I HAVE DECLARED THIS GIVEAWAY NULL AND VOID DUE TO A VARIETY OF ISSUES. My full disclosure about my decision to do this is here. I thank all of the entrants, the people who voted legitimately and HP and their PR firm for giving me this opportunity. It is unfortunate that it had to end this way.

It’s been an exciting week with a lot of great entries for my HP TouchSmart 600 Giveaway. Both HP, their PR firm and I were thoroughly impressed with the entries (even though there were not too many – quality over quantity, right?). For all of those who took the time to enter, I want to personally thank you all! I realize that time is scarce during the holidays so any time you did take to enter and promote the giveaway was definitely appreciated. But now comes the fun part. I have conferred with HP and their PR firm and have come up with 10 FINALISTS! But before I announce those, I feel that I have to make yet another tiny plug for the HP TouchSmart 600. The funny thing was, I was watching CSI: New York over the weekend and notice the HP TouchSmart in their crime lab. Pretty nice product placement if you ask me! I encourage you to read more about the HP TouchSmart 600.

There are 3 sections to this post: the Finalist List, the Finalist Entries and the Voting Module. This is not very scientific and the winner will be based on Popular Vote. I will simply be relying on a Wordpress plugin for the voting. It should work ok and prevent multiple entries from the same person. There are ways around this obviously so if I detect any fraud taking place by any particular finalist, that user will be eliminated from the voting. So let’s keep thing fair and honest!

Voting will be open from when this post hits the blogosphere until Thursday December 17th at NOON (Pacific Time). The entrant with the most votes wins. That’s it!

The Finalists

Here are the Finalists (in order of date entered – oldest to newest):

1. Jimena Sanchez
2. John J Tierney
3. Ellen F. Beck (@Tannawings)
4. Wyomingmom
5. Bryan Simon
6. Jarodmorrison
7. Sahmreviews
8. Ingrid
9. Jeanette Huston
10. Jenn @ Frugal Front Porch

The Finalists’ Entries

Ok so this is the hard part. I will do my best to showcase as much of each entry as possible. You will have to click a link to be able to see some of the photos or videos or other media. The songs and/or stories are available within this post.

1. Jimena Sanchez

Winning this computer would not only make this the best christmas yet but it would also help me year round! The current computer that I have is so chunky that as you see on my picture it takes away all the space that I have on my desk, I usually end up doing homework on my bed or somewhere else because I have no space. Now sharing is great and all but when both my brother and I have stuff to do it really gets annoying having to put a schedule so we can both get our things done. It would be awesome to be able to use a new operating system that apparently doesn’t have as many flaws as the ones before it and I would love to have some space to save all of my songs on my new computer rather than to download them, put them on my ipod (which has more storage capability than my current computer) and then delete them so that I can keep having some space. So won’t you be kind and reward me this awesome PC? thanks!

my Christmas song that is sung with “Santa Baby”

Buh-bum.. buh-bum…
Santa baby just slip a hp touchsmart under the tree, for me
Been an awful good girl
Santa baby so hurry down the chimney tonight

Santa baby, it has HD capability, and its black too
I’ll wait up for you dear
Santa baby, so hurry down the chimney tonight

Think of all the fun I’ve missed,
Think of all the slowness that my current computer brings
Next year I could be just as good
If you get high tech dad to give it to me

Santa baby, I want to pinch, zoom and pan and really that’s not a lot
Been an angel all year
Santa baby, so hurry down the chimney tonight

Santa honey, one little thing I really need, a better computer indeed
To make my Christmas bright,
Santa baby, so hurry down the chimney tonight

Hurry down the chimney tonight
Hurry, tonight.

Media links: Flickr, Flickr, Flickr, Glickr and YouTube

2. John J Tierney

In between unplugging and replugging the controller cables on the my system motherboard to get it to recognize the drives and allow my children to play minesweeper and snake I wrote the following song:
(Sung to the tune of Santa baby)

HP baby, slip a 23″ touch screen under the tree,
For me.
been an awful good geek,
HP Baby, so hurry down my router tonight.

