On Test: Style PCs

There was a time when buying a computer on appearances alone was for the terminally fashion conscious. Good-looking PCs cost a packet and performed poorly. Not any more.

Modern consumers are harder to please and don't like compromises, and the PC shopper is no different. Why, you might fairly wonder, should an attractive design result in a computer marred by sluggish performance? Why indeed.

Computer manufacturers are starting to listen to these demands and many now offer PCs designed to appeal to those who simply won't settle for a dull, beige box.

With this in mind we decided to gather up the latest batch of stylish computers from six manufacturers. We wanted to discover if their good looks mask cut corners or whether today's catwalk computers are up to the job of dealing with the most demanding operations, such as fast-action games and video-editing applications. Read on to find out how they fared.

Advent MC3020
It might stand out from the crowd but the Advent's stature could be considered an imposing presence on a minimalist's desk.

The manufacturer's decision to mount the recordable DVD drive vertically affords this computer a slimline body, not to mention the ever-desirable ability to create DVDs, but the case is much deeper than the 19in flat-panel monitor.

So despite Advent's beautification attempt, style gurus might prefer to keep this case under the desk and out of sight.

The computer has plenty of easily accessible connectivity options. Behind a door on the front of the case is a memory card reader, a mini FireWire socket, two USB 2 sockets, microphone, headphone and an S/P-DIF output.

The door can be a little tricky to open, which could quickly become frustrating as it will be in constant use.

External chic has not led to any major compromises inside this computer. An Athlon XP 3000+ processor provides the PC's computing power, while 512Mb of memory is a fair amount.

Combined with a GeForce FX 5200 graphics card, the Advent MC3020 is more than up to the job of running the Windows XP Media Center software.

This is the latest operating system from Microsoft, designed to put a pretty face on the control of all the computer's components - and a very good job it does too.

If you have a keen interest in using a computer to watch movies and view and manipulate digital photography, then the Windows XP Media Center approach should hold particular appeal.

Certainly the Advent MC3020 is geared up for the storage and display of such fancy content, with an accommodating 160Gb hard disk and a broad 19in flat-panel (or TFT) monitor.

All this adds up to a PC that's ideal for home entertainment purposes, as well as more conventional computer use (day-to-day office software applications and so forth).

So far, so good. However, the style factor does have an impact on the Advent MC3020's long-term prospects.

Adventurous sorts who open up the case will find that the insides are compact but with some space for upgrading - there's enough space for more memory and one expansion card. Because the case is so slim, though, any expansion card must be a 'half-height' model, and these are hardly commonplace.

In other words, adding to this PC's current capabilities could prove difficult. Thankfully, there is so much already supplied that it is unlikely you'll need or want to do this any time soon.
www.pcworld.co.uk

AJP NeoPC4 T17
Rather than supplying a computer in a stylish case with a separate monitor, AJP has opted to conceal its computer inside a flat-panel display. Although this renders the monitor slightly deeper than conventional flat-panel screens, the whole package remains extremely compact.

Despite the small size this is a very powerful computer, with an Intel Pentium 4 processor running at a nippy 3.2GHz. The 1Gb of memory is similarly impressive.

However, the side is let down by the computer's graphics processing capabilities, an Extreme Graphics set-up from Intel. The key thing to know about this is that, while it's fine for everyday Windows tasks, games require something fancier.

The graphics hardware also shares 64Mb of the memory with Windows but, considering this computer's 1Gb memory complement, this is not a problem.

The hard disk is a 160Gb model and the combination DVD/CD-RW drive - so called because it combines DVD-playing and CD-writing capabilities into one unit - is mounted underneath the screen. It is just high enough not to interfere with the keyboard and is easy to access.

The mouse and keyboard are wireless models from Microsoft. The keyboard has plenty of shortcut buttons for launching applications and controlling multimedia functions, and the mouse includes a nifty scroll wheel that can be jogged left or right for sideways scrolling.

Compared to some of the more multimedia-focused computers here, the NeoPC4 T17 has fewer connection possibilities with one FireWire and four USB 2 sockets, as well as a standard selection of audio inputs and outputs.

In terms of immediate post-purchase usefulness, the NeoPC4 does well. AJP has included Microsoft's Office 2003, which is far more useful than its Works offering that we normally see supplied with PC package deals. In addition, there's Roxio Easy CD and DVD Creator 6 and Intervideo WinDVD 4.

The innards of the AJP are not designed to be accessible to the user, so potential for upgrades is non-existent.

Fortunately, limited graphics capability notwithstanding, this is a very powerful system and is unlikely to feel out of date for a good while.
www.ajp.co.uk

Hi-Grade Xperian Plus 2800
The Hi-Grade Xperian is designed much like the AJP NeoPC4 with the computer and monitor condensed into one unit. However, the Xperian features Windows XP Media Center and benefits from better connection options.

The processor here is an Intel Pentium 4 2.8GHz, supported by 512Mb of memory. Graphics are provided by a Radeon 9000 card with 64Mb of memory that is not shared with Windows.

The Xperian's slower processor and smaller memory allowed the lookalike NeoPC4 to take the performance crown in our office applications tests.

Games were another matter and while Unreal Tournament 2003 was playable on the Xperian, it proved sluggish on the AJP machine.

Hi-Grade has placed the Xperian's DVD-RW drive vertically on the right-hand side of the monitor. This location makes access slightly harder than on the AJP.

The side of the monitor also has a memory card reader that can deal with numerous types of cards. The hard drive is a whopping 200Gb and, regardless of your computing activities, this amount of storage should take a long time to exhaust.

