Fair price, fair computer
Written: Dec 07 '00
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Crisp screen, user friendly
Cons: USB ports only
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| shushi's Full Review: IBM NetVista X40i all-in-one |
I picked up one of the IBM Netvista's when they first came out (installed it for my boss as a home computer). He is a newbie, plus he lives in manhattan so space is tight. In comes IBM with the Netvista. For those shopping around, similar products include Gateway's Profile System and NEC's all in one system. I refrained from the Gateway system because for some reason they are ALWAYS bad at keeping up inventory with demand (I purchased a Gateway Profile system for the office -- it took two months to get it).
The IBM Netvista is an all in one computer that is meant to be both stylish and functional. The X40i comes with a modem installed (using up one of the two available PCI slots) allowing you to install one more card into your computer -- everything else has to be external. Simply put, this computer is more expandable than comparable all in ones, but not as expandable as a full size computer. All other peripherals are USB-based. So for new users, be careful when purchasing add-ons such as printers and scanners -- you are limited to USB only!!!
Because everything is USB, it is very easy to install/setup the machine. Just plug in everything and you're set to go. The modem is just a little hard to get to though. Just unpack it out of the box, plug everything in, and you're set to go.
The monitor is an LCD flat panel, which is surprisingly sharp. The included keyboard has "hot buttons" on top (you can program your Netvista to run programs with the push of a button) -- a feature found on many keyboards nowadays. One thing that worries me is the CD=ROM/floppy drive (it's built into one unit) tray. It hides under the monitor, and has a push button release that lowers the two down. I remember IBM used to do this with another model, and it used to break pretty easily. There hasn't been enough time for wear and tear (picked it up three months ago) so just keep a look out.
Overall, I would recommend this system to those who MUST purchase an all in one system. It is MUCH better than comparable models from vendors such as Gateway, though it is a little bigger. However, in general I am not a fan of all in ones -- they are more limited in their upgradability/serviceability. If something breaks, it's relatively harder to fix. I'd pick up a laptop instead if space is a concern.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 2,000
Operating System: Windows
Processor: Intel Celeron
Processor speed: 601-700
RAM: 128
Internal Storage: CD-ROM
Hard Drive (GB): 9-12
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Epinions.com ID:
shushi
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Reviews written: 11
Trusted by: 0 members
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