Toshiba LX835-D3380 A speedy, comfortable all-in-one PC from Toshiba world tech20 review:

Toshiba LX835-D3380

World Tech 20 erview :

The good: A fast CPU helps distinguish the Toshiba LX835-D3380 from its Windows 8 all-in-one competitors.

The bad: Toshiba played it safe with this system, offering few interesting features to go with the new operating system.

The bottom line: Look no further than the Toshiba LX835-D3380 if you want a comfortable, speedy all-in-one on which to learn Windows 8.

 Toshiba is best known for its laptops, but after entering the U.S. desktop market in 2011, the company has put out straightforward, attractive all-in-one PCs at a steady cadence. The $1,399  Toshiba LX835-D3380 is no exception, offering a safe, fast, and slightly more expensive entry point to Windows 8.

The difficulty for Toshiba, and for every all-in-one in this price range, is the Dell XPS One 27, the $1,399 version of which has slower components than the Toshiba and no touch capability, but comes with a 27-inch, 2,560x1,440-pixel-resolution display. The Toshiba's 23-inch, 1,920x1,080-pixel screen can't compete. That makes the  Toshiba LX835-D3380 most appropriate for those who value speed and who are interested in the Windows 8 touch-screen experience.
The Toshiba's plastic case won't win any manufacturing awards, but there's something to be said for the way its curvy gunmetal bezel hugs the lower corners of the display and swoops around the bottom edge. Unlike other Windows 8 all-in-ones, the LX835-D3380 doesn't have extended screen-reclining capabilities, but you should find brief touch interactions, while either sitting or standing, comfortable enough.
For the touch screen itself, the  Toshiba LX835-D3380 doesn't really stand out. It has reasonably sensitive, 10-point touch input, but as with its competition, you still get some tactile resistance that can make for a jittery experience when you're playing games or engaging with other apps that require extended input. The cost of making a large desktop touch screen as smooth as that found on a good smartphone or tablet might be prohibitive, but until that happens, PC-based touch will always feel a bit subpar.

	Toshiba LX835-D3380	Vizio CA24T-A4	Asus ET2300INTI
Price at debut	$1,399	$1,249	$1,299
Display size/resolution	23-inch, 1,920x1,080-pixel touch screen	24-inch, 1,920x1,080-pixel touch screen	23-inch, 1,920x1,080-pixel touch screen
CPU	2.4GHz Intel Core i7-3630QM	2.5GHz Intel Core i5-3210M	3GHz Intel Core i5-3330
Memory	8GB 1,600MHz DDR3 SDRAM	6GB 1,333MHz DDR3 SDRAM	8GB 1,333MHz DDR3 SDRAM
Graphics	2GB Nvidia GeForce GT 630M	32MB Intel HD Graphics 4000	1GB Nvidia GeForce GT630M
Hard drives	2TB, 5,400rpm	1TB, 5,400rpm	1TB, 7,200rpm
Optical drive	dual-layer DVD burner	None	dual-layer DVD burner
Networking	Gigabit Ethernet, 802.11b/g/n wireless	Gigabit Ethernet, 802.11b/g/n wireless	Gigabit Ethernet, 802.11b/g/n wireless
Operating system	Windows 8 (64-bit)	Windows 8 (64-bit)	Windows 8 (64-bit)

Pricing for Windows 8 PCs has been higher than for their Windows 7 equivalents, so you're right to feel some sticker shock at the figures for each of these systems, most of which would have landed at around $1,000 or so with the equivalent components last year. The  Toshiba LX835-D3380 comes in higher than the Vizio and Asus systems here, largely due to its Core i7 CPU and its dedicated GeForce GT 630M graphics chip with 2GB of video memory. Toshiba was also more ambitious with its hard-drive capacity and the speed of its system memory. If the Toshiba seems expensive even compared with the rest of the Windows 8 field, its higher-end components help justify its price.
If you're not interested in a touch screen, I'll point you toward HP's configurable Envy 23xt line of all-in-ones. I configured a nontouch version that was otherwise identical to the Toshiba system. Toshiba itself offers a Windows 7 version of this PC, the LX835-D3250, which has a slightly slower Core i7 chip than the Toshiba LX835-D3380, but twice the system memory for the same $1,399 price.

