Apple is reportedly gearing up to move the production lines of its Mac Mini computer to the U.S., along with its manufacturing partner Foxconn, according to Digitimes.

While Digitimes has had a rocky history with Apple rumors (mainly because it reports every single thing it hears), this news makes a lot of sense. Mac Mini shipments are on the rise, after climbing more than 40 percent this year to around 1.4 million units. It’s also quickly becoming a powerful little device: This year’s Mac Mini upgrade includes an option for a fast quad-core Intel Core i7 processor running at 2.3 gigahertz.

Apple announced earlier this month that it will spend more than $100 million to bring some Mac production back to the U.S. next year, but it didn’t specify which models would get the special treatment. Previous speculation pointed to the Mac Pro, Apple’s massive desktop, though that model hasn’t received a major design upgrade in some time (and it’s been overshadowed for years by innovations in Apple’s iMac and MacBook lines). It makes more sense for Apple to focus on a device that’s on the rise for its triumphant U.S. return instead of one that’s on the decline.

Digitimes notes that Mac Mini shipments are expected to rise another 30 percent in 2013 to 1.8 million.

While desktops are falling out of fashion, an inexpensive and tiny computer like the Mac Mini could end up being a worthy alternative for many. It’s already packing a fast processor — now all Apple needs to do is give it better graphics capabilities to satisfy gamers and media professionals.

Apple’s super-skinny new iMacs will finally see the light of day starting this Friday.

Announced alongside the iPad mini last month, the latest Apple desktops not only come with impressive displays, but at 5mm, they’re also impossibly thin.

Despite those dimensions, however, Apple managed to furnish the devices with some pretty impressive hardware. The 21.5-inch model ($1,299), for example, comes equipped with a quad-core Intel Core i5 processor, 8GB of RAM, and Apple’s hybrid Fusion Drive, which combines flash storage with a standard hard drive.

The 27-inch model, which goes in sale in December, starts at $1,799 and comes with a 2.9 GHz quad-core Intel Core i5 processor. Not bad for devices that are thinner than the iPhone 5.

Impressive specs aside, the release of the latest iMacs comes during a time when Mac desktops represent a paltry three percent of Apple’s overall sales. Unsurprisingly, most of that cash now comes from sales of the iPhone and iPad, which dominate Apple’s balance sheet.

Still, seeing how impressive the new desktops are, it’s not hard to imagine quite a few customers picking them up over the next few weeks.

Two major, yet controversial, features from iOS could be making their way to Apple’s OS X desktop operating system.

The virtual assistant Siri and Apple’s Maps code have both appeared in early test builds of OS X 10.9, the next version of Apple’s desktop OS, which we expect to ship next year, sources tell 9to5Mac.

If true, the moves make sense for Apple: Siri is now one of the company’s most iconic features on the iPhone, even though it doesn’t work quite as well as advertised. And while Apple’s Maps application leaves much to be desired, such as ridiculous aerial views that somehow leave out things like the Statue of Liberty and the Hoover Dam, it can’t remain a mobile-only feature for long.

Apple already offers voice dictation, one of Siri’s big features, within OS X Mountain Lion. But desktop Mac users don’t have access to Siri’s voice-powered commands for looking up things on the web, checking your calendar, and the like. And even though Mac users aren’t exactly clamoring for Apple’s Maps, the company still needs to find a way to bring the service to the desktop.

The sources say that Apple is bringing Maps into OS X as a framework, not an app, which would allow developers to easily integrate it into their apps. But that could be the first step towards Apple releasing a full-fledged desktop Maps app (though that possibility is mostly conjecture at this point).

It seems like ages ago when Microsoft simultaneously dazzled and puzzled the hell out of the public when it showed off Windows 8 for the first time in June 2011. Since then, we’ve seen Windows 8 evolve and slowly change perceptions about how it works and what devices it’s meant for. Finally, the OS is now available for purchase.

