The Five Best General Purpose Computers
If you’re looking for a compact, powerful PC and either don’t want to build or buy for someone else, the all-in-one PC is a decent choice. They have everything you need to work, they are easy to set up and can be as good as traditional desktop computers. This week we’ll be taking a look at the top 5 based on your nominations.
Earlier this week, we asked you to tell us which AiOs you think are the best – either because of the features, the quality of the included display, the bargain price, ease of use and customization, or simply because of the sleek design and usability. You’ve come up with tons of great nominations, but we only have room for your five favorites. Here they are, in no particular order:
Apple 27-inch iMac with Retina display
When many people think of all-in-ones, they immediately think of Apple’s iMac line of computers. At the top of this lineup, however, right now is the iMac with Retina display starting at $ 2,500 and featuring a 27-inch IPS display with native resolution of 5120 x 2880 pixels, an Intel Core i5 or i7 processor of your choice, 8GB of RAM (with the option upgrades to 16GB or 32GB), 1TB Fusion Drive (Apple SSD / HDD expandable or up to 1TB SSD), AMD R9 290X / 295X Graphics, and just about anything else you’d expect from an iMac (built-in-in-camera, including peripherals, USB 3.0 and Thunderbolt 2 ports, wireless AC and Gigabit Ethernet, and more.) All hardware parameters are configurable and upgradeable (for a lot of money, of course) so you can either buy it off the shelf, or create the model you want. The Retina iMac is amazing if you’ve seen it in person, and of course it comes with OS X Yosemite and Apple’s suite of work and home apps.
Those of you who have nominated a Retina iMac have praised it for its high-resolution “5K” display, which is simply “accidentally connected to a computer,” as most displays with similar resolutions are close to that price by themselves, without a computer connected. , or a desktop computer with the same specs will cost you the same price without an attached monitor. Some of you have offered evidence of this in the nominations thread, while others of you have pointed out that the resolution is probably a bit overpriced for most users at this stage. Either way, this thread is full of firsthand experience and is worth checking out. You can read the entire thread here .
Monoblock Lenovo A740 27 “All-In-One
Lenovo’s flagship All-In-One PC starts at $ 1,600 and features a 27-inch Full HD TFT display with a 1920 x 1080 native multi-touch screen, an Intel Core i7 processor, 8GB of RAM, and a 1TB 5400 hard drive. RPM and 8GB SSD, NVIDIA GeForce GT840A graphics card, built-in webcam, audio, wireless AC adapter, USB 3.0, etc. The hardware option, like any custom system, can be updated and customized so you can add more memory or another hard drive if you want at extra cost. The A740 ships with Windows 8.1, and since it has a touchscreen, you can actually use the features of the modern user interface of Windows 8. The display arm is also connected in several places, so you can set it up like a traditional monitor and use the included keyboard and mouse, or you you can tilt it closer to you to use the touchscreen, or you can tilt it like a tablet or drawing tablet so you can interact with it up close or with a stylus.
The A740 nomination topic was a bit controversial, some people said they liked the system especially after some of the basic components (like RAM and storage) were upgraded to better and faster components, while others of you commented that while the System looks great on paper, you have had reliability and customer service issues – one of you even had a scary story. You can read more – and details – in his nominations thread here .
Dell XPS 27 Touch All-In-One Desktop
The Dell XPS 27 Touch is Dell’s flagship all-in-one PC starting at $ 1,600 and available in several different pre-configured builds. All feature a 27-inch IPS touchscreen display with a native resolution of 2560 by 1440 pixels. Each model comes with an Intel Core i5 or i7 processor, with 8 or 16GB of RAM depending on your preference and 1TB 7200 for your choice. RPM HDD or 2TB 7200 RPM hard drive and 32GB solid state drive. In terms of graphics, you can choose an Intel HD graphics card (in the bottom model) or NVIDIA GeForce GT 750M. Like most all-in-ones, the XPS 27 ships with Windows 8.1 and can use a modern user interface thanks to its touchscreen display. The kit includes a keyboard and mouse, wireless N and Gigabit Ethernet, USB 3.0, and more. Like Lenovo, the XPS 27 monitor arm can be adjusted to allow you to use your computer in multiple positions, near and in close proximity to the multi-touch display, tilt like a drawing tablet, or just stand up like a standard PC display.
