HP Vista-fied PCs

By Darius Chang
Jan 24, 2007



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SEOUL, KOREA --With a new operating system comes new lineups. At its launch event south of the demilitarized zone (DMZ) in Korea, HP unveiled its latest range of Windows Vista desktops, with one Pavilion surprise thrown in.

Boasting a new industrial-designed chassis, HP's latest line of Vista-ready desktops include user (and back) -friendly features like power buttons and memory card slots located at the top (since HP's research indicates most users place their CPUs on the ground). It's coup de grace, however, is the TouchSmart PC. Billed as a family hub, it claims to be the first all-in-one touchscreen desktop PC for entertainment and productivity needs.

The new lineup for Windows Vista desktops include the HP Pavilion a5000, HP Pavilion Slimline s3000, HP Pavilion Media Center m8000, HP Pavilion v7000 and Compaq Presario SR5000 systems, with the aforementioned HP TouchSmart PC taking center stage.

The TouchSmart PC might be the first all-in-one with a touchscreen.

The TouchSmart PC integrates the CPU and 19-inch monitor for a clean profile which requires only a single power cord to start. The main attraction, however, lies in its touchscreen and HP SmartCenter interface which allow easy access to movies and music. Using the included stylus (or your fingers if you must), it is easy to leave notes for the family. An integrated 1.3-megapixel camera can be used for video conferencing, or the PC can be combined with an HP portable printer to work as an impromptu photo booth. The said printer even has a special place behind the monitor, so that printouts can slip forward like a well-behaved printing station. Though HP claims that the setup should fit comfortably in the kitchen or wherever the family congregates, we felt that in the context of high-rise apartment dwellers, the TouchSmart PC might end up as just another expensive desktop in the bedroom.

With the exception of the silver Compaq Presario SR5000, the new range of HP desktops are dressed in stylish black. The Compaq Presario SR5000, Pavilion A5000 and Pavilion Media Center m8000 are full-bodied models with space for expansion and upgrades. But for those with crammed workspaces, the Pavilion v7000 halves the area required by most CPUs. Still not enough? The Slimline s3000 is only a third the size of most PCs. The tradeoff is that these smaller systems have little room for additional components like full-sized graphics cards and additional drive bays.

	The Pavilion tx1000 is the first tablet PC in HP's portable entertainment range.

All HP desktops can be bundled with the company's new range of LCD panels complete with integrated speakers. Boosting sizes from 15 inches all the way to 22 inches, these displays are the first to incorporate the HP Easy Clip feature, allowing users to accessorize their monitors with a variety of clip-on options like document holders and Webcams. The LCD base is also molded in a way that the new low-profile HP keyboards can be neatly kept under the display.

What about those who prefer computing on-the-go? The company has also refreshed its line of notebooks to reflect the inclusion of the Vista operating system. What is noteworthy is the induction of a new member to its Pavilion entertainment notebook series, namely the Pavilion tx1000 portable. Unlike its siblings, it is the first convertible tablet PC in the range and possibly a pioneer in the area of entertainment-centric tablet PCs. We also liked its low starting price, a boon considering the Pavilion tx1000 is meant for students and mainstream consumers. A quick look at the HP Pavilion tx1000 tablet PC is available here.

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