The Latest Reviews from CNET:Editors Pick:
Apple iMac (27-inch, 3.06GHz Intel Core 2 Duo
The good: Largest display among all-in-ones; fast dual-core CPU makes up for lack of quad-core (mostly); finally has an SD card slot; wireless mouse and keyboard; Mini DisplayPort input ripe with possibility.
The bad: Most Windows all-in-ones in the price range have Blu-ray; touch-sensitive mouse gestures not as responsive as we'd like; Apple's nickel-and-dime customer service policy.
The bottom line: Apple's new 27-inch iMac will charm plenty of you with its screen size alone. Fortunately, that won't lead you astray. Behind its expansive display, Apple has packed one of the fastest all-in-ones available, and added a few useful extras to sweeten the deal. This iMac isn't perfect, but its positives far outweigh its negatives. We can think of few users to whom we wouldn't recommend this system.
Users Top Pick:Dell Inspiron i580-5108NBC
The good: Excellent all-around system performance; discreet graphics card permits basic gameplay; eco-friendly.
The bad: No FireWire or eSATA ports.
The bottom line: The Dell i580-5108NBC offers a generous mix of components including a discreet graphics card, Intel's newest Core i5 processor, and a wireless networking card. Coupled with an affordable price tag and chart-topping system performance, this multipurpose PC is well deserving of our recommendation.
Budget pick:Gateway SX2840-01
The good: Small size, quality video playback, and HDMI output make it a viable home theater PC; virtualized quad-core Intel CPU offers competitive performance for its price; massive 1TB hard drive; room for half-height expansion cards.
The bad: No wireless networking; relative power hog compared with the Mac Mini.
The bottom line: Gateway's SX2840-01 remains the budget PC to beat. Its combination of small size, fast performance, and living room competence makes it one of the most flexible desktops on the market. That it has room to upgrade makes the deal that much sweeter. We recommend this desktop to anyone looking for a powerful, versatile low-cost computer.