The inclusion of Windows XP Media Center means that in addition to good video and audio facilities, there are sockets for TV and radio aerials.

The keyboard and mouse are wireless so it would be feasible to use the Xperian in place of a television and video recorder, should you be that short on living space. The keyboard has an unusual layout but typing on it is comfortable nonetheless.

Like the NeoPC4, the Xperian's small case isn't designed for poking around inside and upgrades of any substance are effectively out of the question.
www.higrade.com

Hoojum Cubit P4
Here, at last, is a genuine eye-catcher. The Cubit P4 from Hoojum is a powerful computer squeezed into an attractive block of aluminium, available in any colour you like (as long as it's not beige).

This case's thickness is quite unusual and, compared with the thin metal found on most PC cases, a true luxury. The downsides are the weight and the fact that the edges can be quite sharp (it's possible to scratch your discs when feeding them through the drive slot).

Like the other computers in this test, the Hoojum clearly shows that shoppers in the market for a stylish PC no longer have to compromise on capability.

An Intel Pentium 4 3GHz processor forms the heart of this system, backed up by 512Mb of memory and a 160Gb hard disk. Graphics facilities are provided by a Radeon 9600 and, as expected, this did very well in our tests.

Sadly, despite being one of the easiest cases in the test to open - the four thumbscrews eliminate the need for a screwdriver - the Cubit P4 is not very amenable to upgrades.

The only free PCI expansion slot is obscured by the processor's cooling apparatus, while the free memory slot, located at the front of the case, is similarly difficult to access.

That said, 512Mb is quite adequate for the moment. If you think it might become restrictive we'd recommend asking Hoojum to fit more memory during the purchase process.
Full review and specs
www.hoojum.com

Mesh Cubex64 3200+ Premier
The Mesh Cubex64 3200+ Premier is a little different from the other PCs in this test as it uses the new type of computer processor, known as 64-bit (32-bit processors are currently the most common variety).

Although this doesn't do much to improve performance - and won't until such time as new software fully supports it - it shows that stylish computers can be at the leading edge of hardware design.

Most of the rest of the elements that make up this computer are just as impressive. There is 512Mb of memory, a 200Gb hard drive and a Sony DVD rewriter that handles both the plus ('+') and minus ('-') disc formats. This flexibility is welcome in an arena that's a mess of competing standards.

The Radeon 9800 Pro graphics card also matches the power of the rest of the system, while the 19in flat-panel display from Viewsonic offers great image quality.

There are plenty of connections on the front without any covering doors or flaps to fiddle with. There are slots for memory cards along with audio connections, a couple of USB 2 sockets and a mini FireWire connector. At the rear, there are an extra couple of USB 2 ports and a full-size FireWire socket.

As well as looking the part, the Mesh Cubex64 includes plenty of software to get you started, with Microsoft Works Suite and Pinnacle Studio 9 SE being the highlights.

Also, the warranty offered by Mesh is slightly better than average, with two years on-site support (meaning an engineer will call at your home in the event of a serious hardware failure).

If you have a screwdriver to hand, the case is reasonably easy to get into but really there's little point in bothering - all the expansion slots are filled and while it is possible to replace the existing memory, there's no space for additional modules.
www.meshcomputers.com

Systemax Encore 3107
The Systemax Encore 3107 is unique in this group test in that it can operate quite happily without any user interaction with Windows. Pick up the supplied remote control handset and you can use this to listen to music and the radio immediately from standby mode.

Within Windows, the Encore 3107 uses software from MSI, which bears a rather familiar name - Media Center Deluxe 3. Although this is similar to Microsoft's Media Center, it is not the same product.

This can be started using the remote control and offers easy access to the Encore 3107's television and music functions. In some respects, MSI Media Center Deluxe is actually easier to use than Windows XP Media Center.

Crammed into a small case (from miniaturisation specialist Shuttle) the Systemax PC would be ideal for installing next to the television, although you would be forgoing the 17in widescreen flat-panel display.

On the technical side of things, the PC is powered by an an AMD Athlon XP 2800+. This is the slowest processor of any PC in the group test, leading to some poorer results in our office software trials, but the combination of 512Mb of memory and a GeForce FX 5700 graphics card meant that the Encore 3107 took joint-first position in our games tests.

The front of the case is dominated by a large screen, which displays the time or lends the computer a hi-fi-like style when it is playing media files.

There is a collection of connections at the front, concealed behind a door. These include a headphone and microphone socket with an S/P-DIF connector for audio, two USB 2 sockets and a mini FireWire connector.

A Logitech wireless keyboard and mouse make it easy to use this computer without being constrained by cords.
www.systemaxpc.co.uk

THE STYLE FACTOR
Picking a winner from this group of fancy-looking computers was always going to be about a lot more than high figures for performance. The purchase of a chic PC is at least in part about showing off and honourable mention must therefore go the Hi-Grade Xperian.

By combining Windows XP Media Center with an all-in-one design, Hi-Grade has brought the concept of having a single device for all your home entertainment needs a step closer.

However, we reserve our Buy it! award for the Hoojum Cubit P4. The case alone exudes quality beyond anything else we have seen and contained inside are an impressive collection of desirable computing components. Not only is this a PC to show off rather than hide away, it's a powerful operator.

The exciting conclusion of this group test is that opting for style no longer means sacrificing the power and performance of the PC. It gives us great pleasure to announce that the days of the big, beige box are most definitely numbered.