[Top photo: (clockwise from left) Apple iMac, Acer Aspire Z5610, HP Pavilion All-in-One MS218d and Lenovo IdeaCentre A300]

By Alfred Siew

IF SIMPLICITY and ease of use are what you want from a desktop PC, then an all-in-one (AIO) model may be what you are looking for.

With a flat-screen monitor joined to a desktop PC's chassis, these hybrid machines are sleek and space-saving, yet big on the features that make a desktop handy.

Screen sizes go up to a generous 27 inches and a keyboard and mouse are often all there are to connect to the machine for a clutter-free look (read: no messy cables in sight).

Acer Aspire Z5610
$1,699 (usual price: $1,999)
Booths: 8105, 8458

This AIO desktop PC (right) not only saves you space, but also lets you go hands-on with the photos you are viewing and websites you are surfing.

A touchscreen, it lets you control what you see on-screen with hand gestures. So, you can flick, rotate, magnify - and more - as you go about your computing tasks.

Under the hood, an Intel Pentium processor and ATI Radeon 4570 graphics card provide adequate performance for everyday tasks for work and play.

On top of the usual Windows 7 operating system (OS), Acer has developed a suite of applications, such as TouchMediaShare, TouchMusic and TouchPhotoShow, to enhance the touch-based interaction.

The ample 23-inch full HD widescreen opens up a world of movies and gaming as well.