Payton H. Wilmott, Gleaner Writer
How many times have you battled to find a suitable place to put your PC, because the back of the monitor is too elongated, or the wires in the back of the CPU are jumbled in a knot?
Well, now there is an easier solution for all your space issues and wire woes. All-in-one PCs are the future for both home and office. This week, we'll look at three choices that are on the market.
What the heck is this thing?
First up, I should clarify what exactly is an all-in-one PC. The term 'all-in-one' is meant to give you a hint that this PC has fewer segments than a normal, everyday desktop personal computer. The defining characteristic of an all-in-one PC is that they are desktop computers in which the monitor and CPU are enclosed in the same casing.
Which one is for me?
There are many all-in-one PCs on the market right now but, for this week, I'll introduce you to three I have personally used and could recommend. Let's get the ball a-rolling and bring out the first feature.
The products mentioned in this article were provided courtesy of Royale Computers and Accessories; telephone 906-1067, 906-1068 or 754-5048.
HP TouchSmart 600-1120 PC
Price range: High-end
Power and performance: Moderate
Recommended user: Tech-savvy persons
Specifications:
✔ Intel Core Core-i3-330M processor (2.13GHz)
✔ 4GB RAM
✔ 1TB (terabyte) SATA hard drive
✔ 8X SATA DVD burner with Light Scribe
✔ Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit (operating system)
✔ 23-inch LCD touch-screen display
✔ Wireless
Final thoughts:
This, my friends, is the mother lode. This is what you call your friends and brag about. This is what you rub down at nights instead of your girlfriend (and it doesn't get annoyed like she does). Orgasmic.
It's like a giant iPad that comes stocked with every feature to get your work or play done. One key feature it has is a lovely cookery application that comes built-in to the operating system, which integrates the device's touch screen perfectly.
Everything about the HP TouchSmart 600-1120 PC is delightful, except for the price, but if you have deep enough pockets, I would recommend buying this over everything else.
HP Pavilion All-in-One MS235 PC
Price range: Mid-range
Power and performance: Moderate
Recommended user: The average Joe who wants more
Specifications:
✔ AthlonII-X2-250u processor (1.6GHz )
✔ 4GB RAM
✔ 320GB hard drive 7200RPM (SATA)
✔ DVD burner 8X (SATA)
✔ Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit (operating system)
✔ 18.5-inch LCD display
✔ Wireless
✔ VGA camera
Final thoughts:
This PC is a slight upgrade over the Compaq Presario CQ1-1130 All-in-One PC, which makes it perfect for someone with a growing mind. I always advise persons not to settle for the basic when purchasing a PC, because you'll never know what new and crazy idea you'll come up with that may need the extra niceties.
The HP Pavilion All-in-One MS235 PC has more RAM (Random Access Memory) than the Compaq Presario CQ1-1130 All-in-One PC and a 64-bit operating system, which is ideal for multitasking and watching high-definition content.
Compaq Presario CQ1-1130
Price range: Low-end
Power and performance: Average
Recommended user: The average Joe
Specifications:
✔ Intel Atom D410 processor (1.66GHz processor)
✔ 2GB of RAM
✔ 320GB 7200RPM SATA hard drive
✔ 8X DVD burner
✔ Windows 7 Home Premium 32-bit (operating system)
✔ 18.5-inch LCD display
✔ Web cam
Final thoughts:
This all-in-one PC includes your entire computing essentials, with a few extras thrown in. The price on this gizmo is not short of amazing, because of the components it's packing.
This PC would be a great buy for a home user because of its ease of use and slim design. The only downside I can find with owning the Compaq Presario CQ1-1130 All-in-One PC is that it struggles when you are using heavily graphic-dependent programs. That aside, it's a great home PC.