Just like Windows 8 has evolved, so has my opinion of the operating system. After using prerelease versions of Windows 8 for several months, I still prefer Windows 7, but I have no doubt Windows 8 will be my Windows of choice at some point. Microsoft will likely tweak the heck out of the OS after receiving massive amounts of customer feedback (after revealing yesterday that Windows 8 has seen more than 1.24 billion hours of early testing from consumers). In addition, third-party developers will create software that improves the Windows 8 experience. Sweet Labs’ Pokki app, which re-creates the Start button on the desktop, is one such example. Windows 8 is still evolving, and it will continue to do so for some time.

The future of the PC

Windows 8 represents the future of Microsoft and the PC itself. Essentially, the desktop of old is fading away in favor of ultrabooks, tablets, and hybrid devices like Samsung’s Smart PCs. VentureBeat executive editor Dylan Tweney believes Windows 8 will be a “test of whether the company can successfully manage the transition to a new era of computing.” I agree, and I believe Microsoft has the experience and leadership to accomplish this.

But of course, Windows 8 also faces plenty of criticism. The brash cloud computing visionary Marc Benioff, the CEO of customer-relation management giant Salesforce, recently called Windows 8 “the end of Windows” and claimed Windows itself was irrelevant in the new age of powerful smartphones and tablets.

Benioff might have a point: Windows as we know it is over — but Windows 8 could easily sit alongside iOS and Android as another powerhouse in mobile computing. And its real strength is that it’s not just a mobile OS. Unlike iOS and Android, Windows 8 can also power traditional computers without a sweat.

Microsoft’s Surface tablet, which has lots of personality and some noticeable flaws, is one such device that shows Microsoft’s commitment to reshape Windows. Surface is simply a preview of what’s to come in a year (or less). New Windows 8 tablets will be more cooked and the app ecosystem will likely be populated with all kinds of great software soon.

Beautiful, forward-thinking design

Windows 8′s Start screen (see photo above) replaces the Start button on the desktop as the place in which you launch apps. The Start screen is colorful, fun, and useful, and it looks quite similar to the tile-based design found on the Xbox 360 dashboard and Windows Phone devices. The Start menu tiles are helpful because they show real-time information, such as how many emails are unread, stock market prices, headlines, and more.

While the Start screen is easy to customize and understand, many people will want to retreat into the “desktop” mode. The desktop mode does basically everything you’ve done for years in Windows. The most helpful thing to do in desktop mode is to pin all your important programs to the taskbar so you never have to search for desktop-focused apps.

The easiest way to get back to the Start screen when using a keyboard is to tap the Windows key in the bottom left corner. When using a tablet device, you get back by swiping the right side of the screen and tapping the Start icon. When using a laptop touchpad, you swipe the right edge.

If you need to find an app, simply start typing while on the Start screen and a full list of results will pop up. This search function has saved me time when using Windows 8 because it can often find what you’re looking for faster.

Different feel across devices

The worst experience I’ve had with Windows 8 is on a traditional desktop PC with a mouse and keyboard. I truly believe Windows 8 is meant for touch-based devices like tablets and laptops with touchpads (and touchscreens). So things are a bit more awkward using a mouse and keyboard.

Consider right-clicking, which is now completely different from what you’re used to in Windows outside of the desktop interface. Instead of a menu of options appearing right where you clicked, a limited number of options appear at the bottom of the screen, and you have to move your mouse there to select them. This gets incredibly tedious in Windows 8 apps and on the Start screen.

Laptops are another story. It’s not quite as awkward using a laptop with Windows 8 because you have a touchpad. If you have a fairly recent laptop, the touchpad lets you take advantage of cool gestures that speed up using Windows 8. Moving your finger from the left edge of a trackpad scrolls through all of your recently used programs. Or if you swipe down from the top edge of a touchpad, you get the same options you’d usually get from double-clicking a mouse. You can’t use these slick gestures on older laptops, unfortunately.

The best experience I’ve had with Windows 8 so far was on tablets and hybrid tablet/laptop devices. I’ve played with the Microsoft Surface, Samsung’s tablet hybrids, Lenovo’s IdeaPad Yoga, Dell’s convertible XPS 12, and many others. When you can touch the icons on the Start screen, the OS feels much more natural.

