Living With the Hp Touchsmart 600: Part 3
March 19th, 2010
So my recent journey with the HP TouchSmart 600 PC is coming to an end. But before I call it a wrap, I thought I’d share with you how the TouchSmart handles itself as a music playback and management system.
This is one area in which I think the TouchSmart software really shines, combining multiple music sources all in a single touch-based interface. At its most basic, the TouchSmart Music app can discover all of the music on your PC, and lets you easily browse through albums in cover flow, album art or text grid lists. And the software is capable of working with either the same library format used by Windows Media Center or iTunes, so you’ve got a choice if you’re migrating from an existing library.
The TouchSmart Music app can run in the background while other TouchSmart Applications are running, so you can browse pictures, surf the internet, take notes, read recipes or even watch videos while you listen to music. But the really cool thing in the app is the relatively seamless integration with both Pandora and Rhapsody, both of which give you an endless music library.
I’ll start with Pandora, as it’s the simpler of the two interfaces. Just log in with your existing Pandora account (or create a new one), and it pulls in any already existing artist mixes on the right side of the screen. You can choose to play individual artist-inspired Pandora playlist, or jump right to a QuickMix of all of your Pandora artists and related tunes. The left side of the Pandora interface features artist bios, related artist info, and is the one place you’ll see advertising in the TouchSmart interface. I kept getting ads for Wendy’s cheeseburgers, but your mileage may vary. And now I’m hungry.
On the right side of the interface, you can thumb up/thumb down and skip music. One cool thing with HP’s Pandora is that you can put the Music app in the background, and all the artist info, ads, etc, go away and all you get is a small playback control in the upper-right corner of your screen with track and artist info. Of course, you’ll occasionally hear ads on Pandora, but what do you want for free?
Rhapsody, the all-you-can-eat subscription music smorgasbord is also nicely integrated into TouchSmart Music. The Rhapsody store is available as an additional link in the header of the Music app, and with the appropriate subscription (currently $12.99 USD/month), you can surf and listen to all the music you’d ever want as if it were just part of your personal library. You can easily create playlists by just dragging the tunes you want from the left side of the screen to the right using your fingertip.
I had a couple of random issues with the Rhapsody service in which the album art turned up blank, but that seemed to be a transient issue, and is no longer happening. Other than that, the Rhapsody component worked flawlessly, and also supports background playback so you can do other things while the music plays. I also really like the Playlist Central area, which is great for discovering new music based on editorially-selected playlists.
One other unique feature in all the TouchSmart Music apps is the touch-based search. Just write the name of the artist, album, song or keyword with your fingertip, et voila!…
About the only thing not to like about TouchSmart Music is the fact that you can’t co-mingle playlists across your media library, Pandora and Rhapsody, but I’d definitely file that on the “nice to have” list. As is the case with video and Live TV, you can alternatively use the bundled Windows Media Center apps, but unlike Live TV, I couldn’t see any significant advantage over using the TouchSmart Music app unless you have a Zune membership. Personally, having the Pandora integration is what really made me a believer. I think I have Pandora running on some device of mine hours a day lately.
As I mentioned in the first part of this article, the TouchSmart has a completely admirable built-in audio system that’s more than sufficient for use in a small room. It won’t blow you away if you’re a serious audiophile, but if you don’t want to clutter your room with lots of wires and speakers, you definitely can get by without extra hardware. And there’s always the audio out ports if you want to use an external sound system.
Since this is the final article in my three-part review of the TouchSmart 600, let me bring it all in for a landing. Overall, I’ve been very impressed with this hardware/software combo from HP. The all-in-one form factor is great for bedrooms, offices, and larger kitchens, and if you don’t want to have both a TV and a computer in those rooms, it’s a no-brainer. With a built-in digital HD tuner, 1080p video resolution, and robust media playback and management capabilities, you could definitely live with one of these as a standalone entertainment system. And the HDMI port on the side is a real bonus, since you can hook up a gaming console or satellite receiver and use it like an HDTV too.
There are definitely areas for improvement in the TouchSmart software, specifically in the area of Live TV, where the playback and channel-surfing experience isn’t as smooth as Windows Media Center. However, there’s enough meat in the TouchSmart app suite – especially with the addition of Hulu, Netflix, Pandora and Rhapsody – to make it a compelling interface for day-to-day operation. And lest we forget that there’s an entire (reasonably) powerful Windows 7 PC packed in this box as well. You can surf the web, run productivity apps, play games, and do everything I’ve described in this series – all in a single slim box that actually looks quite nice sitting on your desktop. And while the touchscreen interface might not really be necessary (with the mouse, keyboard and included remote control), it still is pretty cool, especially for the media playback apps.
