Samsung's slick 24-inch touch screen all-in-one

If you're looking for a traditional tower desktop at CES 2014, you're not going to find many, outside of a handful of business boxes and the occasional custom gaming rig. What you will find for desktops, however, is a bunch of what we call all-in-one desktops, which combine a display, stand, and internal components into a single monolithic unit.

Samsung's entry is the Ativ One 7 (2014 Edition). That name doesn't give you much of a hint as to the system's specs, most importantly that it's a 24-inch touch screen system.

The look is a bit different from other Ativ PCs, with a white, rounded-edge design Samsung says is inspired by the popular Galaxy line of products (I'm not sure why they don't just call it the Galaxy PC or something). Like most current all-in-one systems, the chassis has an HDMI input, which allows you to use the 1080p display as a standalone screen for external sources, such as a cable box or game console, and the screen has an anti-reflective coating in addition to a very wide viewing angle.

(Credit: Samsung)

Samsung has enabled a few recent systems, including this one, to interact seamlessly with other Samsung ecosystem devices, including phones and tablets. Using the Samsung Link software, the One 7 can be a cloud hub, streaming local content to other Samsung devices, and BT Music Play 2.0 allows you to use the speakers for music, even when the computer is powered off.

Internally, no surprises. Current-gen Intel Core i3/i5 processors, integrated Intel graphics, and a combo hard drive with a 1TB HDD and 128GB SSD.

We don't currently have a release date or price for the Ativ One 7, but will offer an update when that's available.

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A dual-OS Steam Machine from Origin PC

(Credit: Origin PC)
Boutique gaming PC-maker Origin PC is one of the companies throwing its weight behind Valve's new Steambox initiative, showing off a small form factor system that runs the new Steam OS.
Origin PC is planning two versions of its Steam Machine (as this first round of boxes is being referred to), both part of the company's existing Chronos line of smaller gaming desktops -- a standard edition and a dual-video-card SLI edition with up to a pair of Nvidia GeForce GTX Titan graphics cards and liquid cooling for the CPU.

Unlike some of the other Steambox hardware that's been announced from other PC makers, Origin PC's Chronos will be highly customizable, with options for CPU, graphics, and storage, and these machines will dual-boot into either Windows 7 or 8, and Steam OS, allowing you to use them as powerful gaming desktops, or living room Steam consoles.
(Credit: CNET/Sarah Tew)
The Chronos Steam Machine will also include Valve's innovative Steam controller, which replaces thumb sticks with twin touch pads designed to mimic the control of a keyboard and mouse.

There's no firm release date or price yet, but we're hearing the first Steambox systems will launch in Summer 2014.

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Razer Project Christine: A first look at a wild new vision for build-your-own gaming PCs

LAS VEGAS -- The new Mac Pro might be the beginning of a reinvention in desktop PC design, but Razer wants a say in it, too.

At CES 2014, PC gaming company Razer, always known to make splashes with unique design concepts, unveiled Project Christine on the show floor. It’s a prototype mock-up for the future of modular PCs, and it's a high-end gaming rig that will plug and play all sorts of modules.

(Credit: Scott Stein/CNET)

Razer has never made a desktop PC before, and only recently made PCs at all: the Razer Blade and Razer Edge were its first products, both showing a lot of design prowess. The design for Project Christine tops all that: what's on the show floor here in Las Vegas is little more than a metal chassis mock-up, but the design is incredibly cool to behold: a central rack holds plug-in parts that sprout from the sides, building a tower in any combination. It looks simultaneously far-futuristic and a bit steampunk.

(Credit: Scott Stein/CNET)

Even crazier, it’s cooled with mineral oil. A module in the bottom holds the cooling oil, while dual pressure valve systems in each module carry the oil through.

As for the modules, Razer envisions RAM, graphics, speakers, processors, Blu-ray drives, and even a visual LED control and maintenance module that could be ordered separately and upgraded as needed. Razer’s dream is for other manufacturers to build parts to the spec, too.