Microsoft likes to say that Windows 8 is a “no compromise” version of Windows, but if you really want to feel that way, you need touch interactions. The emphasis on touch makes Windows 8 primed for the next decade of computing, but it also clearly signals the end of the mouse and keyboard as the ideal way to interact with Windows.

Under-the-hood improvements

One of the best things about Windows 8 is that it boots up and runs faster than Windows 7. An extensive study by PCMag indicates much faster boot-up times, higher benchmark scores, and speedier web browsing. Basically, Windows 8 can make a big difference in the performance department — even on some older computers.

This is one reason why I think some Windows XP and Vista users (yes, a ton of them are still out there) would enjoy the bump to Windows 8: Not only will you get a performance enhancement, but you’ll also get better security with software that’s getting many more updates from Microsoft. Make sure you meet the minimum requirements before even considering that upgrade though, because even “impossibly old” machines are beyond Windows 8′s help.

Apps

One of the most important factors for Windows 8′s success, like every computing platform, are the apps that take advantage of all of its features. (Since Microsoft ditched the term “Metro,” let’s call these “Modern” apps.) Some great apps are already in the Windows Store, but it’s important that third parties pump out fantastic software to make Windows 8 more attractive than iOS and Android.

Some aspects of Modern apps for Windows 8 are problematic, especially for desktop users. As I’ve noted before, Modern apps have a serious screen-splitting problem. In Windows 8, you can only allocate roughly 25 percent of the screen to one app while the other 75 percent is taken up by another app. As you can imagine, this layout is not conducive to multitasking. Thankfully, you can still do a 50-50 split, or whatever tiling you’re used to, in the desktop mode.

Relearning Windows

Windows 8 will require some relearning and retraining. Dell has even been smart enough to feature its own Windows 8 tutorials on the Start screen to hand-hold those who might freak out over the changes.

Here’s the good news — even a 3-year-old can use Windows 8. I have faith that anyone reading this article can also relearn how to use Windows and use it effectively. The question is — will people be willing to upgrade and relearn or will you simply adapt only after being forced to with a new PC purchase?

Should I upgrade?

Windows 8 costs $40 to download and upgrade using Microsoft’s Windows 8 Upgrade Assistant. Microsoft says the offer for a $40 upgrade expires on Jan. 31. (You can also purchase a physical copy of Windows 8 in stores for $70.) If you purchased a new non-Windows 8 PC after June 2 and before Jan. 31, 2013, you’re eligible to upgrade to Windows 8 Pro for just $15.

So you’re asking yourself, “should I upgrade?” If you’re normally an early adopter and like the changes described here, yes, you absolutely should give it a shot. If you’re a casual user, I would not upgrade immediately. Try Windows 8 out at a retailer like Best Buy or the Microsoft Store and let Microsoft issue some patches to fix the biggest bugs. Once you’ve tried it and understand how it works, it very well might be worth your money to upgrade.

To truly get the most Windows 8 has to offer, consider waiting until you purchase a new PC. After all, the entire impetus behind Windows 8 is its touch-centric interface and its capability to power new computing devices like the Surface and laptop/tablet hybrids. Given that it’s such a radically different operating system, it makes sense to experience it first on radically new devices.

For more on how to decide if you should upgrade and other must-know things about Windows 8, check out our article 8 things you need to know about Windows 8.

Final thoughts

Windows 8 is vital to the future of Microsoft and the PC market because it blends a touch-centric interface with the Windows we’ve known for years. It’s not for everyone, especially casual Windows 7 users that refuse to relearn Windows. But power users and those who embrace change well will find a lot to like here.

Hewlett-Packard is introducing a dozen new computers and accessories today that represent the core of its lineup for Microsoft’s Windows 8 operating system coming on Oct. 26.

This new pack of computers isn’t even HP’s whole lineup. It also announced a bunch of all-in-one desktops on Aug. 10 and more laptops on Aug. 30. One of the interesting deals is that HP will offer up to 200MB of free wireless data service per month on T-Mobile’s 4G mobile broadband network with the purchase of an HP Pavilion dm1 notebook computer. Customers will also receive 25GB of free cloud storage from Box.

