Product Reviews:
Desktops
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Price:
$559.99
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$569.99
Specs:
Intel Core i3 530 / 2.93 GHz, 6 GB / 8 GB (max), Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium
The Bottom Line
Gateway's SX2840-01 remains the budget PC to beat. Its combination of small size, fast performance, and living room competence makes it one of the most flexible desktops on the market. That it has room to upgrade makes the deal that much sweeter. We recommend this desktop to anyone looking for a powerful, versatile low-cost computer.© 2009 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission.
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ok
1/30/2010
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Price:
$439.00
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$439.00
Specs:
Intel Pentium Dual Core E5400 / 2.7 GHz, 4 GB, Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium, 64Bit, English
The Bottom Line
The Dimension C521 is significant because it's one of the first Dell PCs to include an AMD processor, and Dell uses it to good effect. Unfortunately, that doesn't save this system from Dell's failure to incorporate any of the virtues of a modern space-saving PC.© 2009 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission.
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very good
1/22/2010
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Price:
$399.97
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$399.97
Specs:
Intel Pentium Dual Core E5200 / 2.5 GHz, 4 GB / 8 GB (max), Microsoft Windows Vista, Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium 64-bit Edition, None., nVidia GeForce 7 series
The Bottom Line
The Gateway DX4720-03 performs admirably and actually holds its own against triple-core computers thanks to its impressive list of features. It also has plenty of room for internal expansion, so we recommend this budget system if you need the speed but don't crave a ton of CPU power.© 2009 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission.
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good
1/19/2010
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Price:
$499.00
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$499.00
Specs:
Intel Pentium Dual Core T4300 / 2.1 GHz, 2 GB / 4 GB (max), Microsoft Windows Vista Home Basic Service Pack 1, None., EPEAT Gold, EPA Energy Star
The Bottom Line
If you're considering all of the computers in the $700 to $1,000 price range, the Dell Studio Hybrid is not very compelling. However, if you limit yourself to the very specific niche of small PCs, you'll appreciate this system's clever design and its relatively powerful hardware.© 2009 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission.
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very good
1/16/2010
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Price:
$599.99
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$623.99
Specs:
AMD Athlon II X2 250 / 1.6 GHz, 4 GB / 4 GB (max), Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit Edition, LCD display - TFT active matrix
The Bottom Line
Don't expect the world from HP's low-cost Pavilion All-in-One MS2255, but as a basic day-to-day PC for light-duty productivity or Web and media accessibility in the kitchen, it's a very good deal. You'd be wise to look here before considering an Atom-based Nettop.© 2009 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission.
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very good
1/12/2010
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Price:
$249.00
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$249.00
Specs:
AMD Athlon 2650E / 1.6 GHz, 2 GB, Microsoft Windows Vista Home Basic SP1, 32-Bit
The Bottom Line
In the right configuration, Dell's Inspiron Zino HD will fit seamlessly into your living room as a PC-based video source. Due to its uneven handling of even standard-def video, this $468 build isn't quite up to the task. Fortunately, Dell offers the right upgrades to get you to the hallowed ground of PC-based video content--just be prepared to spend a little bit more to get there.© 2009 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission.
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12/17/2009
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Price:
$1,199.00
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$1,199.00
Specs:
Intel Core 2 Duo 2.66 GHz, 2 GB / 4 GB (max), Apple MacOS X 10.5, LCD display - TFT active matrix, ATi Radeon HD 2600 series, EPA Energy Star, EPEAT Silver
The Bottom Line
The aluminum-and-glass look remains the same, but underneath Apple makes some small but meaningful updates to its all-in-one iMac.© 2009 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission.
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Price:
$1,699.00
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$1,699.00
The Bottom Line
Velocity Micro's Edge Z55 provides a powerful example of the leap ahead in performance afforded by Intel's new Core i7 CPUs. Velocity Micro's own overclocking efforts don't hurt either. Any PC gamer would love to make this upper midrange desktop their own.© 2009 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission.
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excellent
12/10/2009
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Price:
$1,599.00
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$1,599.00
Specs:
Intel Core 2 Extreme Quad Core 2.4 GHz, 2 GB, Microsoft Windows Vista, Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium, None, nVidia GeForce 8 series
The Bottom Line
Velocity Micro's first full-fledged home theater PC pulls very few punches in providing a complete digital media experience. It's big, it lacks a built-in audio receiver, and it invites PC gaming into the living room, which has never been the best fit. It's also the victim of a few Vista-related growing pains. On balance, though, Velocity Micro has as complete a home theater PC as we've seen.© 2009 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission.
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excellent
12/10/2009
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Price:
$4,699.00
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$4,699.00
Specs:
Intel Core 2 Extreme QX6700 / 2.66 GHz, 2 GB, Microsoft Windows XP Professional ( Drop in box ), None., nVidia GeForce 8 series
The Bottom Line
We have one major issue with the Velocity Micro Raptor Signature Edition (the price), and two minor ones (it's loud, for one), but those aside, this is one of the most feature-complete high-end desktops we've reviewed. Its performance is media-creation- and game-minded, and anyone buying it for those or almost any other purposes won't be disappointed.© 2009 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission.
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good
11/2/2009
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Price:
$858.19
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$899.99
Specs:
AMD Athlon II X2 235e / 2.7 GHz, 4 GB / 8 GB (max), Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium, 64bit, LCD display - TFT active matrix, ATi Radeon HD 3200 series, EPEAT Silver
The Bottom Line
With a small screen for its price, we can't justify the TouchSmart 300 as a home entertainment all-in-one PC. It's also slower than more affordable midtowers, so you can spend less for more productivity. This leaves HP's touch-based software as the TouchSmart 300's primary selling point. We'd recommend this PC in the kitchen, but it's less appealing elsewhere.© 2009 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission.
