Give me a break.

Microsoft and HP are announcing that beginning in 2009, HP’s consumer line will ship with Microsoft’s Live Search Toolbar preinstalled in the browser. The toolbar is Silverlight based, which is cool, but c’mon folks don’t shove this down our throats.

The HP tx2000 model I’m evaluating already has enough CRAPWARE built into the machine and the browser to make you want to pull your hair out. Yeah, yeah, yeah, I realize the supposed benefits that this offers from a marketing and cost perspective, but here’s the deal I’ll make. If the HP brass and the big brass at Microsoft will use this for one month before releasing it, and document their usage for all to see, I’ll quit complaining about this as CRAPWARE.

Wanna win a $5200 HP HDX Dragon Entertainment Notebook System? Well, you’ve come to the right place! We are the last of the elite 31 sites to launch their contest, so if you have not won yet, you've got one more chance and it couldn't be easier to enter!!!

What are we giving away?

Thanks to HP and BuzzCorps, we are giving away The HP HDX Dragon which comes with Microsoft Windows Vista Ultimate (64-bit) and is powered by an Intel Core 2 Extreme Processor X9000 (2.80GHz, 6MB L2 Cache, 800MHz FSB). Other features include 20.1" diagonal WUXGA High-Definition HP Ultra Brightview Widescreen (1920x1200) 1080p, 4GB DDR2 System Memory (2 Dimm), 512MB NVIDIA GeForce 8800M GTS, HP Imprint Finish (Dragon) + Fingerprint Reader + Webcam + Microphone, Intel PRO/Wireless 4965AGN Network Connection and Bluetooth, 500GB 5400RPM SATA Dual Hard Drive (250GB x 2), Blu-Ray ROM with SuperMulti DVD+/-R/RW Double Layer, Integrated HP HDTV Hybrid TV Tuner and 4 Altec Lansing speakers with HP Triple Bass Reflex subwoofer, and 9 Cell Lithium Ion Battery.

The HP HDX Dragon will come with these software titles: Microsoft Office, Corel PaintShop Pro X2, Corel Painter Essentials, Corel Ulead Video Studio Plus  11.5, Symantec Norton Internet Security.

For the gamers in us the winner will receive the following games: Viva Piñata,Microsoft Flight Sim, Microsoft Flight Sim Expansion Pack, Gears of War.

And since this is an entertainment beast, you will enjoy the following Blu Ray movies out of the box: Pirates of the Caribbean - The Curse of the Black Pearl, Pirates of the Caribbean - Dead Man's Chest, Pirates of the Caribbean - At World's End.

In addition to the above, thanks to Waterfield Designs, we are also giving away a specially designed case so the winner can carry this entertainment beast around!! We are the only site giving away this special accessory, so be sure to watch our video of the sleeve here.

This entire system has a street retail value of over $5200!!!!

How do you enter the contest?

It couldn't be easier to enter this contest. All you have to do is answer these five questions by posting a reply to this forum thread. Forum membership is required and you can easily join here if not already a member.

Here are the five questions you must answer:

1) Do you currently use a mobile computer ( Laptop, Tablet PC, UMPC, Ultra-Portable PC, etc)? If so, what brand(s) and what operating system(s) ?

2) When did you purchase the computer that you currently use the most and when do you plan on replacing it?

3) Will your next purchase be a mobile computer? If so, what kind and what brand(s) are you considering?

4) What technology leader would you most like to have lunch with and what would you want to discuss?

5) What can HP do to improve your mobile life?

While you here visiting GottaBeMobile.com, be sure to look around at our mobile pc news, InkShow video reviews, and discussion forums. We'd absolutely love it if you also subscribed to our RSS feed. We work hard at thoroughly covering the mobile pc space, and hope you'll find our content helpful and useful as you navigate the mobile world.

Here are a few rules and guidelines for the contest:

• Entry is open to registered GottaBeMobile.com forum members. Register for free here.
• One entry per person. Multiple entries will be removed. An entry will be considered valid if all five questions are answered.
• Entries will be accepted from June 1 12:01 am MST through June 8 at 3:00 PM MST.
• This contest is open to residents of ALL countries. Buzz Corps and HP will pay shipping
• Buzz Corps and HP will also be helping with taxes by gifting you with a check to offset the tax impact of winning this $5200 + system.
• The winner will be chosen randomly from all valid entries and be announced on June 8^th by 5:00 PM MST. The winner will be notified by email and announced on the homepage of GottaBeMobile. The winner will have 72 hours to respond via email. If no response is received, we will choose another winner randomly.
• Staff members of GBM, HP, BuzzCorps, and the other 30 participating sites are not eligible to enter this contest

By the way, be sure to check out the other currently running contests at these other sites. Time is running out - so don't hesitate to act NOW!

26 May - 02 Jun http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/
27 May - 03 Jun http://www.hardwaregeeks.com/
28 May - 04 Jun www.geeknewscentral.com
29 May - 05 Jun http://www.geekzone.co.nz/
30 May - 06 Jun http://www.thetabletpc.net/
31 May - 07 Jun www.gearlive.com
01 Jun - 08 Jun www.GottaBeMobile.com

Ok folks, the last of the HP HDX Dragon contests are upon us, with yours truly hitting the stage on June 1.

21 May - 28 May www.geek.com
22 May - 29 Mau www.lockergnome.com
23 May - 30 May www.planetx64.com
24 May - 31 May www.thegreenbutton.com
25 May - 01 Jun www.istartedsomething.com
26 May - 02 Jun www.bleepingcomputer.com
27 May - 03 Jun www.hardwaregeeks.com
28 May - 04 Jun www.geeknewscentral.com
29 May - 05 Jun www.geekzone.co.nz
30 May - 06 Jun www.thetabletpc.net
31 May - 07 Jun www.gearlive.com
01 Jun - 08 Jun www.gottabemobile.com

Head over to BleepingComputer.com to begin your chance to win the HP HDX Dragon!