The computers have the latest generation of Intel Core microprocessors, and some models feature Advanced Micro Devices new A-series processors as well. The top of the line is the HP Envy m4 laptop ($899) in a thin-and-light package. It includes HP ProtectSmart to guard against data loss if the notebook is dropped and HP CoolSense, which adjusts performance based on heat conditions. It has a brushed-aluminum design and an optional backlit keyboard, a 14-inch diagonal high-definition display, and third-generation Intel Core processors. It has an HD webcam and Intel WiDi, a display technology that allows you to project your screen’s image to an HD TV. It has Beats Audio.

HP is also launching its latest gaming desktop (pictured right). The HP Envy Phoenix h9 desktop ($899) has an “armor-plated design” and attention-grabbing lighting. It can support up to three internal hard disks and its cables are set up in a way to promote airflow and cooling. Swapping out components is easy. The machine has Intel’s fastest third-generation Core processors and a choice of Nvidia or AMD discrete graphics chips. It has an ExpressCache solid state drive for fast boot-ups and application start times. HP hopes to sell it with its HP x2401 (249) 24-inch diagonal LED backlit monitor, which is only 11 millimeters thick.

The laptops include the HP Pavilion Sleekbook 14 ($449, pictured left) and Pavilion Sleekbook 15 ($559) models for consumers. They come in “sparkling black” and “ruby red,” with 14-inch and 15.6-inch screens. They have up to a terabyte of hard disk storage and the usual array of ports for fast connectivity. The 15.6-inch model also has a numeric keypad. The laptops have their high-definition webcams and the HP MyRoom app for video calls. Dolby Advanced Audio is standard and Nvidia discrete graphics chips are optional. It has Beats audio.

For the boring business desktop look, there’s the HP Compaq Pro 6305 Desktop PC ($539) for businesses and governments. It comes with a variety of AMD processors. HP also has three new business laptops — the HP ProBook 4445s, 4446s, and the 4545s notebooks PCs ($449 and up) — with AMD processors and graphics. HP is also selling several new wireless mice and keyboards. The HP Touch to Pair Mouse has near-field communications and will sell starting in November for 39. The X4500 mouse sells for $29 and the X5500 sells for $39, starting in September. The HP Wireless Mouse X6000 sells for $59 starting in September.

July 9-10, 2013
San Francisco, CA

Early Bird Tickets on Sale

Four hundred million. That’s how many Windows 8 and Windows Phone 8 devices Microsoft chief executive Steve Ballmer expects to be in the wild by this time next year.

It’s not unusual for Microsoft’s CEO to make bold statements, but his comments yesterday at Nokia’s Windows Phone 8 press event got me thinking. With Windows Phone 8, Microsoft is stepping into the third year of its mobile platform, and I’ve been wondering exactly how the company can turn things around after struggling with sales so far.

Ballmer’s grand proclamation made Microsoft’s Windows Phone strategy clearer than ever: It’s all about the Windows 8-powered ecosystem now. Since Windows Phone 8 runs Windows 8′s kernel, it’ll be easier than ever for developers to port apps between desktop, tablet, and smartphone.

“Perhaps more importantly than anything else, we bring a developer platform and a store that’s common to both Windows 8 and Windows Phone 8,” Ballmer said.

“That means Lumia … that means Surface … devices introduced in Berlin last week … those devices I’m quite sure represent the largest single opportunity for developers today,” he added. “I’m betting right now the next app developer to hit it really really big will be on Windows.”

No other company can offer such a cohesive ecosystem across the desktop and mobile devices — not even Apple. iOS and Mac OSX, though they’re quickly beginning to resemble each other, are still very different when it comes to actually building apps. And Google can barely make the Android ecosystem enticing for mobile developers who actually want to make money (let’s not even get into the desktop side of things).

