All in one

Say what you want about Microsoft’s past hardware flops, but there’s no denying it has become somewhat of a trendsetter in some areas. The Surface Pro tablets, the HoloLens headset, and, lately, the Surface Studio. The latter, however, might take a bit of time before it sinks into OEMs mindsets, not to mention budgets. That is why it’s a bit disappointing that HP’s newest Pavilion All-in-One hasn’t made that jump yet. Powerful and gorgeous, it’s just a pen and a few angles away from becoming a Surface Studio rival.

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HP, Acer, and Microsoft made their big computer announcements ahead of this year's Computex in order to steer clear of the flood. And flood there was indeed, even if you just look at what ASUS had prepared. From notebooks to convertibles to all-in-one PCs to an odd Wi-Fi router, ASUS' Computex 2017 lineup seems to revolve around the theme of thin bodies, thin bezels, and head-turning designs. But at a time when 2-in-1 detachables are a hot topic again, the company that probably started it all with the ASUS Transformer ironically has none to show.

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Among the gear Acer unveiled today comes a pair of computing products notable for how they're kept cool. The Acer Aspire U27 all-in-one desktop PC and the 2-in-1 convertible Switch 5 are both equipped with LiquidLoop, a liquid cooling system. The Switch 5 is Acer's first 2-in-1 laptop that features its LiquidLoop offering; it, as with the Aspire all-in-one, are ultra-quiet thanks to the elimination of the cooling fan.

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In addition to refreshes for its more traditional notebooks, HP has also revealed a new model of its interesting Sprout Pro PC for 2017. While many mainstream consumers may not have had much opportunity (or reason) to use a Sprout, the functionality it offers has caught on in the education, manufacturing, and retail spaces, and the improvements made with the Sprout Pro G2 look to streamline the creative process.

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Acer has announced the launch of its all-in-one desktop line, the Acer Aspire C Series, in the United States. These all-in-one desktops feature ultra-slim bezels measuring only 0.31-inches in width. The series is composed of two models, a 21.5-inch display model and a 23.8-inch display model, both featuring a 1920 x 1080 Full HD resolution. Acer is offering the models with the option of Windows 10, Linpus Simple Linux, and FreeDOS.

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Some of the very buyers of Microsoft's new Surface Studio all-in-one PC will be receiving their orders soon, and the teardown experts at iFixit were among the first to get their hands on one. They wasted little time in diving beyond that 28-inch touchscreen display in their effort to rate the device's repairability. Like most compact PCs and laptops these days, most components are locked in place, preventing any kind of repairs/modifications by users, but iFixit still came away with a few surprises.

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The Microsoft Surface Studio was revealed this morning in a presentation that may be making Apple apprehensive. You see, Apple has an event taking place tomorrow, and they'll be revealing their own machines. It's likely Apple will have a set of new MacBook Pro units ready for the public then. But for now, Microsoft is attempting to get in while the getting is good.

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The Microsoft Surface Studio was revealed today as a direct competitor to Apple's iMac. Of course there's a secret inside the Surface Studio, making it slightly more unique than the iMac - it has a lot to do with Windows 10 Creative Update. "Surface has always been about more," said Corporate VP of Devices at Microsoft Panos Panay. "It was never as simple as a desktop, Pro was more than a tablet, Book was so much more than a laptop. Why would Studio be different?"

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Can an all-in-one PC really cut mustard as a gaming machine? Lenovo's new IdeaCentre AIO Y910 wants to demonstrate it can, packing the scant space behind a 17.3-inch display with the sort of processor and graphics that wouldn't be embarrassed in a regular desktop at your friendly neighborhood LAN party.

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Microsoft is testing a trio of Surface All-in-One desktops as well as a new Surface Book design that could address the original notebook's most controversial feature, according to the latest leaks. Chatter of a Surface AIO broke back in July, with rumors of a new, large-screen PC developed by Microsoft's in-house team and intended for the living room.

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In early 2014, Google announced its new Chromebox for Meetings initiative that put Chrome OS almost literally at the heart of the enterprise, providing both computing power and software for making easy and secure video conferences. At that time, Chromeboxes themselves, even with the Meetings part, were fresh off the grill. Along with ASUS and HP, Acer was one of the earliest to adopt Google's business-friendly solutions. Now it's at it again, not with a Chromebox, but with its Chromebase 24, delivering what is the first ever Chromebase for Meetings.

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Google designed the Pixel C hardware for productivity, but the Android software running on it didn't seem to get the memo. Excellent for smartphones, tablets, and even TVs, "vanilla" Android has not scaled well to PC-like use cases. Companies like Jide, not to mention some crowdfunded projects, have dared to go where Google still refuses to venture. One such attempt is Phoenix OS, which, like Remix OS, spins Android into a more traditional desktop form. Now, it seems that Phoenix has gained a major backer, with Alcatel showing off the OS running on its equally odd Xess "tablet".

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