HP TouchSmart IQ816 desktop

The idea behind the TouchSmart is that a connected family will put it in a central location, and either store media on it directly or stream media to it from other PCs on a home network. The large 25.5-inch display also makes the TouchSmart IQ816 the largest mainstream all-in-one PC available. A built-in slot loading Blu-ray player and a TV tuner round out this system's digital entertainment capabilities, which provide a reasonable degree of functionality for the price. Our biggest complaint here is the built-in audio output, which barely gets loud enough. Fortunately it comes with a variety of analog and digital audio outputs, which we recommend putting to use.

A menu screen anchors the TouchSmart software. The full screen, icon-based display lets you scroll through shortcuts to the various bundled TouchSmart applications. A note taking/painting tool, a calendar, a photo viewer, a weather application, and music and video players form the core of the TouchSmart software suite. Each is easy enough to use, but also very basic in functionality. We don't mind the simplicity, as these applications are designed for you to walk up and spend only a few seconds writing a note, building a slide show, or cueing a playlist.

We're certainly glad that HP has invited third-party developers to contribute to the TouchSmart platform. Considering that only one application has made it to the TouchSmart Community Download site since its October launch (making three overall, counting the two launch programs), we can't exactly say that software developers have embraced the TouchSmart as much as say, the . Perhaps they need more time. Aside from those three extras, the core HP TouchSmart software is aimed squarely at families.

We weren't overwhelmed by the practicality of HP's custom TouchSmart software when we reviewed a earlier this year. With no new software included on the TouchSmart IQ816, that largely hasn't changed. The good news is that HP has opened up its to the software community at large, which means that a lot of new touch-capable programs could be forthcoming.

Above all else, we have to credit HP for taking a risk with its TouchSmart all-in-one PCs. No other Windows desktop vendor has ventured into the relatively uncharted touch-based waters, and any future developments in touch on the desktop will likely use the TouchSmart series as a reference point. As much as we admire HP's pioneering spirit, it's still fair to ask whether you should spend money on one of these PCs, in this case the $2,099 25.5-inch TouchSmart IQ816. If either touch- or large-screen all-in-ones are important to you, this pricey TouchSmart will deliver on both accounts. If you're instead looking for either a complete digital entertainment PC or a self-contained computer for productivity purposes, other all-in-ones have more to offer.

Editors' note: This review incorrectly attributed HP's TouchSmart technology to N-Trig. It is instead a product of NextWindow Limited.

Price range:

Specifications: Processor: Intel Core 2 Duo T8100 (2.1 GHz) ; RAM installed: 4 GB DDR2 SDRAM ; Hard drive: 750 GB Standard ;

The bottom line: No other all-in-one PC can offer touch-based input or an LCD screen as large as that of the HP TouchSmart IQ816. It's hard to deny that those features make this a compelling desktop for families with a place to put it. Weak performance hinders its suitability for work, and it's not the best digital entertainment center, but we recommend this system to anyone looking to get in early on the touch-computing experiment.

The bad: Weak audio output; performs like a $600 desktop; non-VESA-standard wall mount.

The good: Largest screen among mainstream all-in-one PCs; unique touch-based interface; public TouchSmart development kit could expand touch software library; convenient expandable hard-drive bay.

Product summary

The good: Largest screen among mainstream all-in-one PCs