HP's TouchSmart 2 all-in-one PC now shipping

Yeah, we realize that the first two words after "HP TouchSmart IQ504 PC" are "coming soon," but apparently the web design humanoid forgot to notice that little "Ships same day" note down there by the Purchase button. That's right kids, HP's latest all-in-one PC (you know, the TouchSmart 2) is all boxed up and ready to be shipped to your home or office. All's that left for you to do is scrounge up $1,249.99 and punch in those gory details e-tailers tend to ask for.

[Thanks, jmacman1]

[MMaster23 @ Jun 25th 2008 6:01AM]

TouchSmart > iMac when it comes to hotness?

With Vista MCE .. hell yeah

*insert fanboy comments below this post*

[Flyingaero @ Jun 25th 2008 7:24AM]

Fanboys: HA! tell me when your iMac gets a TV tuner and a complete touch screen Fanboys!
Other open minded Mac users: Seems this time HP has got apple beat! similar pricing and everything! All they need are some more advertisements like apple to do as well as they did.

[Saad Rabia @ Jun 25th 2008 7:45AM]

Tell me when your iMac gets a multi-touch screen right out of the box. ;)

[Saad Rabia @ Jun 25th 2008 7:46AM]

Tell me when your iMac gets multi-touch screen right out of the box, with no additional money. ;)

[Billy Gun @ Jun 25th 2008 8:20AM]

Even if a Mac gets a TvTuner, that FrontRow can't be compared with Media Center, first for the DVR that's none on the Mac and second for that cover flow, Its nice but its not usefull if you have a CD collection. Who will browse CD library using Cover Flow? Only if you have a few CD's. I'm Glad that PC hardware manufactures are thinking of new cool PC's. must have the "Eyes Wide Open".

[Blackstar @ Jun 25th 2008 8:22AM]

Tell me when I edit my comments after I think about it for a second without hitting the send button... oops, too late.

[epiovani @ Jun 25th 2008 9:11AM]

Yeah Apple... just give me Blu-Ray playing and I'll refrain myself from throwing my Mac out of the shelf...

[Michael LaFramboise @ Jun 25th 2008 1:39PM]

"It appears you just swiped your fingers across the screen. Cancel or Allow?"

[JerkfacedFed @ Jun 25th 2008 6:04AM]

no fanboy comment here, you're right

[Abhinav @ Jun 25th 2008 6:14AM]

Looks good enough...
I'm getting a shuttle barebones though for my HTPC

[lazyteen69 @ Jun 25th 2008 6:17AM]

just saw the demo, i really want one of those. only 2 bad things is that it doesn't have a pci-e slot and it has Intel integrated graphics :(

[Nathan @ Jun 25th 2008 6:21AM]

Looks nice and sleek. Unfortunately reading the specs it looks to be packed with roughly 20+ bloatware installs which will make the system pretty much unusable without first cleaning it up.

[GPS @ Jun 25th 2008 8:34AM]

Thats so HP

[jorvay @ Jun 25th 2008 9:18AM]

I definitely had to do a vlite spin of vista for my HP tablet. Made all the difference in the world. Still a pain in the but though.

[chris fredette @ Jun 25th 2008 1:36PM]

http://www.ccleaner.com/
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/sysinternals/bb963902.aspx
Problem solved

[Neeko @ Jun 25th 2008 6:23AM]

Give me a 10inch portable version thats just a screen/dummy terminal under $600 and im all over it. This is still a pretty cool idea. Kinda seems a little rushed out the door though. price has to drop $300 though.

[Flyingaero @ Jun 25th 2008 7:21AM]

I wish theyd make smaller versions...that would rake in some serious cash.

[wazzupalex @ Jun 25th 2008 6:24AM]

Am an Apple user, but think this machine looks, functions and is priced way better than any Apple iMac ever made. The use of materials in the casing is more 'home' like (warm, blends in) than the iMac, the touch screen is great for quickly accessing multimedia and the overall concept is just very exciting and opens up so many possibilities. I am amazed Apple have been so slow in spreading multi-touch across their devices and in introducing more than one iPhone form factor. They need to get their act together else it will be the 1980s/1990s all over, with Apple inventing a concept but losing the market to Windows Surface.
Wonderkid out.

