How would you change HP's TouchSmart 2 all-in-one PC?

HP's TouchSmart 2 launched without a whole lot of fanfare, but what you get for $1,299 is pretty unique. The IQ504 / IQ506 all-in-one PCs are one of the first to actually encourage full-on touchscreen use in a PC, with HP urging users to touch their way to computational bliss. Of course, with an unorthodox design such as this, there will always be pundits who feel that this or that should have been done somewhat differently, and if that's you, you've found your sounding board. Are you a little let down by the internals? Yearn for more expandability? Is the screen as responsive as it should be? Get heard, won't you?

[JGE Posted Dec 13th 2008 9:37AM]

Something other than integrated Intel graphics would be nice

[Jonnyboy Posted Dec 13th 2008 9:57AM]

Make the screen adjustable.

I'm short, and I hate always having to have a huge reflection of the window in my face.

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 13th 2008 12:42PM]

I havn't read the threads here, but from my own and my family's experience the TouchSmart is fantastic. It encourages my 3 kids to explore games and computing in a totally different way. The OS that HP came up with was so much fun that during a party many of my friends created content and ended buying it for their family. This is not for everyone, especially hardcore computer geeks, but it's actually is great for a family to use as an every day computer. It sits in our kitchen and is used every day for web, homework and Spores is great on it!

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 13th 2008 10:47AM]

How would playing an FPS on this be? If the hardware is good enough, this could make you a great player for games like CSS.

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 13th 2008 10:43AM]

I'd love this to work with a separate touch screen/tablet interface that I can have sitting in front of me on the desk, like a keyboard.
Right now it's simply not feasible to work on a touch screen for prolonged periods of time because it's quite tiring to your arms if you have to lift and move around on the screen in front of you.

However I'd love to work on photos and videos with a desk-based touch screen/tablet solution. (To make it more clear: Instead of using the keyboard and mouse I'd move and manipulate images and graphics with gestures on the tablet sitting in front of me, and I can see it happen in real time on the screen in front of me as it happens. If I wish I can switch back to the actual touch screen of the computer in front of me.)

Also, (REALLY important) - Photoshop NEEDS to work with this. Yes, that's an issue with Adobe but until Adobe and others make their software work with touch screen protocols there is a fairly limited appeal.

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 13th 2008 10:48AM]

MetallicA

[plexusXXX Posted Dec 13th 2008 11:09AM]

Instead of touch screen make a smooth working voice command interface.
To avoid interference, make a little wireless microphone with a button to push before giving orders, (kind of like voice control for cell phones) which on occasion could be used as a mouse like the logitech Air.

If nobody will make it sooner or later I'm gonna build it myself

[mockidol Posted Dec 13th 2008 12:26PM]

I sell these.

I'd recommend making them so more than 3 of 10 actually work out of the box for a week. About half never get a picture and the rest come back with errors right away.

Crap.

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 13th 2008 12:21PM]

I am a die-hard Mac user, but I did use PCs for about 15 years of my life. When I saw the new HP computer I was a little threatened as it initially looked like something that would give Mac a hard run for their money in the innovative/ease-of-use department. Clearly the computer is designed to be a kitchen computer. The computer itself and UI is absolutely BEAUTIFUL but... (always a but).... They need to smooth out the flow when you're flipping through categories or objects. It's way too jerky almost like looking at a video that is 3 frames per second. A lot of us are getting spoiled by the smoothness of the iPhone and that phone really set a new standard for UIs. Also, when you try to select a screen button sometimes you have to hit it a couple of times. Other than that, it's a pretty cool PC. If they at least fixed the smooth flow problem, I would buy it in a heart beat (although I'm a die-hard Mac user).

[Chris8pie Posted Dec 13th 2008 12:40PM]

Wait for windows 7 for real multi touch and it'll be better

[fourthletter Posted Dec 13th 2008 1:17PM]

Better graphics are a must.

Nice to have a fancy stand that could put the screen flat or in a more tv like position easily.

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 13th 2008 1:42PM]

Wow, that would be excellent for storing recipes on!

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 13th 2008 1:41PM]

Been looking at these for a while, like this one http://www.tekpanel.com/interactive_touch_screen_pc.asp?PageID=52 and Micron has one. Don't think Windows 7 is going to fix it. We should have options- voice command, touch, keyboard. better than the Intel integrated graphics, internal Blu Ray- in short, a tv replacing ALL-IN-ONE!

