Why consider a pricey 17-inch laptop when you can get more screen real estate for less money with an all-in-one desktop? We check out some of the coolest ones out there.
Apple iMac (Nvidia GeForce GT 130)
The Apple iMac 24-inch (GeForce GT 130), the company's top-of-the-line iMac, is a moderate refresh. The new Nvidia motherboard chipset and discrete graphics give it a leg up on the previous high-end model, and CTO (configure to order) options give it the flexibility to serve all but the most specialized content creators.
Apple iMac (Nvidia GeForce 9400M)
Apple moves closer to the sweet spot with the iMac (Nvidia GeForce 9400M). This all-in-one gives you the screen real estate you crave, along with strong multimedia capabilities, and the covetable Apple design, all for a reasonable price. It's both an object of lust and offers good bang for the buck in the all-in-one desktop space.
ASUS Eee Top 1602
The ASUS Eee Top 1602 is the first truly integrated all-in-one nettop. The Eee Top may create a new category—think of it as the new Internet terminal that replaces your desktop (which is what WebTV or Audrey tried to do). The Eee Top is an intriguing alternative to low-cost desktop PCs as well as netbooks. Unlike the first netbooks, it runs Windows XP instead of Linux. The Eee Top also has a neat touch screen and a bigger display than any cheap netbook.
Cybernet iOne-GX31
The success of the iMac line demonstrates that the all-in-one PC form factor can work for business. The Cybernet iOne-GX31 ($2,358 list) is a quad-core-powered all-in-one PC geared for commerce, with a touch screen that will work well for Web navigation and purpose-built solutions like cash register terminals (with the PC in effect serving as the cash register, minus the money tray) and data gathering. It's well built, and fast enough for corporate use. The all-in-one form factor works well for tight cubicles and shared workspaces since it avoids having a tangle of wires coming out of the PC.
Dell Studio One 19
The Dell Studio One 19 ($1,103 direct) is the latest all-in-one desktop PC from Dell, and it is a beauty. The beauty is more than skin deep, with evolutionary features including an optional touch screen, 16:9 widescreen, and a choice of four colored accents. It's softer than the other all-in-one PCs, both visually and in a tactile sense. The configuration we looked at won't supplant any of its high-end rivals, but it remains an interesting choice for the family that uses its computers together.
Lenovo IdeaCentre A600
With a love-it-or-hate-it design, the Lenovo IdeaCentre A600 gives the value PC buyer an all-in-one option that's more powerful than that cheap nettop, though power users may want more. The configuration we've reviewed here is the value-for-dollar leader, with some upgrades over the base unit. It's a very good choice if you're hesitant to switch to the Mac, want to save some money, and want a computer you can talk about and show off.
eMachines EZ1601-01
The eMachines EZ1601-01 is among the best of the nettops, with an integrated screen and DVD burner. It is a space-saving, yet larger alternative to a portable nettop, but you can do better if price is your sole consideration
All-in-one desktop PCs used to be considered the middle children of the PC industry. They have larger screens and more powerful components than most notebooks (a plus), but don't have the expandability and ultimate upgradability of a mid-tower desktop (a minus). All-in-one PCs can range from the sub-$600 all-in-one nettops to the multi-thousand dollar 24-inch or larger screen systems with moderately high-end graphics and multimedia creation prowess. Today's all-in-one desktop PCs have the power that the Web-based user needs, along with the minimal design that makes you think "this is what I thought a computer would look like in the 21st century."
It's Got a Huge ... Screen
The main differentiator of the all-in-one PC is the screen: it's usually larger than the same sized screen of a similarly priced laptop, and will be brighter than a laptop screen, since you don't have to worry about battery life in a desktop PC. And of course, the run of the mill tower desktop doesn't have any screens built in at all. Thanks to the pioneering Apple iMac , screens around the 20-inch mark are common in this space, but screens as small as the 15.6-inch widescreen on theASUS Eee Top 1602 can be found in compact all-in-ones. Large 24-inch screens appear on systems like the Apple iMac (Nvidia GeForce GT 130) , which give you more screen real estate than HDTVs (1,920 by 1,080 resolution). Contrast this with the "huge" 17-inch screens on laptops: even a 20-inch mid priced all-in-one desktop. And remember, LCD screens are getting bigger and sleeker and wider and brighter.
