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 put it in my kitchen!
I Tweeted!
http://twitter.com/Momsenseblog
http://twitter.com/titicuervo/statuses/6505696272
it would be going in the office, for sure. far away from little hands!
I would place it on a desk in my kitchen, where we do all our homeschooling!
Tweeted!
http://twitter.com/grshortstop/status/6505761782
I would put it in our gameroom, where it would definitely be replacing my ancient desktop!!
I just bought my first home. I would put it in my new study!
Hope I win!
We would hang it in our bedroom. How nice would it be to be able to lay in bed on the computer without having to hold it in your lap.
Thanks!!!
This sounds awesome!!! I would put it in the family room right where my old one sits. It would be in the dump!!! ha
I’d put it in our basement. That’s where the kids hang. And they’ve said a new computer is the top of the Christmas list this year.
That sucker would go downstairs in the family room! The hubs does touch screen stuff on all his big industrial computers! The idea that we could get one too is just beyond cool!
I would love to win one! I would totally put it in our sunroom/office!
i would put it in our kitchen because we live in an apartment and if it was in our living room our toddler would destroy it lol
I tweeted about the contest!
http://twitter.com/sarahvannus
In my office….I am in dire need of a new computer!!
My husband and I share my laptop… I say ‘my’ laptop, because it’s mine :)
So I would give this computer to my loving, generous husband and put it in our office.
This would be great in my husbands new office!! He would love it!
I tweeted this contest! :) http://twitter.com/kellistuart/status/6505203152
This is a dandy! I love the DVR idea too – it’s all great. Mine would go in my living room! You might need to come spray paint some furniture so I could do the computer justice! Thanks Sophie!
Would LOVE LOVE it! what a crazy giveaway!
The new dining room/office!!!!
Thanks!!!
Is there anything this sweet thing doesnt do? I would have it upstairs in my bedroom so on days when I cant tackle the stairs I can have it at my fingertips.
I SO want one of these! I got to try one out at a conference and it was amazing!
I would put it in my “office.” Otherwise known as the room where I have a desk and chair and computer, but little work actually gets done.
I would probably have intentions of putting this in my living room but it would probably end up in the bedroom or even the kitchen. Very cool!
I would FOR SURE put it somewhere that is out of my crazy 20 month old Grayson’s reach…he ruined our only computer- a little Acer Netbook…read all about it on my blog …that is why I need to win!!
I would put my new computer in my office, right next to my computerized embroidery machine so I could make all sorts of fun things!
I would put it directly in my kitchen, for my use and pleasure while I’m in there-which is all the time!
I would put this computer on the computer desk in the family room.
I didn’t read through all 500+ comments, but am I the only one that would put it in a secret hiding place for only me to use? I seem to always get the second-hand stuff, and I’d love to have such a nifty thing all.to.myself. So there; I’d put it in my closet.
I would put it in our family office. Great giveaway!
I am in love with this computer! I really might have to break the bank to own this one :) Thank you so much for having such an awesome giveaway!
WOWSERS!! I would definitely TRY to put it in my closet where NO ONE else could touch it…but then again, I’d probably want to share with the many fellas in my life…..and so it would be in the kitchen on the perfect desk that is built there…just for an incredible invention such as this.
OH I would love to have this!!! We need a new computer, it would go in our home office. what an awesome giveaway!!!
in our kitchen or living room
I would put it in the kitchen. That would be quite convenient.
My family would love this!
I would love to have that recipe reading feature! Heck, we would just like to have a computer.. We have a perfect little (empty) desk in a niche that needs a computer. Any computer really, but this one would be REALLY nice!
I would absolutely love having this computer in my office/kid’s playroom! How cool!
I think this is probably the BEST giveaway EVER! I would most likely put this in my living room. It looks awesome!
I would put this lovely computer on the desk in our bedroom. Oh I hope I win! This is an awesome giveaway!!!
I’d put it downstairs in our office, where I will not be tempted to be using it at all times!!
This precious piece of equipment would go in my bedroom where I would diligently search for a new job. From my bed, maybe. So probably on my nightstand. Yeah. That works.
I posted about it.
http://www.kissesofsunshine.com/2009/12/emergency-announcement.html
I would put my new computer in my room. I’m a student and I’m sure all of the computer’s fancy pants features would only further motivate me to do my work!
I would put it in my bedroom and use it for an extra tv as well as computer. Thanks for the chance to win!
I would put the computer on my husband’s desk, which just happens to be in our bedroom walk-in-closet!
I would put in on the counter in my kitchen where it would be ever so handy for my use. :-)
Hmm, I would absolutely put this somewhere that my hubby couldn’t get his hands on it – I’m so tired of always having to fight with him over the desktop one that we (supposedly) share! :)
we would put it in our family room where we have the other one right now. Thanks so much!
I would put the computer in my kitchen for lots of recipe use!
