Increasing numbers of savvy PC makers are coming down market with a new generation of all-in-one PCs based Intel Atom processors and matching Intel core logic. The migration down market lets PC makers establish new price points for all-in-ones and increase their market share among consumers looking for a second PC for their homes, small businesses or to send away with college bound students.
Lenovo last week unveiled its Think Centre A100, a new all-in-one PC equipped with single or dual core Intel Atom-based desktop that has 1GB of memory (upgradeable to 2GB) and hard disks with capacities as great as 320GB, plus an 18.5-inch screen.
Lenovo is just one of several PC makers who are using Intel’s Atom processor family (which is best known for netbooks) to power new all-in-one desktops. Acer’s e-machines business unit, Dell, and a handful of Taiwanese computer makers also have released Atom- based all-in-ones in recent months.
Not all PC makers are stampeding to build Atom-based all-in-ones. Hewlett Packard, for example last week expanded its all-in-one line with a new offering that uses AMD’s 1.5Ghz Athlon X2 processor, but which does not support a touch based interface, which is used in two of HP’s best known existing all-in-one Touch Smart computers. Like Lenovo and eMachines, the new HP MS214 sports an 18.5 inch screen and a sub $500 price tag.
Hewlett Packard, Lenovo, eMachines and others are all moving into this category.
Although Apple Inc. is widely credited for popularizing the all-in-one form factor, the design was a mainstream staple in the earliest years of personal computing. Acer Inc,.Compaq Computer, KayPro, Osborne and Morrow Designs all offered all-in-one computers. And while many of those pioneering companies are no longer around, their ideas for compact form factor machines live on in today’s new crop of all-in-ones.—Jim Forbes on 09/21/2009.
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