[lance @ Jun 25th 2008 7:38AM]

I have to say that is one sexy beast! I agree that apple lost it's hotness by not beating everyone to the punch on the touch. But considering they are just Apple now, not Apple Computers, it may just be the strategy they employ to be diversified enough to keep a niche. After all music and movies and software make way more money than hardware. But look for them to do a copy cat on snow leo release on new books (airtablets? I coined it first) but with some kind of extra candy thrown in.
But for now, HP gets the mad props! (Clueless called and wants it's slang back)
Nice to see someone come to the market with GAME ON on their forehead.
Unfortunately HP can't create hype or everyone would have been waiting for it already.

[captainpease @ Jun 25th 2008 11:51AM]

I'm also surprised Apple didn't at least announce multi-touch support with Snow Leopard at WWDC. Obviously they will eventually release some new products with multi-touch (cinema displays, iMacs, MacBooks) but when, that's the question. I wonder if they're working on a multi-touch docking station...

[jollyllama @ Jun 25th 2008 3:17PM]

I'm really not sure about the idea of a touch screan desktop. MP3 player? Yes. Phone? Yes. Tablet/Laptop device? Yes. But on a desktop, I really don't see the advantage to being able to poke my monitor. Especially on a media box, where it's much more adventageous to have a remote. Hats off to HP on this one, but I feel like this is just a gimmick right now.

[Abdo @ Jun 25th 2008 6:27AM]

Is it just me, or is that cheaper than it's supposed to be???

[SPOKE @ Jun 25th 2008 7:04AM]

6 months and it wil be discontinued. Its just not worth it.

[Flyingaero @ Jun 25th 2008 7:20AM]

uhh no....the first one was a big mess but it was still nice and fully functional.

[SIC TR4NSIT @ Jun 25th 2008 12:27PM]

How do you figure... As soon as I get some extra scratch Im picking this up... I was either gonna do a custom build or buy an iMac. But Im definately getting this one, especially if that USB mac thing turns out to be true. This beats an iMac in every possible way. Don't me so closed minded (of course you are entitled to your own opinion). Just my 2 cents.

[Jamma @ Jun 25th 2008 1:59PM]

U could say that about ANY device known to man!

- It's a computer -therefore you can download virtually ANY software for it, including updates

- it has vista- therefore OS support for god knows how long, or, in a worst case scenario (MS going bust), you can install ubuntu for free, with free updates

-all the hardware is new, and any more HDD space can be added/ used externally

-It's a touchscreen computer- the first consumer affordable one-not much more can be done to it to warrant a new version any time soon

-Computers can use peripherals!!!! - new feature- new peripheral, same computer

[jollyllama @ Jun 25th 2008 3:13PM]

@Jamma

You're not serious about any of that, are you?

[coach @ Jun 25th 2008 7:16AM]

That IS sexy. The pricing is quite good as well. If I could learn to live with only half a terabyte of disc space, I would consider to buy this baby for real.

[jp @ Jun 25th 2008 7:40AM]

this plus a 2TB Mediasmart home server would be a killer combo

[Weasel Chops @ Jun 25th 2008 7:18AM]

Yeah it does look kinda cheap...but that figure in UK pounds looks about right!?

[Doug @ Jun 25th 2008 7:29AM]

Anyone know if it's really multi-touch? The demo shows 2-finger scrolling, but that's not multi-touch. laptop pads have been able to do that for years.
Sexy thing, but once you get past the cool interface, I wonder how cool it will be in 6 months. Most apps that companies include are usually played with for a bit then never used again. HP doesn't update their software with new features, so the apps aren't going to evolve to compete against new entries. They'll simply come out with a next gen PC with version 2.0, forcing you to buy a new PC to get new bells and whistles.

[Ike Turner @ Jun 25th 2008 7:41AM]

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

[bob e @ Jun 25th 2008 7:32AM]

Great price, I would have expected $1499!

I wish I had a place for one of these... I guess 2 computers in a 1 bedroom apt is enough.

[SteveBob @ Jun 25th 2008 7:59AM]

What's with the "Monitor and Speakers Sold Separately"?

[fred @ Jun 25th 2008 8:31AM]

So can we assume that Walt Mossburg will conveniently forget to "review" this computer?

[bulls96 @ Jun 25th 2008 3:16PM]

haha thats a funny point :D

[catachip @ Jun 25th 2008 8:59AM]

In making a direct comparison to the iMac I think that some of the people posting here are forgetting that the fact that it lacks OS X makes it a non-starter for most people who would be in a toss up between this and the iMac.

Also, this computer has:

a 667 mhz FSB (vs. 1066 mhz on the iMac)
Intel graphics card w/128 mb ram (vs. ATI Radeon HD, up to 256 mb on the iMac))
starts at 2 Ghz (versus 2.4 - 3.06 ghz on the iMac)
and of course, from HP, "Stay safe from viruses, spam, spyware, and other on-line threats with the preinstalled security software", or just not have to think about any of that with the Mac.

