Anyone with who has experience with a All in one PC?

[MotoBoat]

Just started looking to upgrade my Pentium 4 desktop computer. How long has "All In One" computers been on the market? Anyone who has personal experience or heard from someone who has. Needs to chime in.

To me, the All In One desktop computer seems a awful lot like a laptop. Minus the the versatility of taking it on the go. If upgrading the screen of a All In One, to a larger size. A complete system must be purchased.

I am having trouble wrapping my brain around any positives of a All In One, other than the cool factor that comes with it. It seems more like a TV with a DVD player built in. Than a functional, upgradeable. Home computer. That's another thing, how upgradeable are they?

Anyway, what say you?

[FishingFool]

My grandparents have a HP model that they bought from Costco a couple of years ago now... I think. It's a slow POS, lol.

I told them to back up their important stuff and I'll format it, but they say they have too much stuff on there and not sure what they need.

Other than that, don't know much about them. Not sure if they are even upgradeable.

[Kfedka]

Just started looking to upgrade my Pentium 4 desktop computer. How long has "All In One" computers been on the market? Anyone who has personal experience or heard from someone who has. Needs to chime in.

To me, the All In One desktop computer seems a awful lot like a laptop. Minus the the versatility of taking it on the go. If upgrading the screen of a All In One, to a larger size. A complete system must be purchased.

I am having trouble wrapping my brain around any positives of a All In One, other than the cool factor that comes with it. It seems more like a TV with a DVD player built in. Than a functional, upgradeable. Home computer. That's another thing, how upgradeable are they?

Anyway, what say you?

Why not just upgrade to a laptop, they are very cheap, especially around end of this month on Black Friday.

[Bodofish]

Pretty much what you buy is what it is. No upgrades from the ones I've been involved with. Sony is pretty funny about most of their stuff, with the all in ones there is no reloading the OS. If you need to redo it, it's a trip to the Sony store for them to re-image. They don't have drivers for download. I'm sure the HP's would be a little more self service, as for speed, most are a little on the weak side in a attempt to control heat. If you want an all in one, Lenovo also has a small form factor low voltage unit that will screw to the back of a flat panel with VESA mounting pad. I bought one for my mom and it works like a champ for what she does, email and a little web surfing.

[natetreat]

Get yourself a desktop computer. All-in-ones are going to end up causing more frustration than they're worth, especially when it comes to hardware failure, which is guaranteed to happen. All the major manufacturers online allow you to customize your PC with some very affordable options. Having that desktop will allow you to upgrade those features that aren't essential to function but will suit you better later on when you find yourself wanting to run an application that requires a little bit of something more powerful. The main thing you want to look at when you're getting a new computer is to go for the fastest processor that you can afford, and fast RAM with the option to put more in later. Don't get a motherboard with an onboard video adapter, because once that card frys, which it will, you're SOL and need a new motherboard. A desktop case is going to allow for more airflow, the number one cause of failure in laptops and the smaller comps is overheating. Small computers just don't have the space to dissipate that heat that is caused by extended computing, which is why you're going to see laptops on a chill mat when they're used for more than just the occasional email check.

It really depends on what you're going to use the computer for. If you're going to use office, word processing and occasional gaming than you can get away with a mid level system. But when you're buying a new computer, you're going to want to get the fastest computer that you can afford, because that's going to buy you longevity as operating systems start to hog more resources, and software starts trying to run bigger and more. The budget systems are really not meant to perform at all. If you're going to go the route of something like an all-in-one, you may as well buy a tablet, because they're going to do all the same stuff, just smaller an more mobile. So what you have to do, is establish how much you want to spend, and prioritize your hardware requirements after that. My recommendation on an all-in-one: not if you want your computer to last.

[oneshot]

i concur with the good ol fashioned desktop..

start here for good deals.. http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications ... -_-CatId_6" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

if you are savvy enough, I would just build one piece by piece for what you intend to do.. start with a purpose and go from there.

[chrome_chasin]

I deal with all in ones , laptops and desktops. For the all in ones we use HP's and you will need to work directly with HP to work on anything at all, had to ship one back for hard drive replacement, ridiculous. If you are looking to save on space then get a small form factor desk top and mount it under a table. Be weary of any "spectacular" deals on laptops- you will get what you pay for. My last batch of awesome deals from dell resulted in mix matched memory and disconnected wifi cards. Remember you get what you pay for. One more thing, the all in ones do tend to run a tad warmer then a pc. Which is to be expected due to compact design.