Adobe Photoshop CS5 image-processing test (in seconds)(Shorter bars indicate better performance)

Toshiba LX835-D3380 (2.4GHz Core i7, November 2012)

195 

Vizio CA24T-A4 (2.5GHz Core i5, November 2012)

211 

Asus ET2300INTI (3GHz Core i5, November 2012)

213 

Apple iMac 21.5-inch (2.7GHz Core i5, November 2012)

215 

Apple iTunes encoding test (in seconds)(Shorter bars indicate better performance)

Apple iMac 21.5-inch (2.7GHz Core i5, November 2012)

65 

Toshiba LX835-D3380 (2.4GHz Core i7, November 2012)

99 

Asus ET2300INTI (3GHz Core i5, November 2012)

102 

Vizio CA24T-A4 (2.5GHz Core i5, November 2012)

110 

Multimedia multitasking: iTunes and HandBrake (in seconds)(Shorter bars indicate better performance)

Toshiba LX835-D3380 (2.4GHz Core i7, November 2012)

187 

Asus ET2300INTI (3GHz Core i5, November 2012)

247 

Apple iMac 21.5-inch (2.7GHz Core i5, November 2012)

264 

Vizio CA24T-A4 (2.5GHz Core i5, November 2012)

401 

Cinebench 11.5(Longer bars indicate better performance)

Rendering multiple CPUs

Rendering single CPU

Toshiba LX835-D3380 (2.4GHz Core i7, November 2012)

6.47 

1.42 

Asus ET2300INTI (3GHz Core i5, November 2012)

4.98 

1.35 

Apple iMac 21.5-inch (2.7GHz Core i5, November 2012)

4.44 

1.28 

Vizio CA24T-A4 (2.5GHz Core i5, November 2012)

2.87 

1.28 

What's nice about this Toshiba is that it demonstrates a noticeable performance edge over PCs that cost just $100 less. You still need to endure the Windows 8 learning curve with this PC, and a 7,200rpm hard drive, or better, a hybrid drive option would give this system more credibility among those with serious speed demands. But unlike the other lower-cost Windows 8 desktops we've seen since launch, the Toshiba LX835 would make an acceptable mainstream gaming or video-editing computer.
Toshiba hits most of the required notes for this PC's connectivity options. You get six USB 3.0 jacks, an SD card slot, analog audio and headphone jacks, an Ethernet jack, an HDMI input, and an array of hard controls for adjusting the volume, the display input, and display brightness. A digital audio output or even a Thunderbolt port wouldn't be unheard of in a Windows PC in this price range, but I would be happy to trade any of those for the upgrade to the Core i7 CPU.
Conclusion
Aside from making you learn Windows 8, the Toshiba LX835-D3380 should feel familiar to anyone who has purchased a new PC in the last few years. Its fast Core i7 chip provides some distinguishing speed, and you'll have to adjust to a recalibrated PC price scale, but this system has commodity desktop written all over it. That doesn't have to be a bad thing, particularly if it means a comfortable experience. For those who pick this system up, that's exactly what you'll get.
Performance testing conducted by Joseph Kaminski. Find out more about how we test desktop systems.

System configurations
Apple iMac 21.5-inch (November 2012)
Apple OS X Mountain Lion 10.8; 2.7GHz Intel Core i5-3330S; 8GB 1,600MHz DDR3 SDRAM; 512MB Nvidia GeForce GT 640M graphics card; 1TB 5,400rpm hard drive
Asus ET2300INTI
Microsoft Windows 8 (64-bit); 3GHz Intel Core i5-3330; 8GB 1,333MHz DDR3 SDRAM; 1GB Nvidia GeForce GT 630M graphics card; 1TB 7,200rpm hard drive
Toshiba LX835-D3380
Microsoft Windows 8 (64-bit); 2.4GHz Intel Core i7-3630QM; 8GB 1,600MHz DDR3 SDRAM; 2GB Nvidia GeForce GT 630M graphics card; 2TB 5,400rpm hard drive
Vizio CA24T-A4
Microsoft Windows 8 (64-bit); 2.5GHz Intel Core i5-3210M; 6GB 1,600MHz DDR3 SDRAM; 32MB Intel HD Graphics 4000 (embedded); 1TB 5,400rpm hard drive

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Apple iMac 21.5-inch World Tech 20 erview: The smaller iMac Windows PCs can pick on

World Tech 20 erview :

The good: Apple's attention to detail extends to the 21.5-inch version of its thin-looking Apple iMac.

The bad: Windows-based all-in-one PCs offer tough hardware competition in the sub-$1,400 price range.

The bottom line: The 21.5-inch iMac will be a compelling lower-cost all-in-one for Mac loyalists, but you can get more capabilities from similarly priced Windows all-in-ones.

For the same $1,299 you could spend on this 21.5-inch Apple iMac, you can buy a 23-inch or even a 27-inch Windows-based all-in-one, and with more robust features.

