Desktop PCs

Overview:

The Pros:

• Touch Screen interface, with multi–touch feature.
• Impressive audio and image display quality.
• 16:9 Aspect ratio with a high resolution.
• A wide range of custom applications, which can be fully controlled through the touch screen interface.
• Absorbs low power and is not noisy.
• Elegant, chick and stylish outlook.

The Cons:

• 3D gaming performance and an application performance is not much impressive.
• Image quality tends to detract from the glossy display.
• The touch enabled custom applications can get a bit tacky.
• Lack of upgradable components.
• Not future proof.

Review:

Hewlett Packard or HP has been a widespread name when it comes to technology. From its very beginning, it has gifted the technology market with products which were uniquely distinguished and have also been user favourites for years. Hewlett Packard has its own designation amongst other companies when it comes to the touch–input technology. To be precise, HP was the first internationally acclaimed company to present an all in one touch–based PC to the international market and ever since then, this trailblazer company has integrated the latest touch input technology into a number of products in its consumer and business spheres, including the series of TouchSmart all–in–one desktop PC range. Even though with the advent of Windows 7 with its notable touch screen capabilities, the TouchSmart series was rather one of the first ones in the league of multi–touch desktop PC’s when it was first launched into the international market.

The Modification:

The HP TouchSmart 600 Desktop PC is one of the latest and a very prestigious release from the manufacturers. This desktop PC is a result of a lot of culmination and up gradation, keeping in mind the good qualities of the other similar devices launched before this. The predecessor of this model the HP TouchSmart 300 series had a 20 inch touch screen, which has been modified to a 23 inch touch screen in the TouchSmart 600 series. But other than the enlarged screen size and specifications, the TouchSmart 300 and TouchSmart 600 series are pretty similar to each other in more than one way. They have the similar 16:9 ratio widescreen display, a horde of touch feature enabled applications and the similar base as well. And other than this, the latest HP TouchSmart 600 edition has an additional bevy of touch enabled custom applications as well, which are quite handy and appealing to users.

Design:

The Outlook:
The Hewlett Packard TouchSmart 600 Desktop Computer, in spite of being an all in one touch screen pc has the basic outlook of a generalised monitor. The monitor has this deceptive appearance which is more into the limelight because of its rough 1.5 inch bezel and the stereo speakers which are mounted on the front side. Other than this, a webcam and stereo mic holes are also centrally placed in the top bezel in the fascia of the monitor. The face of the monitor also shelters a HP TouchSmart button which is present in the lower right corner of the bottom bezel. The function of this button is to power up the system if it is in standby mode, or to initiate the HP TouchSmart suite if the system is already running.

Another interesting feature in the cosmetics of the monitor is the HP Ambient light, a bluish light emission, which illuminates beneath the system space. The source of this ambient light is hidden behind the lower bezel of the system and its illumination, colour and brightness can be manipulated and set by the user according to their own will with the use of software.

Ergonomics:
The HP TouchSmart 600 all in one desktop PC has a very stylish and attractive appearance. The piano black finish, which is basically the glossy black colour of the plastic finish of the bezel is separated from the front speakers by chrome accents or a silver lining. The base colour is the same glossy black overall, other than the sides of the device, which is silver. This device has a 23 inch display with an aspect ratio of 16:9 and has a high resolution of 1920 x 1080 pixels. The basic dimensions of the PC is 17.75” x 13” x 2.83 (H x W x D) excluding the stand. The stand is an exclusive feature which provides base when it is used on desk or can provide hinge support if hanged on a wall. When acting as a base, the stand opens up to something between 5 to 40 degrees.

Surface Features:
Various ports and connectors are present on the surface of the device for user convenience. Most of them are placed on the rear side of the system. The main power connector is, along with a single security lock slot and a USB port can be found on the rear side. The webcam is located above the frontal upper bezel and behind this is a small lever which can be used to adjust the angle of tilt for the webcam. On the right hand side of the system, there is the main power button. Other than this, a slot loading Blu ray drive is also present beneath the power button. The right hand side of the system also locates the volume control keys, activity light for the hard disk, and a memory card reader.

Similarly, on the left hand side of the system, a few more slots and ports are located. It houses the composite Audio and Video inputs and HDMI, the HP Ambient light button, two 2.0 USB ports and jacks for mic and headphone. The main advantage of the audio / video inputs is that users can connect game consoles as well, and enjoy the full utilisation of the HP TouchSmart desktop PC’s display and resolution. To cycle through the different audio and video inputs, a source button is located just above the HDMI slots.

Other Ports:
There is a connection cover on the left hand side of the system, which hides the other ports and connections from view. Underneath this cover is another large range of ports and jacks. It places another three USB 2.0 ports, a digital audio output (SPDIF), a Gigabit Ethernet connector, a coaxial TV input, an analog audio output, S-video input, another audio input and an IR out. The IR out is a connection port which is used with the complimentary IR blaster cable within the package. With so many ports, if the user thinks the basic appearance would be very tacky, then they are wrong. With the presence of a very smartly designed clip and cut outs, the cover can be reattached, even after everything is plugged in, as all the cables are very well managed and routed out. Thus, the overall appeal of the system is restored and this eye candy has yet another plus point to attract users who have a fetish for style quotient of their system.

Thus, the HP TouchSmart 600 desktop PC with 23″ High Definition Widescreen scores very high in the style quotient with its amazing design and finishing. Moreover, with the well organised ports and connections and with the fully touch operated monitor and the wireless keyboard and mouse, this device is any techno freak’s dream child. With more than enough options for attachments and connections, and with a very smooth finishing, and to top it all, the HP ambient light, all of it makes this device noteworthy. The HP TouchSmart 600 is sure an eye candy and users cannot help noticing it.

Features:

As far as the configuration of the system is concerned, HP offers its TouchSmart 600 in a wide range of them. You can find the various configurations in the table below.

Configurations Available:

