Welcome to The Digital Lifestyle and Media Center Show Sign in | Join | Help
in Search
mControl for Windows Media Center

Ian Dixon's Blog

Ian's digital lifestyle and Windows Media Center Blog

HP IQ500 TouchSmart First Impressions

Due to me putting my back out yesterday I wasn't able to unbox the TouchSmart last night so today I had some help and managed to get the unit unboxed. I IMG_0998recorded an unboxing / first impressions video but to be honest its not until I put it in the living room tonight and started using it that I realised how good the machine is. There is two areas to focus on: The all in one hardware which is packaged in a very sleep design and the HP TouchSmart software which is amazingly tactile and had the whole family eager to play with it

First a quick look at the spec:

  • Intel Core 2 Duo T5850
  • 4GB Ram
  • 64bit Windows Vista Home Premium
  • 465GB hard disk
  • DVD burner
  • TV Tuner
  • 22" Touch Display
  • Wifi and Bluetooth
  • Webcam
  • Wireless keyboard and mouse
  • All in one design

The TouchSmart software is beautiful,it looks great, it responds to flicks and presses and I love how the faster you swipe the faster it goes. It can play music, videos, and display pictures, there is a touch based web browser, RSS reader and weather apps. This is something I can only really show off in the video but a measure of it's success is that my wife said "wow can we keep it" rather than the normal "oh no not another box". It invites you to touch and play with it. My plan was to buy a new Media Center machine and hide it away but I now can see me going for something like this and have it in the living room (still working as a server for my Extenders as well)

So watch out for my Unboxing video coming soon and I will keep you updated on how it fairs in my living room

Published 23 July 2008 22:01 by Ian Dixon
Filed under: ,

Comment Notification

If you would like to receive an email when updates are made to this post, please register here

Subscribe to this post's comments using RSS

Comments

 

AlCutaia said:

Ian,

I found the coating on the monitor to be outstanding at minimizing fingerprints, but at the same time, a little "sticky"--meaning that my finger did not glide across it as easily as I would have liked.  I'm interested in your opinion on the feel of the hardware.

July 25, 2008 01:42
 

Ian Dixon said:

it doesn't feel sticky, well I didn't notice it. Maybe I will now you have pointed it out.

I will have a look tonight

July 25, 2008 17:37
 

Ian's Digital Lifestyle said:

I had a day off with the kids and managed to put my back out so that delayed me unboxing HP's new TouchSmart...

July 26, 2008 08:37
 

Chris Lanier's Blog said:

Missing Remote has had several great articles and review this week including an article on SDV and what

August 1, 2008 00:27
 

Chris Lanier's Blog said:

Missing Remote has had several great articles and review this week including an article on SDV and...

August 1, 2008 00:27
 

Short Bits: SDV, HP TocuhSmart, Media Center Show | Windows Home Theater said:

August 1, 2008 03:01
 

Ryan Brown said:

It is a great touchscreen PC with a nice UI.  Fatal flaw - No VESA mount.  I think many applications for this technology in public/common areas would be best served by a wall-mounted touchscreen.  I won't be purchasing one for this reason.

August 1, 2008 15:19
 

Ian Dixon said:

also the expansion possibilities are an issue

August 5, 2008 14:18
 

TouchSmarter: Touch Screen Gadgets ?? Ian Dixon’s Blog : HP IQ500 TouchSmart First Impressions said:

August 6, 2008 08:22
 

HPInsider said:

Wait til you see the 800 series Touchsmart :)

August 12, 2008 04:01

Leave a Comment

(required) 
(optional)
(required) 

  
Enter Code Here: Required
Submit
Using Windows Media Center by Ian Dixon

This Blog

Syndication

News

Follow me, Follow you - I am on Twitter http://twitter.com/isdixon
Powered by Community Server (Personal Edition), by Telligent Systems