HP announces the TouchSmart IQ800 series

The second-gen TouchSmart IQ500s just arrived in July, but HP isn't sitting still -- say hello to the new TouchSmart IQ800 series. Both the new TouchSmart IQ804 and IQ816 feature a 25.5-inch 1920 x 1200 touchscreen with various TouchSmart-specific apps, a TV tuner with remote, integrated webcam, Bluetooth, HP Pocket Media drive bay, and an ambient light to illuminate your keyboard, but the IQ804 confusingly has a higher-clocked 2.16GHz T5850 Core 2 Duo on a 667MHz bus with 2MB of cache while the IQ816 has a 2.10GHz T8100 Core 2 Duo on a 800MHz bus with a 3MB cache -- we'd bet the IQ816 benchmarks faster, regardless of the slightly slower chip. On top of that, the IQ816 also bundles in a Blu-ray drive / dual-layer burner and upgrades the IQ804's GeForce 9300M GS graphics to a GeForce 9600M GS chip. Expect to see the IQ804 on September 21 for $1,899, while you'll have to fork over $2,099 for the IQ816 when it hits on October 12 -- check out a few more shots in the gallery to hold you over till then.

Gallery: HP TouchSmart IQ800 series

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[Striker @ Sep 16th 2008 12:04AM]

I had the chance to use one of these at a Staples in Redmond, while my father was having lunch with a friend at Microsoft, and I must say that using one of these is a fantastic experience, and it is a joy to use, especially with the touch integration in Vista, along with the great, ThinkPad-like keyboard.

[Saad @ Sep 16th 2008 8:26AM]

Finally John King has something good to point at now that the primaries are over.

[mailbox01 @ Sep 16th 2008 12:07AM]

Sweet! Can't wait until Windows 7 comes out on this

[Tiffany @ Sep 16th 2008 12:07AM]

looks like htc ported cover-flo to the desktop. also, i wonder if these things have cablecard support.

[Tiffany @ Sep 16th 2008 12:14AM]

i mean touch-flo, or whatever htc calls their add on interface for windows mobile

[Poom @ Sep 16th 2008 12:08AM]

It got higher number because of the better L2 and FSB...

[rickjamess @ Sep 16th 2008 12:11AM]

Too bad the Recently announced Sony LV units have better specs despite not having a touchscreen...

[Pc_Madness @ Sep 16th 2008 12:12AM]

Anyone know if you can lay this thing down on its back kinda like a keyboard? You'd have to rotate the screen 180 obviously.. but the stand seems to be able to put it up at an alright angle..

[Caleb @ Sep 16th 2008 12:46PM]

You can adjust it from about 20 degrees all the way up to just short of 90 degrees. I have an IQ506 model. I've had it for about 2 months now and I love it. Typicaly I've always built my own systems but I was realy intriuged by the touch screen. If you compair the cost of a Wacom tablet with built in LCD it definatly is cheaper to buy the HP by a long shot. You can use either your finger or a stylus and it's a 22 inch screen.

[Eleazar @ Sep 16th 2008 12:26AM]

A high end gpu wouldn't hurt anyone

[happy_penguin @ Sep 16th 2008 1:03AM]

These things look awesome and they seem to one up the iMac in many ways. Way nicer looking that the XPS One.

[Aarun @ Sep 16th 2008 2:44AM]

Yes, they one up the iMac in the fact they use an Intel X4100 for graphics where as the iMac uses a dedicated ATi Radeon chip...Uh huh really one ups it...
I do like your DP though. Dave Brubeck is one of my favourites.

[Intrepid @ Sep 16th 2008 4:14AM]

X4100? Did you read the article? Fanboy.

[216 @ Sep 16th 2008 5:37AM]

wow....they use Nvidia chips....the IQ506 uses the 9300 GS....