Do like oneshot says, build your own. I build my personal pc's for a lot less then factory rigs- for what I put in them. Tiger direct is a god place to start, also check out newegg.com This is where I do all of my shopping.

[MotoBoat]

Thanks for all responses. Because of he new WaLakes format. Where a email is propagated to the inbox of the one starting the thread. I had written off receiving any responses, cause there were no email in my inbox, except today there was one. Checking in on that one response. I see there are many more than one response. So again, thanks for that.

I had received a email to purchase a All In One Dell for $399, advertisement indicated it to be 200 off. Checking the internet pricing for that model, it was more like $100 off. I wanted to go for it. But something did not feel right about a All In One desktop. That deal or not a deal has expired.

For the Record, the deal came with a 20" HD screen. 4GB RAM. 500GB hard drive. Wireless mouse and keyboard. Bluetooth enabled. WIFI. Web cam and microphone.

Cons: All In One, keyboard did not light up, deal had a 2 day expiration, monitor upgrade would require total replacement of the system, no HDMI port for running two monitors at once, did not feel right.

I did not know if my non WIFI printer would operate if the USB cable was plugged into, one of the 3 USB port's located on the All In One monitor?

Bodo, not sure at all what that high tech gadgetry you purchased for Mum, is? Maaaaybe elaborate to the slooow kid, in the back of the yellow bus (me)......LOL!

[natetreat]

I don't want to be rude here, but you dodged a bullet with that one. Right now a windows OS needs right about 3-4 gigs of ram to run comfortably without any applications running. You'd fill up that hard drive in three months if you take photos or watch videos at all as well. That model is on clearance for a reason, it's simply not keeping up with modern technology and you can find a much better deal on a desktop even for that amount of money. The extras like usb ports, wifi, keyboards etc. are going to be standard, so what you really need to look for is a rig with fast ram, fast processing and lots of space. When you're talking about putting another monitor on it, you're going to need a good video card as well, because that's going to be half of your computing right there. HD video takes up a lot of memory and when you can shift that load onto a card while you're watching something, you're going to be able to actually have something else running in the background.

Shop around at the different computer places and customize their base models to get something that you're comfortable with pricewise, there will always be a good deal out there too. Building your own computer may be a bit much of a jump as well, but once you get something with a solid foundation, upgrading when you've got the extra money to invest is really easy.

[MotoBoat]

I don't want to be rude here, but you dodged a bullet with that one. Right now a windows OS needs right about 3-4 gigs of ram to run comfortably without any applications running. You'd fill up that hard drive in three months if you take photos or watch videos at all as well. That model is on clearance for a reason, it's simply not keeping up with modern technology and you can find a much better deal on a desktop even for that amount of money. The extras like usb ports, wifi, keyboards etc. are going to be standard, so what you really need to look for is a rig with fast ram, fast processing and lots of space. When you're talking about putting another monitor on it, you're going to need a good video card as well, because that's going to be half of your computing right there. HD video takes up a lot of memory and when you can shift that load onto a card while you're watching something, you're going to be able to actually have something else running in the background.

Shop around at the different computer places and customize their base models to get something that you're comfortable with pricewise, there will always be a good deal out there too. Building your own computer may be a bit much of a jump as well, but once you get something with a solid foundation, upgrading when you've got the extra money to invest is really easy.

[MotoBoat]

I don't want to be rude here, but you dodged a bullet with that one. Right now a windows OS needs right about 3-4 gigs of ram to run comfortably without any applications running. You'd fill up that hard drive in three months if you take photos or watch videos at all as well. That model is on clearance for a reason, it's simply not keeping up with modern technology and you can find a much better deal on a desktop even for that amount of money. The extras like usb ports, wifi, keyboards etc. are going to be standard, so what you really need to look for is a rig with fast ram, fast processing and lots of space. When you're talking about putting another monitor on it, you're going to need a good video card as well, because that's going to be half of your computing right there. HD video takes up a lot of memory and when you can shift that load onto a card while you're watching something, you're going to be able to actually have something else running in the background.

Shop around at the different computer places and customize their base models to get something that you're comfortable with pricewise, there will always be a good deal out there too. Building your own computer may be a bit much of a jump as well, but once you get something with a solid foundation, upgrading when you've got the extra money to invest is really easy.