Windows 8 isn’t just Microsoft’s radical stab at tablets, it’s also what will finally lift up and truly differentiate Windows Phone for the upcoming year. That’s important, because the platform has suffered from being only slightly more convenient and prettier than its competitors. If Microsoft can market Windows Phone 8 as an extension of Windows 8, it could finally make consumers pay attention.

As much as we liked Windows Phone from the beginning, the platform has so far fallen flat with consumers. Even though Windows Phone has failed to make much of a dent against the iPhone and Android’s market share, Microsoft still has plenty of potential to tempt dumbphone owners.

When Windows Phone 7 launched in late 2010, I admired its unique style, even though its array of launch phones felt like slightly outdated Android handsets. Come late 2011, Nokia announced its first set of Lumia Windows Phones, though they were only available internationally (and notably, no other new Windows Phone handsets were available to excite consumers at that point). By the time the Lumia 900 eventually hit the U.S. in April, many potential Windows Phone buyers were likely tempted away by the iPhone 4S or the multitude of high-end Android smartphones.

Now it seems the pieces are finally coming together for Windows Phone. Nokia’s upcoming Lumia 920 smartphone looks and feels like something truly special, and its Pureview camera technology is far beyond what other phone manufacturers offer. Once Windows 8 lands on October 26, I wouldn’t be surprised to see developers flocking to build apps, which will in turn make them take a second look at Windows Phone.

And perhaps most importantly for Windows Phone, it will no longer feel like an outlier among Microsoft’s products. Windows 8 finally wraps up everything Microsoft is doing –  desktops, smartphones, tablets, and even the Xbox’s new interface — into one cohesive computing experience.

Photo: Steve Ballmer with Nokia CEO Stephen Elop, by Devindra Hardawar

July 9-10, 2013
San Francisco, CA

Early Bird Tickets on Sale

Microsoft released the final build of Windows 8, dubbed “RTM,” to developers and manufacturers last week. So how will it work on your desktop when it lands on Oct. 26?

Based on my tests, not very well. In fact, if you’re still using a desktop PC, you’re probably going to dislike Windows 8.

Microsoft has designed Windows 8 to work across almost all devices, with the exception of smartphones, a nearly one-size-fits-all approach to the operating system. That’s a marked contrast to Apple’s decision to use iOS for tablets and phones, and OS X on desktops.

On top of this, Windows 8 will share a kernel with Windows Phone 8 to make it easier for developers to create apps and games that work for both.

Unfortunately, Windows 8 doesn’t work equally well for all devices. How I work on a desktop is going to be different from how I work on a tablet. Using my fingers to navigate through Windows is a wholly different experience than using a mouse to click on things.

With Windows 8, Microsoft favors tablets, touchscreens, and laptops with modern touchpads. It works very well for these kinds of computers. Traditional desktops with a keyboard and mouse, on the other hand, have been left in the dust.

Desktop issues

True, a major part of the OS is devoted to the traditional Windows desktop. The desktop view is there if you need to run older Windows applications, or if you just want a familiar-looking interface.

But the desktop view isn’t what Microsoft is pushing. Much like Apple’s Mac App Store, there will be a Windows 8 Store available for downloading the new full-screen apps Microsoft is betting heavily on. (Notably, the store won’t offer older Windows programs at all.) These new Windows 8-style apps appear on your computer’s Start screen and run in a full-screen mode without menu bars or toolbars. Microsoft has referred to its Windows Phone and Windows 8 interfaces as “Metro”, but it has ditched the term and not yet given us a replacement, so I’ll refer to it as the “modern” design. Indeed, much of the focus for Windows 8 is on the sleek Start screen (image above).

Now let’s dig into some of desktop issues. (Let us know what other issues you see for the desktop in the comments.)

Dead mouse — Windows 8 isn’t meant for mice — it’s meant for fingers. The spread-out Start screen is more ideal for tapping than clicking, whereas the Start menu in Windows 7 is crammed into a tighter space to make it easier to click individual items. Scrolling using your mouse now moves the screen left and right instead of up and down. Mouse scrolling can be problematic inside some modern apps. Parts of the Bing Weather app, for example, are meant to be scrolled up and down and can interrupt you. (Check out this video for an illustration of this problem.) Basically, scrolling through apps with your fingers is much easier.

