AVADirect has a new Intel-based system for all of you touchscreen fanatics out there. Today the company announced the availability of the Intel CAP08, a new all-in-one system with a 21.5-inch full HD LED LCD screen. The price isn’t too bad for what you’re getting in the package, but as always with AVADirect, you can swap out some of the components to make it a bit more powerful.
The system as it’s offered by AVADirect comes in at $777.61, and includes a Intel Pentium G620 dual-core processor at 2.6GHz, 4GB of DDR3-1600 RAM, a Seagate Momentus 750GB HDD, Windows 7 64-bit Home Premium, a Samsung Slim Black 8x DVD Burner, and an Intel Centrino Wireless-N 1000 card. As we said, not too bad, but you can bump a lot of components up to make this all-in-one unit a bit more powerful. Alternatively, you can bring them down a little to make it even more affordable, but you’ll probably want to avoid doing that if you can.
Other than the hardware, the Intel CAP08 comes with a built-in multi-card reader, 2 USB 2.0 ports, headphone and microphone jacks, built-in speakers, and a 1.3-megapixel camera. Again, you aren’t working with a lot, but that’s to be expected from all-in-one systems. The system also comes wall mount-ready, and we have to say that it does look pretty sleek, so despite some of its shortcomings, at least it has looks going for it.
Aside from being able to upgrade the included hardware, you can also choose to add new equipment. Additions include Bluetooth modules, external TV tuners, routers and wireless access points, mice, productivity and antivirus software, and external storage devices. You’ve got a ton of options with the Intel CAP08, so even though it’s a little underwhelming at first, that can be easily changed if you’re willing to shell out some additional cash. You could potentially turn this all-in-one system into quite the beast, so if you’re interested, you can swap out components to your heart’s desire at AVADirect’s website.
It’s time to get serious about touch-screen computers here in the summer before Window 8 is formally released – and Lenovo’s got your back with a massive all-in-one called the IdeaCentre A720. This 27-inch display-toting AIO works with 1920 x 1080 pixel resolution, an all-glass “frame-less” front, and an Intel Quad-core Core i7 CPU (Ivy Bridge) under the hood. And it folds flat so you can play touchscreen table hockey – what more could you want?
Hardware
Any review you see of this device – if you don’t run out and buy it right now, that is – will tell you that it’s quite gorgeous. Without appearing too similar to what the market has dubbed “Apple-esque”, this Lenovo machine carves out a new space for the manufacturer, prepping us for a future that’s very bright for sleek-looking and sleek-feeling computers. The display is, again, massive, you’ll be working with just the touchscreen on it’s own if you wish or with a Bluetooth mouse and keyboard (included), and you only need to pop the power cord in to get started.
Hit the power button on the lower right of the display (behind the display, rather, as the outer rim angles inward) and the machine lights up with loveliness. You’ve got a 10-point touch-screen experience ahead of you with several light-up touch-sensitive buttons under the rim near the bottom of the screen as well. There you can brighten up or dim down your display, change sound levels, and adjust what’s on your screen with a touch in several other ways.
The bottom left of the machine has two HDMI ports, one in, one out. There you can connect with your smartphone – as most smartphones now have such a connection in one way or another, or you can push content out to a much more major-league HD display. In other words, you can make this computer the biggest wired remote control of all time!
You also have one USB 3.0 port on that side and three USB 2.0 ports on the back. Also on the back is your power port and Ethernet port as well. Then there’s your ability to adjust the display. The whole computer is massively heavy – ringing in at 11.6kg or 25.6 pounds. You’ll be able to view the display anywhere between 90 degrees straight up and down and 0 degrees (flat). Moving the display (as demonstrated in our hands-on video below) is extremely easy yet keeps the machine tight in place wherever you want to leave it.
The speaker grilles you’ve got up front of the base are part of this machine’s Dolby Home Theater v4 setup, and they sound rather nice. This machine presents one of those situations where you wont be needing additional side-speakers all around just to hear it across the room – you’re set! Along the right side of the base of the machine you’ve got a Blu-ray Disc slot where you’ll be able to read and burn Blu-ray disks as well as CDs and DVDs.
