All in one PCs

[_Imwashingmypirate]

Has anyone tried out the all in one pcs? http://www.pcworld.co.uk/martprd/product/seo/707584
Is it worth it?

[_moksha]

Apple has dabbled with this idea before. Besides saving space, it is an all around bad idea.

[_cinepro]

They're obviously designed to compete with the Apple iMacs:



The iMacs are absolutely beautiful computers. They are extremely well designed, and are just great to have sitting on your desk. But you pay a premium for that coolness. And you have to use the Mac OS operating system (unless you want to convert it to Windows, which means buying a Windows license too.)

So, if you want a well designed computer but don't want an iMac, one of the "all-in-one" computers might be a good choice. You'll still pay a premium, but it will vary depending on which one you buy.

The biggest downside with both the iMac and an all-in-one is that you lose the ability to upgrade most of your computer components. You can add a little RAM, and maybe swap out the hard drive, but after that, there's not much you can do. And if one part breaks, it might take down the whole computer. Whereas, on a more conventional PC, you can replace or upgrade individual parts.

For example, I have two 24" iMacs at work that are about a year old. Apple just came out with a 27" iMac. If I want to upgrade those, I've got to buy the new 27" models for $1700 each, and then transfer my existing computers over, and then sell the 24" ones. But if I want to upgrade any of my conventional Windows computers, I just need to buy a 27" monitor for ~$370. Maybe another $80 for a better video card too.

It's all about trade offs and what you care about the most.

If you don't mind a smaller screen size, you can also consider getting the original all-in-one: a laptop.

[_Imwashingmypirate]

What do you mean by premiums? I have a laptop, I wanted to get a desk top as my laptop overheats and turns off so I was thinking a desktop may be more efficient. I was going for the cool factor rather than considering personal compatibility. I did look through the specifications to see if it had any drawbacks in the standard areas. I guess overheating would still be an issue.

I think whilst I'm a student I'm probably best just getting a cheep every day desktop and go more elaborate when I am out in the real world and don't have to travel so much.

Thanks.

[_moksha]

When on a budget, putting together a system for yourself can save money and ensure quality components. If you need experienced assistance, I imagine there are a number of your fellow students who have put together desktop systems. A big efficient power supply and case with a lot of fans helps with stability. AMD processors are perfect for the budget minded.

[_Imwashingmypirate]

I could do it myself I designed a system which involved a lot of research, but I just don't have the time. I have exams and assignments everywhere just now. This is the hardest semester of the entire degree and I'm all arghhh. So right now I just need to buy complete.

[_cinepro]

What do you mean by premiums? I have a laptop, I wanted to get a desk top as my laptop overheats and turns off so I was thinking a desktop may be more efficient. I was going for the cool factor rather than considering personal compatibility. I did look through the specifications to see if it had any drawbacks in the standard areas. I guess overheating would still be an issue.

I think whilst I'm a student I'm probably best just getting a cheep every day desktop and go more elaborate when I am out in the real world and don't have to travel so much.

Thanks.

How old is your laptop, and what kind of CPU does it have? It shouldn't be overheating with normal use, so you might want to have someone check it out to make sure any fans are working ok, or that the internal airflow isn't clogged with dust. It could be a cheap fix.

If that isn't it, you could look into a laptop cooler. They're pretty cheap.

[_Imwashingmypirate]

How old is your laptop, and what kind of CPU does it have? It shouldn't be overheating with normal use, so you might want to have someone check it out to make sure any fans are working ok, or that the internal airflow isn't clogged with dust. It could be a cheap fix.

If that isn't it, you could look into a laptop cooler. They're pretty cheap.

My laptop is now 2 and a half years old (so kinda getting on a bit). It was overheating after 6 months ish and it's core 2 duo processer, 2gig hard drive.

I have cleaned it out before and that allowed it to last a little longer without turning off from overheating but not worth the hassle really.

[_moksha]

A guy from Texas won this year's race, of putting a complete computer system together in six minutes, at the computer trade show in Las Vegas.

[_Yoda]

How old is your laptop, and what kind of CPU does it have? It shouldn't be overheating with normal use, so you might want to have someone check it out to make sure any fans are working ok, or that the internal airflow isn't clogged with dust. It could be a cheap fix.

If that isn't it, you could look into a laptop cooler. They're pretty cheap.

My laptop is now 2 and a half years old (so kinda getting on a bit). It was overheating after 6 months ish and it's core 2 duo processer, 2gig hard drive.

I have cleaned it out before and that allowed it to last a little longer without turning off from overheating but not worth the hassle really.

What type of laptop do you have? It shouldn't be doing that. I've had my Macbook now for 3 years, with the same specs, and have never had that type of issue.

What do you mean by "cleaning it out"?