All in the Classroom

While all-in-one PCs are great for saving space and money on electricity in libraries, crowded classrooms and computer labs, they are often less than stellar performers. In fact, many can do no better than netbooks on typical educational tasks. Lenovo has a different idea with a pair of all-in-one PCs that don’t skimp on hardware. Regardless of which you pick these all-in-ones deliver a good balance between price and performance.

The ThinkCentre A70z starts with an Intel Duo Core processor, has a 19-inch display and measures just 2.5-inches thick. It comes with Windows 7, a 500GB hard drive, 4GB of RAM and can be mounted on a wall or sit by itself on a desk or table. It’s wonderfully integrated with its optical drive on the side. This leaves plenty of room for papers and notebooks, but the best part is that the A70z can be ordered with a wireless keyboard and mouse for a clutter-free desktop. Pricing starts at $500.

By contrast, the IdeaCentre B500 sells for $650 and is top shelf all the way. On top  of its high resolution 23-inch display that’s capable of showing HD programs, the B500 is powered by an Intel Core 2 Quad processor. It comes with Nvidia’s powerful GeForce GTS 250M video processor, 4GB of RAM and up to a 1 terabyte (TB) of hard drive space for everything from multimedia projects to homework assignments. I like the black case that has sophisticated accents of red and silver as well as the optional TV tuner and Blu-ray drive. In other words, it can be outfitted as a multimedia powerhouse or star