14 DAY TRIAL // Yet another member of the MSI Wind Top series of all-in-one computers has made its appearance, even if shipments don't actually begin until the end of the month (March 2013).
This time we are looking at a standard all-in-one system, not some sort of peculiar contraption like the ASUS Transformer AiO that has an Android tablet strapped to a normal PC, only shaped like a dock/stand.
Micro-Star International is the company doing the product releasing, and Wind Top is the product line doing the welcoming.
The newcomer is dubbed Wind Top AE2212 and measures 21.5 inches in diagonal. It uses a 3rd Generation Intel Core central processing unit with integrated graphics.
MSI speaks, in its press release, of the AE2212 and AE2212G All-in-One PCs, but does not draw attention to any difference between the two.
It does say that AE2212 has a monitor that automatically goes into standby after the system is powered up. Thus, to turn it on, the power button of the AiO itself needs to be pressed.
This is the effect of the Instant Display Technology, which saves energy and allows the PC to be used as a monitor (shutting down everything PC-like) when something is plugged in the HDMI-in port.
THX-certified Surround Sound is something that both the AE2212 and AE2212G have.
Spec-wise, the Core i3 or Core i5 CPU chosen is backed by up to 8 GB of RAM (4 GB DDR3-1333 is the default option).
Then, there is the optional NVIDIA GeForce GT630M graphics card, for those that don't think the iGP of the Intel chip is enough.
Other specs include a 1 TB 7,200 RPM HDD, a DVD super multi optical drive, Wi-Fi, a 2MP camera, two 2W speakers, various ports and plugs, a memory card and everything else that a 10-point touch-enabled, 21.5-inch Windows 8 All-in-One needs to operate. The price wasn't included in the announcement, sadly.