From the article...

"Because all-in-one PCs use all the same components as a notebook computer, the performance levels are pretty much identical between the two types of computers."

This is totally bogus information.

Not a techie. Staying only with what I know. I'm a Mac guy. IMac (all-in-one) compared with MacBook (notebook) with SAME technical specs blows the MacBook away performance-wise. With respect to whatever the magazines say, you have to do is go to an Apple Store and play on the machines, compare the specs, and compare them for yourself.

Suspect it's the same in the PC world, but no longer know. Would be very interested to learn otherwise.

I have a high-end Sony Vaio All-in-One that I bought about 18 months ago and it's the main computer in the house. It has a fast processor, a blue-ray player and a tv tuner built-in. In addition, it has a gorgeous 24" high-def screen. It was relatively expensive, but it replaced a nine year old Dell desktop, so I figured I could splurge. I also have a very small desk top, so I like this computer because it can be hung on the wall that my desk butts up to. I'm quite satisfied that it's right for my needs.

For those considering such a purchase, the two drawbacks are: 1) For the money I spent, I could have gotten an even faster and more powerful desk top machine (but I knew that going in); and 2) if anything fails, you might need a professional to repair it because the disassembly is quite complex and there isn't a lot of room inside. I know this because my hard drive failed under warranty and they sent a tech out to the house to fix it, so I got to watch the tricky disassembly.

If you like to modify or add to computers as they age by putting in new components, you are best with a conventional desktop model. In addition, at the point that this computer needs to be replaced, I'll also have to get a new monitor because it's an integral part of this machine.

If you like the look, or have space restrictions like mine, it's a good idea; but, if those aren't issues for you, you'll probably see better value in a different type of machine.

Agree with kudzu9

This is the second complaint about Sony hard drives on todays forum. Whats up with Sony lately?I thought they were the best????

Sony doesn't make hard drives, they source them from somebody else. Even be best mechanical devices have a failure rate. Few people post messages saying my XZY drive is 10 years old and running great...

If your drive is 10 yrs old you dont bring bad drive karma by bragging about it.

My original Seagate hard drive failed, and a replacement Western Digital failed in less than two years. So I figure it's a "shot in the dark".

The hard drive problem I described with my Sony computer was the result of a Seagate drive failing. Some, but not all, of the Sony all-in-one models I described had this particular Seagate drive, and it apparently had a problem with the firmware that caused the drive to "brick" [i.e., totally lock up] without warning after months of perfect performance. Although it wasn't a hardware problem, and could often be fixed by somehow re-flashing the firmware if it was taken out of the computer, it was not something the customer could do over the phone. They did a recall and replaced them with another brand that has worked fine so far. Fortunately, I got it fixed under warranty, and fortunately I had backed up the important file contents to another drive. But it's just another illustration of why you shouldn't wait to do a backup. Even new(er) computers can fail, and that even long-time, name brand manufacturers -- like Seagate -- can have big problems.

While I was waiting to get the computer fixed, I used my laptop computer to do an Internet search about this drive problem. I found that there were a lot of people with other brands of computers who had bought this drive as an upgrade who had the same problem. Seagate apparently was willing to replace some drives under warranty, but not to un-brick the drives and send them back so people could recover their data. As you can imagine, there were a lot of unhappy people over this. I had only backed up critical files and documents, so for me it was a matter of reinstalling the operating system, all of my programs, and then the files I had backed up. People who trusted in the Seagate name and hadn't backed up critical files lost everything.

It is, to some degree, a shot in the dark. Generally speaking Seagate and Western Digital have a better reliability record but that's not to say their drives will never fail.

Yet another reason that regular backups are SO important.

Yup, and I'm so glad I had a full backup (clone) of everything so that I could restore to the new drive that Western Digital sent me under warranty. I learned my lesson when the first one failed and I had to use the recovery disks I had made. But then I still had updates to do and had to reinstall all my programs. Never again!

Thanks for the replies!

Space is somewhat of an issue. It's on a 2.1/2-ft long desk with monitor, speakers, keyboard & mouse with wireless device. Plus router & modem, which have to sit on top the CPU case. I'm cramped. Unless I can buy or get something to hold the case.