[happy_penguin @ Sep 16th 2008 10:31AM]

Aarun:

High five to fellow Brubeck fan. Yes he is one of my favorites. I'm surprised someone on here actually recognized him. :)

Second, as stated by yoji, the 804 model uses the Geforce 9300 GS which is arguably more advanced than the 8800 GS which is available on the currently largest iMac. Add to that, Blu Ray, TV tuner and a larger screen. Get the idea?

I'm not a fanboy either way. I love Apple products but I also love my PC. I own an iMac G5 and it's an excellent machine. One day I will probably buy another iMac. But I would love having this HP sitting next to it.

I don't say it lightly, that this HP one ups iMac. Apple hasn't had serious competition for the iMac because one of the important features of the iMac is it's appearance. This HP has a nice appearance and great features which are more advanced than the current iMac. This is a good thing because Apple needs the competition.

Of course I haven't seen this machine in person but it appears to me as though HP is doing some great things.

[Aarun @ Sep 16th 2008 2:43AM]

Um, I work in a retail store in New Zealand and we got these instore about 3 weeks ago...

[yoji @ Sep 16th 2008 4:19AM]

Um, I'm pretty sure those are the IQ500s that you're talking about. (Mentioned at the beginning of the post.)

[Lancelot @ Sep 16th 2008 2:57AM]

Yea, like I'd buy anything this expensive that has "Internet Explorer" installed.. Obviously not tweaked for performance or they'd have one of a dozen better browsers that are available installed. I bet it even comes with a trial version of Norton loaded on it..

[Graham @ Sep 16th 2008 7:01AM]

This thing looks so sweet, the only thing is Ive become so addicted to multi-touch that, at times, I forget and try and use it even on my centro. Plain old touch screen still is pretty nice, but lacks a bit of the coolness of multi-touch

[Erwos @ Sep 16th 2008 7:47AM]

I keep wishing they'd do a CableCard variant.

[Josh @ Sep 16th 2008 10:53AM]

The 504 uses Intel Graphics- The 506 uses NVidia graphics- The forthcoming models both use NVidia graphics.
As far as comparing them to Sony- Sony's are way too expensive for what you get (as usual).
Comparing to IMak- Better prices, better features, arguably better styling. Many people don't like the white of the Apples and feel the darker colors on the HPs fit better in the home.

HP doesn't expect to compete really with Apple other than wanting to sell more PC than them. The Imacs and Touchsmarts are aimed at two different types of customers. Customers that want to spend more money and not get as many features are surely to go to Apple.

That said, the 506's out now sell out nearly as soon as stores get them (depending on what store of course). There is NO pc that someone will not find something wrong with- it is just there are a LOT of people who have fallen in love with the Touchsmart.

[keithwwalker @ Sep 16th 2008 11:16AM]

I wonder if the tv tuner is analog/digital? Would be a waste of pc if it wasn't....

[CosterMonger @ Sep 16th 2008 11:22AM]

I like playing chess on these things but for the price I would rather buy a Wacom Cintiq

[k-y @ Sep 16th 2008 11:31AM]

HP has answered my calls for a larger screened Touchsmart! 30" coming in 6 months I hope!

[RB @ Sep 16th 2008 12:50PM]

Wake me up when it has a VESA mount.

[Caleb @ Sep 16th 2008 12:54PM]

That's the only thing I don't like about mine. It should have a VESA mount. That would make using the touch screen much easyer. You could swing it right down flat just above your lap for drawing in graphics apps.

[tanooki2003 @ Sep 16th 2008 3:20PM]

Would you settle for a VESA Local Bus instead?

[Mr. Storm @ Sep 17th 2008 5:16PM]

It does have a VESA mount. See the article at gizmodo.

Also, take the time to look at the pictures, in one of them it is mounted on a wall.

[Caleb @ Sep 16th 2008 12:50PM]

So you don't know how to install a differant browser or anti-virus?? Do you use a computer?

[Caleb @ Sep 16th 2008 12:51PM]

That was in reply to Lancelot. Damn comment system!!!