The subcategory industry of all in one computers used to be the turf of Apple Inc. with their iMacs that sport the sleekest and most compact designs and the latest innovative features. On the other hand, other computer manufacturers such as Dell and HP settled on the traditional desktop computers where the central processing unit (CPU) is detached entirely from the visual display unit. More recently, however, these companies have introduced their own line of all in one computers as manufacturing technologies were made available. Although the Apple iMac still leads the all in one computers reviews, other computer manufacturers are catching up by introducing innovations not found in the iMac such as touchscreen displays. Furthermore, standard off-the-shelf components are simultaneously manufactured so as to allow hardware upgrades which were not available in older compact PCs.
All In One Computers Reviews Of The Top Three All In One Brands
Apple iMac – The ‘Mac’ Daddy, pardon the pun…
The Apple iMac remains to be one of the most expensive units as noted in several all in one computers reviews. The latest version of the iMac with a 21.5-inch display has an introductory price of $1,299.00 (used and refurbished available at a discount). This series also has the most powerful specs and exclusively runs the Mac OS X Lion, although the Windows 7 operating system has recently been supported via the Boot Camp utility.
The 21.5-inch Apple iMac is powered by the latest 2.5 GHz quad-core Intel Core i5 Sandy Bridge processor. This quad-core processor features the L3 cache with 6 MB of onboard memory. The hard drive also prepares the iMac for heavy use with its 500 GB storage capacity. These high-end specs are further complemented by the generous RAM of 4 GB clocked at 1333 MHz. With the revolutionary Thunderbolt technology embedded into its system, the iMac delivers amazing rates at 10 gigabits per second for input and output data transfers.
All these powerful specifications make the Apple iMac a tough competition in the category of all in one PCs.
To complete the highly valued overall user experience, the iMac features a gorgeous 21.5-inch display with LED backlight for sufficient brightness levels while remaining energy efficient. The 178-degree viewing angle also remains consistent across the entire length with in-plane switching technology (IPS).
Of course, Apple remains consistent in design and technology by introducing advanced peripherals including the Apple Magic Mouse and Apple Wireless Keyboard along with the main unit. The Magic Mouse looks very simple from afar but amazingly supports multitouch interface. The Wireless Keyboard as well efficiently connects to the main unit via Bluetooth wireless technology.
HP TouchSmart All In One Computers Reviews – The Best All Around
As one of the leading innovators in PC design, HP introduced the HP TouchSmart 320-1030 all in one desktop computer with multitouch display. Retailing at $724.90 (discounts and refurbs available), the HP TouchSmart is roughly 40% cheaper than the Apple iMac, which obviously lacks the multitouch capabilities. The 20-inch widescreen LED backlit display of the HP TouchSmart is its leading advantage over the iMac in addition to its inexpensive price.
The HP TouchSmart 320-1030 runs the Windows 7 64-bit operating system so that the capabilities of the high-end dual-core processor are put to greater use. It sports the AMD Dual-Core A4-3400 accelerated processor for optimum performance in both computation and graphics processing. To support the 2.7-GHz processor, HP TouchSmart also integrates a RAM of 4 GB, which has similar specs as that of the Apple iMac.
The HP TouchSmart also outplays the iMac by including a generous storage capacity of 1 TB with a read or write rate of 7200 RPM. This 1 TB capacity is twice that of the iMac with HP still being able to manage to keep the price low for the TouchSmart.
With Beats Audio enhancement for its set of speakers, the HP TouchSmart further delivers better sounds than the iMac, which only features standard built-in stereo speakers. Hence, crisp and clear music with amazingly deep bass is achieved with Beats Audio.
The Best Budget Buy – Dell ELS
While HP introduced a highly capable and affordable all in one computer, Dell pushes the envelope further by introducing a more affordable unit starting at $599.00. The Dell iO2320-11 ELS all in one computer features a full HD 23-inch WLED-backlit display, which is inches larger than that of the Apple iMac and the HP TouchSmart.
In terms of performance, the Dell ELS is somehow inferior to that of the iMac since it sports the less powerful Intel Pentium G620 dual-core processor running at 2.6 GHz. This processor is backed by only 3 MB of L3 cache, which is just half compared to that of the iMac. Nonetheless, the standard amount of RAM at 4 GB is still complied. Like the iMac, the Dell ELS prepares for hard drive eaters with its 500 GB storage capacity rated at 7200 RPM.
While comparable in performance with regards to processing power and RAM, the Dell ELS suffers from mediocre-looking design. The mouse and keyboard peripherals may be wirelessly connected, but the mouse unit looks unattractive and the plain-looking keyboard can take some serious amount of useful space. Nonetheless, the Dell ELS makes up for these drawbacks by integrating a set of commendable JBL speakers enhanced with sound retrieval system (SRS) audio technology. Overall, the Dell ELS is still a highly capable all in one desktop both for entertainment and business applications.
Standard Features Mentioned In All In One Computers Reviews
In addition to the specifications particularly noted for the all in one computers above, all these units feature the standard specifications such as Wi-Fi connectivity, USB 2.0 port, webcam, Gigabit Ethernet, and memory card reader. Optical disk drives as well are integrated into these units commonly with double-layer support.
To wrap up the all in one computers reviews, the Apple iMac still deserves that significantly steep price compared to its competitors. The carefully crafted exterior of the iMac in addition to its powerful internals make the Apple iMac a leading series in the industry of all in one computers. HP and Dell are somehow creating waves of interest by introducing innovations not found in the iMac. In particular, the HP TouchSmart integrates a multitouch display; the Dell ELS, on the other hand, further lowers down the cost at $599.00 while still keeping standard features.









