X

Acer's new all-in-one desktops get sleeker

You can't tell the U27 and Z4 are computers rather than monitors, but they don't stand out much.

Lori Grunin Senior Editor / Advice
I've been reviewing hardware and software, devising testing methodology and handed out buying advice for what seems like forever; I'm currently absorbed by computers and gaming hardware, but previously spent many years concentrating on cameras. I've also volunteered with a cat rescue for over 15 years doing adoptions, designing marketing materials, managing volunteers and, of course, photographing cats.
Expertise Photography, PCs and laptops, gaming and gaming accessories
See full bio
Lori Grunin

Among all the Predators, Acer ammounced a redesigned Aspire all-in-one with the Predator-like V-shaped base. In fact, the U27 looks very much like just a monitor; it's extremely thin, with barely a bulge to indicate there are components inside.

The key to its slim design is the incorporation of its LiquidLoop fanless cooling system. The rest is pretty standard. The system has a built-in subwoofer with Dolby Audio Premium, but I wasn't terribly impressed -- there are no front-driving speakers, so the sound is oddly muffled. And the 1,920x1,080 touch display isn't very good because of the relatively low pixel density (about 82 pixels per inch); you can see the individual pixels from normal sitting distance and it's quite distracting.

Still, it has a relatively low price given the rest are all current components -- it starts at $1,100 -- and there's a less-powerful 24-inch model, the Z24, that starts as low as $900. They'll both be available in July.