TG's 22-inch Lluon all-in-one PC heads to Best Buy

TG just announced that this unnamed all-in-one PC is heading for a Stateside retail launch courtesy of Best Buy. There's not a lot to go on here besides a few pics. Nevertheless, a DVD drive, 2x USB and what appears to be a slot for memory cards, mic and audio jacks, and dedicated multi-media buttons adorning the right-side edge. Around back we find Ethernet, a composite video input, and a few more unidentified jacks which might be Firewire and USB. The big mystery here is the price and availability. Then we'll know whether this pup can take the legs out from under Dell, Apple, and even Gateway in the US, all-in-one desktop game. Backside-front pictured after the break.

[bobo @ Apr 28th 2008 3:50AM]

nice.

[OneLove @ Apr 28th 2008 1:21PM]

...will it play call of duty 4?

[Resolution @ Apr 28th 2008 3:52AM]

That's not an RCA input. They're sound outputs. Note to Thomas, posting at 3am might not be so wise.

[Thomas Ricker @ Apr 28th 2008 4:27AM]

Heh, yeah, I see the mic and headphone icons now. Post updated.

Thomas

[Saad Rabia @ Apr 28th 2008 3:59AM]

Looks amazing. I'm kind of proud of them for bringing up a new look for an all-in-one computer. It has what regular consumer would love to have.

But, when are all these companies going to realize that it is time to drop the glossy screen away? They only look good, but absolutely annoying when watching anything on them.

[david @ Apr 28th 2008 4:08AM]

I think that matte screens might vanish in several years as I do not remember anyone who had laptop with matte, it's always glossy now. Looks like people here in Lithuania does not have any problems with those shiny screen. By the way, has anyone seen normal desktop monitors that would be glossy?

[carl.finlow @ Apr 28th 2008 4:32AM]

a new look? are you joking? from the front it looks IDENTICAL to the current imac. I expect they will have apple lawyers knocking on their doors any moment now.

[ArcticFox @ Apr 28th 2008 5:05AM]

Why carl?

Because Apple invented a bit of plastic with a pc inside with a screen on the front?

Are you talking about the shape? What other shape should it be, round? a star? trapezium?

I dont see how you can make a screen with a built in pc and not have it look at least a little bit like the imac since the shape of the screen will dictate the shape of the computer.

Besides there have been plenty of other pc in monitor computers Gateway One for example and Apple hasnt batted an eyelid.

Posts like these should come with a huge warning "WARNING APPLE FANBOYS INSIDE, ENTER AT YOUR OWN RISK"

[Mike Cerm @ Apr 28th 2008 2:06PM]

David - Gateway's high-end 20" and 24" monitors are glossy. I also saw a glossy Dell 19" at Best Buy, but it wasn't one of their UltraSharp models. It had a silver bezel, and looked like something that they'd sell bundled with their desktops.

[Saad Rabia @ Apr 28th 2008 5:27AM]

@ david: I have no idea how to answer you back, I mean I will sound like if I was copying you, but the truth is that most of my friends and my family are suffering from the shiny glossy screen, and they kind of love my DELL matte widescreen panel; I have a friend who sold two 46 inch LCD Samsung TVs for the same reason, too glossy when your room is perfectly and normally lit! I'm really being honest with you. The glossiness looks incredibly sexy and shiny but in the long run it becomes one annoying experience. It also comes to your preference, I can't judge you.

@ carl.finlow: Shut up.

@ ArcticFox: LMAO, imagine a screen that has the shape of a star! You have replied to carl in the most prefect way, there is nothing to add.

[Geir E @ Apr 28th 2008 7:55AM]

I am never buying a laptop with reflective screen unless I have no other choice. So please for love of all holy - let it always be a matte alternative. I have a mirror which is perfect for the time I want to see myself and my surroundings behind me.

[kadajawi @ Apr 28th 2008 9:11AM]

I agree, I will never ever buy a monitor with a glossy screen, unless it is really great and there is no way around (e.g. OLED... god I hope they make those matte). But otherwise a glossy screen means I won't buy it. I know many people who think the same, so the reason you only see glossy screens is probably because there barely is an alternative. At least here shops usually have no matte notebook display at all.

