Toshiba goes all-in with new all-in-one iMac clone

Alex Zaharov-Reutt
Monday, 16 May 2011 20:39

Your IT - Home IT

Billions of years after Apple re-popularised the 'all-in-one' desktop PC that's all screen and no 'box', Toshiba has finally entered the desktop PC market with its own 'all-in-one', presenting it as a digital hub - just like Apple!

UPDATED WITH NEW PRICE, SECOND UPDATE RE: INCLUSION OF TOUCH SCREEN, SEE BELOW: For a long time I've been wondering why PC companies who produce Windows-powered PCs don't do more to copy the world's most stylish computer maker, Apple.

Sure, there has been some movement at the station on this front.

HP 'Envy' brand of notebooks, which show HP's envy of Apple's style and copy it as best as they can, and there's HP's popular Touchsmart 'all-in-one' PCs that have been delivering a touch-screen experience since the days of Vista.

Even companies like Dell and MSI have been doing the all-in-one thing for quite some time.

Now it's Toshiba's turn to take its Windows-powered range into the all-in-one era, and it's a significant move, because Toshiba is embracing a desktop computer, rather than sticking solely with notebooks and tablets.

While Toshiba has had desktop computers before in Japan (and possibly elsewhere), most people in Australia know Toshiba for its notebooks first and foremost, although the company makes nuclear power stations, flat-screen TVs and many other things besides, having 490 companies under its corporate global umbrella.

And, while Toshiba hasn't come up with a really simple, catchy name for its new desktop, like Apple did with 'iMac', it does have a name: the All-in-one DX1210 PC.

Also like Apple's iMac, Toshiba's AIO, which is short for all-in-one, doesn't appear to have a touch-screen. That's a shame, but it likely means a cheaper price, because while touch-screens are common, they still add cost.

UPDATE 2: (update 1 below) - Toshiba's PR people inform me that the AIO DX1210 -does indeed- come with a touch screen, which makes sense. It's a pity that the press release made no mention of the fact the DX1210 had a touch screen. I'm very happy to see that it does have a touch screen, I only wish Toshiba's press release had not only listed it, but celebrated this very important fact.

So, now that I've been able to share a few thoughts on part of the AIO-PC saga, what does Toshiba's AIO DX1210 have packed within, what are its special features, and what does it cost?

Let's start with the price. It will start at AUD $1665 RRP, in 'precious black' from most places Toshiba computers are sold, and 'exclusively' in 'luxe white' from Harvey Norman. UPDATE 1: Frustratingly, I've received an email from Toshiba's PR company to note that the $1665 price was ex-GST, and that the GST inclusive price is $1899.

This makes the price difference between an iMac and Toshiba's AIO DX1210 a bit starker, and is annoying as the DX1210 is a consumer product sold via consumer channels to consumers, most of whom will not be able to access ex-GST pricing. Note to PR companies: Please do not send ex-GST pricing, or if you do, please make it crystal clear the pricing is ex-GST, as there was zero notification of this in the press release aside from the words "inc GST" not being there.

The original article continues below, and I nevertheless stand by my conclusions:

While this is more expensive than a standard, entry-level 21.5-inch Apple iMac at $1399, Toshiba's AIO, which also has a 21.5-inch screen, comes with some features as standard that an iMac doesn't, such as a built-in TV tuner.

Features of Toshiba's AIO DX1210 on page two, along with some statements from Toshiba's marketing people, please read on!