Cybernet made its name by encasing Windows PCs in keyboard chassis (a la Commodore 64), but today they're making strides in the all-in-one space. Primarily found in institutional and business locations, so it wouldn't be surprising if you haven't seen one outside of a health care facility. Cybernet's latest iOne-H5 ($1,177 direct) all-in-one desktop is a technological trailblazer, with a ten-point touch screen (as opposed to the standard two-finger touch). The iOne-H5 turns out to be a decent system with a few stumbles, like a last generation Intel CPU and lack of an HDMI input, that keep it a step behind our class leaders. Chances are you'll be satisfied with the system, at least until you set it beside an iMac or HP TouchSmart 610.
Design and Features
Thanks to a fairly large motherboard, integrated touch sensors, and copious feature set, its balck chassis measures over 3 inches thick. Compared to the 21.5-inch Apple iMac, which is half as thick (about 1.5 inches), the Cybernet has a portly profile. Otherwise, the iOne-H5 follows a similar playbook to other all-in-one desktops: it looks like a widescreen monitor with a bit more "chin" below the screen to hold the internal components. The display is a 20-inch 1080p (1,920 by 1,080 resolution) widescreen looks great on paper, but when set to the full 1,920 by 1,080 resolution, text and details on the screen become a bit fuzzy. This issue may be easy for some clerical or education workers to dismiss, but medical workers and financial folks (Cybernet's other target audiences) will want a crisper screen for detail work. The screen looks fine when set to 1,600 by 900 resolution; people that work with a lot of text may want to use that setting. The system comes with Cybernet's recycling program, which will give you fair value toward another system, or will allow you to recycle your old system at no extra cost.
The iOne-H5's screen is a ten-point multi-touch screen--think about that for a minute--it can track every one of your fingers at once, which gives the user more control (especially typing on the virtual keyboard) than on a system with the more common two-finger touch screen. Windows 7 and most programs don't have that level of granular detail (or any gestures that take advantage of 10-finger touch), but if your business creates its own software, you're in a good position to develop programs to take advantage of the multi-touch system.
The system has the usual business I/O ports: six USB 2.0 ports, audio, and serial ports (for older peripherals). It also has two Gigabit Ethernet ports, which are handy if you need to connect to an inside and outside network simultaneously, HDMI and DVI video outputs, and composite AV-in and antenna-in for the built-in HDTV tuner. All of these extra ports contribute to the iOne-H5's chunky profile. They're located on the bottom of the screen, which keeps them out of the way for mobile carts, but makes them not easily accessible while the system is in use. USB 3.0 or eSATA would have been a nice inclusion, especially for users working in graphics and database, but their absence isn't a deal breaker. The TV tuner is useful in a medical environment for keeping patients entertained, plus businesses can hook up a VCR or DVD player for demo kiosk use.
It's unfortunate that Cybernet chose not to add an HDMI-in or DVI-in port, the addition of either would have allowed the system's screen to be used after the internal PC components became obsolete, by hooking the iOne-H5 up to a future laptop or desktop PC. In addition, the system's screen is a bit wobbly: when you use the touch screen, the system had a tendency to "bounce". This issue manifests itself when using the touch screen in the vertical position. However, the screen swivels on its base, and tilts back to a really good angle for standing users and there's hardly any "wobbling" issues in this position. A person could easily use the system on a low table or mobile cart while he is standing. About the only adjustment that seems to be missing is height. The system is compatible with 75mm and 100mm VESA mounts in case you want to skip the included stand altogether.
Performance
The iOne-H5's Intel Core i7-860 processor is an older Lynnfield core, but it's still fast, and capable of keeping up with the newer Sandy Bridge Core i5 systems. The system has 8GB of memory and ATI Radeon HD 5730 graphics for light to moderate 3D. The system completed our Handbrake test in 1 minute 20 seconds and Photoshop CS5 test in 3:43. These scores are competitive in the iOne-H5's price range, within striking distance of the Toshiba DX1215-S2101 ($879.99 at Best Buy, 3.5 stars) (1:54 Handbrake, 4:53 CS5), HP TouchSmart 610-1150y ($1,199.99 at Best Buy, 4.5 stars) (1:29 Handbrake, 3:56 CS5), and Apple iMac 21.5-inch (Thunderbolt) ($1,199 list, 4.5 stars) (1:25 Handbrake, 3:29 CS5). Essentially, all of these systems will be able to do day-to-day tasks with ease. The iOne-H5's ATI Radeon HD 5730 graphics also gave the system playable scores on the Crysis test (61fps at medium quality), so the system is capable of helping you blow off steam at the end of the day or display 3D graphics for your business.
Compared to the current Editors' Choice for touchscreen systems, the HP TouchSmart 610-1150y, the Cybernet has a smidge more system memory and less bloatware, but the HP simply has better ergonomics, hard drive space, and a best-in-class touchscreen experience that the Cybernet can't match. Likewise, the all-in-one Editors' Choice Apple iMac simply has better build quality than the Cybernet, even though the Cybernet has a few features the iMac lacks, like the TV tuner. For the business and institutional end user the Cybernet iOne-H5 is a decent choice with some innovative features like ten-finger touch. That said, so far ten-finger touch is a technology looking for a use. I would try one out in a clerical situation before rolling it out to end users like doctors and nurses, because of the screen fuzziness in high-resolution mode. If you can work with the system in 1,600 by 900 mode or if 1080p screen sharpness isn't as critical, the iOne-H5 is a tractable, utilitarian touch screen desktop.
BENCHMARK TEST RESULTS:
COMPARISON TABLE
Compare the Cybernet iOne-H5 with several other desktops side by side.
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Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ziffdavis/pcmag/~3/x56V0dGI1Io/0,2817,2392388,00.asp
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