HP DreamScreen Shows Secondary Device Potential

The DreamScreen was designed ostensibly to act as a gadget that makes it easy for users to interact with social media, upload photos to the Web and do some light Web browsing.

"Constant, always-on access to friends, information and entertainment is a common expectation today," said Satjiv Chahil, senior vice president, worldwide marketing, HP Personal Systems Group, in a statement. "With HP DreamScreen, social media, Web services and digital entertainment can be enjoyed in more areas of the home."

The DreamScreen is the latest move by a PC maker in an attempt to march a computer out of the office and into the living room -- or any other room in the home.

The trick for HP -- and any other nettop, all-in-one or netbook, for that matter -- is to find the right balance between horsepower, aesthetics and portability, combined with ease of use for complimentary hardware.

It's unlikely that netbooks or nettops will replace a standard notebook or desktop, as the new devices simply don't have enough in the way of internal hardware for heavy use. But if more companies begin to create devices like HP's DreamScreen with the express purpose of being a complimentary device, then that market will likely continue to grow and provide valuable supplements for PC market.