Author Topic: Anyone have experience with all-in-one computers? (Read 1609 times)

Sarah · « **on:** July 10, 2009, 08:37:22 AM »

I am strangely drawn to them, but I tend to mistrust combo devices. Still, the thought of having only one monitor in my life is appealing. Has anyone here actually used an all-in-one. If so, what did you think?

yesno · « **Reply #1 on:** July 10, 2009, 09:12:01 AM »

Been using an iMac as my home machine, stereo, and only TV/movie screen for the past 4 years. I love it. But it's not quite all-in-one as I have a few external hard drives and speakers attached.

Whatever machine you get, just get a decent amount of RAM, because it can be difficult to install yourself. 4 gigs if you can. Minimum 2.

FrankFromWeehawken · « **Reply #2 on:** July 10, 2009, 09:16:38 AM »

they represent an excellent combination of value and space saving all in one as long as you are willing to accept the following:

1. Besides RAM and Hard Drive space, you aren't going to be upgrading much else in one of these systems.
2. When a component inside the CPU croaks, expect to pay a boatload of money to get it repaired (provided it isn't under warranty)

Thanks to the advancements in USB and Firewire based devices 1 isn't that big an issue anymore as most cards that people are putting into their systems (TV capture, wireless, storage, video capture, missile launchers) have some form of USB equivalent. Problem 2 is a couple years down the road when components start dying (usually the day after their warranty ends). My parents have a fairly recent iMac that bit the bucket outside of warranty and in the end it was more economical to buy a new system than it was to get it repaired.

Personally I stay away from all in one systems. Good luck with your decision.

fonpr · « **Reply #3 on:** July 12, 2009, 12:35:49 AM »

FrankFromWeehawken

Frank,

I'm "shocked" to see you aren't even a Mayor of NPR yet.

To use the acronym laden jargon of the kids "today": WTF?

Signed,

A Baffled B.S. Listener

When/if you respond to this post, please address me as: Dear, A.B.B.S.L.

Thank You.

Fredericks

p.s. "Dear" is really important to me.

FrankFromWeehawken · « **Reply #4 on:** July 12, 2009, 08:08:36 PM »

Dear, A.B.B.S.L.

Without trying to get too off topic in regards to my rank, I felt like any proper lurking that I should lurk on the forums for 2 - 3 years before trying to add to the community. I have done my time lurking and now I spring forward like a butterfly from the cocoon.

Now back to the All In One Computer questions.

FFW

yesno · « **Reply #5 on:** July 12, 2009, 08:14:10 PM »

Actually an all-in-one computer can be bad news if you're slightly OCD like me.

I have pretty nice speakers, but it just pains me to attack them to my iMac. Because they are a thing other than the iMac. I don't even like my phone's docking cable. I recently got an Airport Extreme just so I could hang all of my external hard drives off of it. Everything wireless.

If you just have a normal computer with a rat's nest of cables, then you don't have to worry about these things.

Sarah · « **Reply #6 on:** July 12, 2009, 11:17:11 PM »

If I needed a new television, I think I'd get one of these things without thinking twice. But since I don't, I feel decadent even considering the purchase.

Yesno, the things I've read say an all-in-one will act as a DVR. I get how it would accommodate recording, but is the handy-dandy feature that allows one to set up a recording by simply clicking on a schedule available?

yesno · « **Reply #7 on:** July 12, 2009, 11:44:55 PM »

Yes, that feature is available with the Elgato EyeTV, which to the best of my knowledge is the best TV thingie you can get.