Sensible & Economical The Desktop Is Back, In High Style!

The Desktop Is Back, In High Style!

The humble Desktop Computer is back. Stylish, full of substance, and with a vengeance. Any fading memories of the old 286′s and 486′s (which some of us may have) are set to be obliterated all together. This new breed of Desktops is high on form factor and performance, low on cost. Let us examine a few of the key advantages of the new-age Desktop, and look at some very enticing options
Bulky & Me, No Thank You!
Over the last few decades, more and more people have bid farewell to their old & faithful desktop computers. They were too bulky, took up too much already diminishing space. Replaced with the ever-growing laptops & notebooks, the desktop until recently, was literally in danger of being extinct.

However, one look at any of the modern Desktops on the market today, and the first thing that strikes you is their smooth, stylish, compact and convenient ‘form factor’. Not only is the current generation of Desktops small, light, and one-piece (yes, say bye bye to separate component systems where the combined bulk of the fat monitor, the large CPU, and the chorded key board would leave no space on your table-top); they are like works of art. Objects that are an extension of your own aesthetic. Pieces that you would own as much for their core computing applications, as you would to make a strong style statement.
Now I’m not going so far as to say that they’ve suddenly become portable. That was never their purpose. For that you need to buy a laptop. Having said that, the new Desktop has emerged a super-cool looking modern computing solution that is very much a dedicated table-top system, but minus all the extra weight. These one-piece wonders, with their slim backlit LCD screens and integrated processing units, are just terrific to look at. Add to that wireless keyboards and a wireless mouse too, and you have a Desktop that has just one cable running (the main power cable)! Its as if the humble 486 went to the gym, lost oodles of weight, and then went and invested in a designer wardrobe! The results are stunning, and you don’t have to take my word for it!
Style With Substance!
Now before you dismiss these wonderful new Desktops as some geeky designer’s sensual but dumb fantasy creations, here are some facts to consider! Like at least some of our former beauty queens, these machines are that winning combination of Beauty with Brains. Its not all and just about good looks and hot statements. After all, you need a computer to be able to perform some serious computer-business. And I am happy to report that this new breed of Desktop, is Steffi Graph & Anna Kornikova, rolled into one!

Offering the very latest in terms of technical specification (Intel Core 2 Duo – Quad Core processing power, unimaginable memory & storage, 8 x Super DVD Recordable Drives, a full HD Multimedia Package, as many as 6 USB2 Ports and Firewire Ports for file sharing & communication, Bluetooth 2 and wifi for ease of connectivity, and much much more); these machines make the earlier generations of Desktop look like they had the computing power of an ant!
Serving diligently as Entertainment & Multimedia systems on the one hand (yes, they even offer Dolby Pro Logic 5.1 surround), and as Office and Specialized Computing machines on the other; the new-age Desktop is a hybrid that is hard to ignore. It packs in so much more than a laptop, that save for the non-portability aspect, it makes a compelling case for the best Computer solution, for most types of users. The best part, you can customize your desktop to specifically suit your set of needs. With a lot of the leading Computer manufactures making a line of Compact Desktops, not only can you get your brand of choice, but also your OS of choice, Mac or Windows! So ultimately, you get a superb looking product, that performs for you, just the way you need it to!
Sensible & Economical
So for all this style-high indulgence, you wonder what the asking price is? Surprise surprise! Remember, these are Desktops we are talking about. And the best part of the news is that the desktop’s one selling point, has been preserved as it was. They are not expensive! Well of course this is in relative terms. One can now get desktops that are traditional 3 piece systems for as little as INR 15,000.
Having said that, for the beauty, power, ease and convenience that these Compact Desktops bring to the table (pun intended), the price range between 35000-80000 (the more expensive ones anyway are the iMac systems), I’d think is a STEAL! Equivalent laptops would be double, of not triple the cost. And whatever their configuration, will never match these desktops for sheer entertainment value. With their big screens (20-27 inch LCD panels), expandable and enormous memories, TV ready features and much more; the modern day Compact Desktop is really the bee’s knees!
Specific Models
There are of course lots of brands that are putting out Compact One-Piece Desktops now. There are however a few that in my opinion, are the coolest of the pack:

Lenovo Idea Centre A Series – This excruciatingly good looking set of Desktops is the perfect all-round solution to everyday computing. A very well specified model can be your’s for just under 40k. Check it out at http://www.lenovo.com/in/en/

Apple iMac – The new range of Apple iMac is to die for. Nobody does simplicity of design and purity of form the way Mac does. If you have a little extra cash to splurge, the buck stops at this. Check out the full range at http://www.apple.com/in/imac/
Asus Eee Top PC – If you really crave to be different and stylish, go in for the full Touch Screen wonder that is the Asus Eee Top PC. Get all the details at http://eeepc.in/EeeTopIntro_n.html
Aside from these, there are lots of manufacturers making their own iterations of the modern compact desktop. HP has a Touch Screen desktop, Dell has compact Desktop solutions. But the 3 I have listed above are my personal favorites!
QED

They are crammed with style & technology, brimming with confidence, modestly priced, and backed by official and full service warranties. Its the comeback of the generation – the all new Compact Desktop Computer!