I wrote this review while participating in a program on behalf of HP and received an ENVY 23 TouchSmart AiO and other products as a thank you for my participation. In addition, Netflix provided me with a special account to use during this program.
I mentioned previously that we live in Cleveland and my side of the family lives in Michigan. My parents have always wanted to be very involved grandparents and we all appreciate and love it. Kora and Logan adore them and I think it’s wonderful that we get to travel up there to visit them every couple of months so we can see them in person as often as we do. In the weeks and days between though I like to do what we can to keep the kids connected to their grandparents.
Thanks to the HP Envy 23 TouchSmart All-In-One PC we are able to do that in a number of fun and easy ways.
In my previous post about the new computer I mentioned that we set up Skype chats. While that is always fun and produces many special memories, I’ve recently discovered a new way for our kids and their grandparents to interact online using the HP Envy 23 TouchSmart All-In-One.
Skoot & Doodle is a way to connect through a Google Plus Hangout. A Hangout is similar to Skype but there are many fun features and apps that you can add to enhance your video chat. Skoot & Doodle is one of them. It’s a whiteboard where attendees of the Hangout can draw, doodle, sketch, and play games together in real time.
Here’s a video of Kora, Logan and my parents using it for the first time and playing Tic-Tac-Toe:
They enjoy playing Hangman together too.
They also thought it was fun to use the Hangout special effects and put virtual funny hats, glasses, and other accessories on to themselves. This draws lots of laughs from both the kids and my parents.
We also love the way the way photos display on the HP Envy 23 TouchSmart All-In-One. Set as a desktop background and in the photo gallery slideshow they are large, crisp, and clear.
Setting the screensaver to play photos and videos from the Windows Live Gallery Screen Saver is a great way for Kora & Logan to stay connected with their grandparents, cousins, aunt & uncle, and other relatives on a daily basis. They enjoy watching the photos and videos on the screensaver as much as if they were watching a television show. They even know that if there’s a picture they want to see again to just push the arrow key until it comes back up.
Here’s a video of Kora showing how both the picture gallery and the screensaver works:
It’s amazing to find all of the ways we can connect with long distance relatives these days. Thanks to the HP Envy 23 TouchSmart All-In-One, our options have expanded. I recommend this all-in-one to anyone looking to purchase a new PC. Set up is simple with only one power cord, the 23-inch touchscreen is responsive and easy to use, and the many features enable you to have fun with your family and connect with others.
I always thought that one of these would be pretty cool to have.
We are in the market for a new computer with Windows 8. I will have to check it out. Thanks. Cute videos!
I wish we had something like this when we were kids. We only got to see our grandparents about once a year. I love how you can Skype now a days to stay in touch. would love to have this amazing setup.
Don’t cry, Dee.Your tiger is lovely, is my fvtroiae with Otaqueen’s panda.All of you are blessed because can draw cute thinks, like all the mascot for Alafista. I just can do child’s doodles ba~ba
This computer looks absolutely amazing! It’s great for the whole family – great review!
This is SO cool!! And… that’s coming from a Mac girl :)
This computer looks so great! I think it’s about time we get a new one here! Entered the giveaway and thanks for the great post!
The HP Envy 23 TouchSmart All-In-One, is a perfect computer to stay in touch. I had not thought about this one. It would be the perfect computer for me next. I love the features. Thank you
That is really a great idea. I imagine children would just get antsy sitting there and having face time after a few minutes. But to play hangman, tic tac toe, etc. is great. I bet your family loves it!
I’m not sure they’ll be doodling together, but I just got my mom and her sister connected with Skype. Sure beats the lengthy emails they were firing back and forth every day.
This is very cool technology! Your kids (and your parents!) are adorable :)
It is so funny to me to think of being able to visit with someone on the computer. I could never have imagined it when I was a kid, but today my kids get to skype with family all over the country. This is a really nice computer, too. I definitely would love to own one.
I think I have to buy one lol
That is so cool that they can interact and play games like that!
How neat! My husband’s family is in WI and my fam is in FL so this would be great for keeping in touch!
the app sounds awesome! i have relatives far way also and im sure the kids would enjoy video chat that much more if they could play games
How sweet! I love technology that actually brings us closer.
That is so neat that they’re able to play games with them and everything!
That is so neat! I would love for my grandsons to have one of these so they can talk to their Aunt that lives out of state!
My family lives back east and having a computer like this to share all these special memories would be amazing!
So fun! Great way for kids to connect with far away family.
I am seeing these HP’s all over the web and I want one! I love all the things you can do on them and touch screens are great for kids! I will definitely be looking into these more when I’m getting ready to buy my next computer!
Thanks!!!
This is awesome! I am bookmarking this and showing it to John when he gets back. he works out of state for weeks at a time and missed the kiddos like crazy! My daughter would really have fun with this!
We have an HP desktop, but this looks WAY cooler! My cousin lives across the state, and I’d love to keep in touch with her more. This computer would make it fun and easy!
This is really cool! I have a brother in Colorado and this would be fun to do with him.
Love being able to have face time with far away relatives!
Wow! This looks like the perfect way to make sure the kids keep in touch with my family across the country. In fact, it looks like SO much fun that we may have a tough time tearing them away from talks/games with their cousins and grandparents. That’s not a bad thing at all! Off to enter the giveaway!
That is cool. I need to get my girls a new computer. And I love the all in ones.
I have never skyped with anyone, and while the grandparents are a long ways away, the kids just talk to them on the phone. I can see how a grandparent would love video chatting though. Thanks for sharing!
I love the kid-friendly features and interactive capabilities of this AOI!
We live thousands of miles away from our family so this would be great for us to have!! My kids miss their cousins and talk to them often, but them playing games together would keep them so close. Thanks for sharing- I will have to check it out.
That is amazing! I love how technology helps keep us in touch with loved ones.
Kas
This looks like a great computer. I have the laptop and I love the touch screen. Now if I can just figure out Windows 8 – LOL!
I am definitely going to enter the giveaway. And I really have to start using G+ Hangouts. Thanks for the idea.
We have friends in Oregon that we FaceTime, I’m so thankful for this.
This looks amazing too.
I would love to try one of the touchsmart computers. I might have to nudge my husband a little!
aww dont you love technology of 2012? so amazing!
Wow! We live on the opposite side of the country from my Mother and thought we have used Skype with the kids this sounds even better. I love the chance to play games and doodle together. I am going to have to talk to my husband about this product. This is the first I have heard of it. :)