The Best Buy-exclusive DX735-D3201 is only Toshiba's second all-in-one in the U.S., but the $899 price tag and its spare configuration suggest that Toshiba has a grip on the basics of the stateside desktop market. Like the 21.5-inch DX1210 I reviewed last month, the 23-inch DX735 doesn't have many interesting extras, but I can recommend this system if all you need it a fast-enough all-in-one with a larger display.
The design of the DX735-D3201 is a mirror of the by-the-book DX1210. Glossy black trim rules the day, and while its looks won't win any design awards, it's not particularly offensive, either. As with the smaller model, the DX735 has a set of buttons on the side, on the left in this unit, that allow basic display and audio output control (display settings, volume, etc.). It's better to have them than not, but when you're seated in front of the system you can't immediately see what button does what.
| Toshiba DX735-D3201 | Lenovo ThinkCentre Edge 91z | Toshiba DX1210 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $899 | $899 | $935 |
| Display size/resolution | 23-inch, 1,920x1,080 | 21.5-inch, 1,920x1,080 | 21.5-inch, 1,920x1,080 |
| CPU | 2.4GHz Intel Core i5 2430M | 2.5GHz Intel Core i5 2500S | 2.3GHz Intel Core i5 2410 |
| Memory | 4GB 1,333MHz DDR3 SDRAM | 4GB 1,333MHZ DDR3 SDRAM | 4GB 1,333MHZ DDR3 SDRAM |
| Graphics | Embedded 64MB Intel HD Graphics 3000 | Embedded 128MB Intel HD Graphics 2000 | Embedded 64MB Intel HD Graphics 3000 |
| Hard drives | 1TB, 7,200 rpm | 500GB, 7,200 rpm | 1TB, 7,200 rpm |
| Optical drive | dual-layer DVD burner | dual-layer DVD burner | 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 7 Home Premium (64-bit) | Windows 7 Home Premium (64-bit) | Windows 7 Home Premium (64-bit) |
Next to its competition in the same price range, the Toshiba DX735-D3201 seems like a fair enough deal, although it also makes me question the price tag on the similar DX1210 and its smaller display. Last year, 23-inch screens were common at this price, and CPU options ranged from the slow AMD low-power chips in the
This year, the lower-end chips seem to have fallen away, and 21.5-inch displays stand next to the 23-inch models in the same price scale. I suspect the screen size spread is due to the fact that 1,920x1,080-pixel 21.5-inch displays have fallen in price, and they allow vendors to save costs on the smaller screen while still allowing to claim 1080p HD resolution. In any case, and despite its own confusing product lineup, Toshiba deserves credit for continuing to offer a 23-inch all-in-one with a decent CPU for under $1,000.
I call the Toshiba's CPU decent because, as our performance charts demonstrate, it falls at or near the bottom when you compare its speed with that of similar all-in-ones. It's not so far out of contention that it's a complete dog, and in fairness, it's also one of the least expensive systems in this chart. I wouldn't use the DX735 for any kind of serious content creation or other performance-sensitive work, but it should serve ably for most day-to-day computing tasks.
Like most all-in-ones these days, the Toshiba DX735 offers an HDMI input, which means you can directly connect an external video component and display its output on the Toshiba's screen. This is a useful feature for dorms, small apartments, or any other space-constrained locale, since it lets you go without a separate TV.
As with the D1210, Toshiba also added a pair of USB 3.0 jacks to this unit, along with four USB 2.0 jacks, an Ethernet output, and an analog audio input/output set. That will satisfy most of you, although those with more exotic audio or data connection needs will of course want to look elsewhere. Also like the D1210, you get only a basic assortment of touch screen apps with the DX735, essentially only Microsoft's spare suite of marginally useful/entertaining Surface apps. The software doesn't hurt at all, but you might also ask why include a touch screen, and its associated costs, to begin with?
