The all-in-one desktop PC is an interesting beast. It has gone from being the only game in town (think Commodore Pet/Apple III/TRS-80) to a tiny niche (the original Apple iMac) in a sea of tower PCs, to today, where the all-in-one desktop is replacing the tower PC as the form factor you picture in your head when you hear the phrase "desktop computer."
The Apple iMac's surge in popularity during the late 1990s and 2000s caused all the other PC manufacturers to reevaluate their desktop strategy. The death of the CRT monitor hastened the adoption rate, since LCD screens can be made so much thinner than CRTs (and consequently the computer itself becomes slimmer). The fact that LCD and In-Plane Switching (IPS) screens use less power and don't emit radiation helped the LCD supplant the older CRT monitors. In any case, the high quality displays in all-in-one PCs are lighter and less bulky than CRTs, so you can place them on or above most desk surfaces.
Innovative, cool-running processors also help shape the landscape. Until recently, most manufacturers followed the Apple iMac form factor, wherein all the PC's components are built into the back of the screen. While efficient, that practice does increase perceived bulk and makes the screen housing much thicker. Smaller components and drive mechanisms are allowing PC makers the luxury of building their tiny PCs in the base of the system. This also lets them put a much thinner screen and chassis on the system, so it looks svelte at only a few millimeters thick.
Like other desktops and laptops, all-in-one computers come in many different price ranges, from the low-end $400 models up to and over $2,500 for large 27-inch screen high-end systems. As usual, you will pay more for features like Blu-ray drives, USB 3.0 ports, 16GB of system memory, HDTV tuners, multiple hard drives, high end 3D gaming performance, quad-core processors, and solid-state drives. Midrange all-in-one computers at around $1,000 to $1,500 is the hot spot where you get the most for your money. You'll find 1080p HD (1,920-by-1,080) or higher resolution screens, quad-core processors, 1TB or larger hard drives, DVD or Blu-ray, and a wireless keyboard and mouse. 802.11 b/g/n or 802.11ac Wi-Fi networking is a given for all-in-ones, since they work best where people are, rather than being tied to a wired router in your house.
Touch screens are an almost a necessity at this point. Windows 8 is touch-optimized, so it behooves you to seek out a system with at least five points of touch. Ten-point touch is the benchmark, since it allows you to use both hands or share the screen with another person. Windows 8 without a touch screen is a frustrating experience, particularly if you're using a program optimized for the Windows 8 UI (essentially any program you can directly access from the Start screen). The two prime examples where touch screens are not necessary are on Macs (where OS X isn't yet optimized for touch), and when you exclusively use programs in Desktop mode (a.k.a., Windows 8's old school Windows interface).
And, of course, there's the emergence of portable all-in-one desktops in recent months. These systems resemble giant tablets and come with a built-in battery. Some even have stands or charging docks. None of them are meant for using on the train to work (unless, you know, you're a masochist with a short commute), but they are good for being unplugged and moved from room to room without having to turn off for short periods of time.
For more tips on what to look for when buying an all-in-one desktop PC, our buying guide is your best bet . Be sure to also check out our top picks overall for desktops, as well as our favorites for work or play.
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