Features	TouchSmart 600-1000	TouchSmart 600-1050uk	TouchSmart 600-1030uk	TouchSmart 600-1040uk	TouchSmart 600-1060uk
Processor	Intel® Core™ 2 Duo processor P7450	Intel® Core™ 2 Duo processor P7450	Intel® Core™2 Duo processor T6500	Intel® Core™ i3 processor 330M	Intel® Core™ i5 processor 430M
Chipset	NVIDIA® GeForce™ GeForce9400 chipset	NVIDIA® GeForce™ GeForce9400 chipset	nVIDIA MCP7A-JC	Intel® HM57 chipset	Intel® HM57 chipset
Memory	4 GB DDR3-SDRAM	4 GB DDR3-SDRAM	4 GB DDR3	4 GB DDR3	4 GB DDR3
Memory Slots	2 SODIMM sockets	2 SODIMM sockets	2 SODIMM sockets	2 SODIMM sockets	2 SODIMM sockets
Internal Drives	1 TB SATA 3G Hard Disk Drive (5400 rpm)	1 TB SATA 3G Hard Disk Drive (5400 rpm)	500 GB SATA 3G Hard Disk Drive (7200 rpm)	1 TB SATA 3G Hard Disk Drive (5400 rpm)	1.5 TB SATA 3G Hard Disk Drive (5400 rpm)
Optical Drives	Slot-load Blu-ray player & SuperMulti DVD burner	Slot-load Blu-ray player & SuperMulti DVD burne	Slot-load DVD writer SATA DVD RAM and Double Layer supporting LightScribe technology	Slot-load DVD writer SATA DVD RAM and Double Layer supporting LightScribe technology	Slot-load Blu-ray player & SuperMulti DVD burner
Graphics	NVIDIA® GeForce™ GT 230M,1024 MB dedicated memory, up to 2815 MB total available graphics memory	NVIDIA® GeForce™ GT 230M,1024 MB dedicated memory, up to 2815 MB total available graphics memory	NVIDIA® GeForce® G200 with PureVideo® HD technology up to 1919 MB total available graphics memory, with 256 MB dedicated	NVIDIA® GeForce® G210 with PureVideo® HD technology up to 2303 MB total available graphics memory, with 512 MB dedicated	VIDIA® GeForce® GT 230M with PureVideo® HD technology up to 2815 MB total available graphics memory, with 1 GB dedicated
Video connectors	TV in, S-video in, stereo audio in, IR blaster out; HDMI and composite video input (video + audio) to connect external video devices	TV in, S-video in, stereo audio in, IR blaster out; HDMI and composite video input (video + audio) to connect external video devices	TV in, S-video in, stereo audio in, IR blaster out	TV in, S-video in, stereo audio in, IR blaster out	TV in, S-video in, stereo audio in, IR blaster out; HDMI and composite video input (video + audio) to connect external video devices
Ports	NA	5 USB 2.0 ports (2 on side)	NA	NA	NA
Special Features	NA	NA	Cleaning cloth, VESA wallmount adapter; HP ambient light module with light control	Cleaning cloth, VESA wallmount adapter; HP ambient light module with light control	Cleaning cloth, VESA wallmount adapter; HP ambient light module with light control

The Touch screen:
The best feature of the HP TouchSmart 600 desktop PC is its multifunctional touch screen and the wide variety of uses it can be put to by the users. The touch screen of this system is so productive and functional that a user can manage almost everything virtually without the use of keyboard and mouse. Textual input can be done by virtual onscreen keyboard supported by a built in tablet PC input panel supported by Windows 7, and the system also has handwriting recognizing abilities.

The HP TouchSmart Suite:
The HP TouchSmart suite is basically a collection of ‘Tiles’ or individual modules of various applications. The basic array is placed in the above two thirds of the screen horizontally and another small array of these tiles are present at the bottom of the screen. However, the order and priority of these tiles can be changed or manipulated by the user. A user can decide which tiles should be placed in the top array and which ones are to be placed in the bottom array. Moreover the order can be changed, as in which tile should come first and which one later, is also user controlled. The larger tiles include many shortcuts to networking sites like twitter, Netflix etc, along with other necessary ones, like Music, Videos, Tutorial, Webcam and Notes. The smaller tiles include supporting assets like weather, HP Ambient Light, DVD, Help and Support, Clock, Calendar, Live TV, RSS Feeds and Browser. Towards the lower right hand corner of the screen, there is a personalize button. The basic function of this feature is that users can manage and organize the tiles, and allows the user to customize settings for the tiles, desktop and other applications.

The Other Handy Applications:
The most basic application for new users, the Tutorial application gives a good overview about the system and helps users to understand the working of the system. There are two containing tutorial videos–one is a demonstration video guiding users to navigate around the HP TouchSmart interface. And the other one demonstrates the function and working of the Canvas application. Then, there is the Music application, which is an all in one music player which also has integrated support for Paroda and Rhapsody.  The Video application, the Twitter, Netflix tiles etc, have the basic functions like in any other system.

The Cooler Ones:
The Canvas and the Recipe Box applications are two cool applications which snatch away the limelight. The Canvas application makes the most out of the touch screen interface of this system. This application is basically an image viewing and editing software, which allows users to rotate, zoom in and out, and move images here and there with a lot of gestures in multi–touch. Other than this, the application cannot do much more than photo tagging, editing pictures and making photo collages, but the concept of doing all this by touch is what makes it so interesting.

The Recipe Box is basically used to cache and import recipes or data from various web pages into the recipe box. Moreover, it has some exceptional tricks to serve the users. For example, it has voice commands enabled, which helps users a lot to co-ordinate with the software instantly while preparing a recipe. Other than this, there is the Hulu desktop application, which helps the users to watch hulu shows, even though it is a bit clunky to search and navigate for titles. And there is also a Webcam application, which as the name suggests is what allows users to capture photos, videos, save them or upload them on net. Additional to this, this application also includes the use of emoticons, avatars, frames, filters or distortions to add to the live or pre recorded video which makes it more appealing and fun.

The Small Tiles:
The Smaller tiles, as mentioned earlier is a host to a list of basic applications. It includes Notes application, the weather and clock display applications. The photo application allows users to view photo files, edit them, upload them on networking sites, create and play slide-shows, burn images into CD or DVD’s and tag them. The Live TV application enables users to watch and record live TV on their system, and schedule and organize using the programs guide in the application module. The buggy RSS Feeds application does nothing more than its basic job, and the same goes for the browser. Other than that, there is the calendar application, and the HP ambient light software, which lets user select the kind of ambience they want by customising the light shade, its brightness and intensity.

Thus, almost all of these applications can be executed with or without enabling the HP TouchSmart suite. Enabling the TouchSmart suite would simply enable the selection and working of these applications, by the user, through a touch interface.

Application Drawbacks:
With the wide variety of software and applications, the HP TouchSmart 600 wireless desktop PC has a few faults in its working and functioning. The basic issue was with the HP TouchSmart suite. At times, the interface seems to be very sluggish as it takes time to respond to the touch input of a user. Moreover, a number of the above mentioned applications tend to stop or crash at times. This problem is more with the video playback applications, especially the ones which require video streaming.
But other than these petty issues, the system’s interface works fine in general and when no problem as such pops up, the video streaming and playback is quite good and is complimented by a very impressive audio quality which is very clear and crisp without any noticeable distortion. And if users watch videos or movies via actual DVD or Blue Ray disc, the experience is literally flawless.

Performance:

The HP TouchSmart 600 PC is way advanced if we consider its hardware configuration and technical specifications. Even then, it cannot be called anything close to a computing powerhouse. Though with the technical specifications it has, it is obvious that the system cannot surpass all kind of performance records. But somehow, the level of expectation still remains a bit high than the actual capability of this device. This device might easily carry out any basic tasks but might have difficulty to execute anything above the basic threshold at times.

Another problem with the performance of the device is that, it has a dual core processor. And nowadays, most of the modern day software which is released requires a multi core processor base. Nowadays, more and more software and applications are being designed for the multi core system devices, which the HP TouchSmart 600 will not support. Comparing the present situation, the system is passable for many present day applications, but then for the near future to come in the multi–threaded application world, the device would be of no great importance. Thus, this system, no matter how advanced and modified it is, is not a future-proof device.
The overall performance of this system is near about average, though it scores a bit less than expectation when it comes to the application and 3D gaming related performance. The TouchSmart 600 has some notable great features but has very less room to grow. Upgradation or modification of the system is not quite possible. It offers a modest level of performance, and considering the fact that none of the systems components are upgradable, the system does not seem to be one which would keep its position stable in the market in the years to come. Not recommended for hardcore gamers or hi-performance oriented system craving users. But if a user is looking for a modest system with a general approach towards computing along with the basic multimedia capabilities, this device would be a very good choice for them.

