lenovo b320

Consider Lenovo's 21.5-inch IdeaCentre B320 all-in-one the smaller, more affordable counterpart to the well-reviewed B520 from last fall. The B320 does not have a 3D-capable display like the 23-inch B520, but the core features--a touch screen, a discrete graphics card, and a fast CPU for its price range--help the $949 IdeaCentre B320 retain some of the higher-end model's character.

The problem is HP's nontouch $999 Omni 220. Yes, that system costs $50 more, but it offers a larger screen, a Blu-ray drive, and better performance. The IdeaCentre B320's massive 2TB hard drive might offset those differences for data hoarders. For everyone else, the IdeaCentre B320 doesn't offer enough to overcome the HP's advantages.

The design of the IdeaCentre B320 hews closely to that of the B520. On both systems, a piano-black bezel frames the display, which sits on top of a cleft, angular speaker bar. Unlike the B520's edge-to-edge glass, the B320's display is recessed into the bezel. Aesthetically the look isn't that different, but functionally the recessed display makes it a bit harder to fit your finger in the B320's corners for touch input.

Touch input is one feature that distinguishes the B320 from HP's Omni 220. I still don't find touch a crucial desktop feature, but you might if you intend to use one of these PCs as a home entertainment kiosk. The Lenovo uses surface acoustic wave touch (SAW) technology, the same as that in Samsung's Series 7 all-in-one. It requires you to press down a bit harder than with resistive or capacitive touch screens, but the accuracy is good once the screen registers your input.lenovob320