IBM NetVista X40i Specs
| Monitor Type: | LCD |
| Processor Family: | Intel 3 Series (Celeron) |
| RAM: | 128 MB |
| Screen Size: | 15 inches |
| Storage Capacity (as Tested): | 15 GB |
What happens when you take the design team responsible for the most ergonomic, fashionable, and powerful notebook family around (yes, we mean ThinkPad) and charge them with the same task, but for a desktop? You get the NetVista, IBM's new line of systems for the home, small office, and enterprise. The NetVista lineup covers the bases—from thin clients, standard desktops, and legacy-free PCs for corporate buyers, to all-in-one, flat-panel-based units for the home or home office. We caught a glimpse of the latter in the IBM NetVista X40i ($2,099 direct).
Unlike other all-in-one PCs (the Gateway Profile 2 for example), the NetVista isn't a bland, beige flat panel with a computer attached to the back. The system's motherboard and 15GB hard drive are integrated behind the display, so the base is not a hulking monstrosity. Press a button on the lower bezel of the 15-inch XGA flat panel and a compartment below the panel drops down to reveal a DVD and floppy disk drive.
The computer inside is testament to IBM's commitment to making this machine powerful. The NetVista runs on a 600-MHz Pentium III CPU and has 128MB of RAM (16MB is used by the system's SiS 630 chip set for graphics). Its score of 25.4 on our Business Winstone 99 tests, as well as its i-Bench test results, fall right in line with same-speed PCs we've tested previously.
This NetVista is also legacy-free—eschewing those old serial and parallel connectors in favor of an all-USB design. You'll find two USB ports on the keyboard, three on the back of the machine, and two on the side of the panel. The latter share space with microphone, headphone, and line-in jacks (although speakers are integrated in the base).
The NetVista also has an integrated Fast Ethernet adapter and a low-profile-PCI 56K modem. The jacks for both are quite hard to get to, however, because they're underneath the display. But the system has a free low-profile-PCI slot that will take an ADSL modem (a $99 option) for high-speed Internet access.
The IBM Rapid Access III USB keyboard has quick-launch buttons for e-mail, Internet, Access IBM Web, and standby, plus four more that are customizable. You'll also find audio controls, plus two keys for moving back and forth on Web pages. There's even space on the keyboard's underside to wrap up and hide cord excess from the keyboard and mouse.
For style and substance, check out the IBM NetVista X40i—it's a winner.