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 13th 2008 2:24PM]

stupid grammar nazis are everywhere.. get a life

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 13th 2008 3:15PM]

I went today to the nearest IT shop with the firm intention of buying an iq500 series. I need a media PC for my kitchen that could serve as a TV and a PC. The first impression was a big disappointment. The glossy screen was annoying and acting as 60% as mirror. The touch screen functionality was very unresponsive where scrolling or starting an application was very hard to accomplish.
I do like the All in One concept from HP but their glossy screen is a blocker. I won’t buy any pc that only comes with glossy screen.

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 13th 2008 3:14PM]

Mine was so slow, I uninstalles all the TouchSmart-related software to speed it up. Now I have a beatiful desktop.
They should change the board to allow an increase in RAM memory from its current limit of 4Gb to 8Gb

[Ed T Posted Dec 13th 2008 7:38PM]

I hear HP is going to turn some heads at CES next month when they introduce a line of PCs geared to the new economic realities. The TypeSmart(tm) desktop PCs will feature a retro, command line interface that replaces the GUI and mouse or touchscreen found on more upscale models. Craig Greg, VP of Innovation and Living Room Blinking Lights said "These TypeSmart PCs represent a new paradigm of value and since we were able to get DOS 5 for nothing, we're glad to offer the command line to our customers again. Along with a green, monochrome display and noisy keyboard, this creates a unique user experience that vaults HP past anything available from Apple or Lenovo."

[johnkzin Posted Dec 14th 2008 5:03AM]

vendor supported ubuntu option, with full hardware support

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 14th 2008 5:48AM]

Playing with a Touchsmart at best buy the other day. IT's a nice looking interface, but plenty of things I would want changed.

1) MAke the screen a lot smoother with some kind of coating. I hate how my finger rubbed up against the glass, it didn't feel very smooth, like the iPhone (Which feels like the back of a blu-ray disc).
2) Tighten up the multi-touch mechanics. At first I tried putting several fingers on the screen to try and push the pictures across and it screwed up. Only worked well with one finger touch.

[Fanfoot Posted Dec 14th 2008 1:18PM]

These are kitchen computers. So the touchscreen/all in one idea is great. But because they're secondary computers, meaning you probably have to have other PCs, they just can't be this expensive. Sorry. If you need to make it smaller, like 17" or whatever to hit the price targets, which really have to be WAY under $1000, then do it.

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 14th 2008 1:44PM]

PUT OSX ON IT INSTEAD OF WINDOWS

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 14th 2008 1:59PM]

Perhaps it should come bundled with a tripod for the user's arm. :D

HP is obviously just trying to ride on the iPhone's coattails with the touch screen feature.
It's a marketing gimmick.

What (HP is betting) most people fail to realize is that the iPhone's UI was designed from the ground up with touch-based input in mind.
That's why the iPhone is so compelling to use.
Touch-based input is not something that you can just bolt on and get good results.
Even if XP and Vista both natively supported touch-based input, the UI has always been intended to be used with a mouse and keyboard.
A complete re-working of interface elements within the OS would be necessary to really take advantage of the touch screen hardware.

I don't think MS is up to that challenge.
The best Windows users can hope for (for several more years) is a few novelty touch apps to be written.

[plexusXXX Posted Dec 14th 2008 9:08PM]

Touch interface is good only for handheld devices, for anything else, particularly a media center PC/HTPC you want voice control, maybe together with gesture control like the one Tom Cruise uses in "I robot" ,or like the logitech "Air mouse" allows.
That's what I put in all my HTPC and mods with a screen bigger than 13".
My clients for whom I built HTPCs have the option of voice control (MS voice commander) and a 7" secondary touch screen that when removed from the case would work also as a remote control, they all tell me that they only use voice controls, only very occasionally recurring to the wireless kboard&mouse.
They like the little touch screen/secondarymonitor/widget/email/remote but they admit is mostly for showing off.
Considering that the time it takes me to program it and then fix its bugs, is nearly equal to the time that it takes me to assemble the rest of the PC , I think that I will drop this option from my next models , (unless specially requested and payed for).

Voice control is the future of input methods, and voice recognition/activation software are getting better and better.
I just finished to dictate a 4 pages letter to my PC and there were only 2 mistakes requiring correction (plus one more that was entirely my fault).
When I finished to dictate my letter, using only my voice I closed open office, opened my browser and ended up on Engadget.
Only at this point I felt like picking up my wireless kboard, but only because I can't find my Logitech air mouse, because with MS voice commander + the air mouse even posting on engadget without kboard is a breeze.

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 14th 2008 9:07PM]

Make it a FEATURE instead of just a GIMMICK. Read: actually bother with making the touchscreen useful instead of rushing a hastily prepared product to market.

