The HP TouchSmart 300 and 300z

The HP TouchSmart 300 All-in-one is a different kind of computer -- think along the lines of an iPad. It's based on clicking and dragging items on the screen with your fingers rather than using a mouse. It's specialty is light multimedia, allowing you to scan through music, photos, and movies and browse the internet quickly with a flick of your finger. The TouchSmart 300 is definitely designed with families in mind with its ease of functionality and attractive app interface.

Physically, the TouchSmart 300 is a 20-inch tablet. Since it is 20 inches, it weighs in at around 30 pounds, so it can't be carried around quite like an iPad or laptop. It can be wall mounted, placed flat on a table, and it features a swivel base so you can set it down and use it like a traditional computer.

The TouchSmart 300's specialty

The included apps are what make the HP TouchSmart 300 special. The browser, Twitter, and RSS Feed apps are all attractive ways of using the internet. Keep your day in order with the weather, calendar, notes, and recipe box apps. For entertainment, the TouchSmart 300 offers DVD, Hulu and Netflix integration, games, and a music store powered by Rhapsody.

What hardware does it come with?

Built in to all HP TouchSmart 300s are stereo speakers, an adjustable tilt webcam and mic, slot-loading DVD drive, and a 6-in-1 digital media card reader (to transfer photos from your digital cameras memory card). Also included with all TouchSmart 300s is a mouse and keyboard.

To run multiple apps more smoothly, you'll want the 4GB ram upgrade, which the base model currently doesn't feature.