If you do decide you want to get your mitts on one of these, you can find the TouchSmart 600 over at Amazon with prices ranging starting around $1100 (USD) depending on configuration.
Or you could just enter our TouchSmart contest, and win one for yourself 
Comments (63):
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Categories: Audio Computing Home Entertainment Media Players Technology
Tags: blu ray hdtv hp hulu movie multitouch netflix touchsmart
I’m not sure I would make use of the music features. So far I prefer the Squeezebox setup for that.
I’m pretty simple when it comes to music playback so I don’t ask much of my audio devices. The Pandora app looks better than the actual site, so that’s a plus. And the TouchSmart music app seems like it’s a lot more convenient and I like that it adds all your music, regardless of different devices’ libraries. I don’t know if that made any sense, but I just woke up.
Anyway, thanks for the reviews!
Well I have had a Rhapsody account for years now and the Touchsmart having an app for it is just icing on the cake for me. This was a good review even better yet you don’t really have much to gripe about this product since it does what it advertised to do.
Although you forgot to mention they have a 3 free touchscreen games and a free touchscreen news app you can DL right from the HP site.;)
I LOVE the music integration. Especially since I don’t always like iTunes. Having the ability to ALL my music in one interface is fabuloso. Thanks for these reviews. Really wish I could afford one of these
My other favorite application possibility. Now that I am homeowner again, I look at everything for flexibility and this looks like it fits the bill. Don’t have a grand to drop right now but when I do would definitely consider it.
It’s good to know that this HP would handle my music collection easily – I’ve used Pandora a lot and it seems like this would work great.
Give me the Touchsmart Please…
Pretty impressive music capabilities. The interfaces look awesome!
Thanks for the extensive review. I love using Pandora, so this would be a terrific addition to my home. Looks like a pretty cool product!!
this music integration and interface is just magnificent! like a personal dj
I think it is really interesting that you can do touch-based search! that is really interesting. Overall it looks like a good choice for someone who wants to bring everything together in an all-in-one device.
By chance, where you able to test the remote control and also the webcam (i.e. Skype? )
Thanks for the review!
this computor is the best
this looks so tight
The Pandora app looks amazing. I have one question. I have my music stored on Glide, which stores it all online in the cloud. Does the app include the option of streaming it from an online storage service?
Also, I really like Apple’s Genius mixes. Does the app include something similar to that?
Thanks for the review, the machine looks awesome!
These apps are so cool… thank you again for your detailed reviews, I can only dream for a system like that…
I like the layout of the Music App, makes more sense than iTunes and I like the idea of multi-tasking while listening to my favorite tunes.
It looks like HP has done an excellent job touching up some areas of Windows 7 that need a bit more media love. I have loved reading the in-depth reviews and have seriously fallen into the camp of wanting one of these!
Thanks for the excellent review!!!
Wow, if that is really your screen shot of your music library… I’m startled to see so many artists in common with my own.
I wonder if there is any room for last.fm on there and if it would play as admirably? If not, then I don’t see any issues running Rhapsody – they more than live up to their name.
Somehow it’s also quite refreshing to see the pack-in speakers are able to hold their own; for the longest time manufacturers didn’t bother putting decent sound equipment into their devices. My parents bought a 46″ LCD tv only to find the audio was tinny beyond belief – and their hearing is not so great! They don’t pick out poor or high quality very well, but this power HP would probably please even their ears.
Refreshingly unbiased series – most company prompted reviews come with a “praise or perish” imperative. HP is getting a few points in my book. for what it’s worth, for offering it up to you at technabob; they wanted honesty and got it along with a heft reward of high accolades.
Yeah, I’ve definitely tried to be impartial here. The system is pretty darned nice from a hardware perspective, but has a couple of challenges when it comes to the Touchsmart software (mostly the live tv stuff). But with the inclusion of Windows Media Center and an IR remote, you can still use that interface for watching TV, and the TouchSmart software for everything else.
I thought i spend the last two years of college with a mac book in hand, but due to your very well written review, and my obsession with blue lights i find the HP at a similar point and worth taking note of. The music features seem to be flawlessly integrated into the system making it so you do not having to rely on a website to stream music, thumbs up for innovation. It seems to pack more then enough as you say “meat”(lol) to be an all in one entertainment center. This HP is something that’s going to stand out in the crowd and people will take notice. I know anyone of here(or anywhere) would love to own one of these.
price point *sp error
Thanks for the great review. Now I want one even if it isn’t won.
pandora ftw!
no seriously, a touch based jukebox? awesome.