Gaming:
This all in one touch interface desktop pc is surely not for serious hardcore gamers, as they would have to make some compromises while playing games in this system, which would render their gaming experience. With the technical specifications of the device and based on the quality settings a user prefers, they would have to co operate with the screen resolution, the display quality and gaming performance at times. But however, that is a common problem with most all in one PC’s, as they pull a lot of load. Thus, the system is good enough for regular gaming and is a bit above average, but then this is not much recommended for serious hardcore gamers.

Power Eater:
The HP TouchSmart 600 desktop PC does not have anything called the power saver mode, nor does it understand anything like that. At times, the systems power consumption rises to quite an extent which is a bit high compared to other machines of its league. And at times, when in idle or sleep mode, the device consumes almost negligible energy. Though it might sound a very balanced power consumption scheme, but then with the extra bit of power consumption, when the system is carrying full load, does add up a bit in bills.

Warranty:

The HP TouchSmart 600 Desktop PC comes with a limited one year pick up and return parts and labour manufacturer’s warranty.

Verdict:

The HP TouchSmart 600 PC has brought up a lot of modifications and upgradations in terms of working and outlook. With its rather minimal design, HDMI to support game consoles, and a cover hidden array of ports and connection jacks, the device manages to stagnate the classy look about it. With the clear and crisp display quality of the screen, and an impressive sound system with a great sound quality, the device is pretty good when it comes to images, audio and video playback. But obviously, the touch screen interface of this PC is what steals the limelight. The HP TouchSmart 600 also sports a whole range of varied applications, some of which are very unique and cool, while some are not noteworthy. And the best part is that all these applications can are multi–touch operated. Other than a few glitches, while running a few applications, and the faulty video streaming, everything else about this system is just fine. As multi touch gesture and mode of input is becoming more and more pervasive in the world of computers and computing, the TouchSmart 600 is definitely one which overpowers its minor twitches with its innumerable benefits and advantages.
Considering the price tag for this system, users might not be eager to buy this device, as they can plunk in a lot less money and get home a better system, going by the specifications. But then, with its elegant fusion of working ability, its appearance, and that it is a all in one touch interface desktop PC, it is worthy enough for the money. With its classy and appealing appearance, its enormous range of features and applications, and its commendable functioning, the Hewlett Packard TouchSmart 600 Desktop PC is surely a notable device amongst others. This system is surely a subtle nuance but then, a very important one.

HP TouchSmart 600 PC - Technical Specification Table

Manufacturer	Hewlett Packard (HP)
Model Name	TouchSmart 600
Colour/Finish	Glossy black with silver edges
Display	Touch-enabled full HD diagonal widescreen BrightView LCD with tilt adjustment (10 to 40 degrees)
Display screen size	23 inch
Resolution	1920×1080 Pixels
Dimensions ( H x W x D)	17.84” x 5.12” x 23”
Weight	33.07 lbs
Operating System	Genuine   Windows® 7 Home Premium (64-bit)
Optical drive	Blu-ray player; DVD burner; DVD ROM; DVD RAM; DVD RW; DVD R; CD R
TV tuner	TV (analog and DVB-T) tuner card, (DVB-T service not available in Ireland)
Bus Speed	1066 Mhz Front side Bus
Remote control	HP Win7 Media Center Remote Control
Mouse	HP Wireless optical mouse
Keyboard	HP Wireless keyboard
Wireless Connectivity	Bluetooth; Wireless LAN
Memory Slots	2 DIMM(240 pin, DDR3)
Video Recorder	Built in HDTV tuner
Internal Audio	High Performance 2.0 speakers, High Definition Audio 5.1 (via digital output)
Network interface	Integrated 10/100/1000 Gigabit Ethernet LAN
Wireless technologies	Wireless LAN 802.11 b/g/n, Bluetooth® wireless networking 2.0 EDR
Software included	Recovery partition (including possibility to recover system, applications and drivers separately) Optional re-allocation of recovery partition Recovery CD/DVD creation tool Symantec™ Norton Internet Security™ 2009 (60 days live update) HP TouchSmart software suite-applications specifically designed for touch: HP TouchSmart Music, Video, DVD, Photo, RSS Feeds, Browser, Calendar, Notes HP Total Care Advisor HP Games Console with hours of free game play Windows Photo Gallery Windows Media Player Windows Movie Maker, Windows DVD Maker Cyberlink DVDSuite Cyberlink YouCam

Very few companies can boast of competing with Apple’s iMac design team and the best of them would be Sony. Over the years, Sony has produced some gorgeous all in one desktop PCs and the latest to join the list is the Sony Vaio VGC-JS2E. The concept looks familiar, but Sony’s execution of its version of an iMac is a high performance Desktop PC. The new product promises a huge improvement in the quality of its PCs and sets up standards for the desktop PC. The PC runs on a Intel Core 2 Duo E7400 Processor bundled along with a 500GB hard drive, 3 GB of memory and an nVIDIA GeForce 9300M GS 1.5 Graphics card. The desktop performs well when it comes to tasks like creating videos, editing photos etc. The ample storage space means you will never have any problems with storing large amounts of data.

Like the Apple iMac, the Sony Vaio VGC-JS2E has a glossy screen, an optical drive on the right and some useful ports on the left of the device’s front piece. Although the similarities do not end here, they are pretty distinct from each other. The Sony Vaio VGC-JS2E has its own list of features and performance to boast about.

Design:

Great Design:
The design seems to be inspired from Apple’s all in one PC and the model reminds you of a lunch box. It is a beautifully crafted device with a gorgeous metal finish and that makes it look classy. There are 2 versions of the PC available: Black with stainless steel finishes and another with a pink hue around the border. When you view the piece from a distance, you might assume that the Sony Vaio VGC-JS2E is made up of metal. But when you view it from a closer design you would notice that it is actually plastic with ersatz alloy.  There is a web camera and dual microphone located right above the system. There is a ventilation spot that is integrated with the power button and is located right above the power indicator. The Vaio VGC-JS2E has a flimsy tray that pops out from the right and reads DVDs/CDs.

Screen:
The Sony Vaio VGC-JS2E Desktop Computer has a marvelous 20.1 inch glossy screen that has a resolution of 1680 x 1050 pixels which offers sharp and bright colours. The monitor is designed like a picture frame which is supported by a back leg on a hinge that allows a modicum of adjustment of screen angle.

Wired Keyboard and Mouse:
The VGC-JS2E/S all-in-one Desktop PC model has a wired mouse and keyboard provided along with it as well. Both the keyboard and mouse seem to be made of the same plastic construct used in the monitor. The optical mouse has a smooth silvery finish which matches with the colour of the system. But the mouse is smaller than an average one and is difficult to use. Another disadvantage is the fact that the mouse and keyboard are wired.

The keyboard is also slim, silvery and sleek and matches with the base unit. The keys feel plasticky and are easy to use. Function keys, Shortcut keys, Volume controls, Brightness controls are incorporated into one unit which is present on the left side of the keyboard. To zoom in and out of the screen, ejecting out a disc from the tray and altering speaker volume can be done even with the keyboard.

