Big screens, big batteries

It's been with great interest that I've been following the growth of the new tabletop PC category. These systems are in some ways all-in-one desktops, similar to the Apple iMac, but with the added ability to fold down flat, as in the case of the new HP Envy Rove 20. Others feel more like megatablets, for example the 18-inch Dell XPS 18, which is a close cousin to Windows 8 slates such as Microsoft's Surface Pro. Both types combine big screens and big batteries to create a unique experience, with features of a personal computer, a piece of consumer electronics equipment, and even living-room furniture.
That's why I use the unofficial term tabletop PC to describe them. Since late 2012, we've reviewed models from Sony, Asus, Dell, HP, and Lenovo. The Dell and Asus models are the most hybrid-like, with screens that detach from traditional-looking stands. The HP, Sony, and Lenovo models are thicker and heavier, with built-in kickstands that can stand up or at an angle, or fold down flat. All of them function just fine facing straight up from a coffee table or kitchen counter, and you can expect plenty of custom built-in furniture options should this trend take off.

 

 

 Lenovo IdeaCentre Horizon 27 

 
It functions perfectly well as a desktop all-in-one, but to see it really shine, push the spring-loaded hinge down and lay the system flat on your table, desk, or even the floor. Aura, a touch-centric operating-system overlay, switches on automatically when you fold the system down, and a collection of several custom apps and games is available in this mode, including the requisite air hockey (seemingly the first app everyone thinks to install on a tabletop PC), Texas Hold 'Em poker, and Monopoly.