Right-clicking — When you right click your mouse in Windows 7, a menu pops up next to where you clicked to give you more options. Right clicking a picture, for example, brings up options like Preview, Cut, Copy, or Delete. Right-clicking a program on the desktop Taskbar gives you lots of helpful options too. But right-click menus go out the window in Windows 8, unless you’re using an old-style desktop app. Now, instead of a menu of options appearing right where you clicked, a limited number of options appear at the bottom of the screen. You now need to move your mouse to the bottom of the screen to select an option, and this gets incredibly tedious in modern apps and on the Start screen.

Small displays — The modern-style Start screen and modern apps look great on tablet screens and small displays, but they can get a little messy on a desktop PC with a large monitor. Modern apps aren’t optimized for larger resolutions, although Microsoft makes it possible to scale apps. Microsoft is preparing Windows 8 for the world where 10- to 13-inch monitors are the norm, as ZDNet points out. Thankfully, Windows 8 at least includes decent multi-monitor support for power desktop users with two monitors.

Full-screen apps — Windows 8 already has some killer apps. Unfortunately, these apps are almost all better suited for tablets than desktops. There’s no “X” in the corner to exit apps in a single click like you can in Windows 7. Instead you have to click the very top of an app and drag it to the bottom of a screen to close it — an easy gesture on a touchscreen, but a laborious exercise with a mouse. It’s also not as easy to switch between these modern apps as it was with old-style desktop apps and the Windows 7 Taskbar.

Modern app switching — To switch between open modern apps using a mouse, you need to hover in the top left corner and then drag down to see the programs on the full left side of the screen. Only modern apps are shown in this lineup of open apps, not desktop apps. So if you want to switch between a modern app and an older desktop app, you need to go into the desktop and then select the desktop app you want. A two-step process has replaced the old one-step switch.

Screen splitting — Another issue with modern apps is the space allocated to them on the screen. When I work, I often divide my screen in two equal-sized windows. Modern apps don’t do this. You can only allocate roughly 25 percent of the screen to one app while the other 75 percent is taken up by another. This layout is not conducive to multitasking. Thankfully, you can still do a 50-50 split, or whatever tiling you’re used to, in the desktop area.

Hidden apps — It can be hard to find programs meant for the old-style Windows desktop if you don’t know where to go. From the desktop screen, you cannot launch desktop apps that aren’t already pinned to the Taskbar. That’s because the Start button is gone. Let’s say you use the Calculator app often. To access it, you have to go to the Start screen, right-click the screen, go to the bottom right-hand corner and select All Apps, then select Calculator. Once Calculator is open on the Desktop, you need to pin it to the Taskbar or you have to go through all of those steps again the next time you want it.

Internet Explorer tabs — This last point is minor, but the modern version of Internet Explorer 10 has no visible tabs. If you want to switch between tabs, you have to right click inside Internet Explorer to reveal your open tabs. I rely heavily on tabs to get my work done, so if you need them like I do, you’ll have to use old-style Internet Explorer from the desktop. While I don’t use Internet Explorer, it’s what comes available out of the box and many folks still use it. Alternately, you can download and use Google Chrome, which includes tabs in its modern app.

Tablet and touchscreen benefits

In its current form, Windows 8 is a tablet-centric OS. The interface works best on tablets, and we can’t wait to see it running on devices like the Microsoft Surface.

Windows 7 and Windows 8 are different beasts, and workflow is different when you have to deal with the Start screen versus the Start button. In Windows 7, I can do everything I can think of from a single screen. I can launch apps from the Taskbar or the Start button, I can easily re-size all my apps in different windows as needed, and everything feels optimized for an external mouse and keyboard.

Windows 8 requires me to switch between the desktop and the Start screen, which feels unnecessary. It shouldn’t take me extra steps if I choose to use a mouse, and that leads me to believe that Microsoft wants us to use tablets or ultrabooks instead of desktops. It also wants us to use full-screen modern apps instead of windowed desktop apps. (One exception: Microsoft Office 2013, which you launch from the Desktop but is more touch-friendly than past versions.)

