Dell has scored a major coup with its XPS One 2710 all-in-one desktop. The only Windows-based all-in-one to match the iMac's 27-inch, 2,560x,1,440-pixel screen, this Dell achieves the too-rare feat of a Windows PC separating itself from the commodity herd. You might wish for more hardware configurability -- swapping the TV tuner for a Blu-ray drive, for example. Still, between the beautiful display and its speedy performance, the Dell XPS One 2710 is one of the best all-in-ones available. My only hesitation is the potential for a new iMac in the next few weeks.
The XPS One 2710 is the third 27-inch Windows all-in-one I've reviewed this year, joining the HP Omni 27 Quad and the Asus ET2700I. Along with those systems, Lenovo, Samsung, Vizio, and others have all showed 27-inch models. Unlike this Dell, all of those other models have 1,920x1,080-pixel screens. The XPS One 2710 is the only Windows all-in-one with a higher-resolution 2,560x1,440-pixel display.
The benefits of that display are similar to those of the current 27-inch iMac. The XPS One 2710 offers a refreshingly large canvas on which to arrange application windows. For standard computing tasks like Web browsing, photo viewing and manipulation, word processing, or spreadsheet work, the screen alone simply makes you feel like you're using a "better" computer.
This is not to say that Dell's display is perfect. The glossy exterior coating, similar to that on the iMac, is one problem. As our photo editor, Lori Grunin, noted, unless you're working in a pitch-black environment, reflections, particularly your own, will impede your ability to discern fine image detail.
Video can also be a problem. Movies in 1080p look fine, even if you're sitting close to the screen, but standard-definition content often looks terrible from within 5 or 6 feet. Its black levels, as noted by our TV reviewer Ty Pendlebury, are also more dark gray than black. When Ty asked to calibrate the display, we were both frustrated to find that Dell only provides a brightness control in its onscreen menu.
If it's not the perfect display, at least in a room where you can watch from a distance the XPS One 2710 will make a credible home entertainment center. Its screen is large enough, the HDMI input lets you connect standard video components, and its audio output is powerful enough and clear enough to travel across a reasonably sized room.
| Dell XPS One 27 | Asus ET2700I | HP Omni 27 Quad | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $1,599 | $1,399 | $1,249 |
| Display size/resolution | 27-inch, 2,560x1,440 | 27-inch, 1,920x1,080 | 27-inch, 1,920x1,080 |
| CPU | 2.8GHz Intel Core i5 3450S | 2.8GHz Intel Core i7 2600S | 2.5GHz Intel Core i5 2400S |
| Memory | 8GB 1,600MHz DDR3 SDRAM | 8GB 1,333MHZ DDR3 SDRAM | 8GB 1,333MHZ DDR3 SDRAM |
| Graphics | 2GB Nvidia GeForce GT 640M | 1GB Nvidia GeForce GT 540M | 64MB Intel HD Graphics 1000 (embedded) |
| Hard drives | 1TB, 7,200 rpm | 1TB, 7,200rpm | 1TB, 7,200rpm |
| Optical drive | dual-layer DVD burner | Blu-ray player/dual-layer DVD burner combo | Blu-ray player/dual-layer DVD burner combo |
| 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 7 Home Premium SP1 (64-bit) | Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 (64-bit) | Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 (64-bit) |