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 15th 2008 2:56AM]

i hate how unresponsive the touchsmart is...
in a simple best buy demo, the thing was lagging on it's basic, touchy moves.
...pretty lame if you ask me.

[tim2020 Posted Dec 15th 2008 2:32AM]

I went out and bought one to replace my home PC a while ago.
here is what I am missing:
1) E-Sata - this thing needs an e-sata port for exspanding capacity and backing up videos and photos.
2) comparable specks with HP laptops, (the touch smart beets the HP laptop in: a) touch interface b) big screen c) much higher price
3) the touch screen is not all that great, I had a fly land on my screen repetadly and caused chayoss with my aplication.
4) multi touch would be great.
5) a touch UI should be designed with the basic ergonomic assumption that the user will use the least amount of energy to maintain his general posture - ie. when i rest my elbow on the table and use the touchsmart plication I constantly find I have to lift my arm - sounds lazy until you try it, i mostly use the mouse because it is easier if all the controls were with in reach i might use it.
6) the computer comes with 4 gigs of ram sounds like a lot, but just turning it on for the first time it uses 47% of that = 2 gigs before you press a button. the touch plication should be a lot more memory wise.
7) I don't use the touch plication much although I was impressed with it because it is a little sluggish and memory hungry.
8) the touch UI and a mouse based UI require a different interaction touching the screen for example should be = to a double click this the standard for most PDA's - i would like the option to configure the touch screen to use a different clicking option to the mouse, right now if i optimizes the touch screen I compromise the mouse and viser verser.
9) I would also like to see a lightscribe DVD burner.
10) a little adjustably in the web cam.
11) and if I am going to have to make the switch to a 64 bit OS and give up lots of 32bit soft where I own that wont run native on Vista 64 bit, the least HP can do is provide me with native 64bit drivers.

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 15th 2008 10:38AM]

Option for WALL MOUNTING is missing for the 21" models.
25" inch may be too big for a kitchen.

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 15th 2008 12:51PM]

Put me down for better responsiveness (even running the win7 beta, the multi-touch is too jerky and unpredictable) and a softer finish on the screen (polished glass is just not good for touch-based gestures, i want something that feels more like the lcds of old).

[mazzy12345 Posted Dec 15th 2008 3:38PM]

eh i don't think i'd change much. just add multi-touch capabilities to the screen and backlighting to the keyboard.

[Consuegra Posted Dec 15th 2008 4:58PM]

Very excited to see these evolve down the price-performance curve. Predict $500-800 pricepoint + more robust touch support in Win 7 + single and multi touch developer sophistication will eventually make this category. Wonder how long we'll have to wait for that? Christmas 09 or maybe '10 in this economy. (Fyi, I'll probably early adopt as soon as I can get one for

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 27th 2008 9:26AM]

@Kilgore Trout: I believe that you meant to refer to the gesture control used by Tom Cruise's character in the movie based on Philip K. Dick's 1958 short story "Minority Report".

[(Unverified) Posted Dec 31st 2008 4:43AM]

i don't known what's the mean

[(Unverified) Posted Jan 4th 2009 1:58PM]

Add an external video output.

VGA, DMI, HDMI or watherer, but I'd like to connect the Touchsmart to a video projector. 25" are nice, but 90" are better.

[(Unverified) Posted Jan 12th 2009 3:06PM]

I love this but it needs 2 very important things for starters: 1) a DVI or HDMI output and 2) a DVI/HDMI input and VGA input.
Some may question the needs for these but here is why they are needed: if you have other devices, and you would like to use this as a primary screen for viewing movies, etc., then it needs to accommodate other inputs, such as videogame consoles and HD STB/blu-ray players. It should definitely allow you to use another primary screen to display it's content, especially if it doesn't have any inputs. I am aware it has an S-Video out and a Cable-in, that's just not enough. In addition to this, I would change it to do away with the proprietary storage expansion and have at least one standard expansion slot open.

[(Unverified) Posted Jan 18th 2009 7:20PM]

I'd like to see more inputs, including HDMI. Also, it would be great if the TouchSmart Notes allowed for video input from pre-recorded clips as well as other video cameras.

The TouchSmart Notes application has been used with success to help students with severe autism learn how to communicate, which is a great use of this PC!

Here is the link to the video:
http://www.nbcbayarea.com/health/topics/High_Tech_Helps_Autistic_Kids_Communicate_Bay_Area.html

Here is the link to the school's website:
http://www.hopetechschool.org/content/home/index.htm