For situations where real estate is at a premium on or under your desk, the all-in-one PC is a tidy solution. All-in-one PCs occupy less space than traditional desktop computers that have separate monitors and CPUs. And they provide larger monitors than the big laptops that some folks use to save space on top of the computer desk.The HP Compaq 8200 Elite all-in-one PC has a most beautiful design and some of the best combinations of features of any of the all-in-one computers in our review.
Unlike all-in-one PCs at the low end of the price spectrum, the HP makes no compromises in the areas of processor speed, system RAM (random access memory), monitor size and number of USB 2.0 ports. Other competitors might get the best of the HP in a couple of feature categories, but not in the most important feature: length of warranty. All computers are destined to die, but we never know when. HP’s three-year warranty includes a next business day service for parts and labor. If you plan to use the HP Compaq 8200 Elite in support of a business, or even if you are going to use it for personal use, HP has got your back in a way that no competitor attempts to match.
This all-in-one PC has Windows 7 and 4GB of system RAM (expandable to 8GB). The CPU is the Intel Core i5. Hard disk storage is 500GB, expandable to 1TB (terabyte).
If maintaining a small carbon footprint is of any interest, consider that the space-saving design uses less packaging material, which means less waste and expense to ship it to you. It also means less waste and expense if you ever need to ship it elsewhere. The computer system is ENERGY STAR qualified and EPEAT Gold registered. EPEAT is a global registry for green electronics. HP meets and beats EPEATS most stringent environmental performance criteria.
The wireless keyboard and mouse contribute to the elegant and useful design of all-in-one computers. The desk looks so clean without cords running from the input devices. The only cable is the power cord. In fact, for an even cleaner desktop, wall mount holes allow you to mount the unit on a wall, so that the only part of the system occupying desktop space would be the keyboard and the mouse.
Because this is an enterprise-class all-in-one PC that is geared toward business use, lack of a touch screen is a non issue. The monitor, which also contains the CPU, is a 23-inch, backlit, full high-definition LCD. It has a web cam, a microphone and built-in speakers.
The three-year warranty trumps most of the competitors in our review. Technical support by telephone is included, as are next-day parts and labor service.
Sleek and minimalistic, this all-in-one PC packs a performance wallop with a blazing CPU, cavernous disk memory and extremely capable video. An abundance of input and output methods receive and share digital data.
Attention to minimizing the size of the carbon footprint is evident in the ENERGY STAR qualification and the EPEAT Gold registration, as well as the power supply that is more efficient than previous generations of power supplies. Not only is this an all-in-one PC on your desk, it ships all in one package, which saves money and packing material every time it travels.
Among all-in-one PCs, the HP Compaq 8200 Elite emerges as one of the best that we’ve seen. It is powerful and sufficiently equipped for enterprise computing in corporations or small businesses. The webcam, microphone and speakers are excellent and useful for home or business requirements. And it is attractive enough to entice ownership by home users who want no compromises when it comes to furnishing the home office with a beautiful and capable all-in-one PC.