The main differentiator of the all-in-one PC is the screen: it's usually larger than the same sized screen of a similarly priced laptop, and will be brighter than a laptop screen, since you don't have to worry about battery life in a desktop PC. And of course, the run of the mill tower desktop doesn't have any screens built in at all. Thanks to the pioneering Apple iMac , screens around the 20-inch mark are common in this space, but screens as small as the 15.6-inch widescreen on theASUS Eee Top 1602 can be found in compact all-in-ones. Large 24-inch screens appear on systems like the Apple iMac (Nvidia GeForce GT 130) , which give you more screen real estate than HDTVs (1,920 by 1,080 resolution). Contrast this with the "huge" 17-inch screens on laptops: even a 20-inch mid priced all-in-one desktop. And remember, LCD screens are getting bigger and sleeker and wider and brighter.
In terms of HDTV, you'll find Blu-ray drives on systems like the Dell Studio One 19 andLenovo IdeaCentre (Blu-ray). Both have large-ish, bright widescreen displays, though only the Lenovo has the screen resolution to support the "true 1080p" that Blu-ray touts: 1,920 by 1,080 screen resolution. The Dell Studio One 19's 19-inch screen is a little smaller, but Blu-ray movies still look good on it. Windows Vista Home Premium (and presumably the Windows 7 analogue) has Media Center built-in, which interfaces with TV tuners and some online TV and movie services. Between these pay services like Amazon Video on Demand and ad-supported streaming services like Hulu and YouTube, you could almost replace the TV in your den, bedroom, kitchen, or home office.
The difference between all-in-one "desktops" and all-in-one "nettops" are similar to the divide between laptops and netbooks: usually in price and in the processor. The processor in nettops and netbooks are usually Intel Atom processors, though Via Nano processors also show up in netbooks. Atom and similar processors are certainly enough for most web pages, including web videos, though lower powered Atom processors and their associated integrated graphics will be overtaxed by 1080p HD Web video. If you need to do multimedia tasks like editing photos or transcoding videos, look for a more powerful desktop with an Athlon X2, Athlon X4, Core 2 Duo or Core 2 Quad processor. Nvidia GeForce 9400 graphics are usually enough to run 3D games, but for a fuller gaming experience, look for higher powered GPUs like the Nvidia GT 130 or ATI Radeon HD 3650. Intel integrated graphics like GMA 3100 or GMA 950 is usually only good for Web use and light video playback.
Going Wireless: Only One Plug Necessary
Wireless is a big deal for all-in-one desktops: nothing detracts from an all-in-one desktop's sleek lines more than a bunch of wires hanging off the back. Wi-Fi wireless networking is a given for al in one desktops, some have 802.11n, but just about all have 802.11g. Wireless keyboards and mice are a plus if included, but you can always add one later to a less expensive all-in-one PC if they're not packed in. A wireless keyboard with a built-in trackpad is even better. You can't do anything about the power cord or TV cable/satellite/antenna connection (if present).
Wireless is a big deal for all-in-one desktops: nothing detracts from an all-in-one desktop's sleek lines more than a bunch of wires hanging off the back. Wi-Fi wireless networking is a given for al in one desktops, some have 802.11n, but just about all have 802.11g. Wireless keyboards and mice are a plus if included, but you can always add one later to a less expensive all-in-one PC if they're not packed in. A wireless keyboard with a built-in trackpad is even better. You can't do anything about the power cord or TV cable/satellite/antenna connection (if present).
You've Got the Touch
The appeal of a touch screen is instantaneously apparent to a family user, since children pick it up instantly, and even adults are becoming used to touch interfaces on iPhones and iPod Touch media devices. Touch screens can add a few hundred dollars to the cost of an all-in-one desktop, and they are a boon for shared PCs that hold your multimedia library (photos, music, videos, a.k.a., your digital life). However, the add-ons to the PC manufacturers slap on top of Windows Vista have a varying degree of success, as seen in the reviews below. Unless you absolutely need the touch interface today, we'd recommend waiting for Windows 7. Windows 7 will have an integrated touch interface, so (hopefully) touch will work in a unified interface over all your programs, even the ones not originally programmed for touch.
