Here's a neat trick. In addition to being “ultra-slim”, the latest member of the HP Compaq dc7800 family can be made to almost disappear. OK, maybe not, but it can be made to take up hardly any room and be positioned out of sight, simply by buying the custom monitor/stand designed to go with it.
The HP monitor isn't compulsory: any monitor can be used if you prefer. However, opt for the HP L1906i (£149 + VAT) and, in addition to a nice 19-inch flat panel display, you get a solid metal stand to which the monitor and main PC processing unit can be attached.
Of course a screwdriver is needed to attach the PC, positioning it behind the display and clear of the desk, but it's an easy enough job which took us about five minutes. You even get a pull-out tray to take the separate AC adapter, further minimising the footprint. The 1,280 x 1,024 resolution monitor then clips in place with a nicely counterbalanced mechanism to slide it up and down as well as tilt the screen for comfortable viewing, with the overall result a very stylish and usable desktop system.
Configuration:
The processing unit itself doesn't quite live up to the “ultra-thin” billing, but it's pretty close, with several configurations available to suit different applications and budgets. Ours was fairly high-end, with a 2.66GHz Intel Core 2 Duo 6750 processor and sockets for up to 4GB of memory.
Unwanted features:
We were also a little disappointed by the integrated Intel graphics controller. It's fine for general office work, but best avoided if you intend to run any 3D modelling or other graphics-intensive applications. All the more so given that there are no expansion slots, so installing another graphics card isn't an option. However, connectivity shouldn't be an issue, with a Gigabit Ethernet port and an impressive eight USB 2.0 connectors as standard.
As well as the stylish design and small footprint, we found the dc7800 Ultra-slim to be a lot quieter than most desktops, thanks to the use of low energy components more commonly associated with mobile computing systems. These require minimal cooling and a lot less power than a standard PC's, the dc7800 consuming around 80 watts in use and 10 in hibernation mode.
The external AC adapter also helps keep the noise down, although we would have liked a louder speaker and were far from impressed by the somewhat flimsy mouse. The keyboard was better, but a set of good quality wireless peripherals would have been a nice finishing touch on an otherwise good looking and well designed device, clearly aimed at the business rather than home user market.
To this end it's worth noting that the Ultra-slim also supports Intel's VPro technology, enabling it to be managed remotely whether powered up or not, with the software agents required pre-installed along with other HP security and management tools.
Look Alive:
At least a gamer couldn't complain about the 5-millisecond response time of the L1906i monitor. Though it's faithful to the old 4:3 aspect ratio (1,280 by 1,024 pixels) instead of following today's widescreen fashions -- and accepts only old-school analog VGA input instead of adding a DVD connector -- the 19-inch flat panel wears its Core 2 Duo backpack well.
A 500:1 contrast ratio isn't exceptional these days, but text and edges were sharp, while 270 nits of brightness kept colors looking clear and vivid, with no bad pixels to be seen on our review unit. You swivel the screen by moving the whole monitor, but the IWC stand provides tilt and a welcome 5.1 inches of height adjustability, as well as the abovementioned shelf to stash the keyboard during idle times. Neither portrait/landscape pivoting nor audio speakers are built in, though HP offers a snap-on speaker bar for $35.
Along with a three-year parts, labor, and next-day-onsite-service warranty, the dc7800 comes with a full array of HP and Intel software for IT managers, including credential-manager and drive-encryption utilities for security. InterVideo's WinDVD is also preinstalled for after-hours movie-watching.
Inside view of CPU
With the LCD-monitor tsunami washing CRTs off desktops everywhere, you can expect to see more and more PC makers unite the display and PC as a desk-space-saving duo. The HP Compaq dc7800 is a versatile example, even if it sacrifices expandability for size and its price climbs as you add extra options. It's a worthy addition to the growing ranks of cool cubicle choices.
And if you don't want to mess with mounting brackets, its desktop footprint is just as small if you put the PC on your desk and the monitor on top of it.
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