The device includes a 1.2 GHz processor that seems to fall behind some competing devices that offer a 1.4 GHz processor, yet performance seems very quick, likely due to solid optimization of the operating system. Toshiba calls the device the “Thinnest Honeycomb tablet yet” and so far, this is the case, as the unit is 7.7 mm thick. The screen is 10.1 inches and has a resolution of 1280×800. The touch screen interface controls the entire device, as it includes no buttons on its front.

Unlike the connectivity limitations of the iPad, the Toshiba AT200 includes a number of ports such as Micro-USB, Micro-SD and Micro-HD. Although each of these ports requires an adapter cable to work with many devices, the fact that you can connect a wide range of devices and memory cards gives it an edge over Apple’s limited solution.

Included inside the device are a number of other technologies such as Wireless, GPS, Bluetooth, an accelerometer, a gyrometer, and a compass. An ambient light sensor can automatically brighten or dim the screen in response to lighting conditions. The battery life is rated at around 8 hours.

With so many tablet devices coming to the market, the Toshiba AT200 has its work cut out for it. Its main benefits are its streamlined Honeycomb operating system and its light weight and thin design, but gaining market share in such a crowded market could prove to be an uphill climb.

The X3850 is a 4U rack unit that utilizes four Intel Xeon processors for its processing muscle. It can handle 64 DIMMs standard but up to 96 DIMMs with a MAX5 memory expansion. This makes the server more versatile for situations were expandability is necessary, and the use of DIMMs helps to keep costs lower with only a negligible difference in performance. By expanding the memory rather than adding more processors and servers, users can also help to avoid additional software licensing fees while still increasing capacity.

The unit can use IBM eXFlash solid-state storage for fast read and write speeds, and it can hold up to 16 drives if necessary. It can also utilize up to 8 standard 2.5 inch drives to lower costs. Multiple raid configurations are supported, including RAID 0, 1, 5, and 6. The unit is also equipped with 7 PCIe expansion slots for additional upgrades when needed. Nearly every component is hot-swappable, helping to reduce downtime. The network interface supports 10 Gbps Fiber Channel connections or Gigabit ethernet speeds for ultra-fast transfers.

IT professionals who need a fast and reliable server will want to consider the IBM System X3850 series. Its standard configuration is an affordable server solution that can grow and expand as a business’s needs increase in the future. Its low power usage and inexpensive hot-swappable components also make it an even better value.

The Omni 220xt seems to take many of its design cues from Apple’s iMac, and this is not a bad thing. It includes some of the same simple lines and sleek design, but opts for a glossy piano black finish instead of aluminum, which some buyers may prefer. One of the benefits of the all-in-one design is the ease of setup, as connecting the machine involves simply plugging in the power cord.

The 21.5 inch screen displays at a full HD resolution of 1920×1080 and the screen can tilt up to 5 degrees forward and 25 degrees backward. This is a useful feature that makes it easier to get a better viewing angle in different situations. Other models have a static screen that cannot be tilted at all.

The 220xt includes an Intel Core i5 or i7 processor. The standard model comes with 4 GB of memory which can be upgraded to a maximum of 8 GB if needed. Windows 7 Home Premium is included, but can be upgraded to Windows 7 Ultimate.

Overall, the HP Omni 220xt is an impressive machine. It borrows its design from competitors and previous models, but offers improvements such as a tilting screen. Its power under the hood should be more than enough for an average user, and its upgradeability helps it stand out from other all-in-one computers that are more of a closed box.

The N40L micro server’s design is very compact, at about half the size of a standard ATX tower. Make no mistake; the unit still contains 4 drive bays for a large amount of storage, and enough power to take on a busy small office. Buyers can choose from a basic model with a single 250 GB hard drive or an upgraded model with double the memory and two 500 GB drives. Upgrading the drives or adding additional drives is quick and easy as well, and the standard drive will probably make a good choice for those looking for an inexpensive home server.

The server comes with Windows SBS 2011 Essentials, which makes it easy to handle most storage and sharing tasks. It includes an AMD Turion II processor and either 2 GB of RAM or 4 GB, depending on the configuration. The included network port supports Gigabit ethernet speeds, and allows the server to be easily integrated into an existing network. The one minor disappoint for some users may be its lack of wireless support, but this is easy to add with a USB dongle.

Overall, the HP ProLiant N40L is a solid micro server machine with a generous amount of storage that will fit the needs of a small office quite well. With upgradeable RAM and 4 hard drive bays, the machine can be expanded to grow with the needs of an office, making it a good choice for an office that expects to grow in capacity.

Although the internal components are impressive, there are also a number of extras that most gamers will appreciate. The SteelSeries gaming keyboard has a backlit display that can be programmed so that portions of the keyboard display specific colors. This can help gamers denote special keys more easily or simply customize the color scheme for a unique look. The keys are also fine-tuned by location and size to be more intuitive for gaming. The speakers implement a system created by MSI and Dynaudio for enhanced sound, though most gamers will probably opt for external speakers or headphones.

Overall, the MSI GT780DXR includes some impressive aspects that will certainly turn the heads of gamers everywhere. Extras such as the programmable backlit keyboard add unique elements that set it apart from the competition. Those considering a desktop replacement who don’t want to sacrifice gaming performance will find it a good fit, as long as its high price isn’t beyond their budget.

