{"id":9,"date":"2008-11-22T15:56:43","date_gmt":"2008-11-22T15:56:43","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.digitalmediaphile.com\/2008\/11\/22\/HP+TouchSmart+IQ+5xx8xx+All+In+One+Awesomeness.aspx"},"modified":"2011-06-09T05:25:32","modified_gmt":"2011-06-09T12:25:32","slug":"hp-touchsmart-iq-5xx8xx-all-in-one-awesomeness","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/digitalmediaphile.com\/index.php\/2008\/11\/22\/hp-touchsmart-iq-5xx8xx-all-in-one-awesomeness\/","title":{"rendered":"HP TouchSmart IQ 5xx\/8xx All In One Awesomeness"},"content":{"rendered":"

As a registered geek, I never thought I\u2019d see the day when I didn\u2019t want to build myself an impossible screaming desktop for personal use. My real world personal desktop was getting long in the tooth (i.e., it was Circa Windows XP hardware wise and to beef it up would require a new proc, more RAM, better video, and more HD space). <\/p>\n

Somewhere between the list of components for a new box (not to mention a high end monitor), I gave in to temptation and started playing with an IQ504 in a local store last summer. The sleek design actually was (to me) the best of that genre and really appealed to me. And it was just, well, a lot of FUN to use. <\/p>\n

The IQ816 was \u201cto die for\u201d but at least $500 more. For my purposes, the IQ506 had enough awesomeness. (And I already have two Media Center OCUR\/DCT boxes connected to high res widescreen displays for HDTV goodness). At the time, I didn’t have any Blu-Ray DVDs so I was pretty happy with the specs of the IQ506.  <\/p>\n<\/p>\n

So I ordered myself an IQ506<\/a><\/strong> in early October. Before the stock market and the economy took an atomic nose dive. And I knew someone that could put the old desktop to good use, so I gifted it. I\u2019m not sorry I spent the money even though it is going to now put a cramp in my holiday plans. <\/p>\n

\"IQ506\"<\/a> <\/p>\n

Click the image above to watch a VERY entertaining demo.<\/em><\/strong> <\/p>\n

And after 5 weeks, I\u2019m still as much in love with this computer as day one. This is a FUN machine. It\u2019s possibly the best family oriented machine I\u2019ve seen and unless you are a hard core pc gamer, it is a machine to seriously consider as a general purpose machine. <\/p>\n

The touch screen interface doesn\u2019t take long to become accustomed to (and you always have Windows Vista\u2019s default interface available when you want it. <\/p>\n

 \"tsmartbrowser\" <\/p>\n

It\u2019s kind of neat to drag my fingers along the bottom to bring up the various applications. And yes, you can add RSS feeds and view web sites within the interface.<\/p>\n

 \"tsmartrss\" <\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

Above shows how my blog appears inside the TouchSmart interface. I think it is cool that I can drag my finger up and down over the website to scroll. It\u2019s like having the best of a tablet pc interface with all this neat HP touch functionality at the same time. Did I say it was fun? <\/p>\n

There isn\u2019t much not to like about the IQ506. My biggest beef was that these come with Vista x64 Home Premium and some trialware and Symantec crapware with 60 days of Live Update pain. But, I easily formatted the hard drive, installed Vista x64 Ultimate SP1 and then the apps (including TouchSmart) that I wanted from HP, plus all the drivers are on the HP support site. Sure I could have done a Windows Anytime Upgrade, but it\u2019s much better to have Ultimate and do a complete image backup after you get your apps installed and everything running perfectly than it is to use an OEM \u201crecovery\u201d which puts you back to crapified whatever. Shame on Microsoft for not including this in Home Premium. Maybe with Windows 7 this will change.<\/p>\n

Anyway, I\u2019m having lots of fun with my IQ506. My advice is \u2013 go get yourself one of these. If you are impatient, some of the Best Buy stores have started carrying these. And start having FUN.<\/p>\n

