ViewSonic has traditionally been associated with monitors, but recently the company was diversifying and one of the most recent results is the VPC100 – a 19-inch All-In-One PC. Its sleek black casing houses a 18.5in screen runs off the usual netbook/nettop specifications, including a 1.6 GHz Intel Atom processor, 1GB of RAM, a 160GB hard drive and niceties such as a card reader, optical drive and Wi-Fi.
Despite very similar to the previous internal guidance Atom-based all-in-One (AIO) PC we have on how XVision Shuttle X50 and Asus’ Eee Top is the ViewSonic saw a completely different machine. First, that both machines had touch-sensitive screens 15.6IN where VPC100 sports a non-touch-screen 18.5in. The design is dramatically different, the smaller fall AIOs’ Apple-like white finish for a piano-black and raises the base from the desktop PC with a rather elegant stand.
Starting with the included peripherals, it looks pretty grim though. Above all, they are both PS2 rather than USB, which is hardly a major problem while a bit unusual in these modern times. Second, if it might look nice with its combination of matte key against a shiny background, the ViewSonic-branded keyboard is clearly the worst desktop keyboard I’ve ever used – and I have some terrible examples in the past.
Your opinion is lousy. Most of the buttons are loud and clacky in a cheap, thin route, except the enter key, which is just muddy. It is the layout that really drive you crazy, though. la worst netbook keyboards, the tiny right shift key, and the up-cursor key right next to it is often up when you meant capital. Then there is the lack of dedicated End, Page Up/Down, Home, Insert and Delete keys. No space on the F-keys and undersized function keys on the left are the sour icing on the moldy cake.
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ViewSonic Optical Mouse is a comparative amazed to say that it is appropriate. For a two-handed model, it is comfortable enough. Although a bit on the loud side of its two buttons provide good feedback during the rubber, notched two-way scroll wheel does. However, to compare any number of cheap mice on the market, there is nothing especially noteworthy.
Nevertheless, peripheral devices can be replaced easily, so we hope that the PC-fares better. Installation is as simple as possible: just attach the state of the ViewSonic, and drag a single screw – you do not even need a screwdriver, because it has a folding handle for this purpose, to break down as easy as put together means. The base also has a metal plate for extra strength and feels very solid indeed.
Although the rest of the machine is not built quite as well, with some flex to the optical drive area, yet it is well up to standard as a whole. It’s not bad looking AIO PC, despite the slight dissonance between its rounded top and bottom edges. The entire chassis is glossy black, broken only by a tasteful faux-chrome trim around its base and the ViewSonic logo. This strip is the power button, which is a symbol of power discreetly etched backlit in blue.
Connectivity is not the VPC100 strong suite. Two USB ports on the side and two is around the back pretty bad, especially if the smaller Eee Top, the six offered compared – although of course no two PS2 ports here. There is also a memory card reader supports xD, SD/SDHC, MMC and Memory Stick on the side, microphone and headphone jacks on the back with a Gigabit Ethernet port. Although this is a shortcoming in the most favorable AIO PCs, we would also like a kind of video input to see, especially in the ViewSonic 18.5in would be very useful as a small television have.
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The optical drive is a tray-loading eight-speed DVD burner as opposed to the slot-loading models are used frequently on AIOs. This in itself is not a bad thing, because it not only helps to keep costs low, but can mini-CDs and the square to read some people as a business card. However, it is difficult to open, and quite a lot of pressure on small and flat eject button required. This in turn leads to the entire PC rocking on his stand, after the drive, the annoying and not exactly typical for a high quality product to open.
As already mentioned, there is the slim case (3.5 cm at its thickest), a single-core Atom N270 processor 1.6GHz. Supported by only 1 GB of RAM and Intel GMA 950 integrated graphics that offers enough power for everyday tasks, simple games and SD video, that most people from a PC as they require (and will even manage 720p video when using a efficient codec), but keep in mind that are high-quality HD video and intensive multi-tasking is a no-go.
Note that in view of the internal components, you are basically a netbook look here. In line with this is the 160 GB hard drive no surprise. You expect more on a desktop computer, but on the slim chassis ViewSonic stuck with a 2.5″ drive has to keep, and who is likely to be honest with the general power of an atom does not need more memory than satisfied.
Integrated Wi-Fi is another nice touch, even if only to 802.11g. However, the main advantage of the underpowered components that they not only help with your energy bill, but also allow the VPC100 remain remarkably calm when it made it up. In fact, it is one of the few PCs that can be classified as near-silent.
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Since this is not a touch-screen machine, you essentially the same Windows XP experience, as you would on a netbook. There is a minimum of software installed with NTI Media Maker for burning CDs and Trend Micro Internet Security on your hand, to hopefully prevent virus infections. Webcam AP you can have fun with the integrated 1.3 megapixel webcam and microphone in the top of the screen bezel.
One area in which to expect the VPC100 Excel ViewSonic given pedigree is his screen and though by no means class-leading, it is actually better than some monitors we had through the labs. It’s a little bit dark detail but the colors are bright and engaging, is sharp text and viewing angles are reasonable. Only the screen resolution is a cause for disappointment, which is at 1,366 x 768 lower than we had hoped, but largely sufficient for most needs.
For the integrated efforts and taking into account their measly 3W evaluation are the stereo speakers are not too bad. Although they have a very low maximum volume, there is no distortion, are heights quite clear and there is even a certain amount of bass, at least enough better for daily activities and YouTube, though, listening to music and movies via headphones or external speakers.
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Whether the VPC100 good value is anything but simple. 375, it is much cheaper than other Atom-based AIOs we’ve tested, but it lacks a touch screen. His strongest rival is that the Acer Aspire Revo, that the above VX1962wm 19″ can be purchased, monitor for about 360 – giving you a better, higher screen resolution and much more powerful PC (thanks to Nvidia Ion chipset enables the playback of full HD material and even some 3D games) with more memory and inputs for less money. The only thing missing this package, is an optical drive, although an external USB device is only about 30 Of course, part of the appeal of VPC100 is that It is a true AIO, but with the small monitor Revo-mountable, it is not necessarily that big difference.
If you have a true AIO, non-touch-screen support is the ViewSonic VPC100 certainly worth considering as it is one of the best machine of its kind available. The competitors from the likes of Lenovo, MSI and Avaratec might be something better specified, but the demand greatly premiums.
Conclusion
A rather attractive and well-built machine, ViewSonic VPC100 19″ All-In-One PC is a bit let down terrible from his keyboard, connectivity, and limited weak internals, but makes up for it by very affordable. However, if you do not insist on a super-slim all-in-one, taking a look at the alternatives worth first.
