One of the fastest-growing segments of the desktop PC market is the all-in-one, a form factor popularized by Apple’s OS X-powered iMac.
Industry heavyweight Samsung is currently showcasing its Series 7 AIO lineup running Microsoft’s upcoming flagship Windows 8 operating system. As you may recall, the PCs, briefly teased at Computex 2012, boast a 10-point multitouch display set in either a 23-inch or 27-inch form factor.
Both versions of the AIO support 1080p resolution and are packaged with a redesigned keyboard – sans numberpad – which is small enough to slide underneath the PC to save space. As an added bonus, both touchscreen models also support Windows 8 gestures.
The 23-inch Series 7 – equipped with an Intel Core i5 processor, 6 GB of RAM, 1 TB of storage, and integrated Intel Graphics 4000 – starts at $1099. The 27-inch version features an Intel Core i7 processor, 8 GB of RAM, 1 TB of storage space, a discrete AMD Radeon HD 7850M GPU and a $1699 price point.
It should be noted that Samsung also introduced a smaller 21.5-inch Series 5 AIO unit billed as a kitchen PC. Priced at $749, this AIO is powered by an Intel Core i3 processor, 4 GB of RAM and 500 GB of storage. All of the above-mentioned Samsung systems include dual USB 3.0 ports, three USB 2.0 ports, HDMI output, and a memory card reader. Availability on all three models is set for October 26.
In other AIO news, Maingear has debuted an updated version of its Solo 21 that originally rolled out about five months ago. As expected, the latest iteration boasts both improved style along with a lower price point – and can be easily upgraded with various processors and additional hardware options.
The baseline machine – which starts at $899 – features a 3.3 GHz Intel Core i3 2125 processor, 4 GB of RAM, 500 GB of storage, a DVD burner, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and Windows 7 Home Premium. The machine is also equipped with SSD storage and an (optional) Blu-ray drive.