[cibrlx01 @ Apr 28th 2008 4:23AM]

all in one comps look nice, but they are pain the asses to work on
i was going through cursing faster than a fat guy eats a hot dog

[omegamale @ Apr 28th 2008 5:07AM]

i don't think there is any chance apple even reacting to that,
i think it's great for those unable to shift or those wanting a classier looking pc, but other than design a computer that is all in one that fits inside the monitor, there is no real comparison to the imac here.

to be blunt, the back looks reall cheap and brittle, the sort of unit thats plastic will creak and twist as you pick it up etc.

nevertheless it is one of the best stabs i've seen at anything close to mr ives' flawless designs.

its not as if apple have some secret ingredient that enables them to just manage it, its basically that they can afford to put all of their resources into perfectionism, because thats their main drive.

lluon aren't perfectionists, there is no passion there at all.

i definately think that the next company that will be doing hardware anywhere near apples level of smile inducing design will be asus.

[Jon @ Apr 28th 2008 5:13AM]

Hahahahah seriously I am wetting myself. What a totally bad rip off. hahahahaha

Oh stop it please stop it....

[LarryLarryLarry @ Apr 28th 2008 7:13AM]

I'm sure your care-giver is used to that by now.

[frankXchange @ Apr 28th 2008 5:17AM]

cibrlx01, I'm afraid I have to disagree - skinny guys eat hot dogs much faster than fat guys. I'm curious about your frustrations with the all-in-ones though. My sister has an iMac and loves it.

Hard to argue with the look, but there's not enough info to base an opinion on. I dislike the shiny screens as well - fine for the casual user, but awful for media work. Also, no firewire? I guess this is strictly for the casual user. I'm curious about how it handles heat and noise.

[Magnulus @ Apr 28th 2008 5:19AM]

Wow, those ports are a LOOOONG way around the screen, there. I mean, I think the ports on my iMac are a bit out of the way, but this is ridiculous.

That having been said, it looks overall like a pretty nice all-in-one for the Windows-loyals, though I would have liked to see a non-glossy screen and a few more USB ports (like, at least four. Yes, I think the iMac has too few as well.)

[Saad Rabia @ Apr 28th 2008 5:26AM]

@ david: I have no idea how to answer you back, I mean I will sound like if I was copying you, but the truth is that most of my friends and my family are suffering from the shiny glossy screen, and they kind of love my DELL matte widescreen panel; I have a friend who sold two 46 inch LCD Samsung TVs for the same reason, too glossy when your room is perfectly and normally lit! I'm really being honest with you. The glossiness looks incredibly sexy and shiny but in the long run it becomes one annoying experience. It also comes to your preference, I can't judge you.

@ carl.finlow: Shut up.

@ ArcticFox: LMAO, imagine a screen that has the shape of a star! You have replied to carl in the most prefect way, there is nothing to add.

[carl.finlow @ Apr 28th 2008 5:38AM]

yes agreed that a screen is that shape fundamentally and it's hard to get away from, but this this is a TOTAL imac design rip off from the front. The thin aluminium bevel on the outside, the rounded corners, the balance of the area below the screen. That type of direct copying is simply not legal.
I'm all for us having all sorts of computers, but what i don't like is blatant design rip offs cashing in on someone else's genius. Those things are copyrighted. You can't just use them for your own product and not expect some form of legal intervention.

[ArcticFox @ Apr 28th 2008 5:40AM]

Want some cheese with that whine?

Ever heared of a thing called ergonomics?

[Ignatius @ Apr 28th 2008 6:43AM]

Better not tell him that TV companies all use the same technology and the same basic design, his head might explode...

[carl.finlow @ Apr 28th 2008 5:43AM]

Saad Rabia :re: @ carl.finlow: Shut up.
Why so aggressive? i'm stating my point of view calmly and clearly. Why should we listen to you and i should be silent?
This has also got nothing to do with being any kind of fan boy.
It's about blatant design theft.

[LarryLarryLarry @ Apr 28th 2008 7:17AM]

"Why should we listen to you and I be silent?"

