The all-in-one computer format is growing in popularity. Like a hybrid of a laptop and a desktop the all in one incorporates the computer and monitor of a desktop level PC into a single case. It can be a little pricier than a comparably powered desktop as fitting all that tech into a small case is tricky but you are paying for a sleek, streamlined form that clears your desk or workspace of clutter and cables.

Asus’ mid-range all-in-one offering, the ET2702 (specifically the ET2702IGTH-B059K) is a good all rounder. Asus have managed to fit a lot in even for an all-in-one with a number of features that wouldn’t usually make it into a standard desktop.

Display Interface

Touch screen capability gives you the most from Windows 8 ‘s tile screen interface. Once you get used to touch screen browsing many people find it faster and more intuitive than using a mouse.

One of the most notable features of this model is the super high resolution LED display. With 2560 x 1440 pixels you will be able to see every detail and LED backlighting makes it all pop. At this resolution you can watch movies on the system’s Blu-Ray drive the way you are supposed to.

Processing Power

An Intel core i7 processor running at 3.4 GHz will run even heavy duty applications seamlessly. An onboard graphics card in the form of a Radeon HD 890A with 2GB of onboard memory also means running the latest games should be a breeze even if it doesn’t quite pass muster as a full on gaming rig.

This model also sports a substantial 16GB of RAM meaning the operating system and other programs will load up in lightning quick time. This also makes the system suitable for running intensive applications such as Photoshop, 3D rendering programs or movie editors. The touch screen functionality gives even more flexibility when using this type of editing software.

Storage and Connection Options

The Asus ET2702 comes with a full 2TB of storage on a 7200rpm hard drive which means that it’s not just big it’s fast too. This gives plenty of room to store movies and even large files for rendering or video editing.

In the ports department the ET2702 has a lot going on too. A standard array of USB 2.0 and 3.0 ports are more than enough for most users but the inclusion of in and out HDMI ports means the ET2702 can be used as a monitor for a TV cable box or a console as well as outputting video from the PC to a larger flat screen TV in the living room.

Two thunderbolt ports are a feature not even seen in most large desktop PCs. These allow for a huge amount of data to be transferred incredibly quickly between the PC and other devices. Up to 20Gbit/s can flow through these ports to a wide array of devices.

Overview

In terms of drawbacks there aren’t many. This all-in-one really lives up the all-in-one name, cramming in pretty much every feature you could think of. However, Asus aren’t known for their styling. They save in that area to offer more on the technical side of things. It’s not bad to look at but it isn’t going to form the centre piece of your decor.

The stand doesn’t have much in the way of height adjustment which can be a problem for an all in one as they are naturally much heavier when moving around than an ordinary monitor. However, it can be tilted right back for use in table top mode which can is particularly useful for a touch screen all-in-one.

The ET2702IGTH-B059K is an upgrade of an earlier model adding touch screen, Blu-ray and graphics capabilities while increasing storage and RAM. This makes it a pretty powerful and highly capable computer to have in a living room or office particularly for a space saving all-in-one. These added features and power also mean the computer will not need to be replaced any time soon.