HP TouchSmart 310-1125y

HP TouchSmart 310-1125y

The HP TouchSmart 310-1125y ($699.99 list at Best Buy) all-in-one touch-screen desktop is the retail follow-up to last year's HP TouchSmart 310-1000z, that was only available on HP's website. Its touch-screen interface has long been a trailblazer; it's one of the few that does it right by combining an intelligent interface, attractive chassis, good internal components, and an enhanced touch experience. The 310-1125y is cheaper, easier to buy, and available now at big box stores near you. What's not to like? Similar to previous HP TouchSmart desktops the 310-1125y has a nice tilting base, 16:9 aspect ratio screen, and a black, glossy plastic chassis. It's almost identical to the HP TouchSmart 310-1000z ($1,159 direct, 4 stars), at least externally. The desktop has a bright, 20-inch touch screen with a 1,600 by 900 resolution, which is a little less than true 1080p HD (1,920 by 1,080). That means you can't display all the pixels in a 1080p HD video, but it's close enough that you won't mind unless you're a stickler for true HD. The chassis has six USB 2.0 ports, a card reader (SD and Memory Stick variants), audio ports, and Ethernet. A wireless USB dongle (which takes up one of the 6 USB ports), connects the desktop to the included wireless keyboard and mouse.