Also included in the review pack we’ve received is the optional TV tuner so we can pick up some sweet channels and make this an even more inclusive device. This package also includes an IR Windows Media Center remote control which has worked like a charm with the included receiver which you simply plug in to the machine and click away.
Up top on the front of the screen you’ve got a 720p HD webcam so you’ll be able to Skype the whole night through – and also make use of some brand new interactive Kinect-like games as well (you’ll see more of this in our hands-on video below as well.) Have a peek at some additional features inside this device in the following readout:
System – LENOVO Lenovo A720
Manufacturer
Lenovo
Product Type
Desktop
Operating System
Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium (64-bit)
Motherboard
LENOVO ChiefRiver
Processor
Intel Core i7-3610QM
Processor ID
GenuineIntel Family 6 Model 58 Stepping 9
Processor Frequency
2.29 GHz
Processors
1
Threads
8
Cores
4
L1 Instruction Cache
32.0 KB
L1 Data Cache
32.0 KB
L2 Cache
256 KB
L3 Cache
6.00 MB
Memory
8.00 GB DDR3 SDRAM 799MHz
FSB
99.8 MHz
BIOS
LENOVO E5KT20AUS
Software
For graphics you’ve got a lovely NVIDIA GeForce GT630M 2GB discrete graphics which you’ll certainly need to love as there aren’t any options for switching when you pick up this machine. That said, we’ve had no problem working with any game that’s been thrown at the machine with Batman: Arkham City flowing like a charm and Diablo III having no graphics issues to speak of. Playing Batman with a wireless game pad and this massive display was an extra treat as the hardware lends itself to a pushed-back appearance. In other words, there’s nothing to distract from the fun.
Because this is a touchscreen-centric device, Lenovo has included a hub where you can play a set of games that work entirely with touch. You’ve got 10-finger touch sensitivity, which makes things rather interesting for the updated Pong they’ve got ready for you, and you can play the keyboard as well – the musical keyboard, that is. This system is demonstrated in the hands-on video we’ve got prepared for you right here, as it were.
You’ll see that not only does this computer make use of its touchscreen surface to make music and to play games, it’s ready to make use of the camera as well to play some interesting video games. The camera-centric games aren’t nearly as fine-tuned as the touchscreen games, which is why you won’t see them advertised as a feature on this system. They are there though, and they’re fun to work with. Windows 7 is here as well, and it’s clear that though this system is working with a perfectly legitimate set of extras (like a pull-out onscreen keyboard) to make your experience nice in the meantime, Lenovo has prepared this system for Windows 8 – that’s not an official statement from them, but it seems pretty clear when you’re working with the machine.
As for performance, you’ll find this machine working perfectly well for an all-in-one system, and with the quad-core i7 under the hood, you’re good to go for processing video and playing hardcore games at your leisure. Of course it’s no beastly custom-made gaming computer, but it’s really not meant to be. What you’ve got here is more an entertainment machine than a workhorse.
Benchmark Score – LENOVO Lenovo A720
Section
Description
Score
Total Score
Windows x86 (64-bit) – Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium (64-bit)
Integer
Processor integer performance
10910
13347
Floating Point
Processor floating point performance
20119
Memory
Memory performance
8240
Stream
Memory bandwidth performance
8392
It would be nice to have a more vast collection of touch-friendly applications out there in the world of Windows 7 right this minute, but alas, someone has to go first with the hardware. You’ll find Angry Birds and Fruit Ninja – as well as the awesome two-finger version of space hockey – to be more than enough to play with until the new wave of touchscreen apps comes on later this year.
Wrap-Up
The Lenovo IdeaCentre A720 is a home run for Lenovo. You won’t find a better touchscreen PC for this price, not until Windows 8 makes touchscreen PCs a commodity. For now they’re still somewhat of a rarity – and this machine is one of the good ones. This machine is well worth the cash and ready to be your school or home-friendly all-in-one computer right this minute. You’ll find this all-in-one monster available online right now for right around $1849 straight from Lenovo.