Ports:
Connectivity on the Sony Vaio VGC-JS2E is good. The JS2E has 5 USB ports, a multi format memory reader and a digital audio Output. On the rear of the screen cum computer are present, three of the 5 USB drives, Ethernet, FireWire and a full size Toslink digital optical socket.

Features:

Inside the PC:
The Vaio VGC-JS2E/S runs on a relatively fast Intel Core 2 Duo E7400 processor that is clocked at 2.8HGz with a 3GB RAM. The nVIDIA GeForce 9300M GS GPU helped the J2SE to score well in the graphics segment. It is good enough to enjoy some hardcore gaming. The system has inbuilt wireless LAN capabilities that consist of 10Base  - T/100 Base- TX/1000 Base T Ethernet Network Interface which supports 100m Interface. There is a dual layer DVD ±RW drive that allows you to read/write DVDs.  It is rather flimsy when compared to the swish slot load mechanism of the iMac.

The System is capable of running a 32 bit Windows Vista Premium without any hassles. But perhaps the biggest disappointment here is the fact that Sony (the largest backer for Blu-ray discs) has not included a Blu-ray drive in the Vaio considering that the future of storage and graphics is in Blu-ray.

1.3 Megapixel Camera:
The Sony Vaio Desktop PC has a 1.3 Megapixel webcam present on the top border of the monitor. There are dual microphones present as well which ensure great audio and video streaming even while working online.  This can be used with the inbuilt  microphone for making video calls with software such as Skype.

Pre Installed Software:
The system comes with loads of pre-installed software from Sony including the popular VAIO Music Box, SonicStage Mastering Studio 2.5 for editing or playing audio, Windows Media Player 11, VAIO Content Importer/Exporter, WinDVD 8 for VAIO, DivX Player and VAIO Movie Story for enriching your viewing experience. If all this was not enough, Sony has also provided with photo editing software such as Picture Motion Browser, VAIO Movie Story etc.  The Easy Media Creator 10 allows you to burn your CDs and DVDs.  There are a host of Office applications such as Adobe Reader 8.1 version, Microsoft Office Trial. There are also security products such as the McAfee Internet Security and the VAIO Recovery Utility

Four LAMP Technology:
The LCD Monitor of the VAIO is perhaps its USP. It offers a rich contrast and vivid colours and all the colours blend smoothly with each other. The 20.1 inch monitor is built using the Four Lamp Technology and it houses the entire CPU making the system much lighter. The glossy coating on the screen interferes by reflecting lightings above the screen.

Good Connectivity:
The J2SE has a Wi-Fi (802.11b/g/Draft-n) and a Gigabit Ethernet LAN port. It also supports Bluetooth and has a multi format memory card reader.

Speakers:
The Speakers has in built Dolby’s Home Theatre virtual surround system. This itself tells you about the great movie experience you can enjoy with the Vaio considering its audio capabilities.

Performance:

Not Really a Multimedia Powerhouse:
Despite being designed to suit the needs of users who want a home PC, the J2SE is not really a multimedia powerhouse. It produces wonderful colours and allows you to watch DVDs of high capacities up to 8.5 GB. But it struggles with blu-ray decoding and lacks an inbuilt tuner which means you cannot use it to record and watch TV.

Lacks the “Blu-ray” Definition:
The future of gaming lies in Blu-ray and the Sony Vaio VGC-JS2E lacks a blu-ray drive and hence does not really deliver a great performance when it comes to gaming.  You are limited to watching videos on standard DVDs.

Fairly Impressive Otherwise:
The Intel Core 2 Duo Processor at 2.8GHz and the 3GB of RAM make sure that Windows Vista Home Premium runs without a problem. The PC scored well in one of our tests – the PCMark 05 Test and the nVIDIA GeForce also helped the PC to propel to a respectable score in our 3DMark 06 test. So, what do these scores indicate? The PC allows you to enjoy reasonable amount of graphics, some 3D shooter action as long as you would not turn all the high settings.

Fast Processor:
Our tests on the processor recorded an impressive score in the WorldBench 6 test which secured the speedy desktop’s position when it comes to image and video editing for instance.

Wired vs. Wireless:
It is not really a huge issue, but the PC would have been better off with a wireless keyboard and mouse. One can get a combo of wireless keyboard and mouse for the PC, though finding one that would blend well is not really easy.

Good Speakers:
The Sony speakers work perfect at lower volumes and manage to pack a punch at higher limits. Their articulate sound exceeds that of many standalone monitors. However, we noticed that the sound quality was getting distorted when the bass was increased.

Warranty:

There is a warranty of 12 months provided on Sony Vaio VGC-JS2E from the date of purchase.

Verdict:

Sony has come up with a mind blowing design for the Vaio. This beautifully designed piece will look great in a living room or a study. As an all in one PC to satisfy users when it comes to performance and price, the Sony Vaio delivers well. It has great components in its ultra small chassis and stays quiet while working. It has a pretty decent audio. Sure, there are models that offer better graphics performance, but what it delivers is good enough for an average PC user. It would have been a mind boggling piece had a Tuner and a blu-ray drive been present. Nevertheless, a great model from Sony.

Check other Sony Desktop PC Reviews, Specs, Ratings in this website.

Sony Vaio VGC-JS2E/S Desktop Computer PC - Technical Specification Table

Manufacturer	Sony
Model Name	VGC-JS2E/S
Colour/Finish	Silver Grey
Display	LCD
Display screen size	20.1 inches
Dimensions ( H x W x D)	487 x 408 x 157 mm
Weight	8.5 Kgs
Hard drive Capacity	Up to 500GB
Optical drive	DVD-RW (+R double layer)
Graphics hardware	nVidia GeForce 9300M GS graphics Card
Memory	Installed RAM: 3GB expandable up to 4GB with DDR2-800 SDRAM with 1066 MHz memory speed
Processor	Intel® Core™2 Duo processor E7400 with Dual-Core Technology
Processor speed	2.8 GHz
Audio	Sound card integrated
Operating system	Windows Vista® Home Premium
Mouse	USB Optical Mouse
Keyboard	Function Keyboard (Standby, Zoom, Disc Eject & more)
Other Features	Dual Channel Memory Architecture Built In Web Camera
Hard Drive Interface	Serial ATA
OS Certified	Windows Vista Home Premium
Hard Drive Rotation Speed	7200 rpm
I/O ports	5 x Hi-Speed USB - 4 PIN USB Type A 1 x IEEE 1394 (FireWire) - 4 PIN FireWire 1 x headphones - output - mini-phone stereo 3.5 mm 2 x microphone - input - mini-phone 3.5mm 1 x network - Ethernet 10Base-T/100Base-TX/1000Base-T - RJ-45 1 x audio - SPDIF output 1 x Toslink Optical output
Software	Windows Media Player 11, SonicStage Mastering Studio 2.5, VAIO Music Box, VAIO Movie Story, VAIO Content Importer / Exporter WinDVD 8 for VAIO, DivX Player & Converter, VAIO Movie Story Click to Disc/Editor, VAIO Media Plus, Picture Motion Browser, Easy Media creator 10, Click to Disc/Editor, Adobe® Reader® 8.1, Microsoft® Office Trial 2007, McAfee® Internet Security Suite and VAIO Recovery Utility
Warranty	12 Months

Are you fed up with the large volume of your Desktop PC? Do you feel that your PC occupies a lot of space? Then, the HP Pavilion Slimline S5211UK is the best answer for you. HP, one of the best producers of electronic goods and it has now started producing mini PCs, or the slenderised version of the desktop. HP has realised the value of the space on your desk and hence started the production of these very slim desktops. So, this has started interest in many and now, most of the prime companies have started producing similar kinds of desktops. These slim desktops may start a new trend in the computer world. Here is the complete information about this new one from HP.

