the kitchen so much. Maybe even mounted on the wall nearby! Gasp! I’m getting so excited. Especially about that recipe thing you told me about. DROOL.
I tweeted and I’m now a follower of you on Twitter. :)
http://www.twitter.com/amazingsix
I blogged about it! http://cyndi-frith.blogspot.com/2009/12/another-hp-touchsmart-contest.html
Also, I blogged about it!
http://amazingsix.blogspot.com/2009/12/can-we-get-award-for-numerous-visits.html
I would put this inside my master bedroom closet – it’s where our home office it set up!
I would easily mount it up on the wall in our bedroom so we can cuddle together and watch some of our favorite movies :D
I tweeted this giveaway here :D
http://twitter.com/TimboSquad/status/6923960670
I went ahead and blogged this giveaway here :D
http://contestbloggy.blogspot.com/2009/12/boomama-hp-touchsmart-giveaway.html
Definitely in my office/studio – My desktop is ancient, so it would be great to have a new one that can do more, and do it faster! I also love the TV thing – I could watch tv and craft all night long!
Oh my goodness! Just seeing that touch screen sort of makes me catch my breath. My youngest, Quinn (4) is an always sweet and cheery punkin who has lots of therapy hours every week (motor planning is his biggest hurdle) and doesn’t speak. Well, we get about four words every six months. His older sibs and I always do a double take. I’m a single mom, living with my lovely parents, and am full-time with my five children. Having a touch screen would mean that Quinn could access the world around him in ways I can’t imagine affording. He could play games with us, use software that allows him to “speak”, learn more easily, and let us into his world. There aren’t really words for how much this could mean for him.
Perhaps one of the best things about this system is the “where” — It could sit easily on his sturdy wheelchair tray, on a table, go on the wall next to his crib, or move between locations. Amazing stuff.
Thanks for the opportunity to enter. Wishing you all the best.
Carrie
I might put it in the bedroom where we have a small desk. I sometimes use my old laptop there, but it would be soooo good to upgrade and get rid of that old slow thing!
Thanks for the chance! :)
h4schaffer at gmail dot com
This would go in the family room, replacing the 6 year old emachine I’m currently using! Thanks!
I blogged here:
http://embracingdestiny.blogspot.com/2009/12/hp-touch-smart-computer-giveaway.html
It would be most likely put in the living room. Have a space ready for it!
I’m a college student who is working for a computer degree, but with a crappy computer that isn’t up to par with half the classwork I’ve been doing!
After reading that it will read recipes out loud, no question, I’d put it in the kitchen!
I would put it in my kitchen so everyone could keep up with what is going on for the day/week. Plus my husband would not get mad because the computer went to the next internet page. He could just touch the screen to go to the next site.
I would put it in my family room, so my three adult children can admire it when they visit!
If I won, I’d place this on our computer desk and donate our old computer.
I’d put it right where our old computer is in my room!
i tweeted.http://twitter.com/TinaBina1971
I would put it in my kiddos’ playroom. Merry Christmas!
i blogged about it. http://tina-beautyforashes.blogspot.com/2009/12/boomama-is-giving-away-hp-touchsmart.html
OH WOW! I would love to win this computer! I have had my eye on it ever since I saw the ads. I would love to use it in the kitchen for cooking, but it isn’t in the cards for me quite yet.
Thanks for hosting!
Since my husband and I are committed to going on a new eating program together, we would put this beautiful computer in our kitchen. This would give us easy access to all the new recipies we would like to try. What a wonderful giveaway!
I would put it on my parents’ shaky wooden desk, next to the cat who will be so disappointed she can’t sit on top of it. She’s used to the big clunky desktop they’ve had since 2002, so it’s bound to be a shock.
it will be the center of attention in whatever room its in!
I would totally put it in the kitchen/family computer area…awesome!!!
Jennifer
In our kitchen we have a small desk area that would fit this perfectly!
I’m posting on my blog too: http://homeschoolingourwayoflife.blogspot.com/
I would keep it in our kitchen – where we have our current computer. Would help for it to be updated! Thanks for the opportunity to win!
Great giveaway!
