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Apple iMac MB324B/A
by altyris
After owning an Apple Powerbook G4 for 4 years, I must admit that I was well established in the Apple camp before buying this computer. However, I have found that the step up in performance from a laptop (which was one of the most powerful apple laptops of its day) to this Intel unit absolutely incredible.
The first thing to ... notice about it are the striking aesthetics and the sheer attention to detail - everything you can see (and even more than you cannot) is done with an understanding of the use of the computer. Everything comes easily on the iMac, and the whole package has a wonderful unity of design that is hard to match in rival PCs. The build quality is solid, while never feeling bulky.
The performance is spectacular, which is impressive seeing as the specification was introduced nearly 2 years from me writing this review. Graphics are highly impressive - the advantages of the ATi chip are plain to see during gaming, and using graphics packages. While 2GB of RAM and a 2.66GHz processor might not seem as impressive as one would expect, they are utilised to the maximum, and the system simply eats up anything you can throw at it, certainly in home computer terms. I have tried to use Logic Pro on the system, and eventually a decrease in performance was noticed, yet this took a lot of processor intensive virtual instruments and reverb units.
I have had no problems with this computer and it has been very reliable - the only issues have been software related and very easily fixed. The screen is fantastic, really lucid, yet you have to be careful of positioning the Mac - it is a highly reflective surface. Additionally the connectivity is very good, though could do with an extra couple of USB ports - easily solved using a third party hub.
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Acer Aspire X3812
by January
My laptop has just given up the ghost and I have had to borrow my daughters desktop computer until i can save up enough money for a new laptop. This desktop is an Acer Aspire X3812 and to be honest I'm quite impressed.
I haven't used a desktop computer for quite a while as the laptop is easier to carry around and more ... convenient for me to use, so having a desktop on a computer desk in my room was a bit of a let down at first, but this was only because i am used to moving around the house with a laptop and not sitting at a desk browsing online.
The Acer Aspire X3812 is a slick black computer pakage with a screen that is 16 inches widescreen, it was a little hard to get used to at first as my laptop was only a small screen one so things looked massive once I had swapped over to this computer.
The graphics however are very good and the picture is clear and the colour exceptional. I can't complain there.
it cost her £413.99 which I thought was a lot of money but she has a good job and can afford it, personally if I was to spend that much I would buy a laptop for the convenience of using it wireless around the house and garden, you can't really wheel the computer desk outside to sit in the sun.
The package she bought came with monitor, speakers, keyboard, mouse and unit.
It comes with windows 7 installed and has Office, McAfee security and other bundles with it. The games are good to play too as I love a quick game of Solitaire when I am bored.
Key Features:
Intel Pentium Dual Core E5400 (2.7Ghz)
Microsoft Windows 7 Premium
Intel GMA X4500HD Integrated Graphics (up to 512mb Shared)
2048mb RAM Memory
500gb SATA Hard Disk Drive
CD/DVD ReWriter
9 USB2 Ports
High Definition 5.1 Audio
Standard Keyboard and Mouse
Gigabit Ethernet
HDMI Connector
I really do rate it as a desktop if thats your kind of thing, as it adds programmes in an instant, browsing is very quick. Internet Browser opens up as soon as you touch the large E on the desktop. It has USB ports which find new hardware very quickly so you can add your camera or mobile phone and uploading pictures or downloading music is very fast too.
The manual is good but it is that simple to use, you just put all the leads together plug them in and away you go, everything is installed ready for use and even though it is not my computer I do like it, I wouldn't have bought one for myself as the price is too high and I prefer laptops. having used this computer now for over a few months I would recommend it to you if you were looking for a computer.
The sound quality is good too and windows media player opens up quickly if you want to listen to music, it also has a DVD re-writer for watching and copying DVD's and WiFi connectivity.
I like the style of the keyboard as the keys seem to spring back once touched, it is a light weight keyboard and can be sat on your knee to type things on the computer screen.
The screen however is too big for my liking, it may be to some peoples taste having a large computer screen but to me its too big.
You have to sit back a little from the screen or it hurts your eyes if you wear glasses and are on the computer for too long.
I would rate it as an 8 out of 10, for fast browsing it beats my old laptop hands down, for speed of downloads its great, the package bundles you get with it are good value in the price as Office is good to use and it stores your photo's, documents and music where it can easily be found.
You just have to click on the windows logo at the bottom left of the screen and it comes up as a list of everything on your computer.
easy to instal, easy to use just not a laptop which is what I prefer.
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Lenovo Thinkcentre A58 7611
by dunclane
After using this PC at work for over 3 months I can say it has been a joy! It has suffered no crashes running Vista business edition and has performed impeccably. I know that the Chinese bought out the IBM machines division and I was expecting a decrease in the overall quality but I have to say I was pleasantly surprised. The plastics ... feel good, don't appear brittle and haven't marked in 3 months. The keyboard is OK for a bundled effort but some of the letters seem misplaced on the actual key but other than that not bad.
The machine is exceptionally quiet, it is positioned at desk height and I cant even hear it, this compared to my Philips slimline at home sounds like a 747 at take off speed!!
Overall a well specified well built machine with all the features expected in this price range, I will be purchasing more when other machines need updating rather than defaulting to DELL.
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