Full specs as supplied by HP:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
<\/td>\n\n
Operating system<\/font><\/a><\/div>\n<\/td>\n
 <\/td>\nGenuine<\/font><\/a> Windows Vista Home Premium 64-bit edition with Service Pack 1<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\"\"<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
 <\/td>\n\n
Processor<\/font><\/a><\/div>\n<\/td>\n
 <\/td>\nIntel Core2 Duo Processor T5850<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\"\"<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
 <\/td>\n\n
Memory<\/font><\/a><\/div>\n<\/td>\n
 <\/td>\n4096MB <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\"\"<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
 <\/td>\n\n
Memory speed<\/font><\/a><\/div>\n<\/td>\n
 <\/td>\nPC2-5300 DDR2 SDRAM<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\"\"<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
 <\/td>\n\n
Total memory slots<\/font><\/a><\/div>\n<\/td>\n
 <\/td>\n2 SoDIMMs<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\"\"<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
 <\/td>\n\n
Maximum memory<\/font><\/a><\/div>\n<\/td>\n
 <\/td>\nN\/A<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\"\"<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
 <\/td>\n\n
Graphics card<\/font><\/a><\/div>\n<\/td>\n
 <\/td>\nIntegrated Nvidia GeForce 9300 M GS HD graphics module with 256MB dedicated video memory and support for Microsoft DirectX 10<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\"\"<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
 <\/td>\n\n
TV and entertainment experience<\/div>\n<\/td>\n
 <\/td>\nTV Tuner: Dual-format NTSC or over-the-air ATSC high-definition TV tuner, HP Media Center remote control with IR (infrared) receiver <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\"\"<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
 <\/td>\n\n
PCI expansion<\/font><\/a><\/div>\n<\/td>\n
 <\/td>\nN\/A<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\"\"<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
 <\/td>\n\n
Hard drive<\/font><\/a><\/div>\n<\/td>\n
 <\/td>\n500GB 7200RPM [gigabyte is defined as 1,000,000,000 bytes, accessible capacity may vary] <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\"\"<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
 <\/td>\n\n
Primary CD\/DVD drive<\/font><\/a><\/div>\n<\/td>\n
 <\/td>\nSlot-load SuperMulti DVD Burner<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\"\"<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
 <\/td>\n\n
Secondary CD\/DVD drive<\/font><\/a><\/div>\n<\/td>\n
 <\/td>\nN\/A <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\"\"<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
 <\/td>\n\n
Networking<\/font><\/a><\/div>\n<\/td>\n
 <\/td>\n10\/100\/1000 BaseT network interface; Integrated Bluetooth and 802.11b\/g\/n Wireless LAN with built-in WLAN antenna<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\"\"<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
 <\/td>\n\n
Sound card<\/font><\/a><\/div>\n<\/td>\n
 <\/td>\nIntegrated High Definition Audio with 2.0 sound capabilities<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\"\"<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
 <\/td>\n\n
Speakers<\/div>\n<\/td>\n
 <\/td>\nHigh-performance 2.0 Speakers<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\"\"<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
 <\/td>\n\n
Front-side bus (processor dependent)<\/font><\/a><\/div>\n<\/td>\n
 <\/td>\n667MHz Front Side Bus<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\"\"<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
 <\/td>\n\n
Power supply<\/div>\n<\/td>\n
 <\/td>\nN\/A <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\"\"<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
 <\/td>\n\n
I\/O ports<\/div>\n<\/td>\n
 <\/td>\n5-in-1 memory card reader supports Secure Digital (SD, SDHC), MultiMedia Card, Memory Stick, Memory Stick Pro
1 FireWire (IEEE 1394) port (front); Headphone (front); Line-in (back); 5 USB 2.0 ports(2 front, 3 rear)(5 available); Line-out (back); Digital Audio Out (back)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\"\"<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
 <\/td>\n\n
Software, full versions<\/div>\n<\/td>\n
 <\/td>\nHP TouchSmart Music – Create playlists with your favorite music; HP TouchSmart Video – Watch, record and upload your personal videos using touch; HP TouchSmart Photo – Share your fun and memorable moments in life with family and friends; HP TouchSmart RSS Feeds – Get the latest news right at your fingertips; HP TouchSmart Browser – Browse the web in a whole new way; HP TouchSmart Calendar – Manage your busy schedule and stay in touch with family; HP TouchSmart Notes – Quick and easy text and voice notes right at your fingertips; muvee autoProducer Basic: Automatically create professional looking home videos and burn to DVD; Cyberlink DVD Suite Deluxe: Automatically fix and edit videos and create CDs and DVDs. Edit, burn and archive data to discs; Microsoft Works 9: Includes a word processor, spreadsheet, database and calendar; Adobe Reader 8.0: Read and print PDF files; HP Total Care Advisor: Customizable desktop tool provides support, system health and shopping information<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\"\"<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
 <\/td>\n\n
Software, introductory versions<\/div>\n<\/td>\n
 <\/td>\nNorton Internet Security 2008: Protect your PC out of the box (60 days of complimentary live updates)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\"\"<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
 <\/td>\n\n
Trial Internet service<\/div>\n<\/td>\n
 <\/td>\nEasy sign-up to major dial-up and broadband Internet Service Providers
High Speed Internet Services Comparison Shopping<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\"\"<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
 <\/td>\n\n
Dimensions<\/font><\/a><\/div>\n<\/td>\n
 <\/td>\n21″(L) x 2.6″(W) x 17.4″ (H\/D)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
\"\"<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
 <\/td>\n\n
Basic warranty<\/div>\n<\/td>\n
 <\/td>\nOne year of hardware parts and labor coverage, 90 day software toll-free phone assistance<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n
Technorati Tags: HP<\/a>,IQ506<\/a>,TouchSmart<\/a>,Vista<\/a><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

As a registered geek, I never thought I\u2019d see the day when I didn\u2019t want to build myself an impossible screaming desktop for personal use. My real world personal desktop was getting long in the tooth (i.e., it was Circa Windows XP hardware wise and to beef it up would require a new proc, more […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","enabled":false}}},"categories":[57],"tags":[],"blocksy_meta":{"styles_descriptor":{"styles":{"desktop":"","tablet":"","mobile":""},"google_fonts":[],"version":6}},"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"featured_image_urls":{"full":"","thumbnail":"","medium":"","medium_large":"","large":"","1536x1536":"","2048x2048":""},"post_excerpt_stackable":"

As a registered geek, I never thought I\u2019d see the day when I didn\u2019t want to build myself an impossible screaming desktop for personal use. My real world personal desktop was getting long in the tooth (i.e., it was Circa Windows XP hardware wise and to beef it up would require a new proc, more RAM, better video, and more HD space). Somewhere between the list of components for a new box (not to mention a high end monitor), I gave in to temptation and started playing with an IQ504 in a local store last summer. The sleek design actually…<\/p>\n","category_list":"Misc.<\/a>","author_info":{"name":"Barb","url":"https:\/\/digitalmediaphile.com\/index.php\/author\/barb\/"},"comments_num":"0 comments","jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pvFKI-9","jetpack-related-posts":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/digitalmediaphile.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/digitalmediaphile.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/digitalmediaphile.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/digitalmediaphile.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/digitalmediaphile.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=9"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/digitalmediaphile.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/digitalmediaphile.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=9"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/digitalmediaphile.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=9"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/digitalmediaphile.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=9"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}