While it seems that pains have been taken to not mention "tablet"
anywhere associated with this box, it looks and works like tablet plus
it comes with Journal... very interesting.

HP TouchSmart IQ505 PC

<http://www.live.hpeasset.webcollage.net/server/samsclub/hpeasset-product-content/si?ws-action=http://www.live.hpeasset.webcollage.net/educational-content/2541.html?channel-product-id%3d401745%26showtabs%3dtrue%26wcpc%3dkz631aa%26f ormat%3dpopup~MarkupType!document!PresentationForm at!html,http://content.webcollage.net/samsclub/product-content-page?channel-product-id%3d401745%26wcpid%3dhpeasset-kz631aa%26report-event%3dproduct-button-click%26usemap%3d0>

Nice presentation... make sure your subwoofer is on and the volume is up
before you go there ;-)

Seen it in person and it's definitely not a "portable" but looks as if
it would make a nice addition to any "media room."

<http://www.samsclub.com/shopping/navigate.do?dest=5&item=401745>

Beverly Howard [MS MVP-Mobile Devices]

amazingly, it looks as if it has no video out options...

Beverly Howard [MS MVP-Mobile Devices]

Beverly Howard [Ms-MVP/MobileDev] schrieb:

> Seen it in person and it's definitely not a "portable" but looks as
> if it would make a nice addition to any "media room."

Seems to be a really nice innovation.
Wanna have it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rainald

>> Wanna have it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! <<

That was my first impression, _but_ it is specifically designed as the
center point for the user as it has no video output options.

The assumption being, I assume, if you are going to watch content, you
will never look at anything other than this unit... i.e. you can't use
your big screen tv, projector or alternate monitor to watch netflix
downloads or flash content with others.

Anyone have any experience with usb video adapters? If using one is
feasable for running full color XGA output, this might be in the running
for eventual replacement of the $150 used dell mini which is now
functioning as our "media computer."

Beverly Howard [MS MVP-Mobile Devices]

"Beverly Howard [Ms-MVP/MobileDev]" <BevNoSpamBevHoward.com> wrote in
message news:uniiwri$IHA.4648@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
> >> Wanna have it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! <<
>
> That was my first impression, _but_ it is specifically designed as the
> center point for the user as it has no video output options.
>
> The assumption being, I assume, if you are going to watch content, you
> will never look at anything other than this unit... i.e. you can't use
> your big screen tv, projector or alternate monitor to watch netflix
> downloads or flash content with others.
>
> Anyone have any experience with usb video adapters? If using one is
> feasable for running full color XGA output, this might be in the running
> for eventual replacement of the $150 used dell mini which is now
> functioning as our "media computer."
>


At 22", that's larger than the largest TV I owned up until about 8 years
ago.

Just back from sam's where I looked at and used one for about half an
hour and confirmed no video ports of any kind, in or out, just usb, (5)
ethernet, firewire,(?) memory card slot, digital audio and analog audio out.

The sam's $1,300 unit has half a terrabyte hard drive, four gigs of ram
and the touch screen had no problems with anything I tried using
fingers, although the screen was not calibrated correctly which created
a few glitches.

It's tablet on vista premium and includes windows media center.

One surprising fact was that the (very thin and light) RF wireless
keyboard has excellent range... was able to take it far enough away to
the point I could barely see the start menu pop up (~60-70') and it
still had a good connection.

Had it had video out ports, I might be $1,300 poorer at the moment ;-)

Beverly Howard [MS MVP-Mobile Devices]

Beverly Howard [Ms-MVP/MobileDev] wrote:

>>> Wanna have it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! <<
>
> That was my first impression, _but_ it is specifically designed as
> the center point for the user as it has no video output options.

Right.

> The assumption being, I assume, if you are going to watch content,
> you will never look at anything other than this unit... i.e. you
> can't use your big screen tv, projector or alternate monitor to
> watch netflix downloads or flash content with others.

Seems to be the direction of the designers' thinking ...

> Anyone have any experience with usb video adapters? If using one is
> feasable for running full color XGA output, this might be in the
> running for eventual replacement of the $150 used dell mini which
> is now functioning as our "media computer."

XGA output?
AFAICS yesterday's cares.
A standard which is more than only a bit low, IMHO.
10:6 meanwhile is the standard for TVs over here and HD-TV is marching
strong.

With a 22" widescreen display on the device itself what need for video
output except TV (projectors left alone)?

Rainald

Beverly Howard [Ms-MVP/MobileDev] wrote:

> Just back from sam's where I looked at and used one for about half
> an hour and confirmed no video ports of any kind, in or out, just usb,
> (5) ethernet, firewire,(?) memory card slot, digital audio and
> analog audio out.

That's what the specs say.
I too wondered about that. But it seems to be the designers' decision,
God knows why ...

> The sam's $1,300 unit has half a terrabyte hard drive, four gigs of
> ram and the touch screen had no problems with anything I tried using
> fingers, although the screen was not calibrated correctly which
> created a few glitches.
> It's tablet on vista premium and includes windows media center.

Sounds good (as the video and the specs brochure).

As to the "tablet" features:
How about using a pen?
In the demos there only was a finger, but that might be pretty dumb for
sketches, the usage on ON etc., etc.

> One surprising fact was that the (very thin and light) RF wireless
> keyboard has excellent range... was able to take it far enough away
> to the point I could barely see the start menu pop up (~60-70') and it
> still had a good connection.

So it really would be usable from the sofa ;-)
Having been using wireless desktop sets (keyboard+mouse) - radio as well
as Bluetooth - for quite some years, I would have assumed that.