Design:

As the name suggests, this new masterpiece from HP is very slim and cuter than ever before. HP proudly boasts its dimensions as (W x D x H) 112 x 389 x 308 mm; clearly this is very sleek. It is a lot more portable than its large precursors. It weighs only about 6.89 kg, which is a lot lesser than that of the conventional desktops. The design is pretty much the same. This one has rounded edges and they are a lot smoother. But, the size is almost less than half the size of the conventional desktop. Also, since there is lesser raw material involved in its structure; it consumes lesser power making it friendlier to the environment.

The power button on the top and most of the other ports and slots like disk drive, USB ports, the headphone jack, and the 6-in-1 memory card reader, all are available on the front side of it. This makes file transfers and synchronisation a lot easier. There is also a light for the indication of the wireless internet function.

Features:

The HP Slimline has great features along with the great design.

Operating System:
The HP Pavilion Slimline S5211UK Desktop PC comes with a genuine version of Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium as the operating system. This OS is a 64-bit one and so, you get a very good performance. This latest operating system from Microsoft Windows has been a great revolution and has now become the best operating system ever. It is a very user friendly OS that simplifies all your actions and takes the entire burden in running a programme and that too in a very short time. The special feature of this OS is that it takes very little time to boot and you can reach the computer’s desktop quicker with this Windows 7. Also, this one has very good tools that are designed to give an improved performance and tasks like sharing photos, video editing, scrolling through documents and web pages, playing music and video files and many more. For sufficing your needs and giving you good entertainment, the Windows 7 OS is always there.

Processor:
Normally, HP Desktop computers are accompanied by Intel processors. But this time around, HP has almost shifted to AMD. But the Slimline S5211 model features the same old HP’s partner, the Intel processor. The processor is Intel Pentium E5300. This processor is as good as the Core 2 Duo and is certainly, in contention for one of the best processors that you will ever see. This one is very fine and you will face very little problems.

Chipset:
While the remaining models from HP feature the chipsets from NVIDIA GeForce, this S5211UK Desktop Computer features the Intel G31 express chipset, which is also a very good one.

Memory:
The 3 GB DDR3 SDRAM is an additional feature here. This desktop is one of the few ones that come with the DDR3 RAM, while many others continue with the old DDR2 RAM. The DDR3 is the latest version and is almost twice as fast as the DDR2. This improved performance is given to you by consuming a very small power, as less as 1.5 volts. This RAM has been a great sensation. To support this, you have a 320 GB Serial ATA (SATA) 3G hard drive, with a spindle speed of 7200 rpm. So, your programs run faster than before and you do not need to wait long for your pictures and movies to play. There are also two DIMM sockets available in order to expand this memory to a great extent with the help of the external hard disks.

Graphics:
The graphics card provided in Slimline S5211UK is minimal and is not that suitable for high end gaming. But it is sufficient for basic home needs like watching HD movies. The movies are made crisper and sharper with this graphics card. But the thing is, games demand higher performance and hence need higher versions of these graphics cards. If you crave for games, then it is better that you upgrade your graphics card to the latest one, and hence you are assured of facing little problems while playing. Otherwise, graphics are fine.

Wireless Internet:
This is one of the very important and interesting features that you will be happy to see on it. It has a wireless internet connection facility that helps you connect to any wireless network like the 10/100/1000 Ethernet and Wi-Fi, without any cable. This wireless technology, the 802.11 b/g/n, is the latest and the fastest one. So, there are little problems concerning this. All that you need to do is switch on the wireless internet button. You will immediately be notified about the connection, if it is available. You also have an indication that shows you whether this option is on or off. Many of these slim desktops now have this facility which makes it comfortable for connections since this process is an easy and a faster one. It also rules out the use of cables and wires that spoil the beauty of your desktop. So, this can be considered as one of the most important features of the HP Slimline.

LightScribe:
This is a very different and a cute feature to have in your desktop. The SuperMulti DVD burner comes with this new technology and hence with the help of it, you can burn DVDs in almost all the formats. When compared to the conventional burners, this one has got an advanced laser system that reads and writes the DVDs at a much faster rate. This means that you do not need to wait for eons to complete the burning process. This is as simple as the data transfer to a USB device. Another nice little feature is that with this LightScribe technology, you can always etch your favourite designs on the back side of the DVD. You can write names on it using laser rather than writing on it or pasting a label. You can as well print your pictures on the DVD and make it look very stylish and different. Along with the DVD burner, there is also the Blu-Ray disc player that reads the Blu-Ray discs. So, you can enjoy watching movies in HD quality with the Blu-ray disc player. Hence, etching can be done on the Blu-ray discs as well.

Expansion Facilities:
The external connectivity facility is good. HP provides you with all the ports that are meant for this and are very useful to sync your PC to any external device. There is Memory card reader that can read six memory cards at a time. So, you can share or save your pictures from your camcorders or mobile phones very easily and all at once to save your valuable time. There are also six USB 2.0 ports in total, out of which 2 are in the front. This makes it convenient for synchronisation purpose. With these USB ports, you can transfer files, pictures, music and anything else that you want with any kind of external device. Adding to these ports, there is an internal HDD bay, an external optical drive bay, 2 PCI express slots and a pocket media drive bay. So, with the HP Pavilion Slimline S5211, you have great expansion slots and very good connectivity facilities.

No Wires and No Mess:
HP has realised that the wiring system has become very messy and many problems occur when there are a lot of wired connections, they spoil the beauty too. This is the reason why HP has introduced the new wireless system that features a wireless keyboard and a wireless mouse. So, except the power cable, you do not have any other wires involved and so you can make your desk look very clean and professional. Also, if you like, you can buy the USB 2.0 supportive keyboard and mouse. Hence this wireless technology that is being introduced is a very fruitful one rather than being a fretful one.

Software:
The HP Slimline S5211UK Wireless Desktop PC also comes with some pre-installed software that is very much useful. It includes Microsoft Works like Word, Excel PowerPoint, Calendar and the database and many others that are required for official use. One very special feature is that of the Windows Media Center, in which you can play pictures, movies, music, podcasts and TV shows. This is very useful software. Using the Windows Photo Gallery, you can see all the pictures taken by you or the ones stored in it. The Windows DVD maker is essential software that makes your DVD burning easier than before with an array of options. The Cyberlink DVD suite is also featuring in this package. The Windows Media Player and the HP Media Smart are very good Media players and can play media files of all types. You also have the HP Games Console, with which you can play hours of games for free. These games are preinstalled. Another important one is the Symantec Norton Internet Security 2009, to block any spywares or viruses that try to enter into your system while you are browsing the internet. This Internet Security has 60 days of live update. If you wish to continue, you have to buy it from the official website.

