New HP TouchSmart PCs

[MikeB]

Has anyone checked out, or does anyone own, one of these new HP TouchSmart PCs yet?

http://www.hp.com/united-states/campaigns/...mart/index.html

I don't care so much about the custom HP software, but I am curious on how the PC itself is, touchscreen responsiveness, how well it works with the standard Vista UI, etc...

Looks like it could be a good solution for the kitchen or other living area.

 

[gfs]

Has anyone checked out, or does anyone own, one of these new HP TouchSmart PCs yet?

http://www.hp.com/united-states/campaigns/...mart/index.html

I don't care so much about the custom HP software, but I am curious on how the PC itself is, touchscreen responsiveness, how well it works with the standard Vista UI, etc...

Looks like it could be a good solution for the kitchen or other living area.

Mine is on the way... should have by end of week. I got it for just that reason... kitchen use and will install software to run some of my homeseer system from there... especially stuff that is WAF. I have used a laptop in kitchen and found it very useful... this is a huge step up. I saw the demo at the HP smart house in Cupertino and was hooked. I will give you a report... could be a very good multi-purpose computer and touch screen solution.

 

[MikeB]

Thanks, please post up your impressions!

I'm currently using a Mac Mini running Windows Vista in my kitchen (below my counter), with a 17" display (above my counter). I'd love to go touchscreen, however, and this looks like it might be a perfect solution (and give me one of my cabinet shelves back!).

I look forward to hearing your report.

 

[sic0048]

I'd like to know if they are mountable (VESA compliant). I would really like to use this in the kitchen, but the location where I want to place it is too narrow for the screen to sit since the stand is basically as wide as the screen. If I could wall mount it, I wouldn't mind if it hung over the edge of the counter, but it cannot sit on the counter like that

 

[WayneW]

I really wish it had a battery, even a 30 minute battery, so you could easily move from one location to another without losing everything open. Could it suspend and survive a power loss? Or would you have to hibernate?

 

[BryanE]

I'd like to know if they are mountable (VESA compliant). I would really like to use this in the kitchen, but the location where I want to place it is too narrow for the screen to sit since the stand is basically as wide as the screen. If I could wall mount it, I wouldn't mind if it hung over the edge of the counter, but it cannot sit on the counter like that

They are not... I was hoping the same.

 

[MikeB]

Seems like a major oversight. I wonder if they vent from the back.

 

[gfs]

i've had the machine for a few weeks... its awesome. graphics and screen are terrific. vista (first time for me) is ok... the HS touchsmart feature is cool, and the interface is very simple... it gets a lot of use in the kitchen for email, browsing and i use it to check my homeseer projects... a good investment

 

[MikeB]

Thanks for the info! How reliable/accurate is the touchscreen?

 

[gfs]

Thanks for the info! How reliable/accurate is the touchscreen?

so far so good havent spent that much time with touch, its a great macjhine overall, still use mouse for most... just used to that... but it seems responsive

 

[sic0048]

Thanks for the info! How reliable/accurate is the touchscreen?

so far so good havent spent that much time with touch, its a great macjhine overall, still use mouse for most... just used to that... but it seems responsive

It won't take long and you'll be using the touchscreen instead of the mouse. It is so much quicker since you can instantly touch the button rather than having to use the mouse to move the curser to the right spot.

My wife and I find ourselves touching the laptop screen from time to time expecting it to work like our kitchen touchscreen That is a little embarrassing.

 

[Hari_Seldon]

I tried out the Touchsmart at Best Buy today and was pleasantly surprised. It seems perfect for a kitchen PC.

I just can't figure out why HP would fail to offer a VESA mount option. I can't see buying one unless I can figure out how to mount it on the wall. I wonder if the back leg can be removed to uncover mounting holes? Has anyone tried this or found another wall mount solution?

-HS

 

[felixrosbergen]

Anybody have expeirence with optical mouse on top of granite counter top? Does this work?? A mousepad is not going to look very nice...guess for most you use the touch feature...

I think this is a better solution than an 'in-wall' type touchscreen since this can still function as a normal pc where you can stand/sit at the kitchen counter and use the keyboard to type...

My build is a few months out, but this looks nice..hopefully they drop in price in a few months...

 

[keepersg]

Anybody have expeirence with optical mouse on top of granite counter top? Does this work?? A mousepad is not going to look very nice...guess for most you use the touch feature...

I think this is a better solution than an 'in-wall' type touchscreen since this can still function as a normal pc where you can stand/sit at the kitchen counter and use the keyboard to type...

My build is a few months out, but this looks nice..hopefully they drop in price in a few months...

I use a logitech optical mouse on granite at home in our kitchen. Works fine on blue merl.

 

[sic0048]

Anybody have expeirence with optical mouse on top of granite counter top? Does this work?? A mousepad is not going to look very nice...guess for most you use the touch feature...

I think this is a better solution than an 'in-wall' type touchscreen since this can still function as a normal pc where you can stand/sit at the kitchen counter and use the keyboard to type...

My build is a few months out, but this looks nice..hopefully they drop in price in a few months...

You won't need the mouse with the touch screen. The wireless keyboard is nice (and really required still), but the mouse is honestly just in the way. I've taken mine out of the kitchen completely because we use the touchscreen 100% of the time in lue of a mouse.

Like I said earlier, once you get the touch screen, you'll find it much quicker and easier to use than a mouse. There is nothing like instantly selecting what you want rather than grabing the mouse and moving it to the correct spot on the screen. With the touch screen you just touch what you want.

Seriously, you'll loose the mouse ASAP after using the touchscreen.