Hardware Geeks

A little over a month ago, Mike was telling me about how cool a new product from HP was, the product being the HP Touchsmart, he raved and raved about how great it was, and that I should review it and I said sure why not.

About a week later FedEx knocked at my door with this huge yellow boxs. The following day I had a conference call with HP about TouchSmar, and I learned a lot of things that I probably would have overlooked if they hadn’t mentioned them. Since I didn’t want to miss a thing I took notes on all the features and specs.

There are four available versions of the Touchsmart; the IQ504, IQ506, IQ804 and IQ816.

The IQ500 and IQ800 series are both second generation TouchSmarts (previous generation IQ7 Series), the previous version was a bit too big and less appealing than the current one. It kind of looked like Wall-e without the wheels.

Some of the main differences between the IQ7 (original) and the newer TouchSmarts is the new design, updated hardware (faster CPU better memory), a bigger screen, along with improvements to the Touchsmart software. The original software left a lot to be desired from what I have read and a demo at a Staples store a few months back. The IQ500 and IQ800 series also run Windows Vista Home Premium 64-bit. Windows Vista in it self has improved touch screen capabilities over Windows XP which is what was loaded on the IQ7.

Aesthetically, the machine takes home the prize.  Everything about it makes it look great, from it’s widescreen display, to the espresso colored accents andthe piano black finish inbetween, and with the adjustable ambiant lights - it just ads to the depth of the beauty. The elegance of the Touchsmart is also passed onto the included keyboard and mouse which match the system perfectly.

Something great about the Touchsmart is there is just one cable that is connected to it, and it’s for the power. So you don’t have to worry about the clutter of cables.

At first look, it may look as if it doesn’t have much to offer, but I can assure you that on every side you are in for a surprise.  The right side has the Power button of course and a CD/DVD/Blu-Ray slot, and a 5 in 1 card reader. The left side has the ambian light control, USB ports, and the speakers are along the bottom of the monitor. I kind of wish there were additional USB ports on the bottom towards the back, in case I wanted to add an external hard drive.

The TouchSmart also has a built in webcam with two microphones, which are great for leaving video notes to family members in your home, and with the 500 GB hard drive more than enough storage for tons of video notes.

You may ask yourself what are video notes? Well, they are video messages. 

One of the many roles the TouchSmart can play in your life is as the central hub; the computer that you use for everything; the communal one. The place where everyone goes to check messages and or lookup a number, and if your home is automated a place to turn the lights on and off, open or close the shades, check the security system and or cameras around your home. As Mike has often said the TouchSmart is a perfect replacement for the refrigerator door.

HUH, the refrigerators door? To answer your question with a question, what do we put on the refrigerator door? Notes, drawings, shopping list and pictures, oh and magnets if you’re like me.

So think of your video note as an upgrade to the post-it note you’d leave on your refrigerator, and instead of using a magnet to hold a drawing or a paper with a good grade on the refrigerator, make a digital copy by scanning it and putting it on the TouchSmart. That way you have a digital copy that will last forever.

Moving on, the IQ506, IQ804 and the IQ816 all have built in TV tuners, which will also allow you to watch TV on its big HD screen, and if you have the IQ800 series you can wall mount it with an optional wall mount ($50 USD extra only IQ800 series), however the feet on the IQ800 series can not be removed, which im my opinion kind of sucks but I guess that is why they created dremels.

(listen here husbands/wives) I personally think this would be an ideal gift for a wife, girlfriend, husband, boyfriend or any significant other that spends a lot of time in the kitchen, but who also needs some excitement in their lives.  I love to cook with music on, and if I’m baking, I’m sure I’d love to watch a nice movie or an episode of CSI and with theTouchSmart – I would/You would be able to make it happen. Heck I could even pause the movie and look up a recipe, if I wanted to with a few flicks of my finger.

With the built in optional Blu-Ray drive that is available on the IQ800 series you literally have a complete entertainment system in one machine, which will be great anywhere in your home.

I enjoyed having the TouchSmart in my bedroom because as they all rave – it is one sexy hell of a machine.  It looks very chic, but at the same time manly, and went well with everything. I had it in my bedroom because I spend most of my time in my bedroom and having it there just made my life easier. It’ll look great in a living area though, or even by the door – it all depends on your preferences’. I can assure you that it’ll look great where ever yours ends up.

The TouchSmart has its own unique software designed by HP.  The HP TouchSmart software gives you quick and easy access to tiles that add functionality to the system, such as a calendar, easy access to your music, movies and photos, access to the web and tons more.

I particularly loved the music browsing, where you can easily create a playlist simply by placing your finger on the song and dragging it to the playlist.

