All-in-one computers are a single piece of hardware that comprises of the monitor and the computer’s system in a compact case. These systems have an edge over desktops by being simple and more compact that the desktops. This type of computer was popular in the 1980s. They included computers such as Compaq Portable, Osborne 1, and Kaypro II, created for professional use.

Creation of all-in-one computers
Dating back to the early days of PC’s, computers were as big as the size of a room. The need for compact systems led to the creation of mini computers which were desk sized.

As people started buying all things compact and simple, the idea of integrating the computer case into the monitor had been heard. From this, all-in-one computers were formed. Apple manufactured several popular samples of this type of computers through the 1880s, 1990s and 2000s. Some all-in-one systems have used laptop components with an aim of reducing the size of the whole system. Some all-in-one desktops use flat screen displays.

The most successful of this type was the Apple iMac, which was launched in 1988. Though many other contemporary manufacturers tried, they failed to match the style and popularity of Apple products.

The progression of all-in-one computers

The 2000s saw that the iMac no longer had a monopoly in the all-in-one PC market. Apple’s thin aluminium creations were most popular, with many other brands designing their product to compete.

All-in-one creators then started to emphasize style and design. Touchscreens became the predominant type. The HP TouchSmart IQ500t, TouchSmart IQ 816, and the Dell Studio One 19 had multi-touch displays that allowed pinch, push, rotate, and scroll items on the screen. A few started having built-in Blu-ray drives and started to double as media center HDTVs.

Budget models with netbook-like specs were also added to the collection. However, they lacked the finesse of the high-end products.

Recommendations

Gradually they split into two categories: the all-in-ones with a screen size of 19 inches and smaller, and those with 20 inches and bigger. The famous among the bigger ones is the Lenovo IdeaCentre A600. It has great design, portability, and up-gradability like none other of its types.

A top pick among the smaller versions is the Dell’s Studio One 19 which costs around $1000.

If you plan to buy one, you can try the new HP All-in-one 23-RO11, Dell Inspiron 3459 AI0 or the HP Celeron Dual Core.