The 23-inch Acer Aspire AU5-620-UB10 is a $999 all-in-one that's light on frills but packs enough punch for work and a bit of play.
Lean into it
The machine can't lie perfectly flat, but it does lean back smoothly and gracefully. I did get a bit of doodling and casual gaming time in. The hinge feels incredibly sturdy, but I'll admit I was wary of testing just how much pressure it will support.
Not much of a space saver
The Aspire AU5's kickstand and tilting functionality means you'll need to give it quite a bit of room on your desk if you plan to let it kick back.
Awkward port placement
The majority of the Aspire AU5's ports can be found behind the machine, facing downward. It's not an especially convenient location, especially if you connect and disconnect peripherals very often.
Limited selection
The machine doesn't offer too many ports overall, which is a disappointment. There are far more than you'd find on a laptop, and the inclusion of HDMI-in and output jacks is great, but you might want to spring for a USB hub if you've got lots of gear to connect.
A paucity of ports
One of the three USB ports located behind the machine houses the tiny-USB receiver nub for the bundled wireless keyboard and mouse. That limits your overall connectivity options -- getting your own Bluetooth gear is another great option.
So-so speakers
Stereo speakers sit behind the grille running beneath the display. They're not especially loud, and some music can sound distorted when it's cranked up too far, but it sounds pleasant, overall.
Old-school media playback
The DVD burner pops out from the right side of the machine. A Blu-ray player would've been a nice, modern touch, but that's unexpected at this price point.
Careful!
The power button is located behind the display, on the back. It was pressed accidentally a number of times while moving the machine about, so be sure to keep in mind that it's there.