The problems listed above show Microsoft is willing to alienate desktop users in favor of an interface that embraces touch screens and trackpads. Many businesses still rely on desktops for their workers, and it’s plausible that Windows 7 will remain the top choice for those businesses. That said, companies could adopt Windows 8 for tablets and hybrid laptops they want to deploy to workers.

After spending much time with Windows 8, I can’t recommend it for advanced desktop users unless Microsoft makes interface tweaks to make it more desktop-friendly. I don’t plan to upgrade my desktop from Windows 7 to 8 at launch because Windows 7 works so well. After several years of usage, I consider Windows 7 the best desktop OS ever, and I prefer it to Apple’s also-great Mountain Lion OS.

I expect Windows 7, with its 630 million licenses sold, will remain an incredibly popular OS for the next 10 years — just like Windows XP.

Hewlett-Packard is announcing a new all-in-one consumer desktop under its Envy brand that caters to high-end consumers.

The 23-inch desktop has a sleek design and cool features and is the first time that HP has brought its high-end designs from its game PCs and notebooks to its desktop all-in-one line-up. The launch is part of a broader line-up of commercial desktops and back-to-school consumer desktops.

“Customers have been asking for all-in-one PC designs that don’t compromise on performance, reliability, or security,” said Emilio Ghilardi, vice president of HP America’s PC division. “With these sleek, elegant designs and powerful options, HP continues to innovate to meet the needs of a growing marketplace.”

The all-in-one computers offer fewer compromises than in the past. They include multimedia-rich performance, enhanced security, energy efficiency, lower cost, and a smaller space requirement compared to traditional desktops. All-in-one computers are expected to account for 27 percent of worldwide desktop PC sales by 2016, according to IDC analyst Danielle Levitas.

In addition to the consumer-targeting all-in-ones, the company also has a lineup of commercial machines targeted at government, healthcare, education, and retail customers, and business machines that provide touch-enabled screens for businesses. Those products include the HP Compaq Elite 8300 All-in-One, the HP Compaq Pro 6300 All-in-One, and the HP Pavilion 23 All-in-One. Businesses like all-in-one computers because they take up less space and can sport touchscreens for retail kiosks.

But the highlight is the HP Envy 23 All-in-One (pictured at top), with its sleek design.

The HP Compaq Elite 8300 All-in-One Business PC has a 23-inch high-definition display, a 2-megapixel webcam, a dual microphone array, SRS Premium Sound Pro, Intel Core vPro processors, and a choice of Intel integrated graphics or discrete graphics. There’s a touch and a non-touch version.

HP also has a HP Compaq Pro 6300 All-in-One Business PC with a smaller 21.5-inch diagonal screen.

The HP Envy 23 and the HP Pavilion 23 All-in-One PCs offer 1080p HD, multicore processors, high-end graphics, and 2 terabytes of storage. They don’t have touch screens. The HP Envy 23 comes with Beats Audio and an optional high-definition multimedia interface (HDMI) port. It also has options for a Blu-ray disc drive and a TV tuner. The machines offer choices of Intel or Advanced Micro Devices processors. The machines come with the HP Magic Canvas, a pretty user interface that is normally used on HP touchscreen devices.

The HP Compaq Elite All-in-One Business PC starts at $879 and will be available Sept. 10. The HP Compaq Elite 8300 Touch All-in-One starts at $929 and will be ready on the same date.

The HP Compaq Pro 6300 All-in-One Business PC starts at $799 and is available Sept. 3. The HP Envy 23 All-in-One starts at $949 and will be available on HP’s site on Aug. 2 and at select retailers on Aug. 5. The HP Pavilion 23 All-in-One starts at $649 and will be available Aug. 2 on HP’s site and Aug. 5 at retailers.

The models include the A320, billed as the world’s slimmest all-in-one computer (which combines a desktop and a monitor in one device); the B520 entertainment all-in-one with no frame (pictured); the B320 computer that doubles as a TV; and the C205, which is compact and affordable.