Yes, for better or for worse, those other PCs have Windows 8. They also have touch screens and optical drives, features that Apple has deemed inessential for a desktop. You might agree with Apple. You might also accept Apple's hallmark design excellence and display quality as worthy substitutions. You might even need or want a particular function of OS X that you can't get in a Windows PC.
Judged purely by its hardware, however, the 21.5-inch iMac is an expensive all-in-one with less functionality than its competition. I would not recommend it to someone looking for the most computer for his or her dollar.
I don't have much to add about the design of the 21.5-inch iMac that I didn't already mention in the review of the more expensive 27-inch model.
As evidenced by the iMac's thin-seeming profile and clean appearance overall, Apple's design lead over the rest of the PC industry remains healthy. You can count me among those who felt disappointed that the new, bulge-backed iMacs were not as thin as Apple originally presented them as being. I quickly got over that disappointment after spending a few minutes with the new design.

Like the 27-inch iMac, the 21.5-inch model has a rounded protrusion on the back of the screen that houses the computing components. You will only notice the bulge when you look at the screen from the most oblique angles. You don't notice its thinness either when you're sitting directly in front of the iMac, but from most other vantage points, the screen appears as thin as its 5-millimeter edge.
That new chassis has only a cosmetic impact on the user. More functionally meaningful in theory is a new glare-resistant screen coating intended to address complaints about too much environmental reflectivity on the previous-generation iMacs.
Our lab -- all long, bright, overhead fluorescents -- is a challenging environment for glare testing. I no longer have the 27-inch iMac on hand to compare, but I know I noticed the reduced glare on the big-screen model when I reviewed it. My impression is that the 21.5-inch iMac is more reflective than the 27-inch version.
I don't have the means to objectively measure reflectivity. My impression could be due to variability in the coating between applications. It could also be a function of the absolute size of the reflected light source hitting the 21.5-inch iMac's comparably smaller viewing area. In any event, while the apparent difference is not enough to ruin the iMac's usability, if you're undecided on screen size and glare is a concern, you might head down to your local Apple Store and compare the screens yourself.

	Apple iMac	Vizio CA24T-A4	Asus ET2300INTI
Price	$1,299	$1,249	$1,299
Display size/resolution	21.5-inch, 1,920x1,080	24-inch, 1,920x1,080 touch screen	23-inch, 1,920x1,080 touch screen
CPU	2.7GHz Intel Core i5-3330S	2.5GHz Intel Core i5-3210M	3GHz Intel Core i5-3330
Memory	8GB 1,333MHZ DDR3 SDRAM	6GB 1,333MHZ DDR3 SDRAM	8GB 1,333MHZ DDR3 SDRAM
Graphics	512MB Nvidia GeForce GT640M	32MB Intel HD Graphics 4000	1GB Nvidia GeForce GT630M
Hard drives	1TB, 5,400rpm	1TB, 5,400rpm	1TB, 7,200rpm
Optical drive	None	None	Dual-layer DVD burner
Networking	Gigabit Ethernet, 802.11b/g/n wireless	Gigabit Ethernet, 802.11b/g/n wireless	Gigabit Ethernet, 802.11b/g/n wireless
Operating system	OS X 10.8 (Mountain Lion)	Windows 8 (64-bit)	Windows 8 (64-bit)

	I include the Vizio CA24T-A4 in the above comparison to highlight multiple Windows PCs that have larger screens than this iMac, but the Asus ET2300INTI is the more challenging comparison for Apple. The Asus system also has a larger screen, as well as a faster CPU than the iMac.

Like many Windows all-in-ones, the Asus ET2300INTI has an HDMI input, as well as an HDMI output. Before you call out the iMac's Thunderbolt ports, know that the Asus has two of them. On the iMac, you'll need to use one of the Thunderbolt ports and connect an adapter in order to use it with an HDMI-based device, adding expense and complication.
The combination of HDMI and Thunderbolt gives the Asus a significant edge over the iMac in terms of its out-of-the-box connectivity options. Yes, the Asus also has built-in WiDi capability, an eSATA port, and the aforementioned touch screen and DVD burner, but it's the combination of ports that really extends its usability. With HDMI alongside Thunderbolt, you can connect a cable box, a game console, an HD camcorder, or some other assortment of video source devices to the Asus system, adapter-free, and still have room to add a fast Thunderbolt data array. With the iMac you'll need a bird's nest of expensive adapters or Thunderbolt cables or both for the same functionality.

How many people will actually use those inputs on either system, much less in combination? Great question, and I don't know the answer. But I do know that, all else equal, I'd rather my $1,299 afforded me the most convenient option.