A stream of nomination for the XPS 27 highlighted the build quality of the system, noted that it sits at the top of the line for a reason, and that Dell has put a lot of effort and attention to make sure the PC is a solid build that is still flexible to suit different needs. types of users. Like nearly every desktop in the roundup, you can start with any of Dell’s base models and then tweak it accordingly to your liking (at an additional cost, of course). You can read more on her nominations thread here .
System76 Sable Touch
System76 is the maker of Ubuntu off-the-shelf laptops and desktops, and Sable Touch is their Ubuntu-based all-in-one multi-touch desktop. Starting at $ 1,000, the Sable Touch is available in 21.5-inch and 23.6-inch models, each with a TFT panel with a native resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels. You have the choice between Intel Core i5 or i7 processors, 4GB to 16GB RAM, 250GB to 750GB 7200rpm HDD or 128TB SSD, external displays, peripherals, and more. from many of the AIOs featured in this roundup, you don’t get a keyboard, mouse, or other peripherals with the system – you have to add these for an additional fee when you set up your build – but it also helps keep costs down. Almost every part of the build can be customized to some degree, including the version of Ubuntu that you preload on the system. Sable Touch also comes with other things you’d expect from an all-in-one, such as a built-in webcam, Wi-Fi (AC) and Gigabit Ethernet, and more. It is a beautiful system to download.
Those of you who nominated it praised Sable Touch for being a true Linux desktop with a few touches, bringing to the party all the great touches that any all-in-one has to offer. It is reasonably priced, looks great, and can be customized in several sizes and with your internals. You’ve even noted that System76’s customer service and support is great, with regular email updates when a new version of Ubuntu is available and tips to update your PC. Read more in the nomination thread here .
Dell XPS 18 All-In-One Touchscreen Desktop
The Dell XPS 18 All-In-One is sort of a desktop and tablet combo, although it’s certainly more of a desktop computer. It starts at $ 700 and can go up to $ 1,300 depending on whether you need a stand (or if you want to get by with a built-in stand). Each model is equipped with an 18-inch IPS touchscreen with a resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels, Intel of your choice. Core i3, i5, or i7 processor, 4GB or 8GB of RAM, 500 or 1TB 5400 RPM hard drives or 256GB SSD, all models come with Intel HD Graphics 4400 preinstalled with Windows 8.1, and also with keyboard and mouse included. … Each model also includes a wireless AC adapter, USB 3.0, built-in camera, speakers, and more. Perhaps best of all, the system doesn’t have to remain on a stand or even plugged into an electrical outlet – you can take it with you. you can use it on the couch as long as the internal battery runs out, or pack it up and work on the go. It’s an amazingly versatile all-in-one that runs Windows 8.1, so you can use it like a tablet. , use it as a desktop or switch on the fly depending on what you need to do.
Those of you who nominated it said it was a bit like an “iMac for the Windows crowd,” offering a sleek design and beautiful looks on your desk, but it also has the flexibility of a tablet or tablet / laptop hybrid. Many of you have also mentioned that it comes with a digital pen, which makes it even more flexible. As with any model in the overview, you can start with any of the base systems and then add or customize the build as you see fit before it is delivered to you. Read the full promotion thread here .
Now that you’ve seen the top five, it’s time to put them up for a general vote to determine the community’s favorite:
Honorable mentions
An honorable mention this week goes to the Lenovo Horizon 2 , which has performed well in the Call for Challengers thread despite being essentially a “desktop PC”. However, it is definitely an all-in-one, with four-person space at the edges of the massive 27-inch multi-user touchscreen, as well as a plethora of apps and media already on the system that allow multiple people to interact with it. in the same time. It will set you back $ 1,400 retail. However, you could definitely put this puppy up and use it as a candy bar, although that is definitely not his strength. You can read more – and some of them are primarily handcrafted experiences – in the subject of his nomination here .
We also have to thank the LG Chromebase , another all-in-one device that has performed well in a round of nominations. Chromebase, as the name suggests, launches Google’s Chrome OS in a slim and neat 21-inch display, starting at just $ 350. It’s a simple system, but a great introduction to Chrome OS if you need anything other than a Chromebook. or Chromebox and you can install Linux on it if you like. You can find out more in his nomination thread here .
Do you have anything to say about one of the applicants? Want to substantiate your personal favorite even if it wasn’t on the list? Remember, the Top 5 is based on your most popular nominations from the Call for Applicants thread earlier this week . Don’t just complain about the top 5, let us know which option you like best and justify it in the discussions below.