‘Tis the season for back to school, and thus, ’tis the season for gadget reviews! Over the past few weeks, I’ve had the pleasure of testing out some brand new electronic toys; specifically, a phone, an ultrabook and a brand new Mobile All-in-One Desktop PC. (Yes, I’m feeling très geek chic.) The truth is, even though I’m not a tech writer, I have a pretty good handle on what works well for my family, and hence, am enthused to share some of our favourite gadgets for the new school year. Let’s begin with the All-in-One.
Courtesy of HP, we received the new HP ENVY Rove 20 Mobile All-in-One Desktop PC. Touted as “the desktop with a built-in battery that leaves the desk behind”, your family can enjoy an all-in-one that moves with you. Stand the touchscreen upright to watch movies, then move it to the living room and lay it flat for group games and creative projects. Think of it as the king of tablets. And when I say king, I mean King Kong, because the 20-inch HD display is downright massive.
So, Ryder has been at school for just over 3 weeks now. And even though I feared he may have an awkward, fearful transition – he had been just fine. More than fine, actually; while he still shows signs of anxiety, he also shows excitement for going to class because he loves to learn. Reading, writing, math and art – you name it – he is utterly obsessed with gaining knowledge. And so we try to tailor the activities at home to keep the Brain Training alive; you’ll often find Ryder’s head buried in a primary reader, assembling 100-piece puzzles on the floor and always, always colouring. (And shouting at little Reid to colour between the lines.)
Last month, HP issued a Brain Training Challenge aimed at helping parents and teachers give young learners the creative edge in a competitive world. I was asked to perform a series of challenges with my boys in the first few weeks of school – a “kick start” of sorts to get their creative and analytic juices flowing from the beginning. Of course, I had the perfect tester!
Before I chat about the visually-striking, family friendly educational apps we tried, I really should point something out. See the HP ENVY Rove 20 Mobile All-in-One Desktop PC on my coffee table? Did you notice anything that’s missing? Oh, just the EXTENSION CORD – that’s right, with a built-in battery, my entire “home office” is now completely mobile! So when I’m not pounding away on the keyboard drumming up blog posts, the kiddos are watching movies online, playing games and fighting over taking turns with the apps I’ve downloaded from the Windows store.
Our family favourite is the Fresh Paint app. With two young boys who adore colouring, it’s easy to see why they’d be drawn (no pun intended) to an app that allows them to express themselves creatively! The app is free to download but there are a few inexpensive add-ons that you may want to purchase – like this Finding Nemo colouring book with 22 sheets. For just $2.99, I bought myself hours and hours of freedom. The whine-free kind of freedom.
The touchscreen is completely intuitive, very responsive and perfectly suited for tiny little fingertips. But here’s why it receives an A+ chez Lena… see below. The boys are playing their favourite puzzle game, JIG WARS. (It’s also MY favourite puzzle game, because we don’t have to deal with stray pieces under our couch.) You’ll notice that we’ve flattened the hinged stand (very awesome feature, BTW) so that the boys can play together. That’s right – together.
The 10-point touchscreen responds to multiple gestures at once! So the boys can tap, swipe, and type away at the same time, allowing them to play games, draw pictures or make beautiful music – in harmony. No more arguing over who gets the to play with the tablet! With the HP ENVY Rove 20 Mobile All-in-One Desktop PC, they’re sharing the screen time. And that translates to 50% less scream time for me!
Of course, every successful puzzle collaboration deserves a celebration. GO BOYS!
App-tually speaking, we’re also huge fans of Puzzle Touch, Animal Sound Box, Zoo Train and Star Chart, all available for download at the Windows Store.
Ryder has been getting his learn-on at home thanks to the wonderful myriad of creative apps available to Windows 8 users. At any given time, I can see him participate in art, biology, science or math-related activities which truly do help stimulate his learning and creativity. I’m ecstatic to take on the other Brain Training Challenges, and will be back later this week with an update. In the meantime, check out the HP ENVY Rove 20 Mobile All-in-One Desktop PC; it’s perfectly suited to families and is one of my favourite new gadgets for back-to-school 2013.
The HP products mentioned in this blog post were supplied by HP Canada.
wow thats a huge screen! I wanna play!
Hahaha come on over! Ryder is the reigning JIG WARS champion; you can challenge him!
Awesome.
This exact computer is on my wish list for Christmas! I had no idea that it folded down into an oversized tablet, so thank you for demonstrating that. Looks even better to me now!
So awesome! Yes, it’s really handy when it folds down because then it becomes a tablet for entertainment!