Adobe Photoshop CS5 image-processing test (in seconds)(Shorter bars indicate better performance)

Vizio CA24T-A4 (2.5GHz Core i5, November 2012)

211 

Asus ET2300INTI (3GHz Core i5, November 2012)

213 

Apple iMac 21.5-inch (2.7GHz Core i5, November 2012)

215 

Apple iTunes encoding test (in seconds)(Shorter bars indicate better performance)

Apple iMac 21.5-inch (2.7GHz Core i5, November 2012)

65 

Asus ET2300INTI (3GHz Core i5, November 2012)

102 

Vizio CA24T-A4 (2.5GHz Core i5, November 2012)

110 

iTunes and HandBrake (in seconds)(Shorter bars indicate better performance)

Asus ET2300INTI (3GHz Core i5, November 2012)

247 

Apple iMac 21.5-inch (2.7GHz Core i5, November 2012)

264 

Vizio CA24T-A4 (2.5GHz Core i5, November 2012)

401 

Cinebench 11.5(Longer bars indicate better performance)

Rendering multiple CPUs

Rendering single CPU

Asus ET2300INTI (3GHz Core i5, November 2012)

4.98 

1.35 

Apple iMac 21.5-inch (2.7GHz Core i5, November 2012)

4.44 

1.28 

Vizio CA24T-A4 (2.5GHz Core i5, November 2012)

2.87 

1.28Don't make too much of the performance difference in our charts. Between the iMac and the Asus system, the only statistically significant variability shows up on our iTunes MP3 conversion test, and the Asus system can certainly be forgiven for trailing the iMac on Apple-made software. Our test with HandBrake and iTunes converting files simultaneously is a much more challenging benchmark, and in that case the two systems have basically identical performance.
Gaming on either system is not an impossible prospect, although the 1,920x1,080-pixel-resolution displays will challenge their lower-end Nvidia graphics chips if you play demanding games at high image quality. The Witcher 2 on the iMac, for example, was not the most playable experience, but at lower image quality settings it's at least possible. The same goes for the Asus.
Along with the iMac's Thunderbolt ports, you also get four USB 3.0 ports, an Ethernet jack, an SDXC card slot, and a headphone output that doubles as a digital audio jack. Like the 27-inch model, the 21.5-inch version has a pair of microphones that work in concert to minimize background noise during video chats. You do not, however, get user-accessible system memory in the 21.5-inch iMac, adding expense and hassle for those who might want to expand the default 8GB of memory. These new iMacs are also not wall-mountable.
Conclusion
Apple's 27-inch iMac is an Editors' Choice award winner for its large, high-resolution display and its high performance system components. The 21.5-inch version is also a fine computer, but its comparatively lower price puts it in more competitive waters. You can get more performance, including Apple's hybrid solid-state Fusion hard-drive option, by paying more, but at that point you enter even more challenging Windows PC territory with the non-touch version of Dell XPS One 27 looming for a mere $1,399.

Conclusion
Apple's 27-inch iMac is an Editors' Choice award winner for its large, high-resolution display and its high performance system components. The 21.5-inch version is also a fine computer, but its comparatively lower price puts it in more competitive waters. You can get more performance, including Apple's hybrid solid-state Fusion hard-drive option, by paying more, but at that point you enter even more challenging Windows PC territory with the non-touch version of Dell XPS One 27 looming for a mere $1,399.
Some need or some emotion-driven want may compel you to buy the 21.5-inch iMac, and if that happens you will own one of the best-designed computers available. If instead you're looking for the most functional capability hardware for the dollar, I would encourage you to comparison-shop, and weigh the Asus ET2300INTI in particular as an alternative.
All performance testing conducted by Joseph Kaminski. Find out more about how we test desktop systems.
System configurations
Apple iMac 21.5-inch (November 2012)
Apple OS X Mountain Lion 10.8; 2.7GHz Intel Core i5-3330S; 8GB 1,600MHz DDR3 SDRAM; 512MB Nvidia GeForce GT 640M graphics card; 1TB 5,400rpm hard drive
Asus ET2300INTI
Microsoft Windows 8 (64-bit); 3GHz Intel Core i5-3330; 8GB 1,333MHz DDR3 SDRAM; 1GB Nvidia GeForce GT 630M graphics card; 1TB 7,200rpm hard drive

 Vizio CA24T-A4
Microsoft Windows 8 (64-bit); 2.5GHz Intel Core i5-3210M; 6GB 1,600MHz DDR3 SDRAM; 32MB Intel HD Graphics 4000 (embedded); 1TB 5,400rpm hard drive

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