Because you have no idea what you're talking about. You typed "I imagine they will have Apple lawyers knocking on their doors any minute now." The only part of that which is remotely accurate is "I imagine". You certainly do.

[Neoprimal @ Apr 28th 2008 9:47AM]

Carl,

Stop being flamebait. You can't 'ripoff' a rectangular monitor design - most if not all computer lcds are now that shape. You stuff a computer into it, it's going to become a monitor with a computer inside, which is what the Imac, Dell XPS One, Gateway One are...it's not copying it's tech. evolution.

The pc is nice but I'd be very worried about tech support. If I'm every buying an all in one it's going to be from a company that has a really nice web page, phone numbers that work perfectly and a very active forum and tech support consisting of people that speak very good english.

[FTY @ Apr 28th 2008 5:48AM]

I would love to have all in one PCs, but sadly they are stuffed with hardware that I couldn't care less about. When I can build my own with virtually any component I want, then we can talk. I wouldn't go as far as demanding dual GPU slots, but at least one of each high end component should be doable in those things and a decent amount of RAM and storage.

[OX4 @ Apr 28th 2008 5:59AM]

Tom's Guide is making their own line of computers now?

[Mog @ Apr 28th 2008 6:17AM]

Wow, everyone is being aggressive towards carl. I'm sure I'm going to get called an "Apple fanboy" too, or whatever, but, um, I think he's right. It's not just "OMG it's an all in one with a rectangular screen" - the glossy black frame bordered by a rounded frame of metallic silver in pretty much exactly the same way. The difference - the ONLY difference - is that the "chin" is glossy black, instead of aluminum, which actually...looks a little better. But still. It's very clearly "inspired" by the iMac. But I'm sure you're all people who think the Meizu M8 isn't a ripoff of the iPhone ("It's not like Apple invented touchscreens!"), so, uh, have at me! Have fun.

[omegamale @ Apr 28th 2008 8:15AM]

christ... this is such a crap arguement now.


ok... if you were a smallish company, wanting to design a minimalist and sleek all in one desktop computer, and be honest enough to admit you are actually aware of the already working formulas of this (the imac)
what does your design look like?

and bear in mind that fashion has a lot to do with any new design, apple are often trendsetters in the fact that when the g3 imac came out within a year even basic household appliances like irons etc looked like g3 imacs

the current high end style right now, in homes and offices everywhere is black glass leather and metal, and it was becoming popular before the launch of the iphone (apples first product in this style - prada, bang & olufsen etc anyone?)

its hard for any designer not to take influence with what's hot right now, does anyone nail asus for making a mini ibook?

its clear that this machine looks up to and admires the imac, but you get far more obvious rip offs than this.

its merely a budget cheaper brand fashion desktop thats an all in one, in a contemporary style, that will guaranteed look very dated in 2-3 years time, why? because its flimsy looking, if apple are likely to do anything in the face of this they are most likely just to feel a wee bit sorry for it, but rest assured that immitations is the highest form of flattery.

what this model does have going for it though, is emmbracing what apple are doing and following their lead, confidantly, and i do wish this model luck and hope other companies would try as hard designing technology with some aesthetic ethic involved.

i'm obviously an apple user, thats is basically down to being concious of false economies and wanting to use a design classic that functions perfectly, is physically solid as a rock and will require little f*cking about with to make it run the way i want it to.

a strong pc arguement is that desire and need to f*ck about with their machine, which basically means that this machine is definately for the posers as it will have to be the poor mans imac, and it doesnt look like there is a lot of scope to alter it in anyway, e.g. my mother might by one as she loves my macs but thinks they are too expensive and is scared of osx and the possibility that osx might prevent her from being able to run certain programmes (such as an internet browser!!!! but dont even go there, i am sick of saying i told you so each year when she gets so fed up of repairing her pc and then buys a new model and moans bout it non stop, but thats another story)

bottom line, thinking that apple are going to get cross about this is a ridiculous and predictable idea and deserves all the flaming it gets.

did dell sue apple when they brought out a black macbook?

it needs to be a little closer to the bone to actually infringe on any copyright like that.

basically it would have to be pretty much identical, like these chinese iphone rip offs, or even have a logo that looked a bot like a peach or something on it.

this machine is its own thing.

its like the computer equivelant of anyone of these crappy bands we have kicking about at the moment that are nothing more than their obvious influences, popular and enjoyable al the same but...ach...

i'm interested to see the pricing of it anyway

[kadajawi @ Apr 28th 2008 9:15AM]

I think the iMac irons were there before the G3 iMac.