These are precisely the unique features of the HP Pavilion Slimline S5211. These are not only very good in number but they are also quite useful for home purposes. Many others provide software and features that are not that regularly useful for home needs.

Performance:

By now, you may have come to a conclusion that with so many features that are available, the performance may take a dip and may not be up to the mark. But, HP has a wonderful reputation of being the producer of the finest performing goods of all. So, trust the HP Slimline to give you a very good performance. With such features, it optimises the performance of the system and speeds up your system to a greater extent. This is regarded as one of the few to have maintained both speed and accuracy on the same lines and evading any kind of problems. The entire RAM, memory and other software we have discussed previously, are the latest ones. So, you are rest assured to get an excellent performance. When it comes to HP, you do not expect any problems and HP also assures you that no problem regarding any hardware and software will be confronted. On the whole, it is almost a flawless performer.

Power Consumption:

The Hewlett Packard Slimline S5211UK requires very less power supply. To be precise, it needs about 160 watts of power supply on an average, to perform reasonably many tasks. (But as the tasks increase in number, this may rise up. Particularly, multitasking can raise the power consumption level higher). This average power requirement is also less than the average supply needed by a desktop computer. So, it saves your money to some extent.

Warranty:

HP offers a warranty period of one year from the date of purchase. This warranty is for parts and labour. If you have any problems regarding its parts or the functioning, you can call the service center and the system is picked up from your home and dropped by again after the repair. You can also extend this warranty period further by visiting the website or by calling the customer care center. This will naturally cost you an extra premium, but it is a small one.

Verdict:

HP has now proved once again the quality of goods it produces. The design is very good and attractive; the blue lights are very special indeed. It is so slim that it just fits in anywhere. The features are more than just good. They are unique in their own terms and most of them are very useful rather than just being idle. The software that HP provided is pretty much enough for basic home needs. The memory is very good and particularly, you will feel the difference in performance of the DDR3 RAM. The graphics are minimal and okay. The wireless internet facilities are fine and it is very nice to have a Wi-Fi enabled system in your computer. The wireless keyboard and mouse are also very handy and they can eliminate the use of cables and hence simplifying the system. The LightScribe option is very interesting. The Expansion slots are good in number. The performance is top notch and is one of the best in the business. The power consumption is also considerably low. Most importantly, its cost is not too high considering its high end design and performance. Overall, this is a very good PC you can have at your desk in both office and home usage.

HP Pavilion Slimline S5211UK - Technical Specification Table

Manufacturer	HP
Model Name	HP Pavilion Slimline S5211UK
Dimensions (W x H x D)	112 x 389 x 308 mm
Colour	Black
Weight	6.89 kg
Multi-Core processor technology	Dual-Core
Chipset	Intel G31 express chipset
RAM	3GB
RAM type	DDR3 SDRAM
Hard drive size	320GB
Memory slots	2 DIMM sockets
Processor	Intel Pentium E5300
Chipset	Intel® G31 express chipset
Spindle speed	7200 rpm
Operating System	Genuine   Windows® 7 Home Premium (64-bit)
Software	Recovery partition Optional re-allocation of recovery partition Recovery CD/DVD creation tool Symantec™ Norton Internet Security™ 2009 (60 days live update) HP MediaSmart Suite : Music, Video, DVD, Photo Windows Photo Gallery Windows Media Player Windows Movie Maker, Windows DVD Maker Cyberlink DVDSuite EasyBits Magic Desktop HP Games Console with hours of free game play. Windows Media Center Microsoft® Internet Explorer Windows Mail Microsoft® Works and Microsoft® Office Home and Student 2007 60-Day Trial Version
LightScribe	Create silkscreen-quality disc labels direct from your PC with LightScribe: Just burn, flip, burn.
Graphic Card	Intel® Graphic Media Accelerator X4500 HD 32 MB dedicated memory up to 1294 MB total available graphics memory as allocated by Windows 7
HDD	HDD 320GB
External drive bays	1 external optical drive bay, 1 internal HDD bay
I/O	6 x USB 2.0, 6-in-1 memory card reader
Video connectors	VGA port
Expansion slots	1 PCI (1 free) and 2 PCI-Express 1x (1 free) 1 PCI-E 16x low profile (1 free)
Memory card device	6in1 memory card reader
LAN	10/100/1000 Ethernet
System Acoustic	Below 29dB
Sound	HD Audio 5.1 channels
Power Consumption	160 W
Cooling technology	Fans
Box contents	Desktop, Keyboard, Mouse, Power lead, Manual
Display options	LCD Monitors (buy separately): HP 2009v 20″ Wide Flat Panel Monitor, HP 2159m 21.5″ Wide Flat Panel Monitor, HP 2229h Wide Flat Panel Monitor, HP 2309m 23″ Wide Flat Panel Monitor, HP 2509m 25″ Wide Flat Panel Monitor
Warranty	Limited warranty - 1 year - Parts and labour

CMS Brand owned Zoostorm are manufacturers of PC systems, Computers, Laptops and Net books.  The award winning company has won several accolades for manufacturing great notebooks and PCs. They have designed as many models possible to suit the requirements of users. From High performance gaming power desktop PCs to ultra mobile laptops for web surfing, they have it all. In a short period of time, they have been successful in capturing a large share of the market in the United Kingdom.

One model from the company; the Zoostorm Celeron Dual Core E1400 is under the focus this time. The model has been designed keeping in mind users who would want a PC in their home.  The compact size and its durability make it perfect for users who want a home office PC in a cramped area.  The model also features a pre installed version of Windows Vista Premium Home Edition reducing set up time.

Design:

Simple Design:
The design of the Zoostorm PC is modest with a shiny black face with a silver band across it and a dull grey body. On the top of the face are present the optical drives that are DVD and CD compatible.  On the silver band on the face are 2 USB ports, one port for a set of headphones and another port for a mike.  Below the band is present the power button on the base of the face. The power button enables you to both switch on your PC and restart it.
On the sides of the grayish body are present loads of vents that allow the heat to escape out, keeping the PC cool. So, there is nothing impressive about the design except its glossy finish.  If you think the design is great, you should go for it.

Keyboard and Mouse:
The keyboard provided is an ergonomically designed one that contains all the standard keys. Its glossy finish makes it prone to dust. One unique feature of the keyboard is the fact that it contains 2 keys for Windows unlike most other PCs which offer just one key for it. There is a standard mechanical mouse provided with the Zoostorm PC as well.

Ports:
Apart from the 2 USB ports provided on the front and 2 for audio input/output, the ZooStorm Intel Celeron E1400 7871-0010 PC also features 4 other USB ports on the back, a port for the Keyboard and mouse each, an RJ45 LAN port and 2 ports for PCI. There are analog audio ports with a maximum of 5.1 analog.

Setup:
The Zoostorm Celeron Dual Core E1400 Computer does not come along with a monitor. However, a Keyboard and a mouse are provided in the package. Zoostorm will soon launch the feature of downloading drivers for windows soon on its website. It is a plug and play system. Since Windows Vista Home Premium Edition is pre- installed, setting up of the PC would not take much time. There is no CD provided but a HDD recovery solution is available.  If you are not a big fan of Windows, you can un-install the OS and upload Linux. Setting up Linux would not take much time either.

