HP's TouchSmart 2 in the wild

HP decided to show off its new wares in Berlin -- which is a rather strenuous yacht trip from the Engadget HQ, or so we hear -- but was kind enough to throw up a few pictures of the new gear in action. The TouchSmart 2 is a particularly interesting product in light of Microsoft's newfound emphasis on touchscreens in Windows 7. This could be a sign of things to come, or just a fun little approach to the all-in-one desktop for the here and now, but either way we're rather curious as to what makes a second human necessary in the operation of this unit. What is your purpose, Mr. Blue Shirt man?

TouchSmart 2 in the wild

[(Unverified) Posted Jun 10th 2008 2:43PM]

so...... maybe wash your "greasy" hands once in a while? Just a thought. Not sure about the rest of you but my fingertips don't really have that problem.... except after particular meals. Used the older IQ770 for a while and the whole "fingerprint" issue was never a problem.

[Gad Get Posted Jun 10th 2008 3:59PM]

My fingers aren't greasy... but then again I have dry skin. Some people though do have a problem with oily hands, and may want to steer clear of something like this.

[Benson Posted Jun 12th 2008 12:13PM]

Get a bigger shirt, then!

[Poem58 Posted Jun 10th 2008 2:23PM]

Mr. Blue Shirt Guy is there trying to convince her to stop poking at the screen and give him the opportunity to do a little poking....

[(Unverified) Posted Jun 10th 2008 5:45PM]

witty. no, really, you obviously put a lot of thought into that one. thats the thing i like most about the internet, everyone is trying really hard to contribute in a way to make it a more enjoyable experience for everyone!

[Blacksheep Posted Jun 10th 2008 2:33PM]

I'm not so crazy about all this touch screen desktop talk. Sure it's fine for laptops and cell phones, because you can sit and hold them in your hands, but am I supposed to reach up at an awkward angle and type on my screen when I need to do work? How about gaming, instead of a joystick or mouse I have to keep my finger glued to the screen, streaking back and forth then touch it to fire?

Touch screen is great for some things but horrific for many others.

[(Unverified) Posted Jun 10th 2008 3:02PM]

Yeah, I'd get tired arms/ hands reaching out and pressing on a roughly vertical-ish display after a little while.

It would have to be close and horizontal-ish (tablet pc-style, mobile phone, etc) to be used long-term without getting tired, IMO.

But I can see some (short, quick) tasks performed far better with touch than traditional input methods (with the right apps), so I suspect we'll see things take advantage of both and allow us to choose on-the-fly. I doubt it's gonna go entirely one way or the other, but will just be just another option for controlling what we want to do.

[kagai Posted Jun 10th 2008 2:34PM]

She always gets lost in the menus.

[(Unverified) Posted Jun 10th 2008 2:55PM]

Chris Hansen (the host of 'To catch a Predator') is on the next room, about to jump Mr. Blue Shirt with the question.. 'So what are you doing here?'

[RAMz Posted Jun 10th 2008 2:55PM]

Is the lady overweight? Or pregnant?

"So easy a pregnant lady with raging hormones can use it! (And still be happy)"

[RAMz Posted Jun 10th 2008 2:58PM]

Ok, my bad here guys...

The lady just looked large, but all those shadows are so confusing!

It looks nice as an idea, I could see this in more of a Home entertainment system for like movie rentals and stuff...

[ChiWax Posted Jun 10th 2008 3:10PM]

Or it could be used for all of the hundreds of other things regular every day people use PCs and even Macs for maybe. Q.

[(Unverified) Posted Jun 10th 2008 3:00PM]

His purpose: frottage.

[LloydChiro Posted Jun 10th 2008 3:19PM]

Dammit. You said it first. That guy is an expert at frotteurism.

[Coffee Posted Jun 10th 2008 3:09PM]

it's great for touch screen style uses, like Home Automation, Theater, Music, etc.

And you can always use a keyboard and mouse.

[dosed150 Posted Jun 10th 2008 3:47PM]

people on here are so judgemental, even the way the picture makes her look that woman isnt fat, how many of you are really attractive enough to judge other people to such high standards anyway

[oldmanhorton Posted Jun 10th 2008 3:48PM]

cant you all tell that he is bangin her?!
Duhhhhh

[Gad Get Posted Jun 10th 2008 4:05PM]

OK, you're a "kid", so I'll let that one go. I was about to say "grow up."

[(Unverified) Posted Jun 10th 2008 4:01PM]

maybe the blue-shirted man wants just to play some multitouch....

[oldmanhorton Posted Jun 10th 2008 5:01PM]

i may be 12, but i know more than you think
Hy agrees with me sorta in a more confusing, misleading, and or awkward kinda way

[Benson Posted Jun 12th 2008 12:21PM]

Or... clever?

[Quikboy Posted Jun 10th 2008 5:17PM]

Man, the TouchSmart 2 really looks awesome. The whole monitor and the UI inside is pretty sleek. Something thats really competitive to the iMac. Though I really hope it won't cost a bundle more.

Is HP readying multi-touch in these monitors? Are they collaborating with MS on this? I just want some more details.

Seems way more fine than the Dell XPS One and the Gateway One.

[Ethan Posted Jun 10th 2008 5:33PM]

I didn't know conjoined twins could be different genders.

[(Unverified) Posted Jun 10th 2008 6:16PM]

Is it multi-touch?

[davecrob1293 Posted Jun 11th 2008 3:25AM]

can it play crysis

[TIMMAH Posted Jun 11th 2008 12:25PM]

"Oh gee honey, let's go over and use the computer with my hands." These usage scenarios are so ridiculous! The next Origami in the making.

[Roi Heenok Posted Jun 12th 2008 8:23AM]

It is Multi-Touch!! :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Scs7DZhQ72E&eurl=http://www.mobinaute.com/143776-touchsmart-hp-pc-ecran-tactile.html

[(Unverified) Posted Jun 15th 2008 2:12PM]

It's been available for preoder on Frys.com and BestBuy.com
since 6/10/08

http://shop1.frys.com/product/5632671

http://shop4.frys.com/product/5632681

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?id=pcmcat152800050003&type=category&DCMP=rdr0001530

[Kit Posted Jun 16th 2008 9:38PM]

I actually wonder if someone can extract that app from the touchsmart to Dell XT

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 12th 2008 7:29AM]

don't yah know... they are picking out a porn to watch ;)