KEY POINTS:
In our house the kitchen bench is the hub of the home. It serves as a combination of dining table, children's art desk and document dumping ground.
Last week's school newsletter is always buried somewhere along the bench's sprawling granite surface. Most likely filed under a crayoned masterpiece which in turn will be hidden under a dirty plate.
So it was with some trepidation that we plonked an HP TouchSmart PC IQ500 into the kitchen work area. Did we really need to add more clutter to the bench?
The experience turned out to be a happy one. A few days later we were sorry to have to bundle the review model back into its box and return it to its PR minders. With its 22-inch screen the TouchSmart is of substantial size and weight, but we have a decent sized bench to complement it, and we found it added to the central hub dynamics rather than cramping our kitchen style.
While big, the PC feels solid and sturdily built, although we managed to avoid any drop-testing to confirm this hypothesis.
HP market the device as a computer you can use without a mouse - going as far as promoting it via the www.themouseisdead.co.nz website. Instead of flicking your wrist to move an on-screen pointer, the touch-sensitive screen allows you to tap your finger directly on to the screen.
It's supposed to be a tool used in the hub of the home, and includes software designed around the touch-screen that can be used to scrawl notes and reminders to other family members, turning the large screen into an electronic cork board.
The touch concept is an easy-to-use interface, but the reality is that certain programs - word processing for example - are pretty cumbersome without a mouse, and so a wireless version is provided with the package. A strong TouchSmart design feature is its minimalist approach to cables - there is just one to plug into the power socket. The keyboard and mouse are wireless, so if your internet router is also wireless you can keep the machine's surrounding surfaces pleasantly cord-free.
For our 5-year-old the TouchSmart was her first exposure to a computer operating system - in this case Microsoft Vista Home Premium - and, perhaps helped by the touch component, she picked it up with a speed that was scary to watch.
To buy a TouchSmart you'll need to be looking for a PC designed for sharing among the whole family, and you'll need to be willing to pay a premium for a device that fulfils that function well. Recommended retail on the IQ500 series starts at $2499.
But if you have the inclination to share, and the free bench space, this is a solid performer.
Review: HP TouchSmart PC IQ500.
Price: Starts at $2499.