LG today introduced the new V720 all-in-one PC series. The high-end model includes a 3rd generation Intel Core i5 processor and a 27-inch IPS display with a Full HD (1,920 x 1,080) 3D panel. The basic model features a 2nd generation Core i3 processor but without a 3D display. Both models provide a 1GB nVidia GT640M graphics, a 750GB SATA3 hybrid or standard drives, up to 8GB of DDR3 RAM and USB 3.0 ports. No word on pricing so far. [Engadget]
LG has unveiled the V720, a new series of all-in-one PCs, featuring 27-inch IPS HD panels and an Intel Ivy Bridge processor option. The line consists of a high-end model with Intel’s 3rd generation Core i5 and an IPS 1,920 x 1,080 3D panel, and a lesser model with a 2nd generation Core i3 and the same display sans 3D. Other specs include 750GB SATA3 hybrid or standard drives, up to 8GB DDR3 RAM, USB 3.0 and NVIDA’s GT640M 1GB graphics. Photos show a white and silver looker with well concealed computer guts, but don’t count on being able to pick up one of the minimalist units in the US — LG normally keeps its PC offerings exclusively in Asia.
HP has revealed a new all-in-one foursome, targeting home, business and multimedia users with fully-integrated PCs offering optional touchscreens. The HP ENVY 23 All-in-One and HP Pavilion 23 All-in-One take on the home market, with 23-inch Full 1080p displays and HP’s own media streaming software suite, while the HP Compaq Elite 8300 and HP Compaq Pro 6300 target business users.
The ENVY 23 is probably the most interesting of the four, with easy wall-mounting, an optional HDMI input for using it as a display (such as for a console) and a choice of Blu-ray and integrated TV tuner on the spec sheet. There’s also Beats Audio speakers and up to 2TB of storage.
The HP Pavilion 23 is somewhat more humble than its ENVY sibling, though offers the same 2TB storage. It comes with a choice of AMD multicore processors. It will be priced at $649.99 and the ENVY from $949.99 when they both go on sale August 2.
As for the business models, the Elite 8300 has a 23-inch display with optional two-finger multitouch, an optional 2-megapixel webcam and dual-mic array, and a choice of 2nd and 3rd gen Intel Core processors. Both integrated and discrete graphics will be available, depending on model.
The Pro 6300, finally, has a 21.5-inch display – though no touch option – and an optional 2-megapixel webcam supporting face recognition. It too offers a choice of 2nd/3rd gen Intel Core processors and optional discrete graphics. It will be priced from $799 when it goes on sale September 3, with the 8300 priced from $929 when it arrives on September 10.
LogicBUY has started selling the Dell Inspiron One 2330 all-in-one PC. Priced at $749.99, the computer comes jam packed with a 23-inch Full HD 1080p display (non-touchscreen), which is combined with a powerful Intel i7 “Ivy Bridge” processor, a 1GB AMD Radeon HD 7650A graphics, USB 3.0 ports, an HDMI input and an integrated Blu-ray drive. The Dell Inspiron One 2330 all-in-one PC retails for $749. Each purchase comes bundled with Adobe Photoshop Elements, Adobe Premiere Elements 9.0 and 90-day Premium Phone Support. [LogicBUY]
The new Acer Aspire 5600U all-in-one PC is equipped with a choice of an Intel Core i3 or i5 processor. The computer provides a 23-inch Full HD touchscreen display, an nVidia GeForce GT630M graphics, up to 8GB of DDR3 RAM, a built-in TV tuner and a card reader. The Acer Aspire 5600U also provides several connectivity options such as two USB 3.0 ports, three USB 2.0 ports, HDMI, Ethernet and Wi-Fi. Sadly, there is no info on pricing or availability so far. [Geeky-gadgets]
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