HP's New TouchSmart 610, 9300, Reclines
HP revealed two TouchSmart PCs with a 60-degree reclining display.
Monday HP introduced two all-in-one PCs sporting a 60-degree reclining display that seemingly offers the ease of using a tablet while sporting the underlying hardware of a desktop.
Both the TouchSmart 610 Consumer PC and TouchSmart 9300 Elite Business PC feature a 23-inch 1080p HD LED backlit LCD screen that reclines up to 60 degrees. The screen also tilts forward up to five degrees and offers advanced multitouch technology for accurate responses no matter the screen's position.
"As a leader in touch computing, HP has made each iteration of the TouchSmart PC more intuitive, resourceful and fun for users," said James Mouton, senior vice president, Desktop Organization, Personal Systems Group, HP. "The latest generation is no exception with a new design that makes it easier and more comfortable to use, and it allows businesses to integrate the TouchSmart where convenience, space constraints and appearance matter."
The TouchSmart 610 hardware specs are unknown at this point, but will include 802.11 Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, a 6-in-one card reader, wall-mounting options, and a slot-loading DVD player, upgradable to Blu-ray. On the software side, it will come packed with optimized apps from Hulu, Netflix, Rhapsody, Twitter, and HP's exclusive RecipeBox and webcam applications via the TouchSmart Apps Center. Select models will even sport Ubisoft's real-time strategy game R.U.S.E.
On the business side, the TouchSmart 9300 Elite Business PC will feature Intel's second-generation Core processors, a choice of Windows 7 operating systems, up to 16 GB of memory and an optional 160 GB SSD. It will also sport a high-resolution, adjustable webcam using facial recognition software. Although the company revealed very little details regarding the hardware (the product pages haven't gone live), HP said the TouchSmart 9300 Elite was designed with the "hospitality, retail, and healthcare" industries in mind.
The consumer-based TouchSmart 610 is expected to become available here in the States on Wednesday (February 9), starting at $899.99. The business-oriented TouchSmart 9300 Elite will launch in May for an undisclosed price.
Additionally, Register Hardware points out that Apple attempted to patent the idea of a touchscreen computer that can be positioned to face upwards for better usage over long periods. The patent was submitted back in July 2009.
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Kevin Parrish has over a decade of experience as a writer, editor, and product tester. His work focused on computer hardware, networking equipment, smartphones, tablets, gaming consoles, and other internet-connected devices. His work has appeared in Tom's Hardware, Tom's Guide, Maximum PC, Digital Trends, Android Authority, How-To Geek, Lifewire, and others.