The all-in-one is hardly a new idea, but in terms of modern computing it does appear to be something of an enigma for PC manufacturers.
Manufacturers such as Sony and Philips have tried producing machines that appeal to a different democratic from the screen-and-chassis brigade, but it's only really Apple that has managed to make any headway with the idea, with its stylish iMacs. Enter HP, and the Touchsmart IQ770 PC, a system that may have cracked the puzzle.
The main pitch for this machine is the 19-inch widescreen display, boasting touchscreen input. Touchscreen has traditionally been little more than a gimmick for desktop machines, but when it comes to this type of all-in-one, it's essential.
And when we say this type, we mean that second - or more likely third - machine that sits in the kitchen or living room and offers up all manner of entertainment and Internet access without requiring that you continually reach for the wireless keyboard and mouse.
HP has shipped the AMD Live! branded system with Windows Vista, which adds another layer of simplicity to the whole approach - something that's highlighted by the HP SmartCenter.
This is essentially a large format homepage filled with quick links to user-definable items that you want instant access to - such as email and calendar. A touch-sensitive button in the bottom right-hand corner of the screen affords access to the homepage at all times and, in that kitchen environment, could genuinely be both useful and often used.
Power conscious
Just as iMacs and other all-in-ones have borrowed extensively from laptop technologies, so the Touchsmart IQ770 liberally helps itself to the more power-conscious devices. The X2 AMD processor is an obvious, but essential, choice for any media machine, and while this is only a Turion model (a 1.6GHz TL-52 to be exact) it still has the power for the job at hand.
The 2GB of DDR2 RAM has been hooked up to this dual-core processor to provide sufficient room to throw around serious entertainment too - this is a Vista machine after all. A 320GB hard drive finishes off the bevy of core components, to produce a system that's just as able at resolving complex pivot tables in Excel as it is at playing back H.264 movie trailers.
