HP has unveiled its first touchscreen desktop PCs that feature a 60-degree reclining display. The new HP TouchSmart 610 Consumer PC (available on February 9, 2011 starting at $900) and HP TouchSmart 9300 Elite Business PC (available in May 2011 for a still unknown price) recline from upright to almost flat. The new form factor enables users to adjust the display's position in order to increase comfort for longer-term use; holding your arm out in front of you while using a touchscreen can otherwise be very tiring.
Both the TouchSmart 610 Consumer PC and TouchSmart 9300 Elite Business PC feature a 23-inch HD wide-angle LED backlit multitouch LCD screen with a 1920x1080 resolution. In terms of software, there are touch-optimized versions of Hulu, Netflix, Rhapsody, Twitter, and Ubisoft's R.U.S.E. real-time strategy game, as well as HP's RecipeBox and webcam applications. Users can add new applications via the TouchSmart Apps Center.
The 610 can be configured with Intel and AMD desktop processors, up to 16GB of RAM, 1TB of storage, a Blu-ray drive, a 1.3 megapixel camera, and Beats Audio speakers. The 9300 can be configured with Intel's Sandy Bridge processors, a choice of Windows 7 operating systems, up to 16GB of RAM, an optional 160GB solid-state drive, and a two megapixel webcam with facial recognition software.
"As a leader in touch computing, HP has made each iteration of the TouchSmart PC more intuitive, resourceful and fun for users," James Mouton, senior vice president of Desktop Organization under HP's Personal Systems Group, said in a statement. "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."