(Credit: Scott Stein/CNET)

Making that all work with be a tall order, but Razer has a history of following through on its promises: Project Fiona, shown off a few years ago, eventually became the very real Razer Edge gaming tablet.

It's a smart design, and one of the best-looking things I've seen at this year's CES

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The good: The Lenovo Flex 20 offers a big, battery-powered screen for less than the competition, plus a very handy custom software interface for tabletop mode.

The bad: The screen resolution is low, the CPU underpowered, and the battery not very long-lasting.

The bottom line: It costs less than some other tabletop PCs, but the Lenovo Flex 20 can still be a very good family-style household computer if you don't mind the lower-end specs.

Add another to the small-but-growing list of tabletop PCs. The Lenovo Flex 20 is a middle-of-the-road, 20-inch battery-powered screen with a kickstand, making it half-tablet, half all-in-one. It's thinner and lighter (at 7.7 pounds) than some of the initial tabletop systems, such as the HP Envy Rove 20, but still bigger and heavier than the 18-inch Dell XPS 18.

While there's nothing extraordinarily different about the Flex 20, it has benefited from some post-holiday price adjustments. The original pitch when we previewed the system back in September 2013, was a 20-inch tabletop with a mainstream Core i5 processor for around $900. The Flex's initial release, near the end of 2013, dropped the CPU to a Core i3 (the only configuration currently available), and shaved a bit, but not enough, off the price.

(Credit: Sarah Tew/CNET)

However, as of January 2014, the Flex 20 is available from both the Lenovo online store and retailers such as Best Buy for $749. That feels like a very reasonable entry point to the very interesting world of tabletop PCs, especially as this system includes a wireless mouse and keyboard, and Lenovo's custom Aura software interface, which kicks in automatically when the Flex is set down flat.

You're not getting a particularly high-end configuration, to be sure. The Core i3 CPU is coupled with a 4GB of RAM and a standard 500GB HDD, plus the screen (really 19.5-inches diagonally) has a lower 1,600x900 resolution than other tabletop PCs.

Sony's Vaio Tap 21 goes Core i5, plus a full 1080p screen for $899, and Dell's 18-inch XPS 18 offers similar specs to the Flex 20, plus a 1080p screen, for $799. Between those, I'd say the XPS 18 is my favorite hardware design, but Lenovo's Aura software is excellent, and makes the tabletop argument better than anyone else.

	Lenovo Flex 20	HP Envy Rove 20	Dell XPS 18
Price	$749	$929	$1,399
Display size/resolution	20-inch, 1,600x900 touch screen	20-inch, 1,600x900 touch screen	18-inch, 1,920x1,080 touch screen
PC CPU	1.7GHz Intel Core i3-4010U	1.7GHz Intel Core i3-4010U	1.8GHz Intel Core i5-3337U
PC Memory	4GB 1,600MHZ DDR3 SDRAM	4GB 1,600MHZ DDR3 SDRAM	8GB 1,600MHZ DDR3 SDRAM
Graphics	1748MB Intel HD Graphics 4400	32MB Intel HD Graphics 4000	32MB Intel HD Graphics 4000
Storage	500GB, 5,400rpm hard drive	1TB, solid state hard drive	500GB, 5,400rpm hard drive, plus 32GB SSHD
Optical drive	None	None	None
Networking	802.11b/g/n wireless, Bluetooth 4.0	802.11b/g/n/ac wireless, Bluetooth 4.0	802.11b/g/n wireless, Bluetooth 4.0
Operating system	Windows 8 (64-bit)	Windows 8 (64-bit)	Windows 8 Pro (64-bit)

Design and features 

Most of the tabletop systems we've seen follow a similar design philosophy. Rounded corners, often with a chrome trim; a thick, black screen bezel; and a body that tapers slightly toward the back, keeping the form from being too slab-like.

The Lenovo Flex 20 follows this pattern exactly, but adds a distracting orange "ideacentre" logo to the lower-right corner of the system's face. The back of the unit is covered with matte aluminum, which closely matches the similar finish on the included keyboard and mouse.

