HP Pavilion Slimline s3710t Customizable Desktop PC desktop

Because of its self-contained design, we'd pick the Sony with no hesitation for a secondary entertainment center in a kitchen or other space-constrained area. However, aside from the different form factors, the HP and Sony systems are actually quite similar. HP has the advantage in its discrete graphics card and a faster CPU, but both have a Blu-ray drive, wireless networking capability, and a 500GB hard drive. Given its lower price than the Sony, the HP comes away from this comparison looking like quite a good deal, especially if you already own a display in need of a PC to match.

Unlike our HP, the Sony is an all-in-one. It also costs about $250 more than our review system, coincidentally about the same price as a reasonably decent 22-inch monitor (larger than the Sony's 20-inch LCD). Factor in the cost of the extra display, and the comparison playing field becomes a bit more level.

Keep in mind the Pavilion SlimLine S7310t is a custom PC. Its starting configuration sells for as low as $380, but you can add an even larger hard drive than our review unit, as well as a quad-core CPU, bumping the price tag more than $1,000. We find Sony's Vaio JS250J makes a strong comparison against our $869 SlimLine review unit.

If you've browsed the desktop aisle at a Best Buy in recent years, the SlimLine chassis should look familiar. Its compact, glossy black design will fit both physically and aesthetically almost anywhere, from an office or next to a stack of home entertainment components. An HDMI video output on the graphics card lets you connect it directly to an HDTV, and its wireless networking capability helps keep cable clutter to a minimum.

We've been fans of HP's Pavilion Slimline desktops for a few years now. With the right combination of components, they can tackle both general productivity and home entertainment chores with aplomb. The $869 Pavilion Slimline S7310t is no different from its predecessors, offering a Blu-ray drive, wireless networking, and speedy performance in a tidy package. You might find a self-contained all-in-one PC like the Sony Vaio JS250J more appealing for home entertainment duty if you're space-constrained. However, if you already own a display that can do justice to HD video content, the Pavilion Slimline S3710t will complement it nicely.

The bottom line: HP's Pavilion Slimline S7310t is a great example of the strengths of the slimtower PC. Fast, loaded with features, and attractive enough to put almost anywhere, this SlimLine is a competent, economical alternative to the new crop of affordable all-in-one computers--especially if you already have a display in need of a PC to put it to work.

The bad: All-in-ones make better secondary PCs in smaller spaces.

The good: Flexible slimtower design fits in the office or the living room; full complement of home entertainment features, including Blu-ray, for less than $1,000; fast basic productivity performance.

Product summary

The good: Flexible slimtower design fits in the office or the living room