HP baby, 2 DIMMS with 4 Gigabytes,
DDR3.
I’ll wait for you and HighTechDad
HP Baby, so hurry down my router tonight.

Think of all the fun I’ve missed,
Video games on HDMI for my kids,
Next year I could be just as good,
If I had High Def Audio,

HP baby, I wanna HD
Blu-Ray really’s not a lot
Been a frugal gearhead all year,
HP Baby, so hurry down my router tonight.

Santa honey, there’s one thing I really do need,
64-bit
Intel Core 2 Duo Processor,
HP Baby, so hurry down my router tonight.

HP cutie, fill my stocking with a wall mount
and sound
High performance 2.0 speakers
HP cutie, and hurry down the router tonight.

Santa baby, forgot to mention one little thing,
Hard drive,
750 Gigabytes
Santa baby, so hurry down the router tonight,
Hurry down the router tonight,
Hurry, tonight.

Media links: Flickr

3. Ellen F. Beck

I would have been happy to include a pic with my entry but all but one of the USB ports are busted, and the one that isnt has my keyboard hooked to it. So, if I unhook that I cant type- pretty sucky huh? This is a 2003 homebuilt- it does have XP, but hey, what a luxury!
(please insert pic of crappy computer here) <— see, aint I pretty, and the computer junky? yeh!

Oh this pc of mine is frightful,
But the HP is so delightful,
I really wanna let this one go,
Lemme throw! Lemme Throw! Lemme throw!

I hear HighTechDad,has a touchsmart
I should be picked if he has any heart,
Put it in a box with a big fat bow
Lemme throw! Lemme Throw! Lemme throw!

When I finally kiss this thing goodbye
I will throw it out fast into the storm!
You wont see me shed a tear or cry
Holding my HP close I will keep it warm .

The PC is slowly dying,
So I will bid you a small good-bying,
But if you really really love me so
Lemme throw! Lemme Throw! Lemme throw!

PS- this %*^&*)*(&_&)(6$%#@# computer LOCKED 4x while writing this one small thing- ARRRRRRGGGGGGGGGG

Media links: (none due to USB issues)

4. Wyomingmom

here’s my song, sung to the tune of “White Christmas”:

I’m dreaming of an HP TouchSmart,
Just like the ones I’ve seen online,
With 23″ touch display;
It burns dvd & blue-ray.
I hope High Tech Dad will make one mine.

I’m dreaming of an HP Touchsmart,
with every blog comment I write.
Oh, my days will be merry and bright,
If I win I will be filled with delight.

Media links: Picasa

5. Bryan Simon

Lyrics – to the tune of “Jingle Bells”

High Tech Dad, High Tech Dad
Make my Christmas GREAT
The computer I’m using now
Is from 1998
It’s very slow, faint yellow
And hangs up all the time
My Internet’s from Comcast
But it still feels like phone line

My daughter loves to color
With Microsoft Paint
This computer works OK
But man that TouchSmart would work great
I love to record music
With my trust ol’ guitar
My 1/4 gig of memory
Doesn’t take me very far

My wife would love it too
She loves to watch her shows
She’d definitely take advantage
Of the tuner and remote
So clearly you can see
All our activities
Would be so much easier
With the TouchSmart from HP

High Tech Dad, High Tech Dad
Make my dreams come true
As you can see, that new HP
Will go to much good use
High Tech Dad, it’s pretty rad
You’re holding this contest
Big thanks to you and HP too
You guys are the best!

Media links: YouTube, Picasa

6. Jarodmorrison

I’m a technology coordinator at a smaller k-12 school district (around 2200 kids). Back when I was just a math teacher and before I had any kids I used to build and upgrade my computer(s) all the time. Since I’ve taken this job and we’ve had 2 kids I haven’t touched my computer. I love my job, its perfect for me, but when I get home I don’t feel like working on my personal computer when that’s all I’ve done all day, plus I have at least 3 people a week wanting me to come to their house and work on their personal computer! Even if I did want to get my self a new computer I don’t have the time or the money to do anything right now with the kids being such a big factor in our lives. Just this last week I spent over 5 hours after work in the pediatrician’s and the dentist’s office with my kids. Please please please give me a chance at getting this HTD! Thank you for the opportunity.