(Credit: Sarah Tew/CNET)

Interestingly, the Windows button, which takes you back to the Windows 8 tile interface, is a physical inset button on the Flex 20, while most other Windows 8 tablets and hybrids use a capacitive touch button.

The main physical traits that separate a tabletop PC from an all-in-one desktop are the inclusion of an internal battery for short-term portability, and a folding kickstand of some sort to prop the screen up in a more traditional position when it's not face-up on your table.

The XPS 18 from Dell has thin rubbery flippers, while the HP Rove 20 and larger Lenovo Horizon have spring-loaded U-shaped metal hinges that snap out quickly. The Flex 20 has a different design, with a single, wide paddle-like kickstand, hinged at the very bottom edge, and sitting in a recessed cavity in the lower center of the chassis when not deployed.

Pulling up on a tiny, tiny thumb-latch, the kickstand pops open, but only a tiny bit. You'll have to reach back and pull the kickstand out to its fully extended position manually. The hinge is stiff enough to stop at virtually any angle in between, but if you tap or press on the screen, it'll move under modest pressure. But for video or photo viewing, setting the screen at any angle from flat to about 85 degrees works.

(Credit: Sarah Tew/CNET)

Physical volume up/down buttons are on the top edge, along with a screen rotation lock (something more Windows 8 tablets should have), and a power button. Aside from that, most of your interaction will be either through the 19.5-inch touch screen or the included keyboard and mouse. Both have a plastic feel, but are fine for casual use. The keyboard copies the island-style, slightly rounded keys from Lenovo's current laptops, and includes a separate number pad and volume controls. The mouse is big and bulky, and feels like a hollow plastic shell, but at least has large left and right buttons and a substantial scroll wheel.

One note, the keyboard and mouse are neither Bluetooth, nor automatically paired with the Flex 20. Instead, they're both controlled by a single USB dongle, which must be inserted into one of only two USB ports on the system itself, eating up half your expandability. Another note -- the tiny USB receiver is hard to find (at least it was for me). It's secured to the underside of the removable battery cover on the mouse.

The 19.5-inch display is the most visible part of the Flex 20 (I'll give them the extra half-inch for the naming convention). And while the screen itself is clear and bright, it only runs at a native resolution of 1,600x900. That's a budget-minded move, period. Other tabletop PCs, and frankly most non-budget laptops with 14-inch or larger screens, are at 1,920x1,080 now, with a growing number adding even higher resolutions. However, the screen is an IPS model that looks good from nearly any angle and supports 10 simultaneous inputs.

There was some occasional sluggishness in using the on-screen controls. That might be because of the slower Core i3 processor included here, although many functions, particularly anything with the highly optimized Windows 8 tile interface, was fast and responsive.

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Very good Chrome OS starting point

The good: The Asus Chromebox puts the Cloud-based world of Google's Chrome OS into a compact, attractive black box. For its low starting price, you get a decent performance for everyday tasks and a good assortment of ports and connections.

The bad: You need to supply your own keyboard and mouse, which might not be as easy as it sounds. Only 16GB of storage might turn off some potential users, while power users will want to step up to the Core i3 version.

The bottom line: If you're looking to get started in the world of Chrome OS, the Asus Chromebox is a very good starting point -- so long as you don't mind bringing your own peripherals.

The Asus Chromebox is one of those products that does what it says and says what it does: It's a box that runs Chrome OS, Google's Web-based operating system.

The key benefits for Chromeboxes and their mobile counterparts,Chromebooks, are that they boot in seconds; they have built-in virus protection that's automatically updated, as is the whole OS; they're secure and can easily be managed; and there is an ever-growing world of Web apps to use.

That said, using Chrome can be freeing as well as frustrating, so it's really not for everyone. But, if you think you're ready to move on from a traditional OS -- even if it's just as a secondary computer -- the Asus Chromebox is a good place to start.

Measuring only 4.9 inches wide by 4.9 inches deep by 1.65 inches thick, the little box can easily be tucked away behind a display, and a mounting bracket is included. Despite the low starting price, it looks nice and feels solid.