My proposals for add-ons:
a) Logitech "Harmony® One Advanced Universal Remote"
http://www.logitech.com/index.cfm/re...FSbTXgodQEUigQ

or
b) Logitech "MX AirT Rechargeable Cordless Air Mouse"
http://www.logitech.com/index.cfm/mi.../3443&cl=de,de
which is movement sensitive (technology licensed from Gyration)

or
c) Gyration "Air Music Remote"
http://www.gyration.com/
http://www.hera.hs-heilbronn.de/rt/Air_Music_Remote.gif

The Gyration technology is really great.
I'm using a Gyration "Air Transporter Presenter"
http://www.gyration.com/c-21-presentation-pointers.aspx
for my lectures.
It comes really handy in connection with my HP tc1100 for my "advanced"
PPT-presentations which are loaded with hyperlinks. Moving the hand
moves the cursor and it's just a click.
And the transmitter USB-stick has flash memory of 1GB (there's 2GB
models too) which holds a ton of PPT-files. So it's almost "presenting
everywhere" ;-)

> Had it had video out ports, I might be $1,300 poorer at the moment
> ;-)

The family's budget manager most probably glad about the missing video
port <gbg>.

Christmas will come pretty soon <bg> and by then you might have checked
USB and WLAN solutions for transmitting video to the TV (there are quite
some, AFAICS) ;-)

Rainald

>> How about using a pen? <<

It's obvious the screen was designed for fingers... thick soft covering.

since it's "touch" assume anything with a smooth, rounded non scratch
point would work, but can't think of a material I would want to use on a
daily basis at the moment... the angle is not really conducive to writing.

>> wireless desktop sets (keyboard+mouse) - radio as well
as Bluetooth - for quite some years, I would have assumed that <<

Blutooth range has been great, but, all of the rf kb/mouse options I
have tried to date have been very limited in range... would assume that
"presentation" items would be better.

>> XGA output? <<

Our media setup is based on an XGA dlp projector... no other screen in
sight.

>> harmony <<

Already there... hope you didn't update your remote this week ;-) (check
the user forum)

Beverly Howard [MS MVP-Mobile Devices]

Beverly Howard [Ms-MVP/MobileDev] wrote:

>>> How about using a pen? <<
>
> It's obvious the screen was designed for fingers... thick soft
> covering.
>
> since it's "touch" assume anything with a smooth, rounded non
> scratch point would work, but can't think of a material I would
> want to use on a daily basis at the moment... the angle is not
> really conducive to writing.

That was my impression from the video.

>>> wireless desktop sets (keyboard+mouse) - radio as well
> as Bluetooth - for quite some years, I would have assumed that <<
>
> Blutooth range has been great, but, all of the rf kb/mouse options I
> have tried to date have been very limited in range... would assume
> that "presentation" items would be better.

Ma Gyration presenter easily covers 100 yards.

>>> XGA output? <<
>
> Our media setup is based on an XGA dlp projector... no other screen
> in sight.

Oh, I see. Thought that it would be for your home ;-)

>>> harmony <<
>
> Already there... hope you didn't update your remote this week ;-)
> (check the user forum)

I have not got any of the three mentioned. No PC-based multimedia
environment at home (only good old high-end HiFi form 90ies <bg>).
And for presentations I use either the said Gyration presenter or the
most sophisticated MoGo presenter:
http://www.newtonperipherals.com/mogo_mouseX54pro.html
View MoGo Demo Video - 70 Seconds

Rainald

That's true. Not a one. No VGA/DVI or even HDMI. I was really considering
one as the MCE driver for my big Plasma, but HP totally blew that. Amazing.
On the other hand it really is a nice unit, and much more responsive than
you might expect. Would make a nice college Dorm PC/Media center.

"Beverly Howard [Ms-MVP/MobileDev]" <BevNoSpamBevHoward.com> wrote in
message news:u68vkLZ$IHA.528@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...
> amazingly, it looks as if it has no video out options...
>
> Beverly Howard [MS MVP-Mobile Devices]

>> That's true. Not a one. No VGA/DVI or even HDMI. <<

That's the second time in a year that HP has prevented me from
purchasing expensive HP items...

I really, really wanted to be able to justify this for what it _does_
offer, but finally decided to wait for a more "user centric" company
came out with a competitor.

>> Would make a nice college Dorm PC/Media center. <<

Yes, BUT!!! looking around, learned that you need to make sure it's the
HP TouchSmart IQ506t ($200 more) as the cheaper model does NOT have a TV
tuner.

<http://www.shopping.hp.com/webapp/shopping/store_access.do?template_type=series_detail&catego ry=desktops&series_name=IQ506t_series&jumpid=oc_R1 002_USENC-001_HP%20TouchSmart%20IQ506t%20CTO%20Desktop%20PC& lang=en&cc=us>

Beverly Howard

Beverly Howard [Ms-MVP/MobileDev] wrote:

>>> That's true. Not a one. No VGA/DVI or even HDMI. <<
>
> That's the second time in a year that HP has prevented me from
> purchasing expensive HP items...

Did anybody meanwhile check if there are some USB-devices for the
support of external video devices?

Rainald

>> external video devices? <<

The only one I came up with was svga (800x600) which is understandable
using a usb connection...

hmmm, didn't look for firewire options though.

Beverly Howard [MS MVP-Mobile Devices]

>> firewire to video out <<

more options... but, prices which make staying with a traditional box
attractive... some samples at;

<http://www.synthetic-ap.com/tips/firewireconverters.html>

Beverly Howard [MS MVP-Mobile Devices]