HP Pavilion Elite e9240f Desktop PC

Being a computer engineer, I often build systems from scratch. However, my wife likes things to be more integrated (read: not kluged) so I decided to buy an "off the shelf" unit to hook up to our LCD TV for watching streaming 'Net programs. Of course, the unit still had to scan photos, etc., so I wanted something more powerful than the set-top computers. I looked for PCs that had a remote control so my wife could easily control everything while using her treadmill. It seems like Gateway and HP are among the few companies that offer an OEM remote control. The Gateways I examined received poor reviews, so I focused on HPs. Staples had this unit locally for the same price as most online merchants. While I could have saved a few bucks with online coupons, being able to see the unit in person was worth the extra cost. So far, the computer has worked perfectly. A $10 HDMI cable from a local shop had the HDTV up and running as a second monitor in 1080P mode. The remote is great for controlling the Hulu desktop and Windows Media Center. I love the fact that Netflix is integrated into the Media Center app. When I shoehorn Hulu into the Media Center app, then everything will be pretty well integrated.

I have already uninstalled some of the extra software that came with the computer and I'm probably going to get rid of the annoying HP support junk (I usually get rid of that stuff on day one but I thought I'd give it a chance first). Overall, this unit has met or exceeded expectations in every area. I haven't tried Blu-Ray playback yet so I'm not sure if I will encounter any DRM (punish your customer) issues with the current TV setup. If Blu-Ray works, I'll be extremely happy with the entire setup.

The only thing I would possibly change is to make the remote have a mode where it works as a mouse (e.g., moving cursor and clicking). In all fairness, that capability may exist--I haven't spent a lot of time trying to locate it.

As stated above, this system has met or exceeded my expectations to date.

Lots of bells and whistles. Great performance.

I love this thing! its fast, its user friendly, and the new Win7 is awesome! I waited till we went past the whole Vista system to upgrade my XP. The Blu Ray player is great! I have a nice sound system, and upgraded monitor so it is wonderful for movies, pics, or manipulating graphics. Only con is that its a new OS, so my new printer, wont install the software because its searching for vista/XP and wont install onto Win7. The website promises that a software to run the thing is expected soon. This would have happened with any new OS, so its not totally unexpected. Staples beat the other retailers and even some website places that are well known for lower deals. I beat their best price by a penny, [...]! the Terrabyte HD is awesome, but could have used more power than 5400. its lightening fast, and I dont notice a difference, but just hoping for the future. The TV tuner fits seamlessly into media center, and the remote rocks! I would definatly buy this again if given a do over.