The appeal of a touch screen is instantaneously apparent to a family user, since children pick it up instantly, and even adults are becoming used to touch interfaces on iPhones and iPod Touch media devices. Touch screens can add a few hundred dollars to the cost of an all-in-one desktop, and they are a boon for shared PCs that hold your multimedia library (photos, music, videos, a.k.a., your digital life). However, the add-ons to the PC manufacturers slap on top of Windows Vista have a varying degree of success, as seen in the reviews below. Unless you absolutely need the touch interface today, we'd recommend waiting for Windows 7. Windows 7 will have an integrated touch interface, so (hopefully) touch will work in a unified interface over all your programs, even the ones not originally programmed for touch.
Aside from the introduction of touch computing, the hot topic for all in one PCs is the less expensive all in one. In the past, all in one PCs were always much more expensive when compared with similar "full-sized" desktops. Now you'll find all in one desktops that are less than $800, and in some cases even less than $500. Systems like the $2,199 Apple iMac are still lust objects that elicit oohs and ahhs when presented to your friends, but the $699 Levnovo IdeaCentre A600 may make more sense when you check your account balances at the end of the day.
So, basically, you're not limited to "just the iMac" anymore when it comes to all-in-one desktops. You can find a well equipped system for less than $1,200 these days, and even under $700 or $500 if you look hard enough. Every all-in-one desktop is perfectly suited for surfing the Web, they have brighter widescreen displays that will be easier on your eyes, and all give you more screen real estate than most nettops and many laptop PCs. Sure, all-in-one desktops have to be plugged in all the time, but when was the last time you spent all day unplugged on your laptop or nettop?
Featured in this Story:
Apple iMac (Nvidia GeForce GT 130)The Apple iMac 24-inch (GeForce GT 130), the company's top-of-the-line iMac, is a moderate refresh. The new Nvidia motherboard chipset and discrete graphics give it a leg up on the previous high-end model, and CTO (configure to order) options give it the flexibility to serve all but the most specialized content creators.
Apple iMac (Nvidia GeForce 9400M)Apple moves closer to the sweet spot with the iMac (Nvidia GeForce 9400M). This all-in-one gives you the screen real estate you crave, along with strong multimedia capabilities, and the covetable Apple design, all for a reasonable price. It's both an object of lust and offers good bang for the buck in the all-in-one desktop space.
ASUS Eee Top 1602The ASUS Eee Top 1602 is the first truly integrated all-in-one nettop. The Eee Top may create a new category—think of it as the new Internet terminal that replaces your desktop (which is what WebTV or Audrey tried to do). The Eee Top is an intriguing alternative to low-cost desktop PCs as well as netbooks. Unlike the first netbooks, it runs Windows XP instead of Linux. The Eee Top also has a neat touch screen and a bigger display than any cheap netbook.
Cybernet iOne-GX31The success of the iMac line demonstrates that the all-in-one PC form factor can work for business. The Cybernet iOne-GX31 ($2,358 list) is a quad-core-powered all-in-one PC geared for commerce, with a touch screen that will work well for Web navigation and purpose-built solutions like cash register terminals (with the PC in effect serving as the cash register, minus the money tray) and data gathering. It's well built, and fast enough for corporate use. The all-in-one form factor works well for tight cubicles and shared workspaces since it avoids having a tangle of wires coming out of the PC.
Dell Studio One 19The Dell Studio One 19 ($1,103 direct) is the latest all-in-one desktop PC from Dell, and it is a beauty. The beauty is more than skin deep, with evolutionary features including an optional touch screen, 16:9 widescreen, and a choice of four colored accents. It's softer than the other all-in-one PCs, both visually and in a tactile sense. The configuration we looked at won't supplant any of its high-end rivals, but it remains an interesting choice for the family that uses its computers together.
Lenovo IdeaCentre A600With a love-it-or-hate-it design, the Lenovo IdeaCentre A600 gives the value PC buyer an all-in-one option that's more powerful than that cheap nettop, though power users may want more. The configuration we've reviewed here is the value-for-dollar leader, with some upgrades over the base unit. It's a very good choice if you're hesitant to switch to the Mac, want to save some money, and want a computer you can talk about and show off.
eMachines EZ1601-01The eMachines EZ1601-01 is among the best of the nettops, with an integrated screen and DVD burner. It is a space-saving, yet larger alternative to a portable nettop, but you can do better if price is your sole consideration
Source: PC mag
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