HPis attempting
to bring the personal computer closer to home with its new TouchSmart
PC.
The device stands out through its 19in widescreen monitor that
tilts up and down, and a touch screen capability that allows
consumers to operate the computer with one hand while standing up.
It also ships with a mouse and keyboard.
In some ways, the TouchSmart computer parts with the PC's business
legacy as a productivity tool.
But to appeal to consumers, it essentially has to compete with the
paper family calendar, according to Julie McDonald, a product
manager for industrial and product design at HP.
"People have PCs all through their homes, but they still have a
paper calendar because it is in a common space where they can
access it instantly. The TouchSmart PC is just as accessible as the
paper calendar," McDonald told vnunet.com.
Running windows
vista premium the computer features relatively short boot
times. The tilting touch screen means that users do not have to sit
down and operate a keyboard and mouse.
The PC features an AMD Turion 64 X2 dual-core processor, 2Gb Ram, a
320GB hard drive and TV tuner.
It has a built-in camera and a microphone array that allows it to
record high quality audio. It is slated for release on 30 January
in the US starting at $1,799.
Although the computer is running the regular Windows Vista Premium
desktop operating system, the HP SmartCenter software provides a
special interface to operate the unit through the touch
screen.
The software offers a calendar and lets users leave written or
audio notes that can be tied to upcoming events.
HP is targeting the computer at "common spaces" such as a large
kitchen, the living room or some other space in the home where
people gather.
In addition to scheduling, major design goals included email,
entertainment and photo viewing and printing, according to
McDonald.
"We wanted to provide simple access to the things that you want the
most," she said.
HP's TouchSmart PC allows users to operate the computer
with one hand while standing up