HP's Reclining TouchSmart Desktops
On Monday, HP turned touch computing on its ear (or is that its back?) with a trio of new TouchSmart all-in-one desktop PCs built around the same "60-degree reclining display." Ergonomic junkies note, the new TouchSmart PCs seem to solve one of the biggest knocks against touch computing: the positioning of your arm and hand.
In previous touch-screen models from HP and others, you had to hold your arm straight out, parallel to the ground in order to use the touchscreen. While that works for quick hits like trips to the ATM, holding out your arm like that for an extended period of time can get tiring real quick (just ask a traffic cop).
The new HP TouchSmart 9300 Elite Business PC and a pair of HP TouchSmart 610 consumer PCs have 23-inch touch screen displays with a unique hinge that lets the user reclining the display back up to 60-degrees, so you can look "down" at the screen while resting your hands on it. Think of a tablet like the iPad on a sturdy, well-designed stand, and you're most of the way there. The screen also swivels 180 degrees and can tilt back up to a negative 5-degree angle (so you can see the display from below or if you yourself recline).
The HP TouchSmart 9300 is the business-oriented model, with Intel's second-generation Core i3, i5, and i7processors; integrated Intel HD graphics or discrete graphics; up to 1TB hard drive or 160GB SSD; andWindows 7 Professional. As you'd expect, the system comes with HP's TouchSmart software suite, as well as business-oriented apps like HP Power Assistant. Business users will be able to use the webcam as a biometric login device, since the system comes with facial recognition software. HP is expecting the system to work on a desk, counter, wall mount, or in kiosk placement. The TouchSmart 9300 Business PC will be available in May 2011, with prices to be determined later.
The HP TouchSmart 610-1030f and HP TouchSmart 610-1050f are the consumer versions of the same 23-inch touch screen all-in-one PC. Like the TouchSmart 9300, the TouchSmart 310 reclines up to 60 degrees (from the vertical). The initial models will start with an Intel Core i3 processor, 4 GB of memory, a 750-GB hard drive, DVD burner, Intel HD integrated graphics, 802.11 b/g/n WiFi, Bluetooth, HP Beats audio, and HP's TouchSmart user interface. The TouchSmart 610-1050f model allows users to upgrade to a Core i5 processor, 1-TB hard drive, 6GB of memory, and Blu-ray combo drive. Both systems come with a wireless keyboard and mouse. The TouchSmart 610 siblings come with touch optimized versions of popular apps like Hulu, Netflix, Rhapsody, and Twitter. The HP TouchSmart 610 starts at $899.99 and will be available on February 9.
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