I would love to win this laptop. I have wanted one for so long. My e-mail is dreams30300@msn.com Thanks for this great sweeps..Janice Mcgirt
Ha what a neat puter. I would replace my old pc on it’s last leg with this baby. In the office where all our other officey stuff is! lol
I would put it in my bedroom. With two teenage kids, I never seem to get time on the computer we do have. Thanks for the giveaway!
I would put it on my desk in our office to replace my 2003 laptop which is in its last days!
I will put it in the office as a replacement for our outdated dinosaur : )
I would put it in our bedroom…than everyone could share the one already set up at the common desk in our dining room.
Here is a link to my blog with an updated comment about the giveaway.
http://summershome.blogspot.com/
what an amazing giveaway! I would be thrilled beyond belief to win this for my family!
oh and I would put it in the office space we have tucked between our living room and dining area. :)
My daughter is the only one who does not have her own computer. She would love this. I have two kids in college and I am single so can’t afford to buy one right now. This would be a blessing for her. Merry Christmas and thank you for the opportunity to win.
i put that pretty nifty printer in the kitchen so i can print recipes *and* coupons without having to run all over the house.
I so neeeeeed one. We live overseas and the computer is our connection to the States and wow, it looks like I could just jump right in and pretend I’m there on that. I’d put it in our living room so my girls can webchat with the fam.
I would put this in living room because that just seems like the place we hang out, anyway.
Oh where oh where would I put this? Hmm…I would say the living room. Don’t have a personal room or it would go in there…lol…what an awesome giveaway!!
Blogged it: http://flutterexpressions.blogspot.com/2009/12/win-hp-touchsmart-600.html
I’d put it on our desk in the living room or even mount it on the wall so no little fingers could touch!!
I would definitely put this in my bedroom!! Thanks for the chance!
it will go in my computer nook …..I have a nice desk area/nook right between my family room & kitchen…… birdson@roadrunner.com
I would put this in the family room. We spend a lot of time there. :)
Thanks for this opportunity! :)
This computer would have to go in my sitting room I’m fixing up. It is located upstairs and is an old bedroom. I can’t wait to get it done and this computer would be perfect for the room.
I would put the computer in our “office” — a room that was probably meant to be a bedroom, but has turned into the place for all our computer stuff — in other words, extension cord central! :
I think the kitchen would be a great spot, I could keep an eye on my kids while writing my novel.
I would put it in the sitting room next to my kitchen! Thanks for the giveaway!
I would put this in the family room where I could be down stairs with the grandkids and not miss a thing.
Tweeted: http://twitter.com/Angloaddict/status/6931931066
I would put it in my office… looks so neat
What a gift! I homeschool and would love not having to run to the library or borrowing a company laptop for my kids to do school work. We would put it in our converted dining room/classroom. Thanks!
In my office
I would put it in my kitchen and then go to work on recipes, pics for movies, pics for books, and let the inspiration soar!
I would actually let my wife have the computer cause her’s is going down the drain fast. 512mb of RAM doesn’t suffice anymore..
I’d put it in my office, which is in need of a nice desktop computer!
I would mount it on the wall of my livingroom and use it as a media control device.
I would love a new computer!! I would keep it near my kitchen so I can look up recipes and read more blogs while my food is cooking : )
Thank you for having this giveaway!
I would put it in my living room/dining room/ kitchen that I do everything in. My ancient dell is downstairs in the guest room and the ankle biters never let me get down there to work!
I’m thinking it will go in the office/spare room…of course, then the office/spare room will need a complete makeover! :)
This beautiful computer would be put in my mothers living room/dining room for easy access, it would be a constant reminder that computers are for good not for evil …
My family’s current computer sits in my bedroom for mine and the kids’ use. The New HP would look so awesome out in the open for all to see and use. I thought the kitchen. In my family, the kitchen is the center of our home because not only do we cook and bake together, but we share so much more such as good conversation and laughs. My home is all open with no walls so the kitchen being in the center makes the perfect sense.
Wow, I would love to have that. This one would be placed in the living room on a small desk and the Dell we have now will move upstairs, huge desk and all.
thanks for the giveaway.
I would place it in my oldest daughter’s room! She is would be soo excited to have her own computer!!! :)
Krista W.