Either in the office or the family room. So exciting!
I would put it in my den/game room. Sounds like a pretty awesome computer. Can it really DVR? That’s amazing!
If I won, I’d totally put that bad boy in my bedroom. It’s MY space and the chitluns wouldn’t be getting syrup and drool on it.
I’d finally clean off my desk in our home office, and put it there! :)
Oh. My. Word. I drool over this every time I go to Costco. It would go in the family room. Under surveillance!
I would put it in my kitchen where I spend most of my time anyway, lol!
This computer would be amazing on my desk in my spring green office!
this is awesome! i’d love to be able to catch up on my dvr while i’m upstairs! :) thank you!
I would put it our my desk in our bedroom and move the 10 year old computer to the basement! I would love to win it. Thanks!!
I would put it in my new office/playroom opening in January! Have to clean out the current office for the new nursery!!!
It is going in MY closet baby. Yes, so NO ONE else can touch it and the cookie crumbs can stay out of the keyboards. :)
Oooohhhh. I’d probably put it in or near our living room.
Wow!!! I would definitely move this puppy all over the house! It would go in my sewing area (so that I can catch up on some tv while I sew) or in the kitchen for the recipe feature. I would definitely have to hide it from my kids and husband because they would try to steal it. :)
My bedroom. My husband will love playing spades. Or maybe my son at college? He was in a car wreck that killed his laptop.
I would put it in my living room. Hopefully I will have my very own living room by Christmas…
I would probably put this in my bedroom so it could be the first thing I see everyday when I wake up! It looks so amazing!
Oh, as much as I’d love to share in other areas of the house, it would so go in the office. Our desktop has a bit of a “wheeze” as well. Wow…I never win- but it’s fun trying! Thanks!
I would love to win this!!!
In my office/guest room… access for the whole family!
I would put this on our desk in the living room! This is awesome! Thanks!
I would put this computer in our living room so our family could all use it!!
I would put my new lovely computer in my 3 month old daughter’s room so that we could skype with her grandmas and grandpas right from the comfort of her glider.
i would love this pc! my kids use my old dell that is on its last leg! so i would have to put it in the kitchen where we could all use it…
Wow, is all I can say. What an amazing machine this would be to have! My kids would love it! I would set it up in the office for them to use. The touch screen would be perfect for them!
I have a desk built into a cubbie area in our hallway. Perfect. That is where I will put it.
This would definitely be a wonderful addition to my new office! But I suppose I could stand to share it with my hubby and 4 year old whose newfound joy is to “paint” on the computer these days!!!
GREAT GIVEAWAY!!!!!
I tweeted
http://twitter.com/xoxo_trina/statuses/6505831858
Oh goodness, I don’t know where I would put this but probably in our family room. Along with a sign letting my husband know to keep his hands off because its mine! haha
How awesome!! I would put the computer in our office. Our computer is a dinosaur!
My computer just died so this would be a GREAT replacement!
If I won this computer I would put it in MY bedroom, out of reach of little hands!
Where would it go? Right next to my lovely HP printer. I think it needs a friend in the office.
I would put this gorgeous computer in my bedroom. I like to think that by doing so, I can keep the computer all to myself, but that’s somewhat delusional since my kids are in my bedroom more often than I am!! Who needs a living room when you have a family of six crowded around the bedroom computer?? :)
Tweeted at http://www.twitter.com/quatro_mama
We would put it on our office. Our computer seems like it’s about to die. It sounds awful if you have too many things running on it at the same time!
This looks so awesome! I think I’d put it in my bedroom. So I could tell it “good night” every single night! :)
Wow! What a giveaway! I’d put that snazzy thing in our den. Thanks!!
I would put it in my kitchen, mounted to the wall so my 19 month old couldn’t destroy it like he has done to our laptop! That thing looks so cool!
I want it!!!!!! I’ll put it in the living room! So I can watch TV while playing!!!
Awesome giveaway! I would put the computer in my office, where I would totally channel Tom Cruise in Minority Report. But without the scary murder thing.
I would put the computer in my mom’s office! She totally deserves a new computer! Would love to win for her!!!
I would put it in my office to replace my 10 year old pc that sounds like it is in about as bad a shape as your mac!
How awesome! Right now it would go on our Ikea computer desk in our playroom, but we are hoping to sell our house after the holidays and move into a new house that would have an office all just for me :-)
Maybe the living room, but if we had such a sleek computer, I likely would put it in the kitchen!
I would keep this in MY bedroom and do all of my photo editing on this! Awesome giveaway.. would LOVE to win this!
I would love to put this in my kitchen!
I would love this new computer!!!
I don’t know either in my office or my kitchen! Probably in my office the majority of the time unless I was using the cool recipe feature then I would probably move it to the kitchen!!!
This is so cool! Would put it on the kitchen desk, out of the reach of sticky fingers…
Thanks!