But yeah, designers are of course influenced by one another, which is usually ok, as long as it isn't copying. This thing is a bit borderline perhaps, but still ok I'd say. And it looks good.

[Nate @ Apr 28th 2008 8:33AM]

1GB sahmbo computah?! DO WANT!!

[omegamale @ Apr 28th 2008 10:10AM]

you could be right, and that further illustrates my point.

i think it was about 1997 coloured plastics were really "in", i remember a lot of frosted coloured plastic being refered to as "jelly"
i bought a lime green wine rack in 1997 in a designer boutique and it was in keeping with a lot of other products and the forthcoming imac, but it was the only one that became a cultural icon.

type imac into ebay and you still get coloured plastic bird cages etc showing up.

its really just about who does it best at the end of the day.

[kj @ Apr 28th 2008 11:35AM]

I don't understand why companies don't make these all in one units that aren't mountable via VESA.

[joe23521 @ Apr 28th 2008 11:57AM]

The iBlac?

[Blaktornado @ Apr 28th 2008 4:51PM]

I partially blame myself for the recent increase in all-in-one computers.

Why?

I bought an iMac.

"How can you blame yourself?", you may be asking.

Because if it weren't for me buying my iMac, these companies wouldn't realize that all-in-ones are what a lot of people want... the only problem is that the all-in-ones that people want run OS X and have Apples on the front ;)

[Quikboy @ Apr 28th 2008 7:33PM]

"the all-in-ones that people want run OS X and have Apples on the front"

Really? I didn't know you spoke for all consumers. Personally, I could care less if it's Windows, OS X, or even Linux. Just as long as it worked well. I find Windows to work as well as OS X if the hardware is just as good.

Amazing isn't it? If consumers just go for shiny these days, then that's kinda sad.

[Moonshine @ Apr 28th 2008 7:48PM]

The shape of the computer could be alot different, but its not for the same reson the imac is not shaped diffferent, it makes more sence is more effeciant to be the way it is. The color pattern is also something that would accure to someone just right from the break a solid color with another color to border it. There is a chance that someone siad hay!! lets make our computer l;ook just like there mybe couse theres sells or just couse they felt like it, but there is no way to really know. In a way many car makers would be in risk of design theft.

[Adam @ Apr 29th 2008 10:30AM]

What's the point without at least having the vendor publish estimates on availability and price?

If they live up to their estimates, it's all for the good and if they fail, that tells the consumer something they should know too.

Again, if this thing is $900 with a 3 GHz CPU (and supporting architecture,) I'm interested. If it's $1500, I'd rather pay -- what is becoming an ever diminishing price premium -- to go with Apple (or more realistically advise friends in this "computer as a home appliance" category) and run Parallels if they have to have XP for whatever reason.

Right now, anyone asking me about these all-in-one things, I recommend a laptop and a $300 external display. Just get a one year old Mac lappy of whatever price point suits you, make sure it has Apple Care and Bob's your auntie's live-in lover with a non-marital agreement. : )

[sk8ordie @ May 4th 2008 10:44PM]

Wow! Another PC that is copying a Mac. Just wonderful! What next PC?

[Quikboy @ Apr 28th 2008 7:28PM]

So it's OK for Mac to copy what Sony and Lenovo have been doing for years, and release the MacBook Air.

But when it comes to a PC maker copying a successful idea done by Apple, it's wrong?

I hate double standards.

[sk8ordie @ Apr 28th 2008 7:50PM]

Well, you got a point there. I didn't know that Sony and Lenova already had those type of Laptops. Than Apple copies some stuff off of the PC too.