I believe this may be my dream machine.
Music is the most important feature in this machine.
This seems like a great computer to use for my daughter’s room as it seems to pull double duty as an entertainment and productivity unit quite well.
Great review of a great product. I have music blaring everyday via computer. Mostly from blip.fm since I would not want to buy every song that popped into my head. Fingers crossed that I am the lucky winner. Do you get to keep this little gem after all?
I don’t get to keep the review unit
but fortunately, I already own a Touchsmart 815 (last years model), and have updated the software to get all of the juicy bits from the TS 600 series. The original model actually had a larger 25.5″ screen (which I love), but a slower processor and video chipset.
very impressive! ive enjoyed reading the comments regarding this computer! i really want one now haha XD anyway sounds like its worth its price
I still use hacked Audreys for my music interfaces, but I could see it working nicely in a room where I don’t have one yet.
This pc has got me yearning for some multi touch development.. Give me a touchsmart!
Wow, this computer really does have everything covered!
Thanks for the informative & honest review. The HP Touchsmart 600 sounds like a real contender, I especially like all the touchscreen features. My fave would be the Touchsmart music apps ability to write the name of the artist with your finger on the screen, very clever.
This is a truly amazing computer, I wonder how it can handle programs like photoshop or auto cad. As an entertainment computer though, I have never seen anything like it.
Never tried Autocad, but Photoshop CS4 runs great on it.
I really think I would use every feature this baby has to offer! Thanks again for the opportunity to win! Thank you!
Overall it looks like a pretty sweet machine! Thanks again for the articles!
I love how the HP manages music. This is a great machine, beautiful visuals and great sound. Thank you for offering it!
this computer looks totally amazing. would love to own it!
I have to say Touchsmart 600 just blows my mind. I have heard from my source that new nvidia supports 3D gamings; I think that includes nvidia GeForce 230m. Now imagine playing games/ watching movies in your living room on 3D + Touch screen!!!
I think HP Touchsmart 600 will create a whole new trend for 2nd generation desktop computers. Not only it is wireless, it has a remote and the whole new concept of computer and TV combination.
Thnx to technabob for the review, I was really impressed about HP Touchsmart 600.
I really wish to have a chance to actually have it.
I’m definetely sold, this rig is one that should replace anybody’s media manager.
Hey Technabob, what about shared music libraries across computers in a home network? Can that be done? Streaming over the air?
I don’t think that there’s anything going on here that would enable that. However, you COULD set up a shared music folder and share out your library files from one computer to another over your home network. Sorta like this…
http://www.hack7mc.com/2009/05/sharing-playlists-between-pcs-and-media-centers.html
I like computers.
I’m curious as to the answer to Alejandro’s question, as well. Right now we play tunes on the stereo, through the Windows media/xbox/tv setup, on a home network, but it kills me that I have to go to the other room and spend time at the desktop if I want to save a playlist that I’ve just happened to create organically while cleaning/doing chores or whatever. With this as my alternative, could playlists be managed and saved for later without the time consuming effort usually involved?
As far as I know, I don’t think that there’s a way to build playlists on one machine and share them out to other devices with the Windows Media Center or TouchSmart Music apps. I think you COULD do this with iTunes and the iTunes remote software on an iPod Touch or iPhone though. You’d still need to manage one music collection on a single computer, but your iPod or iPhone could be used to manage the playlists remotely (I think).
My Ipod handles my music, BUT I STILL WANT IT =]
WOW I am pretty impressed with this system. This seems just right for my bedroom, love the wireless & tv setup. And touchscreen would be great for my kids.
Afther those reviews there isn’t much to add, except maby for the fact the desktop would be impressive even without all the touch-related software
Extreamly well done reviews on the Hp Touchsmart 600. I think you answered all my questions if not more then any I could come up with. This looks like the ultimate home entertainment system. I really enjoy an all in one device for electronic entertainment and this is IT. Thanks for the reivew and giveaway.
Personally, I’d like to try all of the special apps on this computer – it looks amazing!
Margay
I liked how you did this contest. I learned a lot about the Touchsmart in addition to entering to win it! Thanks!
wow that music app is dynamic!
All in all, sounds like a pretty impressive system.
You have given a very thorough overview of this system. I am looking forward to looking at one as soon as possible. Thanks.
Fantastic