Gateway's new One desktop computers are some of the sleekest all-in-one machines we've ever seen. The GZ7108 series is the low-end One line, but these systems still start at around $1,300, although when we say, "start," we also mean, "finish," because as with most all-in-one systems, you won't be doing much upgrading.

Fortunately, with the Gateway One GZ7108 desktop computers, you really won't need to make improvements. Even though it's the low end of these new systems, the GZ7108 ships with great central power, including an Intel Core 2 Duo T5250 CPU with twin processing cores running at 1.5GHz each. There's also a hefty 2GB of speedy 667MHz RAM, so these machines will be able to multitask efficiently; you can also upgrade the RAM to 4GB, so there is some room to grow later if you need to expand the machine's memory.

The computer itself looks more like a futuristic monitor stand than a traditional PC chassis. The unit's base houses all the components, while the monitor is a large 19-inch LCD with deep 1440X900 resolution. Images and video look great on the display. In fact, this desktop computer ships with a remote control for handling multimedia files, which lets you play music or watch movies from across the room.

The system also includes a wireless keyboard and mouse in matching black that complement the system nicely and let you input to the computer without any concern for cords.

Gateway has managed to include an impressive list of components in the GZ7108. There's a 320GB 7,200rpm hard drive, so you'll have plenty of room to house multimedia files. And, unlike many other all-in-ones, you can upgrade the hard drive if you end up needing more space later. You can't add a second hard drive, of course, but it's nice to have to option of beefing up your storage down the road.

The optical drive is a slot-loading DVD+/-RW SuperMulti drive that lets you burn traditional as well as dual-layer DVDs (which can store up to 8.5GB of data on a single disc). The drive also supports DVD-RAM media, which is great to use for scheduled backups.

The GZ7108 also includes a 5-in-1 media card reader that lets you easily transfer files and photos from your PDA or digital camera onto the computer. You can also pick up an optional adapter that expands its media card-reading capabilities if your card isn't currently supported.

Connectivity is excellent thanks to the built-in 802.11n Wi-Fi, which offers speeds much greater than traditional 802.11g. There's also a gigabit Ethernet adapter in case your home or office has a high-speed wired network as well. Hooking up peripherals is handled through seven USB ports as well as a single FireWire port, all of which are within easy reach thanks to the GZ7108's compact design.

Practically the only element of the GZ7108 series that is not top tier is the graphics. These computers only feature Intel integrated graphics, so they won't be high-performance gaming machines. And due to space constraints, there's no room for a PCI Express slot that would allow you to install a high-end video card, so you're stuck with the integrated graphics.

There are not any external speakers bundled with the GZ7108 series, but that's because the speakers are all built into the chassis. The NXT SoundVu speakers deliver eight channels of audio from within the system itself. It's not surround sound, but the output is rather impressive for being integrated.

Gateway also incorporates a 1.3-megapixel digital camera with a built-in microphone into these systems, so you'll be able to use them for video chatting with friends or videoconferencing with business partners.

The GZ7108 computers start out with Windows Vista Home Premium edition, so you'll have lots of built-in applications with which to handle multimedia files. The software bundle is unfortunately rather sparse, featuring Microsoft Works 8.5 and basic DVD-writing software.

Gateway includes a basic one-year warranty for these desktop computers, although you can bump up the coverage to three years for only $80. They also offer more comprehensive plans that include on-site service, if you need that level of coverage.

You can find a desktop computer with these components for less money than the GZ7108 will cost you, but you won't find them put together in such a stylish manner. If you are looking for multitasking power in a slick, compact package, the Gateway One GZ7108 series really delivers.


Pros: Beautiful design, powerful components
Cons: Integrated graphics

Warranty
1 year, limited