Long Zheng, of IStartedSomething.com, has become a great resource for unearthing some really valuable Microsoft and Windows news. The Windows 7 news we pointed to yesterday is just a one example. Long, whom I had the pleasure of meeting last year, does a fantastic job of reporting and writing.

Well, Long kicked off his 31 Days of the Dragon contest today. It is really simple to submit your entry, so get started on something today!

If there is one go-to site for Windows Media Center, it would be TheGreenButton.com. Whenever I'm curious about the latest add-ons for Media Center or am having some trouble figuring something out, I head over to their forums. The site is an excellent source for anything Media Center related.

TheGreenButton.com just kicked off their contest for the most awesome entertainment Media Center notebook pc: The HP HDX Dragon. You must have had a TGB account on their forums prior to 4/28/08 in order to be eligible for their contest. With over 100,000 members in the TGB community, they should not have any trouble getting entries for the contest!

PlanetX64.com launched their contest today and is ready to giveaway an HP HDX Dragon. Head over and begin their treasure hunt today!

Go geek out with Geek.com and you could walk away with an HP HDX Dragon.

Their contest is simple: fill out a survey and your name gets entered in to the drawing. Who could ask for anything simpler!

There are a ton of webcams out on the market today, but not all of them are the same and have the same performance.  A few weeks ago I was given the opportunity to take a look at a new offering in the web cam world.  The HP Elite Webcam.

This webcam stands out from the rest because it is the first to offer a full 3MP resolution camera.  With that resolution, there is also a software enhanced 12 MP picture option.  In this InkShow I take a look at the hardware itself, I take a look at the quality of the video being captured by the camera at different resolutions and also look at the bundled software.   Check out the video if you have been wanting to pick one of these units up!

• Up to 12-Megapixel still image capture with software interpolation
• 3-Megapixel sensor with Autofocus in a stylish webcam: get HD video
  quality and keep the image always sharp and focused.
  Unique easy clip option: for stable, secure and easy to attach to select
  HP monitors
• Tilt and Pan: easily adjust your webcam to let you show what you
  want while maintaining a stable connection to your monitor
  HP Instant Chat button: press one button to automatically launch your
  preferred Instant Messaging program* and your webcam controls
  (Magic-i)
• ArcSoft Magic-i: enhance your video conferencing experience with fun
  special effects. Magic-I also keeps all your webcam controls in one
  application and allows you save up to 5 user profiles so you are
  looking good wherever you use your webcam.
• Compatible with AIM™, Windows Live Messenger, Skype®, and
  Yahoo!® Messenger.
• Certified high-speed USB 2.0: take full advantage of your broadband
  access and enjoy up to 30 frames per second for smooth and natural
  body motion.
• Integrated stereo microphone and plug and play USB connection for
  easy installation .
• Privacy cover: slide the privacy cover when you don’t want to be seen.
  The colored shade helps you identify if the privacy cover is on or off.
• Comprehensive software included: manage your online chat with
  ArcSoft Magic-i, capture, edit and share short videos with Arcsoft
  VideoImpression and ArcSoft WebCam Companion, and edit and
  retouch photos with HP Photosmart Essential.

Here's the list of the most current sites running HP HDX contests, with Neowin.net starting today:

14 May - 21 May bink.nu
15 May - 22 May www.mediablab.com
16 May - 23 May www.last100.com
17 May - 24 May www.labnol.org
18 May - 25 May www.notebooks.com
19 May - 26 May www.slashdotreview.com
20 May - 27 May www.neowin.net

The latest site to enter the fray of HP HDX giveaways is SlashDotReview.com. Their contest is a little bit different: answer some survey questions every day, and you'll be entered!

You'll want to hit up this page and check out the  SDRNews link for the latest survey link. The link changes every 24 hours.

Who better to give away the biggest notebook on the planet than Notebooks.com! Head over and begin their contest.

Digital Inspiration kicks off their contest today, in what looks to be a pretty simple entry process. Head over and check it out!

Check out these sites who are still running HP HDX Dragon contests as of today. Ours is coming up on June 1, so be sure to tune in then!

11 May - 18 May www.windows-now.com
12 May - 19 May www.windowsconnected.com
13 May - 20 May www.geekstogo.com
14 May - 21 May bink.nu
15 May - 22 May www.mediablab.com
16 May - 23 May www.last100.com

Most folks know Bink.nu for their great Microsoft coverage. Well, for the next seven days, they'll be known for the $5k HP HDX Dragon they are giving away.

Head over and check out their contest!

Two more sites to hit up for more HP HDX Dragon fun Windows-Now.com and GeeksToGo.com! Head on over and begin the fun!

The good folks at Waterfield Designs, who make some of the most awesome sleeves on the market, sent me one of their new sleeves - especially built for the HP HDX Dragon we are giving away. Give it a look - the thing is amazing! Look for a review on this sleeve in the coming week or so.

Here's the product page for the Waterfield Designs sleeve case for the HP HDX Dragon

Windows Connected is up to the plate, launching their 7 day contest for the HP HDX Dragon. Head over and be prepared to get creative.

DigitalHomeThoughts.com is next up with their 31 Days of The Dragon contest. Their contest starts today through May 17th.

Look for details on DigitalHomeThought's contest to show up later today. They are finishing up a server move.

This video from HP Education Solutions was put up on YouTube a couple of days ago and I thought it did a good job of describing a Tablet PC.  It might be a nice video to point people to if they would like to know what can be done with a Tablet PC.  Well, all but the pouring the coffee on the keyboard part  don't have them test that one...