Serious cooks know that digital devices and cooking often don't mix well in the kitchen. Messy hands, spills and splatters can be a hazard to iPads and other devices. However, Samsung this week at IFA 2012 launched new all-in-one computers that earn a spot on the kitchen counter.
From a cook's perspective, Samsung's new AIO PC Series 7 has some pretty useful features, such as a viewing angle of 178 degrees both vertically and horizontally, which means you can be over the stove or working at a table and still have an undistorted view of the screen. With Windows 8 touch-enabled and more sensitive screen, all 10 fingers can be used for more navigation options.
But where Samsung's AIO really excels is with its gesture control. If you already use an iPad or other device in the kitchen while you're cooking, you know that using it is anything but seamless — you're constantly wiping off your hands before swiping the screen to move on with a recipe.
Samsung's AIO has five hand gesture recognition features that you can use from up to about a yard away. For instance, swipe right or left to turn a page in an e-cookbook , rotate your palm clockwise or counterclockwise to change the volume of an instructional video or stop it by waving your hands. Plus, a how-to cooking app featuring British chef Jamie Oliver, best known for his Naked Chef series on Food Network, comes pre-installed.
The AIO PC Series 7 comes in two sizes — 27-inch and 23-inch glossy displays, 720p HD (2560 x 1440 resolution), along with the choice of an Intel i5 or i7 processor, up to 1TB HDD, 64GB SSD and a Blu-ray drive. Pricing for the Series 7 ranges from $1,099 to $1,699 and the computers will be available Oct. 26.