HP TouchSmart 610: The Touchy AIO Computer:
What happens when you cross a desktop PC with a tablet?
A great way for humans to interact with machines is through touch. As proven by smartphones and tablets.
But is it really that useful when it comes to most all-in-one (AIO) computers, which is easier using a mouse and keyboard? HP sets to change that with its brand-new TouchSmart 610.
The HP TouchSmart 610 allows the entire PC to tilt 60 degrees from vertical to almost horizontal for extended touch sessions.
But why would you tilt your desktop flat on your desk? Isn’t it strange but this will make the touchscreen much easier to use when standing up at a bench literally.
The TouchSmart 610 has a full complement of high-end hardware. An Intel Core i5-660 CPU running at 3.33GHz allows a match for any of your programs, while 6GB of 1,333MHz DDR3 keeps it all lag-free even with many application programs running at once.
A Radeon 5570 provides groaning graphics and is suitable for a little spontaneous gaming. The 1.5TB HDD has plenty of space for all your files.
When tested with PCMark Vantage, the 610 scored a solid 4,211, putting it on par with most other AIO desktops.
A 23in screen with a resolution of 1,920 x 1,080 provides strong colors and deep blacks in part. When it was tilted all the way back we tended to get reflections from ceiling lights but it was manageable.
The touchscreen on the TouchSmart 610 uses an optical multi-touch system that provides accurate tracking with fingers, a stylus or whatever else you happen to be holding.
The touchscreen is just right in terms of pressure and response. It responds best to direct touches and confident sweeps rather than jabbing and flicking. The TouchSmart’s sensitivity can be difficult at first, leaving users puzzled.
HP also throws in a whole raft of connectivity on top of powerful specifications, not to mention great extras like the digital TV tuner and Blu-ray drive, making for one of the most well-rounded models available.
The included speakers are surprisingly good and could easily be used for a range of multimedia playback. If you can afford it, it’s well worth the outlay.
As usual, you can find the HP online for a few hundred dollars less than its $1,399 RRP.
Available from Hewlett Packard, retailing for $1,399.
Rating: 7/10
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