Dell XPS One 27 Touch

Bottom Line

Bar none, the Dell XPS One 27 Touch is the best Windows all-in-one desktop you can buy. Experts almost unanimously agree, but if you're not committed to Windows or a touch screen, theApple iMac 27-inch (*Est. $1,800 to $2,000) offers better performance and build quality.

Performance

Powerful top-tier version, but the iMac's a better gamer. The base Dell XPS One 27 Touch packs a Core i5 processor and integrated graphics. Experts skip this one, instead testing the maxed-out version with a 3.9 GHz Core i7 processor and Nvidia GeForce GT 640M graphics, 16 GB of memory and 2 TB hard drive plus 32 GB solid-state drive (*Est. $2,600 and up).

This souped-up Dell "has plenty of power," PCMag.com says. It gives Apple's top-of-the-line iMac a run for its money in performance tests, but the iMac is a better gamer thanks to its more powerful graphics. The iMac has no problem playing the latest titles at native resolution in test after test, something the XPS One 27 Touch can't quite do.

"Bottom line on gaming performance and the XPS One 27 Touch: Today's games will certainly be playable, but generally not at the screen's native resolution," ComputerShopper.com says.

Design

Good looks and a stunning touch screen. Unlike the iMac, the Dell has a touch screen that testers say is superb. Its 27-inch screen "blows away anything other than Apple's finest screens," says Sean Hollister at TheVerge.com. Its mega-resolution (2,560 by 1,440 pixels) matches the iMac's, but the Dell's glossy finish creates annoying glare.

"Out of all the all-in-ones I've tested so far, it's the only one that feels like it was actually designed to help a user enjoy what Windows 8 has to offer rather than spend time wrestling with the interface," Hollister adds. You can adjust the screen's height and recline, but the rear-mounted ports can be hard to reach. He also likes the Dell's speakers, saying they're "good enough to watch movies and even listen to some music without aural distress."

It's nowhere near as thin and sleek as the all-aluminum iMac, but critics say the XPS One 27 Touch's one-piece, plastic and metal screen and stand are still good-looking. Also unlike the iMac, you get a CD/DVD burner standard, plus a Blu-ray reader on the top-tier version. Ports are plentiful, including HDMI that's also missing on the iMac, 3.5mm audio, 8-in-1 media card reader, Ethernet, S/PDIF optical digital audio and six USB 3.0 jacks. As with other all-in-ones, there's not much room for expansion, just a couple of DIMM slots.

The Dell's keyboard and mouse "are high enough quality that I could imagine buying them separately in a store," Hollister writes. "The chiclet keyboard is a little bit shallow, like a laptop, but fast and precise. The optical mouse is comfortable, with a nice clicky rubber scroll wheel, and the cursor zips across the screen with ease."

Support & reliability

Warranty's good on paper, but customers aren't impressed. The XPS One 27 Touch comes with one year of Dell's Enhanced Support, which includes premium phone support with faster answering times and more extensive help, and in-home service to fix warranty-covered problems after remote diagnosis. Although Dell improves its tech-support rating in this year's PCMag.com reader survey, it still places last among 10 desktop brands for overall satisfaction.

Value

Pricey, but worth it. TheVerge.com calls the top-tier version's $2,600 price "ridiculous." Other experts count it as a con, too. "The question is, if you're willing to spend that much on an all-in-one computer, would you be better off spending that money on a higher-specced iMac and forgoing the touch screen for now?" Hollister says. But if you don't want to purchase a Mac, testers agree that the tricked-out Dell XPS One 27 Touch is worth the money. They don't test the less expensive versions, though.