What? Not a good deal! But wait, there is more...........Also came with MS 7 but could upgrade to OS 8 for free. Just fill out this credit app and take posession of this credit card.....yada.......yada. ..........LOL!

Interesting about the ram needed to run MS operating system. I had no idea. Since I am running on 1gb or ram now. Two replaced my 512mb with a 1gb stick some time ago. Did not notice a difference. Except got the fatal blue screen now and again. But since doing a disruptive recovery several months back. The blue screen has dissapeared. I thought having blue screen meant the hard drive was soon to fail?. Been 6 months or more without that screen appearing, when it used to rare it's ugly head weekly.

Thanks nate. What is the minumum ram to go with. If zero gaming is done. Just basic email and internet searching?

[natetreat]

I can't barely stand a slow computer. I guess you could get away with 4 for basic internet and email, but for smooth sailing 8 is going to get you up and running. The other thing you're going to want is to pay attention to your hard drive speed. The hard drive is the slowest part of your system, if you've got a wirlwind fast spu and a bunch of fast ram, imagine that your hard drive is the two lane section of I-5 under the convention center. No matter how fast your car is, you still have to shove it through there. Hard drives are still the only thing in your computer that actually has to move, it spins and it breaks. The spin speed dictates how fast you can read and write information into the ram, and you'll want to go at least 7,200 rpm. But going from what you have to a new computer you're going to be very, very very happy with the performance you're going to get. My pops was in the same boat a while back, still running the old computer I had in high school. Took him ten minutes to download all his emails. He'd start it up before breakfast and come back after it was done. It drove me nuts! But he always said, it does what I need it to, why change it. I'd get calls about twice a week, "what's this warning, low memory error" I got him a new one for 500 something for fathers day, and man, was he surprised!

The blue screen means there is definitely something wrong with your computer. If a system recovery fixed it, it was probably a virus or malware. It happens. A computer is just like a car, needs a little maintenance every now and then.

[MotoBoat]

I can't barely stand a slow computer. I guess you could get away with 4 for basic internet and email, but for smooth sailing 8 is going to get you up and running. The other thing you're going to want is to pay attention to your hard drive speed. The hard drive is the slowest part of your system, if you've got a wirlwind fast spu and a bunch of fast ram, imagine that your hard drive is the two lane section of I-5 under the convention center. No matter how fast your car is, you still have to shove it through there. Hard drives are still the only thing in your computer that actually has to move, it spins and it breaks. The spin speed dictates how fast you can read and write information into the ram, and you'll want to go at least 7,200 rpm. But going from what you have to a new computer you're going to be very, very very happy with the performance you're going to get. My pops was in the same boat a while back, still running the old computer I had in high school. Took him ten minutes to download all his emails. He'd start it up before breakfast and come back after it was done. It drove me nuts! But he always said, it does what I need it to, why change it. I'd get calls about twice a week, "what's this warning, low memory error" I got him a new one for 500 something for fathers day, and man, was he surprised!

The blue screen means there is definitely something wrong with your computer. If a system recovery fixed it, it was probably a virus or malware. It happens. A computer is just like a car, needs a little maintenance every now and then.

I am running FIOS right now. On one laptop and this 10 year old computer. Speeds are pretty good on this computer. But noticing one thing. That I do not know how to interpret. I keep the task manager window on the task bar. Because I put my computer to sleep at night instead of turning it off. After several internet search windows are open, and running Firefox for email. The Page file usage graph will creep up to above 1GB. My computer does not like from about 800mb on up. Is pretty snappy at anything below that. Like right now it is using 515mb with four windows open. But at some point, all window need to be closed. Upon reopening the same 4 windows, that page file usage number will drop to the level it is right now. Even if I leave only the 4 windows open. The page file usage, slowly creeps up, as the hours they are open ticks by. Is that normal? I am talking with no additional searching. Just leave those windows, tabbed at the top of the desktop screen. Like one tab is email, 2nd is WaLakes, third Ebay, fourth another fishing site or old bing search, like Cabelas or something. And the page file usage number on the graph will eventually creep higher and higher. The higher the number the slower the computer gets. I don't understand why the page file number is lower when all 4 windows are first opened and tabbed, ready for viewing. But if the computer is left asleep for hours. Returning to a much higher number on the page file graph, and a slower computer is inevitable. Once closed, and reopened. The number drops, and the computer is very efficient, once again.