The same applies to pictures, you can easily create a slideshow, and even crop and resize photos, you can even upload pictures directly to Snapfish, and with the built in 5 in 1 memory card reader you can get those pictures off your camera quickly.

Then there is the notes tile, remember I mentioned that already. Well not only can you leave a video message that can also be uploaded to youtube.com via the HP software, but you can also leave text messages, you can use your finger to write the message or the keyboard. I prefer my finger.

It’s very easy to make a shopping list or just leave a quick note.

The Calendar tile allows you to create a communal calendar to share with the entire household, so you can plan events and everyone can see what everyone else is doing.

Of course there is also a weather tile, where you can check your local forecast before you head out the door. How many of you are about to walk out the door and run to the TV and check the weather channel? With the Touchsmart, access to the weather is literally at your finger tips.

The Touchsmart is my wingman!

I mainly used the Touchsmart to chat on AIM, use the webcam on MSN, load up my pictures and crop them. (boy am I going to miss that feature – it made life soooo much easier – great gift for a participant in a recent breakup – haha). 

I also used it to play my music in iTunes. The sound quality on the Touchsmart is great, It filled my apartment with a smooth steady sound. I also used it to check the weather (again, very convenient), surf the web, play with the apps (because it was fun to see the stuff fly across the screen with the swipe of a finger) and I used the notes application a lot, just to remind myself of things that needed to be done.  I used the notes function, because as a frequent traveler, there are always tons of things that I have to remember – pay this bill, pack this, don’t forget socks, bring toothpaste, etc…it came in handy a whole lot.

The size of the screen really accommodated my chatting – I would sit on my couch, make the screen face me, do 1982743 things at the same time, and still be able to respond w/ my wireless keyboard – that was the bomb.  I’m not sure what I’ll do if HP continues to make life this easy….

I didn’t play any games on the Touchsmart, but I did watch DVDs on it and it looked just as good as it did on my 40 inch LCD TV, and with the built in MediaCenter software watching TV on the Touchsmart was very easy to do.

I really loved the added functions the TouchSmart had when it came to its pictures.  I take millions of pictures and many times, I get a random arm, or a leg, or just a body that needs to be cropped.  This machine made that feasible.  I didn’t have to load up my pics into my AOL account, then go to my pictures, then try to find them, then edit them, then attempt to save, etc, etc…the TouchSmart made it quick and easy.  My one ‘complaint’ is that I was not able to delete the pictures in the same screen that I cropped them in, but I think I know why. 

HP sent me one of their first models– it wasn’t a prototype, but Mike told me I may have needed to download some updates, which I always refused to do especially since the machine isn’t mine.

Anyway, when I saw the TouchSmart at Pepcom a few weeks back – it had the delete button in the pics which is nice, instead of having to click in and out of folders and views.

The speakers on the TouchSmart are excellent. I think my roommate hates them though.  I am the type of person to turn on the radio, or play music before watching TV so she heard a lotttttt of my music – pumping.  The speakers are sooo loud that I would never actually max them out – I live in a building with neighbors…I’m considerate. 

My little sister also came and used it a couple of times. It was kind of weird at first.  Getting the handle of things and all, but once you have it, forget it, you start trying to touch everything, thinking it’s a touch screen.  That’s the one thing that happened on the 2nd night of me using it. 

My friend and I were both pressing my car radios screen, not realizing it…until nothing was happening. We both looked at each other and just laughed. 

My favorite thing about the TouchSmart it’s the screen – its obvious right – TouchSmart…well, it brought me back to my childhood, when I used to go to the bank with my dad and he used to let me click everything, just because it made me feel powerful (yes, even at the tender age of 4, I was seeking power in this world). So yes, going along with that, this PC really drives its users into knowing that they are indeed in charge and have the power – it’s just no longer a click away, it’s a touch away.

Technology has gone a longggggggg way – and I’m soo happy to have been a pioneer TouchSmart PC user. 

I’ve had quite some time with the HP, but like most fun things, they must come to an end and I will be sad when FedEx comes to pick it up. 

I recommend the HP Touchsmart IQ500 and IQ800 series to anyone and everyone – from small families to large families.  From business users to business owners.  The screen is a great asset when dealing with Microsoft products, such as Excel or PowerPoint – and the system itself is perfect if you want to bring a little control to your life. You definitely will get a bang for your buck with it.  For information on how to get a touchsmart click here for some deals from our sponsors.

The HP Touchsmart IQ500 and IQ800 series is awarded the HardwareGeeks Best Appliance of 2008 award.

Post Tags: review  hp  radiris  touchsmart 

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