HP TouchSmart IQ816 user reviews

Pros HUGE Touch screen, may be your first HDTV

Cons Weak processor, less control over angle of viewing, lost keyboard functionality, no more Lightscribe

Summary Cnet's review short-sheets this tech marvel. It's horrid that Rich Brown doesn't even discuss its HDTV capability and its full-function wireless remote. This unit is excellent for watching HDTV programs live or recorded on its integrated PVR! For many, this may be your first HDTV and its wireless remote has every necessary function available to watch those programs. But because of Rich's inadequate treatment in this area I have no idea how this compares to the other units he seems to favor.

This HP does have some weak points, though. Yes, its processor is weaker than others'. However, it performs fine in real-world situations. Not the fastest spec-wise but performs well just the same. I also don't like that they replaced the articulating support, which permitted alot of angular settings, with its current stand. And the keyboard has less functionality than its predecessor version, lacking the screen on/off function-key as well as missing alot of the media player keys. Finally, though they added Blu-ray support they apparently sacrificed Lightscribe etching -- I don't like that trade-off. What about that Rich ?

HP did alot of good things with this Touchsmart system but it also made some sacrifices that are disappointing. I just wish Cnet's reviews on the other systems discussed their HDTV capabilities and related equipment in a more comprehensive manner. Merry Cmas.

Pros Great product

Cons there are no cons

Summary I was contracted by a customer to mount a IQ816 on our dental chair. I looked for a mount that I thought would be strong enough for the application and could not find one. So we manufactured one that would work for this application as well as could be mounted on a wall. The design worked out quite well. Rather than use an the adapter that is available through HP which allows a standard Vesa mount to be mounted on it, we chose to support the monitor from the outside (e-mail me for pictures) This eliminates the modification to the back of the monitor. the mount is made from 1/4" aluminum which is powder coated black.
The mount has the capability to hold the transformer as well. We have manufactured a number of these and now selling them. Anybody interested contact me at temple@globaldentaldirect.com

Pros Beautiful to look at..that's about it.

Cons poor performance, continual blue screens, No real response from HP about problems when contacted through online support.....SLOW

Summary It is great to look at and I like the all in one factor. However, from the very beginning this computer was SO slow I couldn't believe it....My 1 G Dell (5 yr old) laptop ran and still runs faster and without the blue screens that come up out of the 'blue' for no apparent reason with this machine. Most of the time I wait about 4 years before scouting out a new desktop. With this one, i was ready in 6 months.
Good thing I never sent it back to HP as I have read the reviews from those who did. HP will not be getting my business in the future. I even bought one of their Touchsmart printers and had huge problems with it. Althogh the tech I talked to in Canada for the printer was great.

Since I let my warranty expire, I decided to upgrade with a clean wipe to Windows 7 hoping that would fix the problem. However, that did not do anything for the same old, same old...blue screens all the time.
For a $2000 computer, this is a terrible machine........how many times can I say it?? No more HP for me after this.

I haven't even tried the TV part so I can't say if the thing even works.

I advise to wait until some of these models are out for a time and really search for reviews. I wish I'd found this BEFORE I bought. I did look for reviews but didn't find anything much around April 2009.

Pros The Size of the Screen.

Cons Took it out of the box and before I even added peripherals, a blue screen popped up; called HP, many hours and days, continued to have a blue screen and it was hissing all the time as well.

Summary Continuing from above question; after months we sent it back; came back worse, louder hissing; corner missing, imprinting on back. I couldn't believe they let this out of their repair center in this condition (oh yes, we took photos). Finally sent it back a third time, went out of town for a while; my husband went on a few times didn't have any problems. When I finally got to see how it was working; it still makes hissing sounds, not as loud, not all the time, but the hissing is still there; also I was reviewing some photos and yes I got another Blue Screen. I'll have to call HP again and send it back, after three returns they are suppose to replace it. So yes, it's horrible!!!