For the average consumer a Mac is almost always going to be the most sensible choice. People in the market for a PC of this type (i.e. a higher end, more stylish PC) are going to be aware of the Mac and know it's the real deal.

[disciple83 @ Jun 25th 2008 9:31AM]

it really doesn't matter cuz it's a mixed bag when it comes to specs anyway. the iMac clocks faster on core speed, but the HP has 4GB RAM, so it doesn't really matter how fast it clocks compared to the 1 or 2 GB of the iMac. Not to mention that the HP comes with a bigger stock screen than your cheaper iMac versions. Then you throw in the market HP is reaching out towards. They have a massive fanbase among sensible, "I just want a machine to do ordinary things on" computer users who are accustomed to windows and care not for all things glossy white or anodized metal with fruit stamped on the side. You say that it doesn't ship with OSX and that is the major downfall. This is coming from someone who uses OSX with a certain degree of hatred for windows. For the rest of us who actually enjoy Vista, along with the magical "stay safe from viruses" tagline, and it will sell very well. Face it, this is like the Ron Paul breath of fresh air to your neocon Steve Jobs and his fascist governing methods with the operating system and price points. It's attractive, moderately powerful, possesses features your beloved iMac doesn't have, and priced well within reason.

[Just-uh-Thought @ Jun 25th 2008 9:40AM]

SHUT IT, fanboy!!!!

[ChrisMizzleInfo @ Jun 25th 2008 12:21PM]

Disciple i approve of your breathing.
And to the other guy, obviously a Mac is not the sensible choice, as Windows still leads against Mac. According to Ballmer, (who is an okay guy i guess) last year, there are 1 Billion windows computers in use across the world.
No matter how you cut it, thats a pretty uneven ratio of mac to windows users in Microsofts favor. Now im not even saying i USE windows, i use KDE Kubuntu on my dell D620 and i have never been happier with an operating system. But that doesn't mean that since i am happy with my OS that i trash all others does it fanboys?
Now go ahead.
Troll away.

[APasserBy @ Jun 27th 2008 10:42PM]

The more expensive Touchsmart 2 ($1449.99) configuration offers an Intel Core2 Duo Processor T5850, 4 GB of RAM, and a NVIDIA GeForce 9300 M GS HD with 256 MB of dedicated memory.

[konshuss @ Jun 25th 2008 9:18AM]

• PC
• Wireless keyboard
• Wireless laser mouse
• Cleaning cloth, Bitch!

IT COMES WITH A CLEANING CLOTH!!!! AAAAAHHHHHH!!!!

[Rakar @ Jun 25th 2008 9:23AM]

It's half gimmicky, half awesome. It looks beautiful and the Touchsmart UI is great, but there's not really any reason to use the touchscreen instead of just using a mouse/keyboard/remote. It would be AMAZING for tablet PCs though. Just not really practical for a desktop imo.

[Neeko @ Jun 25th 2008 9:26AM]

Damnit weres my smaller portable version.. My PC is hooked up to my DLP so who needs a Big monitor. Multitouch 10' monitor and im sure these will sell like IPODS..

Let me control my media and PC with TOUCHSMART from my couch on a little portable screen and HP can bloat it up with whatever they want.

[Rogue_Genius @ Jun 25th 2008 11:02AM]

Wait, 22inch touchscreen computer? Viewing pr0n just got a whole lot more interesting...:-x

I can only imagine the tech support calls that will come in afterwards...LOL YIKES!

[xValentine @ Jun 25th 2008 11:52AM]

That's one hot all-in-one-pc indeed.

[farfisa @ Jun 25th 2008 12:02PM]

Now, I'll probably always use a Mac (bam! -1), but I think this thing's amazing, especially for the casual user (bam! -2). I'd consider one for the wife and kids (bam! -3) but telling the kids that it's okay to touch "this" screen would take a bit of learning on my part.

[happy_penguin @ Jun 25th 2008 12:06PM]

The design aesthetics beat the hell out of the XPS One.

[catbertz @ Jun 25th 2008 1:20PM]

This thing is gorgeous! I'm really mulling over buying this for the living room. It would be perfect for the family.

My only hold up is the hardware specs. I wouldn't hesitate if they released a beefed up version.

[DP @ Jun 25th 2008 1:37PM]

You have got to admit it -- she IS sexy.