By coming up with so many models, it’s clear that Lenovo wants to make a big statement about all-in-one computers. Each one is tailored to a slightly different audience. And the market researchers are clearly saying that the consumer demand is there for the all-in-one market.

Dion Weisler, vice president of business operations at Lenovo, said the company’s all-in-one desktop business grew 150 percent in 2009.

The A320 model is just 18.5 millimeters deep at its thinnest point. It features a 21.5-inch high-definition display and high-contrast LED panel technology. It has an Intel Core i5 processor. The B520 entertainment machine has an Intel Core i7 processor and a frameless touchscreen. It has a 23-inch screen and comes with an option for an Nvidia 3D Vision stereoscopic 3D headset. The B320 has a 21.5-inch screen and has TV functionality at the press of a button. And it has an Intel Core i5 processor. The Lenovo C205 has an 18.5-inch screen and sells for $449. The IdeaCentre A320 will start at $699. The B520 and B320 will be available in June at $899 and $699, respectively. Lenovo didn’t say when the A320 and C205 will be available.

The lawsuit, originally filed by Advanced Internet Technologies, accused Dell of hiding the extent of its computer’s hardware issues from customers. Dell settled the suit in September without disclosing terms.

To get a sense of the issue’s scale: The documents reveal 20.2 percent of a 2,000 computer batch purchased by the City of New York had incident reports on file. Of 2,800 computers purchased by Microsoft, 11 percent showed issues.

Dell apparently ranked its affected customers by importance, the documents showed, giving those who would move to another computer maker because of the issue the highest priority. Instead of recalling the computers, Dell performed “proactive field replacements” — which likely involved having technicians replace affected motherboards before they exhibited problems.

Dell’s hardware issues stemmed from the capacitors — small components that control power flow — on the motherboards of its desktop computers. The faulty capacitors (dubbed the “capacitor plague” on Wikipedia) have an intriguing story of their own — they were the result of a stolen formula by a Japanese scientist. The formula eventually found its way to a Taiwanese capacitor manufacturer, but not before going through some changes along the way that caused the capacitors to bulge and leak chemical fluid. Before the technology industry realized it, the faulty capacitors had found their way into computers, TVs and other electronics.

Other computer manufactures like Apple and HP were also affected by the faulty capacitors, but Dell has by far faced the most issues because of them. The company shipped 11.8 million affected computers between 2003 and 2005, according to a study by Dell and a third-party. The company announced in 2005 that it took a $300 million charge tied to fixing or replacing the affected computers.

A 2004 Dell study revealed by the court documents showed that the company had vastly underestimated how bad the situation would get. In June 2004 the company expected 12 percent of its SX270 and GX270 Optiplex computers would have trouble over their first three years — but by September, it raised that number to 45 percent and said it could very well go as high as 97 percent.

The study also showed that Dell planned to help customers who bought 50 machines and had at least 5 percent of those fail. Other customers were classified as “fix on fail”, which meant they couldn’t get help until their computer broke down. The company said it replaced motherboards for 22 percent of the 21 million computers it shipped during 2003 to 2005.

Dell also instructed its salespeople and technicians not to let customers know about the issues. Internal presentations (PDF link) contained phrases like “Don’t bring this to customer’s attention proactively” and “emphasize uncertainty” as directives Dell’s employees should follow.

I’m not at all surprised by the reports of Dell’s tactics, as I’ve seen many of them first-hand. I was working in desktop support during the height of this capacitor fiasco, and the issues carried on for years afterwards. We ended up stockpiling loads of Dell GX270 replacement motherboards and would replace them on-site when systems failed. But even some replacement motherboards had faulty capacitors, which made the whole ordeal a crazy Sisyphean support nightmare.

Dell doesn’t seem too phased by the whole ordeal, however. In its third-quarter filings today, the company announced its desktop PC sales are up 21 percent from a year ago and accounted for 24 percent of its overall revenue.

Photos via Maximiliano Kolus and 406 Coupe