A battery backup on the computer is huge. Really like that it’s so portable. What is the battery life like, Lena?
So far it’s given us at least 5 hours, but I honestly haven’t tested it to its full potential. I’ll let you know!
OMG how cute are your boys? How old are they? Looks like they’re having a great time, it’s nice to see them playing together on a touchscreen, we usually have to take turns and that doesn’t always work out.
Thanks Meghan! They’re 3 and 5 :) And I love that they can play together – makes for great family time!
Oh I LOVE the Paint App, but haven’t downloaded any coloring books yet. I’m going to do that today, not because I’m looking for an hour of distraction for the kids but because I love them and want to enrich them and their creative side. Yeah, that’s it.
Hahaha – of course! That’s exactly why I purchased the colouring book. Because it’s enriching.
I wasn’t expecting it to be that big! Looks like it would be a lot of fun and with screen that size, it is perfect for kids to both look on.
It’s massive Brenda – and the perfect size for tag-team fun!
Looks like a great system. Looks like your boys are having a blast with it.
They are! And they do!
Oh, this is finally a tablet that appeals to me :) I have absolutely no use for those tiny ones…
Hahaha it definitely has more than enough “screen” to do the job!
This is on my wish list too! I think it’s such a cool program for kids, adults too!
Absolutely! It’s great for the whole family!
Wow that is really big – I must have one of these. Looks like the boys enjoyed it.
They continue to love it :)
Oh, drool envy, I want one Lena. How awesome is this, allowing both kids to play together. Unheard of in my household.
I completely know what you mean, because until this baby came along, I was in the same boat! Definitely a great investment.
Awesome! I love the huge screen and the boys are really having a blast playing together.
Yup, not too many screams – for either of us!
Looks amazing – I wonder how much it weighs (was looking at their site and it didn’t say). Glad your boys are able to play on it at the same time – something my 2 youngest granddaughters need (and leave “mommy’s” laptop alone then).
Flora, it’s much heavier than an average tablet, but definitely portable :)
This looks fantastic! Can’t beat learning and having fun at the same time! Your boys look like they’re having a great time!
Thanks Anne – we love it!
You totally captured their enjoyment through the photos :)
Thank you Victoria :)
Looks amazing.
Thats one massiveeeeee screen LOL holy! that would be a blast for the childcare kids, my daughter & I. The kids look like they are having Soooooo much fun haha xx
Brilliant
Great team work! I really like that there’s no cord to trip over as my toddler gets bigger and into more things I like the idea of having one less thing to plug in and I can place it higher and out of reach without cords to wrap or put away.
I read a lot about this and it’s so amazing! Wish it all was around when I was younger!
That is a big screen and love the artistic options!
WOW that is one Massive Screen. My boys would love this
wow thats a huge screen! grandchildren would love this
I would love an all in one pc and the screen is huge.
Wow I wish they would of had that technology when my girls were young, they loved to colour and would have had a ball with this!
That screen is amazing! This is now on the Xmas list
I do like the Fresh Paint app. A neat way to paint and mommy doesn’t have to clean up.
that is some big tablet, love that fresh paint app
Wow – that is so cool – I was reading this and didn’t realize my 7 and 12 years olds were looking over my shoulder! Now they both want one? Dual xmas gift? Nice Idea! Thanks!
The boys rock!! This looks like fabulous technology…bit of a computer geek, me. The boys are so great at sharing and compromise. Is it like this all of the time, Lena? Sara was very good at sharing with her cousin but her cousin not so much.
A 20″ display would be wonderful for me…vision isn’t so 20/20 anymore. I know that Sara would love a larger screen for viewing her movies.
This looks like such an awesome app for kids. Going to check it out for my kidlets. Thanks!
Fun and entertaining!
Love the huge screen and the colouring app is awesome!
Looks like an amazing tablet and I love the look of the Fresh Paint App! Looks like you boys were having a blast with it.
Wow, that screen is way bigger than I imagined!
The fresh paint app looks awesome. I love that they can play TOGETHER and not have to take turns!
I love that they look so happy playing with it. I had 3 kids very close together so they often all wanted to play with the same thing at the same time , so this would have been great when they were that age
I’ve only read this post so far and I want to run out and buy 1! I love the fact that companies are incorporating toddlers and young kids in the apps and products they make. We’re in an era where technology is important and having kids learning how to work them as well as learning educationally at the same time is brilliant :)
Wow that is awesome, My kids would have so much fun with it. (and mommy and daddy) :-)
that would be huge in my household as my two 2 fight over who gets to play on the ipad all the time. I love that the kids could play together.