Design and Construction

One of the most striking aspects of all-in-one desktops is that all of the components are contained within a unit not much larger than a typical LCD display. This makes them very appealing for those with limited space, and also does away with the tower portion of most desktop machines. Users who don’t like having to crawl under a desk to connect cables appreciate the fact that the entire machine is right in front of them. Connecting multiple devices to an all-in-one can often result in a cluttered desk with a large jumble of wires, however, so these are factors to consider.

Upgradeability

The slim design of all-in-one machines often doesn’t leave much room for upgrades such as an extra hard drive or disc drive. Users who like to tinker with their machine may find that the devices are not easy to open, or that their warranty will be voided.

Repairs

When a problem occurs with an all-in-one desktop and a repair is needed, the entire machine must be sent in for repair. With separate components, a user might be able to use a different monitor while their original one is being repaired, allowing them to continue using it.

Price

Price is generally not a major factor for all-in-one desktops, as they tend to be priced similar to other computers with similar hardware configurations.

Summary

Buyers who want a powerful computer that takes up a minimal amount of space may find a lot to like with an all-in-one machine. Those who like to upgrade their machines or have a lot of external devices to connect may ultimately prefer a computer with a separate monitor and tower.

The Skinput system currently includes an arm cuff that can measure mechanical vibrations and detect taps along the body. For example, you could tap your wrist to open an email program, tap you palm to go to the next message, and tap your forearm to close the program. All of these taps can be measured by the special sensor cuff that the team developed.

As part of the proof of concept, the team uses a fairly large prototype cuff, but the idea is to eventually create a non-invasive device that could be worn comfortably and used throughout the day. The team also mentions the possibility of using a small projector to display items directly onto a user’s hand or arm. This would allow them to interact more directly by tapping on portions of the projected image.

While this project is in an early proof-of-concept phase at the moment, the idea of using your body as a control surface is one that could dramatically change the way we interact with small devices. Imagine answering your phone by simply tapping on your thumb, or skipping a track on your MP3 player by tapping your palm. The possibilities are nearly limitless, especially once the device has become more portable and less intrusive.

Phase-change memory uses materials that can change between a crystalline and amorphous state. This shift can then be used to represent a 1 or 0 in binary, acting as a memory device. The main benefit of phase-change memory is its speed, as it has been reported to be as much as 100 times faster than flash memory, which is already one of the fastest storage mediums used in modern computing.

The idea of using phase-changes for storage is not a new one, and has been researched for many years. The main problem with previous attempts is that the materials would tend to build up resistance over time, making it less susceptible to phase-change. This would cause errors and data loss that would not be conducive to computer memory chips. While the exact process is not revealed, the IBM researchers have used a process they call “advanced modulation coding technique” to help compensate for the resistance, which has alleviated some of the problem and allowed data to be stored for 5 months currently.

While there are still some problems to be ironed out, the team is confident that phase-change memory will be a viable option in the future. Having a portable, durable storage medium that is 100 times faster than flash memory could dramatically increase the performance of laptops, notebooks, tablets, cell phones and many other portable devices. The IBM Research team estimates the technology may be ready to use in devices by around 2016, and mobile computing may never be the same.

D D commonly stands for “duplexing”, which means the printer can print on both sides of a page automatically, without the need for the user to re-feed the page manually.

T is generally used to denote a model that has an upgraded paper tray for extra capacity or to accommodate different paper types and sizes.

N N stands for networking, and is usually used to denote a printer with a built-in ethernet port for connecting it directly to a network.

W W usually denotes support for wireless networking, allowing the printer to connect to an existing wireless network for sharing among multiple users.

X X is a symbol to represent a model that includes all of the available upgrade options in a model line. Other models in the same line may include letters such as D, N, and T, while the “X” model includes all of these features, and possibly other upgrades.

MFP At first glance, MFP may look like a combination of other features, but it usually stands for “Multi-Function Printer”. This type of printer includes other functions such as copying, scanning and faxing to add more value.

While these are some of the most common suffixes used in printer model names, this is by no means a comprehensive list. It is also important to remember that some manufacturers use these letters for different meanings, so you should always read the specifications of a printer model carefully.

Compact Size
If compact size is the most important factor for your small business, due to tight office spaces, HP might have a slight edge. HP’s smallest models tend to be less expensive and produce slightly better output quality than comparable models from Xerox, but Xerox produces many high-quality compact printers as well.

Inkjet vs. Laser
While most businesses gravitate toward laser models, inkjet printers may be a better solution for offices that frequently print photos and other full-color documents. Laser printers, on the other hand, generally offer faster speeds and a lower cost per page. HP has a slight edge when it comes to inkjet models, as they have a wider variety to choose from, and prices tend to be more affordable for comparable machines.

Warranty and Support
Both companies offer similar support and warranty policies for their printers. They both offer a variety of options, such as email, chat, and phone support, and warranty periods are fairly comparable between the two. When it comes to this aspect, it is a tie.

Overall Considering the factors above, HP has a slight edge over Xerox in a few specific ways. If compact size or inkjet printing are important to you, HP may be a better choice. In general, printers from either manufacturer will offer similar features, prices, and quality, so you can’t really go wrong no matter which you choose.