Features:

Hardware Components:
Speed and performance are some of the criteria a user has when he wants to buy a PC. Zoostorm has the Intel Celeron Dual Core (Multi Core processor Technology) processor that peps up performance and gives great output. The Celeron E1400 Processor has a clock speed of 2.0 GHz which is more than sufficient for the average home user. The speed is perfect for moderate gaming. There is also 512 KB of L2 shared cache allocated for the processor.  Efficient multitasking does not get any better than this thanks to the Dual Core processor. It is basically 2 in built processors that operate independently at the cores as a single package and with the same frequency. This makes it highly efficient even at peak performance and manages to deliver high performance computing

Other Architectural Features:
All that great processor performance is bundled along with great architectural features such as the Intel Advanced Smart Cache, Enhanced Halt State, The Intel Thermal Monitor 2, The Intel Wide Dynamic Execution, the Intel Advanced Digital media Boost to name a few.  For real time access, the processor features 1 GB of a DDR2 RAM that works at 667MHz with a Serial ATA interface.

Decent for Multimedia:
There is 5.1 Channel surround and a Vista premium ready graphics card that are ready to watch amazing multimedia. Excellent graphics are possible because of the SiS M672 Integrated Graphics Card on the system.

Optical Storage:
The drive storage is DVD ±RW (±R DL) compatible which allow you to record up to 5 whole hours of high quality video on an 8.5GB data disc.

Performance:

Great Performance:
The processor was snappy and was great at multi tasking. It had no problems whatsoever while handling several programs at once. Programs such as Microsoft Word, Excel loaded effortlessly and web browsing was great. But perhaps, the most impressive feature was its ability to process digital images quickly and efficiently in PSE6.Vista was pre installed and set up did not take much time. Sure, Vista has loads of compatibility problems, but apart from that the PC was great in terms of performance.

Its large storage space meant one can store huge amounts of data, be it text, audio or video and yet there would be no pressure on the processor.  The Full Factory recovery available through the F8 Bios was another added bonus.

Less Power Consumption:

Thanks to the Dual core processor, the Zoostorm Celeron Dual Core E1400 is highly power efficient and consumes lesser energy than the conventional PC. In spite of low power consumption, the PC manages to deliver high performance without a problem. The vents also make sure that the PC does not heat up very soon. The fans were a bit noisy though, not that it matters when one looks at the great performance it offers.

Warranty:

Zoostrom offers Celeron Dual Core E1400 PC one year warranty for parts and labour.

Verdict:

Zoostorm has managed to pull over another great piece of computing. The 7871-0010 is not only a great performer, but also is well designed and is priced excellently. With such a competitive price and a large storage unit, there is no reason why this would not strike gold in the market. Home users who would do basic tasks like Web surfing, editing documents would find it amazingly fast and efficient. Gamers need not be disappointed either as the computer is well equipped to handle multimedia games making sure that you are not devoid of your gaming pleasure.  If you are looking for a computer that has to do office related tasks such as storing, updating of data, this is what you are looking for.

If you want to get rid of your old PC and want a new PC to replace it, this is highly recommended.

Zoostorm 7871-0010 Desktop PC - Technical Specification Table

Manufacturer	ZooStorm
Model Name	Zoostorm Intel Celeron E1400 7871-0010 Versatile PC
Product MPN	7871-0010
Colour	Glossy Black and dull grey
Dimensions	450mm x 180 mm x 360mm
Chassis Type	Tower
Processor	Intel Celeron 2 GHz E4100
Multi-Core processor technology	Dual-Core
Clock speed	2 GHz
RAM	2GB
RAM type	DDR2 SDRAM
Hard drive size	250GB
Bus Speed	Bus Speed
Motherboard	Foxconn Skt775 G31MX-K
Optical Drive	20x Super Multi DVDRW
Spindle speed	7200 rpm
OS provided	Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium
Graphic card vendor	232MB Intel® GMA 950
Graphic Processor	Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 950
Video Output Interface	PCI Express
Installed Cache RAM	512kb
Hard Drive Interface	Serial ATA
HDD	2 .5″ HDD 250GB
Keyboard and Mouse	PS2 keyboard and mouse included
Integrated Input/Output Ports	USB 2.0 x 6 • Serial Port x 1 • RJ45 Lan Port x 1 • PS/2 Mouse x 1 • PS/2 Keyboard x 1 • Parallel Port (ECP/EPP/SPP) x 1
Expansion Slots	PCI Express x16 x 1 • PCI Express x1 x 1 • PCI x 2
Sound Card	Integrated 5.1 Channel
HDMI Output	No
Monitor	Not Included
Networking Type	Integrated 10/100 Network Card
Box contents	a Driver CD, a quick guide, a 65W power adapter with cable, a HDMI to DVI adapter and an anti-slip pad
Warranty	Limited warranty - 1 year - Parts and labour

Net - tops, which work on a fraction of a traditional desktop’s power, are perfect alternatives to low cost PCs. While, most of the net tops are available for basic browsing and email, there are very few that can match media centre potential. One of them is the Acer Aspire Revo  R3610. It is perfect for users who want to use their PC for the basic stuff such as light gaming. The following is a detailed review on the Acer Aspire Revo R3610. This is perfect for people who would want a small, stylish and a portable net top for basic purposes such as working on Word, Excel etc files and surfing the internet.

Design:

Extremely sleek:
Net – tops have brought in a transition phase in the size of Personal Computers. This Revo R3610 PC has a small form factor and yet is clunky compared to other PCs.  Measuring (H x W x D) 7.1  x 7.1 x 2 inches, it is an ultra slim diamond shaped model that is portable and can be easily attached to the VESA mounting on the back of an LCD Monitor. Weighing about 3 Kgs, It comes in a transparent glossy finish comes with a monitor and a foot stand design. The front and back panels have a dark blue finish with a silver Acer logo and a Revo logo on the back. There is a backlit power button located on the upper hand corner of the front panel for easy access. The model can be laid on the side or make it upright using the included V stand. This unique case layout takes very little space and is ideal for the Bedroom, living room or even the kitchen.

Ports and connectivity in Revo R3610:
The Revo offers a decent selection of ports in spite of its small size. A multi – format flash card reader, there are 2 USB ports on the top edge, 4 on the left edge. Present along with them are a Gigabit Ethernet jack, HDMI, VGA video ports and a power jack. On the right side, optical S/PDIF audio jack, a multiformat flash-card reader, headphone and microphone jacks, and an eSATA port.

Features:

The R3610 Nettop Desktop PC is powered by an Intel dual - Core processor and an Nvidia’s Ion Graphics engine that is capable of running on Windows 7. The 1.6Ghz clock speed, the 533Mhz FSB make it 40 percent faster than the Intel Aton N230. The 7.1 Surround sound (via S/PDIF coaxial output), 802.11n Wi-Fi, and gigabit Ethernet bring out its home theatre capabilities.  Like several all in one net - tops, this one lacks a monitor and an optical drive as well.

Memory:
The Revo accepts up to 4GB of RAM and there is a 2GB Model available as well.  The Technology used is the DDR2 SDRAM and the memory speed is 800Mhz. Like most net – tops, the Acer Aspire Revo R3610 runs using dual channel memory architecture.  It does not have a floppy drive or an optical drive and sadly, the maximum upgrade of RAM is 2GB. So, other than replacing the memory and the hard drive, there are no upgrade options.