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10/27/2009
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Price:
$469.99
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$469.99
Specs:
Intel Atom 1.6 GHz, 1 GB, Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition, LCD display - TFT active matrix
The Bottom Line
The Averatec D1130's wimpy processor and paltry features give consumers little incentive to choose this Nettop over a faster budget PC or the mobility of a Netbook. If you're dead-set on a Nettop, the Lenovo C300 is a less terrible decision, but you can stretch your dollar much further with a budget slim tower system like the Gateway SX2800-01.© 2009 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission.
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good
10/20/2009
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Price:
$759.00
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$799.00
Specs:
Intel Core 2 Duo 2.53 GHz, 4 GB / 4 GB (max), Apple MacOS X 10.6, None. - TFT active matrix, nVidia GeForce 9 series, EPEAT Gold, EPA Energy Star
The Bottom Line
With strong competition among small PCs on the Windows side of the aisle, the latest Mac Mini faces a greater challenge than older models. If you demand a small, relatively affordable Mac, we suppose the Mac Mini is your only option. Otherwise, you can find Windows-based small form factor desktops that offer more interesting features with better value.© 2009 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission.
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good
10/20/2009
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Price:
$579.00
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$594.00
Specs:
Intel Core 2 Duo 2.26 GHz, 2 GB / 4 GB (max), Apple MacOS X 10.6, None. - TFT active matrix, nVidia GeForce 9 series, EPA Energy Star, EPEAT Gold
The Bottom Line
The lower-cost Mac Mini offers respectable budget performance and Apple's usual compelling design, but a puny hard drive and a lack of HDMI hurt this system's value and overall potential. It's actually more versatile next to its budget-priced Windows competition than the higher-end Mac Mini, but this entry-level Mac is still best left to Apple loyalists.© 2009 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission.
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Price:
$1,694.00
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$1,699.00
Specs:
Intel Core 2 Duo 3.06 GHz, 4 GB / 16 GB (max), Apple MacOS X 10.6, LCD display - TFT active matrix, ATi Radeon HD 4600 series, EPA Energy Star, EPEAT Gold
The Bottom Line
Apple's new 27-inch iMac will charm plenty of you with its screen size alone. Fortunately, that won't lead you astray. Behind its expansive display, Apple has packed one of the fastest all-in-ones available, and added a few useful extras to sweeten the deal. This iMac isn't perfect, but its positives far outweigh its negatives. We can think of few users to whom we wouldn't recommend this system.© 2009 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission.
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very good
10/20/2009
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Price:
$1,169.00
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$1,194.00
Specs:
Intel Core 2 Duo 3.06 GHz, 4 GB / 16 GB (max), Apple MacOS X 10.6, LED display - TFT active matrix, nVidia GeForce 9 series, EPEAT Gold, EPA Energy Star
The Bottom Line
Despite its good looks and a few useful new features, Apple's new iMac is all about business. You can find a larger screen for less, not to mention all kinds of digital entertainment features, but no other all-in-one at this price can boast similar performance. If you need a modestly priced all-in-one for getting work done, we'd recommend no other system.© 2009 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission.
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good
10/15/2009
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Price:
$648.95
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$648.95
Specs:
AMD Phenom II X4 805 / 2.5 GHz, 8 GB / 8 GB (max), Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit Edition, None., ATi Radeon HD 3200 series
The Bottom Line
We're fond of the Gateway DX4300-11's clever design, but halfhearted performance scores mar its overall worth. The TV tuner and 1TB hard drive may tempt you to stick it in your living room as a media center PC, but your money is better spent on the Asus Essentio CG5270-BP004.© 2009 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission.
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good
10/15/2009
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Price:
$199.99
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$219.00
Specs:
Intel Atom N230 / 1.6 GHz, 1 GB, Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition, None., nVidia Ion, EPA Energy Star
The Bottom Line
Acer's Aspire Revo 1600 might be the first Nettop we don't actively dislike. We'd rather have an Xbox 360 in the living room, but the Aspire Revo 1600 would be suitable as a PC for young kids or as a low-profile cloud kiosk. Thanks to its $199 price tag, you won't feel too much remorse if it breaks or you outgrow it.© 2009 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission.
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Price:
$1,166.97
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$1,199.99
Specs:
Intel Core 2 Duo T7450 / 2.13 GHz, 4 GB / 4 GB (max), Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium, LCD - TFT active matrix, nVidia GeForce 200 series, EPEAT Silver
The Bottom Line
If HP's TouchSmart 600 won't at least get you thinking about the idea of bringing a PC into your kitchen, the concept truly has no hope. With well-though-out touch apps, a wide, easy-to-use array of digital media features, and an attractive, flexible design, HP's new all-in-one is not the fastest new all-in-one, but it has the most comprehensive and compelling set of features of any all-in-one launching alongside Windows 7.© 2009 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission.
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very good
10/8/2009
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Price:
$1,999.99
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$1,999.99
Specs:
Intel Core 2 Quad Q8400S / 2.66 GHz, 6 GB / 12 GB (max), Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit Edition, LCD display - TFT active matrix, EPEAT Silver
The Bottom Line
Earlier this year Sony was the unquestioned king of all-in-ones designed for home entertainment. The new Vaio L117FX retains and improves on many of the features we liked about older models, but revamped all-in-ones from its competition make the new Vaio seem a touch overpriced.© 2009 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission.
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