Song (sang to jingle bells tune)

I’m a dad and I’m busy, so my computer sucks
I would like to build a new one, but I just don’t have the bucks

my old computer sucks, it’s ugly and its slow
I’d like to buy a new but my budget’s just to low

HighTechDad, he’s real cool, he gives nice stuff away
I hope he’ll give me an HP touchsmart, that would make my day!

I’m a dad and I’m busy, so my computer sucks
I would like to build a new one, but I just don’t have the bucks

Just writing this here post, is using all my ram
My CPU’s at 100 percent and my inbox’s clogged with spam!

HighTechDad help me out, give me a chance to win
I’ll promote your blog so much your web server might give in!

I’m a dad and I’m busy, so my computer sucks
I would like to build a new one, but I just don’t have the bucks

Media links: Flickr

7. Sahmreviews

(Sang to “Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer)

Our laptop got blown up while testing new gear
When daddy did a beta test one day
He plugged it in and hit the power button
and now us kids have nothing left to play

This is a very common story
Of not remembering to backup
Because on that fateful morning
Our entire motherboard had done burned up

We’d been logging on to Webkins
and a bit of Farmville too
But our nightmare was just beginning
When daddy said “I know what we can do”

“I’ve got this old computer
But it doesn’t run real great
It’s a first generation Pentium
And it came pre-loaded with Windows 98!”

All our Farmville crops are wilting
And the Webkins are starting to fuss
When you add up both our ages
This laptop is three years older than both of us

So HighTechDad we appeal to your good senses
‘Cause we all love Windows 7
If we happen to win this TouchSmart
It’d be just like we had died and gone to Heaven

Media links: Whrrl, Picasa, Picasa, Picasa

8. Ingrid

YOU’RE A LEAN ONE, OLD PC
(as inspired by Dr. Seuss)

You’re a lean one, Old PC.
You’ve lost all your appeal.
Your motherboard’s a cactus,
Your OS is an eel.
Old PC.

You’re a bad banana
With a greasy gigibyte peel.

You’re a monster, Old PC.
Your hard drive’s an empty hole.
Your brain is full of spiders,
You’ve got viruses in your soul.
Old PC.

I wouldn’t touch you, with a
thirty-nine-and-a-half foot widget pole.

You’re a vile one, Old PC.
You have termites in your drive.
You have all the computing sweetness
Of a seasick crocodile.
Old PC.

Given the choice between the TouchSmart and you
I’d take the screen touch and WiFi.

You’re a foul one, Old PC.
You’re a nasty, XP skunk.
Your hub is full of unwashed socks
Recycle bin’s full of gunk.
Old PC.

The three words that best describe you,
are, and I quote: “Stink. Stank. Stunk.”

And your router, Old PC.
Can’t connect your sinful dots.
Your network’s a dead tomato splot
With moldy purple spots,
Old PC.

Your C-drive is an apalling dump heap overflowing
with the most disgraceful assortment of deplorable rubbish imaginable,
Mangled up in MFT knots.

You nauseate me, Old PC.
With a nauseaus ASCII-naus.
You’re a crooked jerky jockey
And you drive a crooked horse.
Old PC.

It’s time for a three decker HD and Blu-Ray sandwich
From High Tech Dad!

Media links: Picasa, SoundCloud (written lyrics have been slightly modified)

9. Jeanette Huston

Here is my version of Grandma Got Ran Over By a Raindeer with HP TouchSmart 600;-)

Tonight I got burnt by my laptop
sending out greetings for Christmas Eve.
You can say a computers a computer,
but as for me, I wish I had brand new HP.

My laptops really old and I had been on it pretty long,
My husband warned me the memory was low.
and the laptop was working really slow.

When my laptop short-circuit ,
At the scene , my leg was red
The computer was still smoking ,
And incriminating’ burns to prove my laptops wack.

