HP TouchSmart IQ816

Touch PC is finally ready for HD

WHEN WE REVIEWED HP's original TouchSmart IQ506, we were very impressed by everything the touch-oriented all-in-one offered to those looking for a catch-all home media and computing solution. About all we thought was missing was satisfactory HD support pretty much precluded by the presence of a 22-inch monitor and the absence of a Blu-ray drive. HP has now released the newer, larger TouchSmart IQ816, available for $2,099, to address this concern. It offers a BD-ROMDVD±RW optical drive and a 25.5-inch integrated display. But while were glad to see that the line is taking some important steps toward addressing newer technologies, we're not completely satisfied with the results.

Specifically, the IQ816's Blu-ray playback struck us as only fair. Watching X-Men: The Last Stand, the colors were grainy and the video was fat less sharp than we'd hope for with an HD system. (The overall quality wasn't appreciably better than what we saw with ow standard-definition DVD of The Matrix.) Using our FED HQV Benchmark tool, we detected plenty of jagged edges on what should have been smooth lines. as well as more of the "noisy" video that prevents an absolutely clear viewing experience.

We were also a bit annoyed at the overinflated dimensions of the TouchSmart I0816's display, which made it somewhat more difficult to deal with than its predecessor. Whereas the IQ506 was viewable right to the edges of its display's bezel, the IQ816 is not: It has 1-inch black bands on the left and tight sides of the screen and quarter-inch bands on the top and bottom, all of which add more bulk to an already fairly large machine. Because of this, we had more difficulty moving and setting up the IQ816 than we anticipated ideally, it's a two-person job.

That said, we still found quite a bit to like in this newest TouchSmart, beginning with improved performance. The 2.1GHz Core 2 Duo T8100 processor and Nvidia GeForce 9600M GS graphics represent considerable jumps font the IQ506's components. Although the IQ816's scores aren't spectacular, they are noticeable improvements: 699 in Cinebench 9.5, 4,633 in Cinebench 10 (both using the tests' 64-bit versions), 7 minutes and 55 seconds for Windows Media Encoder, and 4 minutes and 31 seconds for Mines. (As with the 10506, none of our full-system tests—FutureMark's PCMark05, PCMark Vantage, or SYSMark 2007—would run; neithet would run 3D tests, 3DMark06 or 3DMark Vantage.) The biggest change was in gaming:The IQ816's average frame rates of 40 frames per second (fps) in Company of Heroes in DirectX 9 (DX9) and 32.8fps in DX10 are solidly playable in a way the IQ506's were not (that system scored 9.3fps in the DX9 Company of Heroes test).

A bigger hard drive (750GB, versus 500GB) and a generous 4GB of RAM round out the package and keep the TouchSmart IQ816 a good choice for watching and recording television shows using the integrated TV tuner and the 64-bit Windows Vista Home Premium operating system.There are lots of other connectivity options as well, from a multi format card reader to five USB 2.0 ports. S/PDIF and S-Video jacks, audio-in and out jacks, a port for an IR blaster, and a Webcam in the top of the bezel. Other nice touches are the volume controls on the right side of the display, which let you raise or lower the volume without having to disrupt your movie watching and the light beneath the display that can illuminate your desk or keyboard (the IQ816 comes with a wireless one, as well as a wireless mouse), as you see fit.

We also remain fans of the TouchSmart software, which eases navigation through the often labyrinthine menus in which Windows often hides its programs. Anyone who wants to be able to access frequently used apps and browse photos or music with the flick of a finger can use the software without any lessons; for anything more complicated, the Windows desktop is just a click away.




No, the software isn't for advanced users, but it was never supposed to be—it's for people who want to keep their computing simple. So we can't quibble with the TouchSmart's overall design philosophy. We just wish that the IQ816 were more HD-and back-friendly (it's heavy and very wide) so it could realize even more of its promise as the ultimate media-management PC for your home.

—Matthew Murray
www.hp.com

Computer Shopper January 2009