Connectivity:
Most net tops serve best for browsing the internet and the Acer Aspire Revo R3610 is good at it. There is an in-built 802.11 b/g Wi-Fi controller that enables you to connect to the Internet easily. The Wi- FI controller worked reasonably well and was able to connect to the internet without a hitch. It sadly lacks a Bluetooth dongle.

Processor Details:
The Aspire Revo runs on an Intel’s ultra-low-voltage Atom N330 processor, a dual - core chip that runs with a clock speed of 1.6GHz. The 2GB of system memory comes along with the Nvidia Ion graphics engine, which supports DirectX 10 and full 1080p HD for great imagery.

Despite its Nvidia Ion GPU, the Revo is not a good choice for serious gaming. You should be able to play basic games, but newer demanding ones will not run well. Desktop applications run reasonably well and video playback lacks hard ware acceleration.

Software:
The Acer Aspire Revo R3610’s hard drive comes along with Windows 7 Home Premium (the 64 bit version) pre – installed along with a couple of Acer utilities such as the Backup and recovery software. The System is also provided with a Microsoft Works 8.5 and OEM version of Nero Essentials and trial ware such as the Microsoft Office 2007 and the Mc Afee Internet Security Suite.

Performance:

Performance wise, the Revo R3610 Desktop Computer did pretty much as it was expected to do, that is like most other net- tops .When tested for PCMark Vantage, it scored better than the Asus EEE TopET2002, which runs on the same CPU and 2 GB RAM.  On the CPU oriented Cinebench test, the Revo managed to do as well as the Asus EEE top. However, the Revo handles basic tasks slightly slower than the Asus EEE Top and the Acer Aspire AX3810. The NVIDIA Ion GPU is not sufficient for hard core gaming on the R3610. The FPS was just a measly 8.6 frames per second.

The Basic games ran well, but it cannot handle the more advanced ones. When it comes to playing back high definition, the Revo did well. The video played is smooth and does not stutter or stall, however, the 1080p playback is on the choppier side. Download the latest flash player (Flash Player 10.1 Beta ) and that would beef up the performance of the chip. Compared to the Intel processors in the market now, the Ion trumps integrated graphics well. The Sony VAIO P netbook, which runs on an Intel processor, struggles to handle 320×240 resolution video.  Audio wise, the speakers provided along give a great output in spite of their little size.

Efficient Power Consumption:

The optimized component placement and the mechanical design bundled along with the Atom processor make the Revo an amazingly low power consumer. It required just 27 watts while running our tests. Another reason why net tops are more preferable these days is because they consume much lesser power. A PC that runs on a Core 2 Duo processor would burn out 154 watts, which is about 5.7 times more than the model.  Apart from being energy efficient and less power consuming, the Reva R3610 is amazingly silent and is Energy Star 5.0 compliant.

Accessories:

The Acer Aspire Revo R3610 comes along with an AC Adapter, a Power Cord, a Warranty Booklet, a Wired Mouse and a Keyboard.  It would have been better off, if a monitor would have been included.

Warranty:

There is a warranty of one year provided on the Acer Aspire Revo R3610 from the date of purchase. Warranty is provided on service and labour as well.

Verdict:

The Aspire Revo is affordable , yet when the cost of a display is added, you would pay as much as you would for a budget desktop system like the Acer Aspire AX3810. It offers twice the CPU Horse power and also comes with a monitor. However, if you work in smaller quarters and do not require much computing power, the Revo R3610 is definitely a serious contender. It handles basic PC tasks well and allows you to play HD videos and some gaming as well.  However, it lacks an optical drive and its processor does not let you play the advanced games. So, if you are looking for a compact PC which can function as a second PC or simply for browsing and a lesser utility bill, the Acer Aspire Revo R3610 is perfect for you.

We have listed the configurations available including the one that we have discussed in the review.

Configurations Available:

Feature	Revo R3610-L	Revo R3610-M	Revo R3610-MH	Revo R3610-H
OS	Genuine Windows® 7 Home Premium	Genuine Windows® 7 Home Premium	Genuine Windows® 7 Home Premium	Genuine Windows® 7 Home Premium
Processor	Intel Atom 330 Dual Core Processor	Intel Atom 330 Dual Core Processor	Intel Atom 330 Dual Core Processor	Intel Atom 330 Dual Core Processor
Hard Disk	250GB Hard Disk	500GB Hard Disk	320GB Hard Disk	500GB Hard Disk
RAM	2GB DDR2 RAM	2GB DDR2 RAM	4GB DDR2 RAM	4GB DDR2 RAM
Graphics	nVidia ION Graphics Solution	nVidia ION Graphics Solution	nVidia ION Graphics Solution	nVidia ION Graphics Solution
Revo Wireless kybd & mouse	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Wireless LAN	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
VESA Mounte	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes

Technical Specification Table:

Manufacturer	Acer
Model Name	Aspire Revo R3610
Dimensions (W x H x D)	7.1 x 7.1 x 1.2 inches
Colour	Glossy Black
Dimensions (H x W x D)	818 x 446 x 550
Clock speed	1.66 Ghz
Multi-Core processor technology	Dual-Core
Chipset	NVIDIA ®  ION™ graphics processor
RAM	Max: 4 GB
RAM type	DDR2 SDRAM
Processor	Intel dual - Core processor
Spindle speed	5400 rpm
VGA	NVIDIA ION™ graphics, support DX10 / Full HD 1080p playback
Optical devices	SuperMulti DVD RW with Labelflash™ technology, Blu-ray Disc™ optical drive
Software	eSobi, Acer GameZone, Nero 9 Essentials, Acer Arcade Deluxe, EgisTec MyWinLocker, Microsoft Works 8.5, Adobe Acrobat Reader, Acer eRecovery Management, McAfee Internet Security Suite (Trial), Microsoft Office 2007 Home and Student Edition (60 days trial)
Networking	LAN: Gigabit Ethernet, Wake-on-LAN ready WLAN: 802.11 b/g
Wi-Fi Controller	802.11 b/g Wi-Fi controller
Input and Output	6 x Hi-Speed USB - 4 pin USB Type A ( 2 front, 4 rear ) 1 x Headphones - Output - Mini-phone stereo 3.5 mm 1 x Microphone - Input - Mini-phone stereo 3.5 mm 1 x Network - Ethernet 10Base-T/100Base-TX/1000Base-T - RJ-45 1 x Storage - eSATA - 7 pin external Serial ATA 1 x Audio - SPDIF output - TOSLINK 1 x Audio / video - HDMI - 19 pin HDMI Type A 1 x Display / video - VGA - 15 pin HD D-Sub (HD-15)
Power Consumption	Around 27W
Sound	HD Audio 7.1 channel surround
Input devices	Mouse, keyboard
Mouse Connectivity	Wireless
Box contents	AC Adapter, a Power Cord, a Warranty Booklet, a Wired Mouse and Keyboard
Accessories available	Acer wireless or USB keyboard and mouse, Acer LCD monitor, Webcam with stand, USB speaker, VESA mounting kit and 3D game pad
Warranty	Limited warranty - 1 year - Parts and labour