Medion Akoya P4011D

We looked at Medion’s Akoya P4010D model touch-screen computer at the end of last year.

Our main complaint was that it lacked the multi-touch feature that’s practically a requirement of modern touch-screen PCs. We’re happy to report that its replacement, the P4011D, includes multi-touch among its many features.

The computer, which is available exclusively from Sainsbury’s, is a single-unit model – the main section combines the screen and processing unit. It looks like a slightly bulkier version of a monitor. The screen is a 21.5in widescreen model that gave a good, clear and sharp picture. The screen can show high-definition movies at the highest resolution of 1080p, although the lack of a Blu-ray drive means you’ll have to download high-definition films from the internet if you want to watch them. It’s supplied with a wireless mouse and keyboard. Neither was particularly well designed, although they were useable, and we would expect to replace them with better models after purchase.

Unlike most desktop computers, it doesn’t take a mains cable directly – instead, this plugs into a power ‘brick’ which has to sit on or under the desk or table. The profile of the computer is slim, and the stand allows it to sit upright but doesn’t take up too much room. A blue-green light shines out from beneath the main screen section when the computer is on (you can change the colour of this or turn it off with a supplied tool).

Inside the computer is an Intel T4400 processor, the same as in its predecessor. It’s an older processor now, but still fairly capable for home use. There is 4GB of memory, as much as we would expect to see in any home computer at the moment. It comes loaded with the Home Premium version of the Windows 7 operating system.

There is a 1TB (1,000GB) hard disk for storage, along with a DVD writer for creating and playing CDs and DVDs. Speakers are built-in but there are also outputs for stereo and surround sound. A webcam and microphone are built-in too, as is a memory card reader and Freeview TV tuner.

There are seven USB ports, sockets for keyboard and mouse and for a wired network connection. It will also work with all current home wireless networks, but there is no way to connect an external monitor or TV without using an extra adapter, which will add to the cost and make things more complicated.

Performance was impressive – in office and internet tasks it worked very well, and more taxing tasks such as video editing are a possibility, although will be slower than on computers with more recent, more powerful processors. Games are trickier – it will run recent games, although you’ll have to turn the detail settings down a lot in order to do so.

The touch-control worked well – the computer can be controlled by pressing a finger to the screen instead of using the mouse. The multi-touch aspect means you can use ‘gestures’ such as moving two fingers on the screen closer to each other to zoom out of something, and moving them apart to zoom in.

Similarly, rotating one finger around another static one will rotate what’s on screen. These are best shown off using the programs in the included Microsoft Touch Pack, which include games and a globe into which the user can zoom to see satellite photographs at city level.

The Medion Akoya P4011D is an impressive touch-screen computer which fixes the problems of its predecessor, and at this price it would be an excellent family PC.