February 2007
First Look: HP TouchSmart desktop
A Vista PC that fits the social hub of the house
Name of product: HP TouchSmart IQ770 PC
Price we paid: $1,800
Date of ConsumerReports.org update: February 2007
What it is. Microsoft and Apple are increasingly giving their software products entertainment and media muscle--and hardware manufacturers are responding. HP's new all-in-one desktop, the TouchSmart IQ770 is loaded with features that emphasize media and family living. It's also the first PC we've bought that has Microsoft's new Vista operating system already installed. We looked at a pre-retail version of the system (we'll post a review of a retail system as soon as we get one).
What you get. The TouchSmart has more connections than we've ever seen on a home computer, including six USB ports, two FireWire ports, Bluetooth, Ethernet, and Wi-Fi (a, b, and g). For watching TV and listening to music, there's an analog A/V input, analog and digital surround-sound out, analog and digital (HD) TV tuners, HDMI, a remote control, and an FM radio tuner. There's also a bay for HP's accessory Pocket Media Drive, which can serve as backup drive.
HIGHS
Runs Vista with complete visual enhancements. The TouchSmart came loaded with Vista Home Premium, and the system is adequately configured to run Vista in Aero mode, a more advanced graphics mode featuring translucent window edges.
Convenient interface. The HP SmartCenter at the heart of the TouchSmart uses a convenient touch-screen interface that looks a lot like Windows Media Center. From the main screen, you can launch other functions, such as TV and music players, using just your finger on the 19-inch, 1440x900-pixel monitor. There's easy access to a calendar, local weather, and your photo albums. A family message center uses electronic "sticky notes" on which you can write, draw, or record.
Easy-to-use touch screen. You can operate this PC with your finger, thanks to a mode that expands the size of buttons, icons, and control elements on the screen, even on many Windows programs. You can also pop up a keyboard on the screen for one-letter-at-a-time text entry, but--strangely--the keys are arranged in alphabetical order instead of the traditional QWERTY configuration. Though adequately sensitive to our fingers, the touch screen was sometimes off target, and we couldn't find a way to recalibrate it, but we got used to the quirks. The screen proved fairly resistant to fingerprints and could easily be wiped. If you get tired of pointing with your finger, there's also a wireless keyboard and mouse, as well as a remote.
Good TV playback. TV pictures looked good, with a few of the imperfections common to PC-based TV images. Through the Media Center features, you can record and store programs, and pause and rewind live TV. Speakers lacked bass but otherwise sounded good.
LOWS
A few rough edges. The message center was a bit slow to launch, and we couldn't play a voice-note directly from the calendar, but the program was still useful.
Not a space saver. The TouchSmart is about 22 inches wide, 14 inches deep, and 18 inches high, so it takes up about as much counter space as a large microwave oven. You can store the wireless keyboard (but not the wireless mouse) under the front panel and there's enough space behind the screen to fit a snapshot printer, with the prints coming out through a slot below the screen. Although you can tilt the glossy screen up and down to fit underneath a cabinet, you can't turn it to avoid glare, or rotate it to the left and right.
Too much "demoware," not enough productivity software. The TouchSmart, as with most HP computers we've tested recently, is loaded with promotional software from HP and its commercial partners. Fortunately, you can uninstall it and remove unwanted icons and links. HP supplies a 60-day antivirus subscription, and a number of content-creation and editing applications. But it's not set up for home-office work--you'll need to install some productivity apps for that.
THE BOTTOM LINE
Our initial take. The TouchSmart's touch-screen interface provides an easy way for you to jot down a quick note for the kids, and it's got plenty more functionality as well. With a great display, touch-screen capabilities, and a variety of connectivity options, this is a good machine for the money.
Price we paid: $1,800
Date of ConsumerReports.org update: February 2007
What it is. Microsoft and Apple are increasingly giving their software products entertainment and media muscle--and hardware manufacturers are responding. HP's new all-in-one desktop, the TouchSmart IQ770 is loaded with features that emphasize media and family living. It's also the first PC we've bought that has Microsoft's new Vista operating system already installed. We looked at a pre-retail version of the system (we'll post a review of a retail system as soon as we get one).
What you get. The TouchSmart has more connections than we've ever seen on a home computer, including six USB ports, two FireWire ports, Bluetooth, Ethernet, and Wi-Fi (a, b, and g). For watching TV and listening to music, there's an analog A/V input, analog and digital surround-sound out, analog and digital (HD) TV tuners, HDMI, a remote control, and an FM radio tuner. There's also a bay for HP's accessory Pocket Media Drive, which can serve as backup drive.
HIGHS
Runs Vista with complete visual enhancements. The TouchSmart came loaded with Vista Home Premium, and the system is adequately configured to run Vista in Aero mode, a more advanced graphics mode featuring translucent window edges.
Convenient interface. The HP SmartCenter at the heart of the TouchSmart uses a convenient touch-screen interface that looks a lot like Windows Media Center. From the main screen, you can launch other functions, such as TV and music players, using just your finger on the 19-inch, 1440x900-pixel monitor. There's easy access to a calendar, local weather, and your photo albums. A family message center uses electronic "sticky notes" on which you can write, draw, or record.
Easy-to-use touch screen. You can operate this PC with your finger, thanks to a mode that expands the size of buttons, icons, and control elements on the screen, even on many Windows programs. You can also pop up a keyboard on the screen for one-letter-at-a-time text entry, but--strangely--the keys are arranged in alphabetical order instead of the traditional QWERTY configuration. Though adequately sensitive to our fingers, the touch screen was sometimes off target, and we couldn't find a way to recalibrate it, but we got used to the quirks. The screen proved fairly resistant to fingerprints and could easily be wiped. If you get tired of pointing with your finger, there's also a wireless keyboard and mouse, as well as a remote.
Good TV playback. TV pictures looked good, with a few of the imperfections common to PC-based TV images. Through the Media Center features, you can record and store programs, and pause and rewind live TV. Speakers lacked bass but otherwise sounded good.
LOWS
A few rough edges. The message center was a bit slow to launch, and we couldn't play a voice-note directly from the calendar, but the program was still useful.
Not a space saver. The TouchSmart is about 22 inches wide, 14 inches deep, and 18 inches high, so it takes up about as much counter space as a large microwave oven. You can store the wireless keyboard (but not the wireless mouse) under the front panel and there's enough space behind the screen to fit a snapshot printer, with the prints coming out through a slot below the screen. Although you can tilt the glossy screen up and down to fit underneath a cabinet, you can't turn it to avoid glare, or rotate it to the left and right.
Too much "demoware," not enough productivity software. The TouchSmart, as with most HP computers we've tested recently, is loaded with promotional software from HP and its commercial partners. Fortunately, you can uninstall it and remove unwanted icons and links. HP supplies a 60-day antivirus subscription, and a number of content-creation and editing applications. But it's not set up for home-office work--you'll need to install some productivity apps for that.
THE BOTTOM LINE
Our initial take. The TouchSmart's touch-screen interface provides an easy way for you to jot down a quick note for the kids, and it's got plenty more functionality as well. With a great display, touch-screen capabilities, and a variety of connectivity options, this is a good machine for the money.
