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Hewlett-Packard today announced the availability of its Z1 user-serviceable all-in-one PC. Unveiled in February at the HP Global Partnership Conference, the Z1 is said to be the world’s first all-in-one workstation with a 27-inch diagonal display. Hit the jump for more.
Its 27-inch LED-backlit IPS display has a resolution of 2560x1440 and supports over a billion colors. With user-serviceability being the Z1’s main selling point, it is ridiculously easy to snap open the screen and gain access to its neatly packed innards.
HP’s site lists four models priced between $1,899.00 and $2,899.00. However, the basic model is unlikely to cut it for most of the Z1’s intended users with its Intel Core i3-2120 (3.30 GHz, 3 MB cache, 2 cores) processor and integrated graphics.
In contrast, the topmost model has a Xeon E3-1245 (3.30 GHz, 8 MB cache, 4 cores) — as do the other two models — and NVIDIA Quadro 500M (1 GB) professional graphics. Further it has a 1TB 7200 rpm SATA hard drive. Specs common to all models include 4GB of DDR3 RAM, 2MP 1080p webcam, SRS-certified stereo speakers, four USB 2.0 ports, two USB 3.0 ports, FireWire, DisplayPort, and a 6-in-1 card reader.
“We’ve been visiting customers around the globe, in industries from automotive to audio and video, and the response is overwhelmingly positive, with comments like ‘it’s insanely cool’ and ‘just the right size,’” said Jim Zafarana, vice president and general manager, Commercial Solutions Business Unit, HP. “Customers say they’re impressed with the combination of accelerated performance and design that’s not available on any other product in the market today.”
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NavarWynn
April 18, 2012 at 1:45pm
Not bad, but not great. I guess, given the budget
For example, the built in display is 2560x1440, which is acceptable, and can be paired w/ an 'external' second display of identical resolution and size (a must). Giving a total desktop workspace of 5120x1440, which is reasonable (even though the pixel density is still ABYSMAL) But can you run 3 or 4 displays?
But no option to run dual Xeon's? hmmmmm That's kind of weak. Maybe it's for the 'budget professional' ;-)
Also the 32gb cap on RAM is kind of weak in this day and age.
I'm sure that for 'most' professionals it'll work and (apparently a bit more important for the modern pro) it'll be sexy...
MrHasselblad
April 17, 2012 at 6:59am
The specs just are not there at any price level. Literally the only two items that it hs going for it are that; it's a workstation and it has parts that can be switched out by the user.
On the other hand - if only HP could make any level of a laptop with user interchangeable (upgradeable) parts that would be great.
Penterax
April 17, 2012 at 12:01pm
I disagree; the top end components are well worth the money for an all-in-one workstation. If I were working in the cramped environment a lot of people do have to work in these days, I would seriously consider this machine.
This isn't intended to be a gaming machine; if you are judging it based on that purpose, you are making as much sense as it would to eat an orange for a protein source.
Morete
April 17, 2012 at 5:29am
For those of you who haven’t physically seen the insides of any member of the z-series of workstations from HP, you’re missing a lot. These devices are marvels of engineering, and design. Form follows function symbiotically, and making changes to the hardware is a breeze.
On a side note...I just wish HP and Adobe would show more love for AMD's FirePro.
jason2393
April 17, 2012 at 1:07am
My cousin bought a 27" iMac back in December, so the claim from the website: "Introducing the HP Z1, the world's first all-in-one workstation with a 27” (diagonal) display that snaps open to let you swap out parts and make upgrades." is only true when including the part about upgrading.
As for performance, the mac has better specs and a lower price. I'm not even a mac fan, but I can't see the justification for a purchase like this. In what scenario is this better than a desktop, laptop, or my cousin's 27" iMac?
CHR15x94
April 17, 2012 at 12:50pm
What AETAaAS said. HP's Z1 is aimed at professionals, not consumers.
They're designed to be used with AutoCAD and other professional programs, and I imagine they'd offer better, more involved support than Apple and other consumer oriented companies/products.
Consumer products in general tend to be less reliable than their professional counterparts as well.
There's also the Quadro GPU which is designed for AutoCAD and the like.
But, I do agree... Pricey. :P
Refuge88
April 17, 2012 at 5:51am
Also the iMac is a laptop, not a workstation.
Two totally different markets.
AETAaAS
April 17, 2012 at 4:52am
The HP is not targeting the same consumers as the iMac. With internals such as the enteprise grade Xeon processors and Quadro cards, they are very much going for professional customers.
jason2393
April 17, 2012 at 12:38pm
I just priced out a desktop on newegg that costs less, has the same processor, more ram, bigger hard drive, way better professional graphics, a monitor with the same size, resolution, and number of colors. $2,500 versus $2,900 for the HP.
thetechchild
April 17, 2012 at 5:39pm
Of course it's higher priced, with labor and design costs. It might be easy to buy a bunch of parts and assemble something that resembles stock consumer PCs, but this thing is packed into an AIO form factor that is accessible enough to upgrade. And, as others have mentioned, they're using enterprise parts, which might differentiate them from a lot of other options out there.
It might seem to target a niche audience, but the price is definitely no obstacle in this case, compared to the alternatives. And what professional firms actually assemble their own PCs?