(Credit: Joshua Goldman/CNET)

Unlike a Chromebook, you'll need to bring your own keyboard, mouse, and display to this party. This Chromebox has a full-size HDMI port and DisplayPort on its back, as well as four USB 3.0 ports -- two on front and two on back.

Controls for adjusting, rotating, and aligning your display are found inside the Chrome browser settings. I tested it on two different TVs and a computer monitor, and they all worked fine. However, if there's a desktop application you use for adjusting specific monitor settings, you're probably out of luck.

The same goes for mice and keyboards. Windows and Mac USB mice and keyboards are supported and basic functions work without fail. I also connected a Logitech desktop set that uses a Unifying adapter and those worked fine, too, but you'll lose the capability to program them since that requires Logitech's software. As with displays, though, there are basic settings available in Chrome's settings menus.

(Credit: Joshua Goldman/CNET)

The Chromebox does have built-in Bluetooth 4.0, which can be used to connect to Bluetooth keyboards and mice. I was able to get a basic mouse working, but couldn't get my keyboard to function, so your mileage may vary. Asus will have a $50 wireless keyboard and mouse set available if you want a keyboard designed for Chrome use.

As for what's inside, you get a 4th-gen 1.4 GHz Intel Celeron 2955U processor, 2GB of memory, integrated Intel HD graphics, and a 16GB M.2 solid-state drive for storage. The system boots in less than 20 seconds, and the combo is powerful enough to efficiently run Chrome and Web apps. Streaming HD video from Hulu Plus or listening to Spotify or Google Play Music while working in other tabs didn't pose any problems, and even under heavy load it stays quiet.

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Desktop buying tips

Purchasing a home or business computer can be a big and sometimes costly decision. Below is a listing of helpful suggestions on what to look for and what to ask when purchasing a new computer.

Desktop buying tips

New vs. refurbished or used

If you're looking to save money buying a used or refurbished computer can save you a lot of money. A refurbished computer is a computer that has been returned to the company has been checked out as good but cannot be sold again as new. All major computer manufacturers will have a refurbished section showing all their available refurbished products. Buying one of these computers instead of a new computer can save you hundreds of dollars.

In addition to refurbished computers individuals and companies for various reasons will also sell their used computers. When buying these look out for the following.

Verify it has no physical damage by inspecting the ports as well as the inside and the outside of the case.

Make sure you're getting what you pay for. See the below scams section for additional details.

Make sure computer comes with any CD's for the operating systems or programs that are promised to be installed.

Realize that many computer manufacturers will not transfer the computer warranty from the old user to you.

Mac vs. PC

The decision between buying a Macintosh and PC computer running Microsoft Windows is always a heated debate. See our Mac vs. PC document for a list of advantages and disadvantages of both of these systems if you're still not decided.

What to look for

When purchasing a computer it is likely that you will have a general idea of what you may like in the computer or how you would like to configure the computer. Below is a listing of the various components likely to be found in a computer and recommendations and tips when considering any of the below components.

Case

The case or chassis is often overlooked when buying a new computer. Below are some things to think about regarding the case.

Do you want a desktop or tower case?

Will the case fit on top of or below your desk?

Will the drives be accessible or will they be positioned the way you wish them to be positioned?

Does the case support the standards of motherboards, for example, the ATX motherboard standard? This is important if you wish to upgrade the computer in the future.

Case buying tips page.

CD media

Most newer computers today have an included disc burner in the computer. If you wish to make your own CD's or DVD's make sure the computer supports it.

Standard CD-ROM buying tips

CD-R or CD-RW buying tips

DVD buying tips

Hard drive

The hard drive will be the destination of all your files and information. Make sure you get a hard disk drive that will have plenty of available space and will run at speeds that don't slow the overall computer down.

Hard drive buying tips

Memory

Memory is one of the more important purchasing decisions on a computer. The more memory in the computer, the more efficient the computer will run.

Memory buying tips

Modem

Depending on how you plan on connecting to the Internet the Modem may not be that important of a buying decision. Most users today are using broadband Internet, which does not require a modem. However, if this is not available in your area make sure your computer includes a modem.

