PRODUCT REVIEW
Dell's All-in-One Runs With the Big Dogs

That was Dell's XPS One, and I've finally gotten my hands on a review unit. It is a very interesting computer and takes a very different approach to all-in-one design from the Gateway One.

Like the Gateway model and Apple's (Nasdaq: AAPL) iMac, which I consider the gold standard for this kind of system, Dell's XPS One combines the monitor and the computer into a single unit. The mouse and the keyboard connect wirelessly. In fact, the only cable coming off the XPS One is for AC power.

Not So Radical

The Gateway One reminds me of the monolith from "2001: A Space Odyssey" -- it's like a slab set on end. The XPS One looks more like a traditional widescreen LCD monitor with computer speakers attached to the left and right sides. It's not quite as radical a design. As is usually the case with one-piece computers, the XPS One is remarkably easy to set up. Take the computer, keyboard, mouse and power cord out of the box. Put the included batteries in the keyboard and mouse and turn them on. Plug the power cord into the computer and a wall socket. Fire up the PC, then push device-syncing buttons on the computer, the keyboard and the mouse.

The XPS One uses a 20-inch widescreen monitor. Packed inside the model I reviewed is a 2.3-gigahertz Intel (Nasdaq: INTC) Core 2 Duo, 2 gigabytes of memory, a 500-gigabyte hard drive, and a Blu-ray optical drive. The display is powered by an ATI (Nasdaq: ATYT) Mobility Radeon 2400 HD graphics card with 256 megabytes of its own memory.

Multimedia Approach

This model, which sells at this writing for US$1,999, also has a built-in webcam, Bluetooth , an 802.11n Wi-Fi adapter and a Gigabit Ethernet port. It's aimed at multimedia enthusiasts, so it also has a TV tuner, S-Video out, digital audio out and a memory card reader. It has six USB 2.0 ports and a Firewire port.

Smart Design

For example, of the six USB ports, four are accessible from the front of the PC. It would have been easy to put them on the back, but that would mean owners would have to turn the XPS One around to make a new connection.

Another example: Just looking at the monitor, you'd think there are no control buttons for it on the front. But move your hand near the bottom of the screen, and a motion sensor causes the touch-sensitive buttons to light up. Very cool.

The wireless keyboard has a notebook-style track pad on its right side. This makes it easy to sit back with the keyboard on your lap and use the computer. The fact that you can turn off the mouse and keyboard to save battery life when you're not using them is also a plus.

As is the case with Apple's iMac, the optical drive is slot-loading, like CD players found in most cars, but unlike the iMac, the Dell model can read Blu-ray movie discs as well as burn DVDs and CDs. This, along with its TV tuner, makes it a better choice for those who want to use a PC as video entertainment system.

OK for Mainstream Gaming

The computer comes with Windows Vista Home Premium (Ultimate is available), but Windows XP die-hards are out of luck. This system was designed with Vista in mind and is not offered with XP.

About the only thing not to like about the XPS One's hardware is the fact that you are limited to 2 gigabytes of memory. Dell's configurator doesn't offer an upgrade.

There's some junkware, but Dell has dramatically cut down on the unnecessary programs and marketing come-ons it bundles on its systems. Still, there are a few irritants. A program called the "Dell Network Assistant" popped up and announced it was "Analyzing your network" every time the computer booted or resumed from sleep. My network was working just fine, thanks, and needed no such analysis.

Also, I had to turn off the firewall features in the included Norton Internet Security so the XPS One could see other computers on my network.

Comparing Prices

How much of a value is the XPS One compared to the Gateway One or the iMac?

The $1,999 price actually reflects a cut of $450. It's hard to match the configurations exactly, but a similarly configured iMac runs about $1,700 (no Blu-ray drive or TV tuner are available), while the closest Gateway One model sells for about $1,800 (no Blu-ray drive). Given what you get for the money, it's not a bad price.

There are also less expensive XPS One models, include one with a standard DVD burner and an integrated graphics adapter for $1,299.

While I like the look of the Gateway One better, the feature set on the Dell is hard to beat. And it isn't hard on the eyes, either.

Dell certainly has come a long way.