Maingear’s redesigned Solo 21 all-in-one opens door to upgrades

By Matthew S. Smith August 28, 2012

All-in-one computers are sleek, but they often use unique and unusual internal configurations that are difficult to upgrade. Maingear is looking to fix that problem with its redesigned Solo 21, a 21.5-inch 1080p all-in-one that’s meant for hardware enthusiasts.

The base model comes configured with an Intel DH61 motherboard and a second-generation Core i3 processor, which will set you back $999. Users who desire more power and versatility can upgrade to a Q77 motherboard and a third-generation Intel Core processor, all of which is packed into a depth of just 2.25 inches.

These components are tailored towards a slim frame but, unlike the competition, don’t prevent future upgrades. The standard mini-ITX motherboard allows the user to upgrade the processor, RAM and hard drive. No one will be upgrading graphics, however, because the Solo 21 is only available with the Intel integrated platform. The motherboards should have a PCIe slot open, but video cards are too wide to fit in a system this slim.

Other features include support for USB 3.0, SATA 6G, solid-state drive options, an optional Blu-ray drive, Gigabit Ethernet and integrated Wi-Fi. Its fastest configuration can pack a Core i7 quad, 16GB of RAM and a 256GB Crucial M4 solid state drive. This would make it competitive with the fastest products on offer from competitors, though premium all-in-ones from Dell and Lenovo often have larger displays.

The redesigned SOLO 21 is available now.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics

PC

Matthew S. Smith

Former Digital Trends Contributor

Matthew S. Smith is the former Lead Editor, Reviews at Digital Trends. He previously guided the Products Team, which dives…

Giveaways

DT Giveaway: Enter now to win an HP Envy 32 4K all-in-one desktop PC

HP Envy 32 all-in-one PC giveaway

HP offers a huge range of great computers, but in today’s laptop age, its desktop PCs, unfortunately, don’t get as much attention. And even among desktops, the sleek all-in-one doesn’t always get the love it deserves, but the HP Envy 32-a0035 is a shining example of what these machines are capable of now. If your desk could use a new computer, then step up and roll the dice: We’ve teamed up with HP to give one of our readers a chance to bring home one of these HP Envy 32 4K all-in-one PCs. Read on to find out more about this awesome setup and how you can win it.

The basic idea behind the all-in-one PC is simple: Ditch the bulky desktop computer tower and integrate the hardware into the display housing. This sounds simple, but obviously presents some design challenges, and it’s safe to say that modern hardware advancements (ironically driven by the ubiquity and popularity of laptops) is what made modern all-in-one computers like the HP Envy 32 possible in the first place. Combine that design with the included mouse and keyboard, and you’re pretty much ready to rock right out of the box.

Computing

The XPS 16 is fighting an uphill battle against the MacBook Pro

Dell XPS 16 sitting on desktop with flowers.

It took a few years, but Dell finally updated the design of its two largest XPS laptops. The XPS 15 gave way to the XPS 14, while the XPS 17 was replaced by the XPS 16. The latter gained the ultramodern look of the XPS 13 Plus, complete with a glass palm rest, a hidden haptic touchpad, and a row of LED function keys.

It's a significant update but places the XPS 16 in direct competition with the Apple MacBook Pro 16. That's an excellent matchup with proven performance and battery life and an elegant design that's solid, if a lot more conservative.
Specs and configurations

Computing

These 4K monitors are discounted at Best Buy — from $200

The Sony InZone M9 sitting next to a PlayStation 5.

A 4K monitor is a great way of enjoying an enhanced image as you work with more pixels, higher resolutions, and often better colors too. Over at Best Buy, there are some great monitor deals squarely focused on all things 4K. There are dozens of 4K monitors in the sale so the smart move is to hit the button below to see what’s there for yourself. If you want some help though, we’re here. We’ve picked out a few highlights in the sale so take a look for yourself.

What to shop for in the Best Buy 4K monitor sale
Samsung makes some of the best monitors around so why not start with the ? It’s currently reduced by $150 so it costs just $200. Its IPS panel looks great with AMD FreeSync support effectively eliminating screen tears and stutters. There’s also HDR support which brings with it some great looking colors while wide viewing angles mean it looks great from any perspective.