Not all PCs need to be powerhouses, as this Mesh model proves. Eschewing the usual rush for as much speed as possible, the Express TV as its name suggests looks more to the entertainment sector for its appeal, and does a very good job of it too.
As you can probably guess, there's a TV tuner inside, which can receive all the usual Freeview channels, as well as recording them onto the capacious 500GB hard disk for later viewing too.
There's a DVD writer for making copies or backups, and a bundled wireless card strangely rare in PCs means you can download the programme guide or surf the internet even if you place the system away from your web connection.
Better still, the 22in Iiyama monitor is a great companion to all this entertainment, with a 1,680 x 1,050 resolution, built-in speakers and considerable style.
Neutral coloursColours are reproduced with a good, neutral tone, while the 5ms response time means you won't see blurring during scenes of fast motion.
A 2.1 set of speakers is also included, made by Logitech; they're better than those on the monitor but it would have been nice to see a full 5.1 set given this PC's entertainment focus.
Finally, a Creative webcam comes in the box, and can be clipped onto the top of your screen for making video calls to granny Down Under.
In terms of performance, the Mesh can't hold a flame to the faster PCs we've seen, but as with most systems these days it's more than fast enough for the vast majority of usage scenarios.
Limited graphicsThe graphics card is one of Nvidia's older mid-range models, which in real terms means it's not all that great don't expect to be running the latest games at anything other than low resolutions.
But for many people the performance just doesn't matter past a certain level, and the Mesh Express TV offers more than enough elsewhere to be hugely appealing.
If you're a student off to university, or need a PC for a second bedroom or a study, the Mesh Express TV is a versatile and well-rounded choice.
Author:iGizmo
Copyright 2009 Dennis Publishing All Rights Reserved.
Mesh Express TV