I imagine most of the returns are because of the software and not the hardware. It seems HP has tried to over-simplify things and in the process much of the software doesn't work right. I have been using PCs since the Commodore Vic20, I am the guy people call when they mess up thier machine, and I am having trouble setting things up with this machine.

Of course this is my first time using Vista, so much of it is probably that. Also the OS is 64 bit which means your old software will probably not work with it. But the most disappointing thing is the Touchsmart interface. It's very buggy and incomplete.

As for performance, I have run multipal operations at the same time with no problems. It is very fast, but the Touchsmart software is flawed and Vista is very confusing after using ME and XP for almost a decade.Hopefully HP will get the bugs out soon and Windows 7 will be what Vista should have been. In my opinion, HP spent too much time on trying to make this machine look cool for commercials and displays and didn't think about the people who would actually buy the thing. They need to get on this pronto or many of these machines are going to make rounds on ebay. I could have saved a few hundred bucks and bought a Dell XPS if I knew the Touchsmart software was going to be this lame.

HPs biggest problem here is that most people aren't going to wait for updates to software that should already be at least 50% complete. They will just take the thing back to Costco and get a cheaper machine because they have lost their faith in touch technology after a few hours of Touchsmart frustration. Right now the TS software is functional and about 33% complete. The TS programers dropped the ball here, probably due to quotas and corporate red tape, they released a futuristic machine with a 1/3 functional software app.

The cool thing is that HP will have to address these issues very quickly. These machines are going to sell very well this Christmas and HP is going to have their hands full with customer service unless they get the bugs exterminated. However the Touchsmart software has already been out for awhile and much of these problems should have already been fixed. For example, the tiles in TS crash and close themselves quite alot. There is no control over what media is displayed in TS or any easy categorizing method is available. There is also no customization options in the TS gui and they provide only 13 custom icons to use as tiles and I am told that I can't add my own, which is totally lame.

I consider myself pretty smart and I have always been good with computers and programming but the Touchsmart software is confusing to me. I actually considered returning mine but I really like the machine and the style, it is bigger and nicer looking than the Dell XPS one and cheaper than the Sony Vaio all in one and I am not a Mac guy. Plus it does have limited touch capability at the moment. I am going to give HP a few months to shape up the software issues or I may be putting this baby on ebay. If they fix the problems then I have a nice touch PC all ready for Win7. And if or when HP does smooth out the problems and Win7 comes out , there will be a greater call for the HP Touchsmart. Then all of the other guys will follow suit, but HP has a huge advantage as far as timing. Most other PC companies are focused on touchscreen for tablets and not taking the touch home pc too seriously right now.

So if HP gets on the ball with the software issues, people are going to want one of these. That means prices will probably go up a little. So at least I have mine. If you have a few extra hundred dollars to burn just for the fact you have a touchscreen, then go for it. But until the software works right it isn't worth it my opinion. I was absolutley flabbergasted by how buggy the Touchsmart software is and how limited. I love HP products. My bedroom machine is an old HP Pavillion and she still runs great. But releasing this half baked software on such an amazing machine is not very HP like. HP is one of the best PC companies in the world and they have a reputation to uphold. It's very surprising they greenlighted this software at this stage. It only takes one little bomb like this Touchsmart software to ruin a companies rep. It is the same as movie actors, they are only as good as the last thing you saw them in.

But to answer your question. Most refurbs are store returns. The Touchsmart hasn't been out long enough for too many units being sent back bad. And I imagine most returns are because of the terrible Touchsmart app or because of Vista and not because of hardware. The machine its self is awesome even without the touch capability. But you are paying much more for the touch. So if you get a great deal on a refurb I would go for it. As for a new machine, I would wait to see what HP plans to do with the software or get A Dell XPS. I hate to say that, but I have owned Dells before too and they are nice machines, but HP should have had their software buyer ready. At this time it is far from it. And life is too short and money is too tight to wait for the HP programmers to get on the ball. I have no regrets buying mine, but I was disappointed in the software.

There are some other cool things about the touchsmart such as the TV tuner if you buy a 506/507 or above. Windows is not so hard to control with touch if you make some alterations to your display settings (make buttons bigger etc.).And it's cool playing some games, Sims 2 is fun with touch. The screen is beautiful. I love the design, there is an ambient light that really comes in handy. It's bluetooth, wi-fi, ir and I have no problems communicating with my tablet or PDA. It has a built in DVD/RW which is kind of standard these days, but it is embedded into the display which is cool. Ports-o-plenty and fast computing.

I would give this machine a 10 out of 10 if the software worked right, but as it is, it gets a solid 7. Yes HP, the software is so bad that it dropped you down 3 points. I read much of the reviews and watched some film before buying mine and they all(aside from HPs know your PC, which is a nice watch if you own one, the dude is funny and the chick is hot and it is informative, but made by HP)...where was I? oh yeah all the reviews did state that the Touchsmart interface was buggy and not quite finished, but I went for it anyway and I can tell you that all of the reviews are dead on. But I still have no regrets because I have faith that HPs programmers are working right this very second to make me as happy as I can be with my HP product.

My side volume controls stopped working at one point but I unplugged the machine and restarted and it hasn't been a problem since. Do the volume controls on the keyboard work?

Most manufacturer refurbished units are just as good, if not better then new ones. Any defects from the factory have been replaced, and tested by a human, not a robot. Also, yes there is only a 90 day warranty, but you can purchase an extended warranty. Stuck pixels do happen, but those are covered under warranty too. If you buy one and have it shipped to Costa Rica, see if it can be tested in store first to see if there are any issues. Honestly you'll see issues New and Refurbished, so it's up to you.

The main difference between the two is the screen size. The IQ800 series has a 25.5" screen and the 500 22" screen.

Heres a side by side comparison on the HP website:
http://www.shopping.hp.com/webapp/shopping/series_can.do?a1=Category&v1=All-i...

David

http://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l299/xz550rj/HPMagicGiveaway.jpg

Woohoo! I won my Touchsmart!

Thats what it looks like. I looked at the detailed specs of each and it appears that the main difference between the two is the screen size.

david

http://i99.photobucket.com/albums/l299/xz550rj/HPMagicGiveaway.jpg

Woohoo! I won my Touchsmart!