all-in-one

LAS VEGAS--The last piece of desktop news from Lenovo at CES introduces the mainstream C540 all-in-one.

A largely by-the-numbers commodity PC, the C540 adds a 23-inch, 1,920x1,080-pixel display to the "Essential" product line previously composed of only the 20-inch C340.

Like the C340, the C540 tops out at Intel Core i3 CPUs, although the C540 does get a bump up to an Nvidia GeForce 620LE graphics chip. It also has a 2TB hard-drive option, which could make this system a useful media storage device. The C340 is limited to slower integrated Intel HD 4000 graphics, and … Read more

LAS VEGAS--The Lenovo IdeaCentre A720 was a flagship product for Lenovo last year, adding a relatively polished-looking design to Lenovo's sometimes clunky all-in-one desktop line. The updated 27-inch A730, announced today, brings that same design, along with an option for a truly competitive high-resolution screen.

Prior to the A730, only the Apple iMac and the Dell XPS One 27 had 27-inch displays with a 2,560x1,440-pixel resolution. That high resolution is now an option for the IdeaCentre A730.

The other components in the A730 keep it from competing with those other pixel-dense 27-inchers. The A730 does have an … Read more

Print. Scan. Copy. Fax. We may not do this stuff as often as we used to (thank you, PDFs!), but most of us still need these capabilities from time to time.

Consequently, we still need all-in-one, aka multifunction, printers. And GearXS.com has a mighty sweet deal on one: the Canon Pixma MX512 wireless all-in-one printer for $79.98 shipped. That's after applying coupon code CNET-10 at checkout (which effectively saves you the usual $10 shipping charge). You'll need to click Apply Discount Code to reveal the field where you paste that code in.

The Pixma sells elsewhere … Read more

I'm so in love with today's deal, I want to bring it home to meet my parents.

Wow, was that terrible. I was going to go with the slightly raunchier, much funnier version of that line, but then I remembered this is a family blog. No Chris Rock-style material here; the best I can give you is Bob Saget.

Anyway, for a limited time, and while supplies last, GearXS.com has the Canon Pixma MG4220 wireless multifunction printer for $49.99, plus $12.99 for shipping. That's after applying coupon code CNET-40 at checkout (click Apply Discount … Read more

For some people, smartphones and their always-on Internet connections and apps is a waste of money.

If you don't need apps or games and you can live without fast, robust access to the Net from your cell phone, then a smartphone might be expensive overkill. All four of the major U.S. wireless carriers still offer basic feature phones, which don't require expensive data plans. In this Ask Maggie, I offer some advice to a reader who is looking for one of these phones.

I also offer some advice regarding the new all-in-one desktop computers.

Going retro with … Read more

This is not a review.

I have reviewed the Dell XPS One 27. The review posted a few hours before Apple announced its new iMacs. I accounted for a potential new iMac while I evaluated the Dell, but that review does not have a direct comparison between the two computers.

I also gave the Dell XPS One 27 an Editors' Choice Award. It makes every other high-end Windows 8 all-in-one look underfeatured. It's the all-in-one I would buy right now if money were no object (along with the Sony Vaio Tap 20).

I have not reviewed the new 27-inch iMac. I intend to when it comes out in December. I did get some hands-on time with it at Apple's launch event. I can tell you that it's not slate-thin like Apple made it out to be during the unveiling (a bulge containing the core components protrudes from the back of the screen). It's still a great-looking computer.… Read more

Most of these Asus laptops, tablets, and desktops have been seen or mentioned before, but the company brought several upcoming new systems to New York for a press event this week (unfortunately timed for the same day as Apple's iPad Mini unveiling).

Some, such as the dual-screen Taichi or the Windows RT VivoTab, have already generated significant buzz. Others are not quite as high-profile, or else revamps of existing products. A quick rundown is below, along with price and release dates where available.

Asus Taichi Clearly the most interesting new Asus system, this dual-screen laptop has a panel on … Read more

Coming soon, a veritable evolutionary explosion of Windows 8 devices will be bearing down on you. Big small, tablety, not tablety, full of touch, and ready to fold into strange shapes for your general amusement.

Welcome to the Windows 8 Field Guide, an Audubon's Birds-style attempt to help you identify the classifications and subphyla of this odd new computing world. It's not as hard as you think, once you break down the various common types. Be forewarned: these classifications are works in progress, and there could very well be more evolutionary variants coming soon. But, hopefully, this should help classify some of the multipurpose strangeness you're already starting to see on preorder pages.

Of course, you still have laptops, desktops, and tablets. Some of these tablets will have one of two operating systems: Windows 8 or Windows RT.

After that, the classifications get a little more diffused.… Read more

Dozen of new PCs are launching alongside Windows 8. Some are inventive new designs with sliding keyboards and removable screens, others are simple retreads of existing products, occasionally augmented by a new touch screen.

Here you'll find links to all the major new Windows 8 hardware being released this holiday season, sorted by brand. Many of these systems are available to preorder now, and most will ship when Windows 8 launches on October 26 (a handful have yet to even be announced, so we'll add those to this list when they are).

We've … Read more