This is awesome, its like an tablet on steroids seriously its huge and i like big screens:) I WANT it!!
What a large, bright screen! My gang might actually share using it instead of fighting over it!
I’m impressed that it folds down into a MASSIVE tablet, and the multi-touch is a great way to interact with your child and not having to isolate them while you “show them” how its done!
Wow, that thing is huge! I LOVE that more then one person can play on it at once. I think I may seriously have to consider this for my children!
This is super cute! And I love how huge the screen is. I think my girls will love this!
Wow,my boys would love this!!
Gosh, that looks so much fun for the kiddos! I can’t believe how big that screen appears.
The Fresh Paint app looks like a lot for fun for the kids. I think I’d also have some fun with it too!
I am most definitely drooling over this one. Fun as well.
I want this gadget ! When I get my hands on it, I wouldn’t share with my family ! :)
This item looks like so much fun!
This computer is on my Christmas list for Santa!
Wow, what an awesome gizmo. Love that you can do drawing and painting right on the tablet – very neat!
Love the big screen and the paint app.
I love how large the screen is.. Kids really need to stay on top of the tech world these days (as it’s the way of the world!) so anything to keep them up to speed while still learning is a bonus :)
This is fabulous! Brain training is something that you are never to young or too old to do! My son has fun with me as we do different fun brain training games and exercises
I never realized how big the screen was until I saw your kids playing! They both look like they are having so much fun! I know little one would love to play games on this. It’s harder to play puzzle games on my phone since it’s a smaller screen compared to this!
I have never thought that board games can now be played not on a board! It’s so exciting!
My daughter would love this!
Oh my! Love this!
My son really loves playing with gadgets. Phones, computers, even my handheld GPS unit! This is great!
It’s pretty incredible how technology has advanced, and how young kids are getting the hang of it so easily.
Great screen for sharing…my boys would love it
I love the size of the Rove 20 So amazing, and yet portable. Completely changes how a computer/tablet can and will be used in the family.
Wow! The size of that screen is awesome. The kids dont’ really need to fight to get a good view with that screen.
I swear. You are a tech queen. I really loved the Fresh Paint. Wow. An awesome array of things to do for the little ones. Very awesome programs. :)
I love seeing games that two people can do at once on tablets, at least using media doesn’t have to be a solitary activity!
this sounds awesome!
fun bonding moments for families and the kids just love to show what they have learned
that is one sweeet screen, would be so fantastic to have
okay yup my kids would go crazy nuts excited lol
Wow large screen, I def need a lighter tablet to replace my huge laptop when traveling
Wow! That is a sexy computer! It’s so important to teach kids to use technology wisely. They can learn so much and it is the way of the future. There are many great apps out to tech children. My son loves counting and ABC apps!
Wow, that’s sleek! Totally love it!! Lots of new electronics floating around your house Lena! Lovin’ this.
a mobile desktop with a huge screen? wow! Sounds like it’s totally worth it to keep the kids entertained for some time. And yay for no wires!
That is sooooo cool! Makes my old ipad look puny! LOL! Would give my eye teeth for one of those.
I love the huge screen. Good for young eyes and I hate to admit it, my aging eyes.
I agree with Debbie W. Loving the large screen.
This is a fabulous product – my nephews would go nuts!
Oh wow my boys love these coloring apps on iPad, this one I have never heard of, will have to get them this one! Thanks for sharing
Your boys are cute. Love how they are using the desktop pc together. The large screen is a must for kids now a days. It’s better for the eyes.
That is one hue screen..love it and all the apps
WOW what a beautiful family. Love the all in one PC that is awesome and a great space saver too, with the tablet and pc wow i am so impressed. my girls are the same age as your boys so they would absolutly enjoy this to it’s full potential! they even teach me stuff on my electronics!
I’ll have to look for that app for my tablet. My 4 year old is obsessed with trying to use it but I don’t have alot of experience with kid applications. Thanks, LEna!
The All In One PC is awesome, I love that it folds into a tablet. The learning apps are great, anything that we parents can do to help our children get a leg up in this competitive world is a must.
I love that it has a built-in battery and the screen size! Talk about mobile entertainment.
FABULOUS!! I think my son would absolutely love this! He is so into electronics its crazy!
Wow that is a huge screen. This is exactly what I need for my boys.
i like the big screen and thanks for sharing a great app
Think the Puzzle Touch would be a hit with my son. Is a computer whiz and love to put things together – especially Lego. Architect in the future ? Wow some great applications for kids to utilize here.
Love the big screen!
Oh man, that thing is huge! That goes on my covet list! ;-)
Who doesn’t like games? :)