HP Takes on Apple with the New Voodoo
by Anand Lal Shimpi on June 11, 2008 12:00 AM EST- Posted in
- Systems
The New HP TouchSmart
Last year saw the introduction of all-in-one machines similar to Apple's very successful iMac, this year those all-in-ones are getting a bit more sophisticated. HP's new TouchSmart IQ504 looks very much like an updated iMac from a few years ago, but it offers a 22" touchscreen and a custom interface that lays on top of Windows Vista.
The touchscreen can be used to navigate through Vista itself but the HP TouchSmart software features a far more usable UI. As you'd expect, all of the icons and UI elements are oversized so you can hit them with your finger instead of a mouse pointer.
While the interface isn't as smooth and seamless as the multi-touch on the iPhone, it is surprisingly advanced for something that has no integrated OS support.
The TouchSmart suite allows you to browse through music, videos and pictures using your fingers - and the navigation actually works reasonably well. Once again, it's not iPhone-perfect, but it's far closer than I expected. The TouchSmart software even lets you perform basic editing on your images without even picking up a mouse.
I expected touch technology to make its way to desktop PCs over the next couple of years but it looks like the transition may be already happening. With "touch" included in Windows 7, it makes sense that companies would be working out the kinks in their own approaches before then. After all, as we mentioned before, sometimes relying on Microsoft may not be the best option.
Like the iMac, the TouchSmart uses a mobile Core 2 Duo processor - it's effectively a larger notebook designed to be used as a desktop.
Facebook
Twitter
RSS
56 Comments
View All Comments
ElFindo - Thursday, June 12, 2008 - link
Sorry for the double post, however I forgot to mention:Even if Microsoft wasn't a true search engine independant from others until 2004 (which doesn't mean I got my facts wrong as I never called it a search engine, I referred to it as MSN Search) it simply doesn't matter as not even Google was the very first search engine. Surpisingly, I'm sure, they copied others.
Why is Microsoft non innovative then if others everywhere do it too?
michael2k - Thursday, June 12, 2008 - link
Because Microsoft fails after copying something else. Live Search is ranked behind Google and Yahoo, XBox 360 is behind the Wii and Xbox is behind the PS2, Zune is behind the iPod.In a similar vein, Mac marketshare is clearly below 10%, yet at the same time in the field of industrial design (compared to HP, Dell, Compaq, etc), they are clearly innovating with designs such as the Mac mini, G4 Cube, MacBook Air, etc.
So when Microsoft is first AND successful, or second and MORE successful, I can give them credit. They obviously deserve credit for DOS, Windows 95, and Windows XP, but their other recent endeavors?
Live Search, UltimateTV, Zune, XBox, XBox 360, Zune Marketplace, URGE, PlaysForSure, and Zune-2?
Their only recent successes seem to be XBox Arcade, Surface, and Sync.
ElFindo - Thursday, June 12, 2008 - link
The point is, and why Sony was brought up, is that innovate is to produce something new, and Apple is clearly doing the exact same things you're accusing Microsoft of. Although you seem willing to turn a blind eye to that. People copy because of competition, yet you seem to want to portray Apple as making all these wonderful ideas that everyone is wrongly 'stealing' when its quite clear that, like their peers in the industry, they do the same thing. Basically, stop preaching and look at both sides for just a little longer than what it takes to snub the other side off as inferior.michael2k - Thursday, June 12, 2008 - link
No, the difference between what Apple is doing and what Microsoft is doing is that Apple is succeeding.If Microsoft released the MSTV that was 10x better than the AppleTV due to MS innovations, that would be "cleary doing the exact same thing."
You must have your own agenda and bias; I've never mentioned stealing, I only used the word innovation and derivation. If I "snub the other side off as inferior" it is because it is more derivative than innovative.
ElFindo - Thursday, June 12, 2008 - link
"If Microsoft released the MSTV that was 10x better than the AppleTV due to MS innovations, that would be "cleary doing the exact same thing."This makes little to no sense and has very little to do with my statements to this point. I pointed out Apple has done its fair share of creating competition in areas pioneered by others and its not a Microsoft specific pracice.
I've not once mentioned a bias towards either of these companies and at times have shown support for both sides. Any percieved bias would simply be towards anti-beligerance. And most of your points have referenced a perceived Apple 'innovative' product followed by a rip off or 'derivative'. Most of my points have shown the precursor to the 'innovative' Apple product mentioned.
WeaselITB - Wednesday, June 11, 2008 - link
On the software side, all they have is Windows, IE, Office, MS-SQL, and devtools. Apple at least has OS X, iWork, iLife, Aperture, Final Cut Studio, .Mac/MobileMe, XCode, and Safari.Wow ... just, wow. If that's all the software you can think of when you hear "Microsoft" ...
-Weasel
pauldovi - Wednesday, June 11, 2008 - link
Both this and the Mac Book Air are toys compared to the Lenovo X300. Why is that not mentioned.michael2k - Wednesday, June 11, 2008 - link
Because the X300 has a slower CPU and is more expensive?DiRRRtyFlip - Wednesday, June 11, 2008 - link
Benn a lurker for quite a long time but I just had to pipe in on this.Wow, didn't *I* predict this...
Dunno why Voodoo is taking on Apple, I guess they can't sell their overpriced gaming rigs LIKE THEY USE TOO. Oh wait, they STILL do... though I don't think they're selling as many units as they use to. ;)
"The Voodoo brand will stop servicing gamers specifically and turn into much more of a lifestyle brand."
Abandoning gamers that bought their 'gaming' PCs in the past, those same gamers who made them who they are are now below them - now they're a lifestyle brand.
Marking up an UGLY Mac Air Clone with a "carbon-fiber chassis" that umm... can't play games (due to on craptastic onboard Intel video) AND badge it with a Voodoo logo, price it accordingly at $2,099 and then call it one? They're sure are REACHING these days.
feelingshorter - Wednesday, June 11, 2008 - link
I started typing some anti-apple stuff and i decided to delete the message and say that I've given up. Its impossible to get through to some.But I would like to mention that you haven't even read the article or must have lost your attention span half way through. It does not say the laptop is a gaming laptop, and even says its quite the opposite. I'm sorry but that laptop is priced exactly like the MacBook Air and beats it in every aspect from looks to features. Even before the Envy 133, there are lenovo notebooks out there that really beats the macbook air in features/weight/battery life. Compare the 3000 dollar macbook air and the x300 from lenovo and you'd realize that Steve Jobs is just selling you a whiff of his fart. And your sniffing it up thinking its the best perfume you ever smelled without looking further.
Why isn't there a rating system on these comments as compared to comments on daily tech?