Apple iMac 27-inch (3.1GHz, spring 2011) Review

The good: The new 27-inch iMac offers the best performance among current all-in-ones, along with the largest display, the best design, and exciting potential from its Thunderbolt ports.
The bad: We still miss built-in HDMI inputs for easy media component integration, and, as usual, custom hardware options for the iMac remain more expensive than those for its Windows-based competition.
The bottom line: We recommend Apple's new 27-inch iMac to digital media editors and others with serious performance needs on the strength of its impressive speed, its connected device potential, and its market-leading 27-inch display.

With a fast new second-generation Core i5 CPU, a high-end 3D card, and support for promising Thunderbolt high-bandwidth peripheral connection ports, the new, highest-end iMac has plenty to offer media professionals and enthusiasts in terms of performance and peripheral device flexibility. For consumers, while the iMac still claims industry bests in terms of its display and its design, this system will feel like overkill in some respects, and underfeatured in others. We don't recommend the most expensive new iMac for those looking for an OS X-based alternative to the recent crop of Windows-based all-in-ones that act as home entertainment kiosks. For serious media editors, or those looking for a vanity desktop, the $1,999 Apple iMac remains one of the fastest, most attractive systems available.

Velocity Micro Edge Z40 Review

The good: The Velocity Micro Edge Z40 offers the best gaming performance for the dollar in its class.
The bad: Expanding this particular Edge Z40 build will be tricky, as it has an Nvidia 3D card, but for multiple graphics cards it supports only AMD's CrossFireX standard.
The bottom line: Like previous Velocity Micro PCs, the Edge Z40 is an outstanding gaming PC and all-around performer for its price. We recommend it to anyone looking for a mainstream gaming desktop.

We recently recommended Maingear's Vybe Super Stock for its performance and value as an upper-midrange gaming PC. Looking at the next lower price band, Velocity Micro's $1,199 Edge Z40 makes a strong impression of its own. We found no other boutique or mainstream vendor that offers the same components for the same price. The resulting speed, on top of Velocity Micro's typical build quality, makes this desktop easy to recommend to value-seeking PC gamers.
The Edge Z40 features Velocity Micro's familiar silver GX2-W case. We always appreciate this aluminum chassis' simple, sturdy design, and despite its age, this almost 3-year-old case makes a better visual impression than desktops from vendors with much deeper pockets than Velocity Micro has. You'll need to look elsewhere for amenities such as gadget trays, concealed ports, and front-panel drive bay access, but although we do appreciate those features, we'd willingly trade them for the overall value this system offers.

Gateway SX 2850-33 (Core i3 550 3.2 GHz) Review

The good: One of the fastest budget PCs we've tested; wireless networking and HDMI port make it perfect for the living room; room to upgrade via free expansion card slot.
The bad: Only USB 2.0 for data connections; had to manually correct overscanning when we connected it to an HDTV.
The bottom line: The latest in Gateway's line of versatile slim towers, the SX2850-33 stays current with a fast Intel Core i3 CPU, and more importantly adds Wi-Fi to improve its suitability as a living-room desktop. It might cost more than a Nettop or a dedicated video-streaming device, but for its overall speed and flexibility, we'd pick this system as a budget PC or an online living-room content center.

The Gateway SX2850-33 is one of a wide selection of Gateway slim tower desktops. As with the others we've seen, this model works well as a budget PC, and it also has the right design and feature set for living-room content delivery. The $549 SX2850-33 is no cheap Nettop, but it also offers the performance and most of the connectivity options we expect from a PC in this price range. Wireless networking and a fast, up-to-date Intel Core i3 dual-core CPU separate the SX2850-33 from the other SX models, in exchange for a hard-drive space reduction and fewer connectivity options. This system's Wi-Fi card alone, a rarity in the SX line, may be enough to earn this desktop fans among living-room PC enthusiasts. We'd also recommend it to anyone interested in a small, capable budget desktop.
The SX case is over a year old at this point. Perhaps that's not quite enough time to justify a redesign, especially when the current design is attractive enough, but we can't help thinking that we'd like to see a new take on this PC. Maybe it's because we've already reviewed three of them. In any case, we don't expect many people will be offended by the black and silver plastic exterior. From an aesthetic standpoint, you can put the SX2850-33 anywhere.