Modem buying tips

Network card

Almost all computers today have a network card or network option on the motherboard. The network card is what will allow you to share files between computers in your home and connect to a broadband Internet connection.

Network card buying tips

Processor

The computer processor is and will always be one of the most important considerations when purchasing a computer. Today, with multiple CPU/Processor manufacturers, it may be more confusing as well as more cost efficient to look at all options for computer processors.

CPU and processor buying tips

Sound card

Today, the standard sound cards that are included with a computer are sufficient for almost all computer users. However, if you plan on doing sound editing or mixing make sure to look at the sound cards capabilities.Video card

For computer gaming the video card has become one of the most important factors behind memory and processor. If you plan on gaming with your computer make sure your video card GPU and video memory meets the requirements.

There is no such thing as a computer manufacturer who has a perfect history with all its users. Therefore when it comes to recommending one brand over another it would be impossible for us to say who's better than the other. Instead we'd suggest relying off the below considerations.

Add-ons

All computer manufacturers will give you the option to buy additional accessories when buying a new computer. Keep the below in mind before buying these add-ons.

Documentation

Most manufacturers today are reducing the amount of documentation included with their computer and substituting that documentation for online documentation. Make sure the documentation found online appears to be sufficient and that software and driver downloads are available if needed.

Hardware

As mentioned in the above above what to look for section, make sure the hardware included with your computer meets your needs.

Return

If the computer is purchased at a local retail store, can the computer be returned if unsatisfactory to that store or does it have to be sent to the computer manufacturer? If the computer is purchased online or through a mail order can it be returned if unsatisfactory?

Service

 Is the service onsite, meaning a technician will come to your location to replace or fix a bad component. If the service is onsite, is it for the complete time of the warranty?

If onsite is not offered, what is and for how long?

Can the computer be taken to a local service center? If yes, what is the closest authorized service center?

What is the time frame the service takes to occur? For example, if the computer has a bad component, what is the time it will take for a technician to come onsite and replace that component, or if sent in how long does it take? Finally, if that time frame is not acceptable, what is the company willing to do, for example, are they willing to provide you with a loaned computer.

Software

Does the software include Microsoft Office or Corel Suite? These packages allow you to have a word processor and a spreadsheet. For the most users this should be an important consideration.

Is it the full versions of the software or is the software a demo, trial, or shareware? Many companies will include programs that will expire after 30-90 days and require you to purchase the full program.

Support

While you can always contact Computer Hope for support, manufacturer support is also a very important consideration as if an issue arises with the computer you must be able to contact a support representative.

Is support open 24 hours, 7 days a week? If not, what are the hours?

Is support open on holidays? If not, what days are they closed?

What support options are available? Phone? E-mail? Web? Chat?

Upgrade

While this option may not be considered at first when purchasing a computer, it is an important consideration. When purchasing a computer make sure the hardware you may want to upgrade can be upgraded. Common upgrades for most users today include: Memory, Video card, and Sound Card.

Warranty

Finally, does the computer manufacturer offer a warranty? How long is the warranty? Does the warranty cover both hardware and software issues? 

We highly recommend that a computer only be considered if it has at least an one-year warranty. Many cheap computers will only come with a 90-day warranty. Meaning if a part goes bad, you will have to pay for the part as well as the service. This may not be an issue for users who just need a cheap computer and are willing to replace parts and service the computer themselves.

Scams

Unfortunately, like anything, it is possible to be tricked or for computer companies to scam you. Watch out for the below common scams.

Get what you pay for - Make sure you're getting what you paid for. A common tactic is to overclock the processor, memory, or other component. This can be done by anyone with a little computer knowledge. For example, you may buy a 733MHz processor but instead get a 500MHz.

To determine the processor speed, open the computer and look at the processor itself. Do not look at the processor through a software program or through BIOS as these values can be changed or tricked.

Legal software - When purchasing a computer, make sure it was legal purchased and the CD or other disc and its CD-KEY is included. Many end-users or small computer companies who build or sell computers may not provide you with legal copies of the software, which is illegal and may leave you with a fine or the inability to get updates.

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