Tonight I got burnt by my laptop
sending out greetings for Christmas Eve.
You can say a computers a computer,
but as for me, I wish I had brand new HP.

Now we have to borrow a laptop,
my husband has not been taking this so well.
See him in there trying to fix my burnt up laptop,
I meanwhile am tending my to my burns with medicated gel.

It’s not Christmas without my laptop.
All the family’s is expecting greetings.
And we just can’t help but wonder:
If they think we forgot them and are totally wack!

Tonight I got burnt by my laptop
sending out greetings for Christmas Eve.
You can say a computers a computer,
but as for me, I wish I had brand new HP.

Now high-tech dad is offering a lucky reader there very own HP.
And I have to convince everyone to vote for me.
I love the HP Touch Smart touch screen capacity.
Pretty please vote for me.

I’ve warned all my friends and neighbors.
“If I am chosen as a finalist
Voting for me could be my gift,
I hope everyone can see I need this computer more.

Tonight I got burnt by my laptop
sending out greetings for Christmas Eve.
You can say a computers a computer,
but as for me, I wish I had brand new HP.

Oh
But as for me, I wish I had brand new HP.

We need a computer. Ours is broken. I have work I could use this computer for, plus being a Marine when I deploy I could use it to communicate home to my husband and kids. When saying this I mean they will have it while I use computers where I am at to communicate with them. Plus my husband had to stop his online classes when our computer broke. We could use this computer to send photos of our kids to family back home. Please take pitty and vote for us. We need a computer;-(

Media links: YouTube, Flickr, Flickr

10. Jenn @ Frugal Front Porch

I NEED this computer…DESPERATELY. Here’s my story.
My husband’s been home with a severe back injury since last Christmas, as in December 25th 2008. EVERY DAY for the past YEAR, he’s been home; not able to do much besides read, play video games, watch TV and get on the computer. This SUCKS for me since I can’t get him off the laptop when he gets on it. I gotta blog to run, tweets to twitter, friends to facebook, giveaways to enter, and online shopping to do. I can’t wait for him to get done with his marathon game of Farmville. Not to mention the computer’s missing keys (courtesy of my 3 year old who thought there were pretty!) and now it wants to crash all the time! Just lovely! ;)
So can’t you see, I REALLY need the HP Touchsmart 600!!!

Media links: Picasa

So there you have the details on the selected FINALISTS.

The Voting

Below is a poll where you can vote for your favorite finalist. Please only vote once, BUT, you can have your friends, family and coworkers vote for you as well! So be sure to share this link (https://www.hightechdad.com/htdhpv) which I have specially created for this.

TWEET IT OUT – Just click HERE to launch Twitter with the following message: “Vote NOW for the @HighTechDad HP TouchSmart 600 Giveaway FINALISTS! https://www.hightechdad.com/htdhpv Pls RT!”

IMPORTANT: It has come to my attention that there may be some improper voting occurring. I am taking action on banning that type of activity. Also, since votes HAVE BEEN LOGGED using a “questionable process”, I will be removing those votes that I feel are NOT VALID. This is only fair.  I would hate to simply cancel the giveaway or boot out an entrant, so please try to be fair with the voting. Many people have put a lot of legitimate work into this (myself included) and I do not want to end this giveaway. PLEASE PLAY BY THE BOOKS FOLKS!

I am suspending the voting (temporarily) to remove invalid votes. It seems that someone is using script to artificially vote. If this continues, I will be forced to cancel the giveaway.

UPDATE: 12.16.09 @ 8:52AM Pacific – I have removed 2151 invalid votes and reopened the voting. I will continue to audit the poll logs.

Here are the finalists:

[poll id=”2″]

Best of luck to all of the Finalists! Voting ends at NOON (Pacific time) on December 17th!

Note: I have turned off comments. No need to leave any. Also, votes are logged by IP address and cookie. In the event of a TIE, a 12-hour voting run-off between the people who are tied for 1st place will take place.

HTD says: Hope everyone enjoyed this HP Giveaway. Wow, it was a lot of work!