Product Listing

HP TouchSmart IQ770 PC

By Vincent Chang - 17 Mar 2007

It's All in the Software

It's All in the Software

The success of a unique interface depends not only on the underlying technology. Geeks may go crazy at the cool factor involved with new technologies, but for the majority of users, it's what they can do with the technology, the overall experience of using the PC that matters, not the latest tech jargon. Therefore, applications and programs must be seamlessly integrated with the new interface.

This is something that HP understands all too well and the company has been working with Microsoft closely to customize its new Windows Vista operating system for the touchscreen interface. The TouchSmart IQ770 PC comes with Windows Vista Home Premium pre-installed and while upgrading to the Ultimate Edition is feasible, this PC would be quite crippled if the Basic or even the Business editions were chosen, since the multimedia features that are a strength of this PC would not be present in those versions. Without the option of Windows XP and its drivers, we are also uncertain if this custom PC will work properly using the older operating system.

Hence, in addition to the larger and touch friendly icons and font sizes, there are a few significant applications from HP that is unique to the TouchSmart. The first is the HP SmartCenter, where HP has aggregated all its proprietary applications together with other selected Windows Vista features for convenient access and placed them into one central location. It's like a giant 'Start' page for the touch based interface, with useful application shortcuts and information, like the date and time. For casual and young users, the SmartCenter is where they are likely to interact with the TouchSmart PC and with the right applications configured, they may not even need to exit the SmartCenter. By default, the HP SmartCenter also includes shortcuts for Windows Media Center and Internet Explorer among others.

HP's custom interface and application for the TouchSmart PC, the HP SmartCenter. Here are the larger than life icons for easy 'touching' and provides a useful starting point for the main features on this multimedia PC.

Nothing is fixed in stone and you get to decide the appearance of the HP SmartCenter and the applications to be displayed on the limited screen estate.

Then there is the HP SmartCalendar, which brings the "fridge magnet noticeboard/reminder" concept to the PC. Essentially, users are able to create handwritten or typed 'notes' addressed to either everyone who uses the TouchSmart or selected user profiles. These notes will appear on the SmartCalendar space and users can read them at a glance, just like they would read paper sticky notes attached to the refrigerator. This application probably sprung from HP's vision of the TouchSmart PC as a shared machine ideally located in common spaces of the home like the kitchen or dining room. Additionally, if writing notes is not your style, you can even record the audio messages. Personally, we had fun creating these notes and we bet it will become a time sink for young children and occupy their minds creatively, which should be good news for the parents.

Another innovative use of the touchscreen interface is the HP SmartCalendar, where you can doodle and create handwritten notes to remind you or others about errands and tasks. Or simply just to have fun.

We predict the children will be spending hours drawing and creating their own colorful notes using their bare hands.

Voice recorded notes are also possible through SmartCalendar. The built-in microphones are located at the top of the display, near the 1.3 megapixel web camera. But with the recent uproar about possible exploits involving Vista's voice commands, this feature may not take off.

Finally, the HP Photosmart Touch looks rather similar to Windows Vista's Photo Gallery application, but optimized for the touch interface. It is not an advanced editing tool for images but for cases where not much editing is needed and convenience or haste is preferred, it gets the images and pictures resized and printed with minimal fuss, especially if you also have a compatible HP Photosmart printer already linked to the TouchSmart PC.

It's not even Photoshop Elements but if the images require little editing, it gets the job done quick.

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