18.5.2014

The C365 is the budget entry model on Lenovo's all in one model range, there are larger screen options and faster models with higher specs, but this is well priced for what you get. (Note I am a pc enthusiast/system builder)In the flesh the black looks far nicer to me than the white version (down to taste though)I tested the machine for an afternoon and ran a few benchmarks on it is see what the performance was like.A quick summary first of the good and bad pointsPros:+ 19.5" 1600 x 900 display is large enough for most users, fairly sharp and clear+ Excellent value for money, reasonable performance for an all in one+ The C365 is a bit deeper than a normal monitor but not hugely so it's stillquite compact and this is all you need one unit+ Sound was quite respectable for a built in system above average here+ Good connectivity overall, built in wifi, 6-in-1 card reader, 2 x USB 3.0, 4 x USB 2.0, and HDMI out+ 720p webcam does an ok job in most lighting conditions (microphone also built in)+ Decent build the casing is quite good density and a solid stable stand+ Has a 7200rpm hard drive fitted (faster than a normal 5400 rpm unit)Cons:- CPU performance some way below budget dedicated desktops (fine for light use and normal day to day tasks and media watching)- Service life limited to the monitor (this is basically a laptop put into a monitor and they are usually not cost effective to repair bar the hard drive or ram or something very simple to fix)- Viewing angles could be better on the LED monitorOther notes:Easy access to ram and hard drive (bottom panel on the back of the monitor is removable). Ram can be upgraded to 8GBAs others have pointed out it comes with a basic wired mouse and keyboard, which is perfectly fine at this price point.On the left monitor side you get 2 USB ports, the headphone and mic socket and the card reader, all at hand. Right side houses the DVD burner (this extends out like a laptop not a slot in type)The AMD E1 2500 is the same processor that's found in some budget laptops and like the laptops I've reviewed recently the performance is pretty much on a par with the Intel Celeron offerings in that range.It scored 980 in passmark which is near enough the same as I got on recent laptop testing. Both the AMD and the Celerons are at this level which is fine for normal web, media playback, office tasks and lighter use. You can play the odd game, but mostly older titles or less demanding ones.A normal budget modern desktop will score around 2000-2300 in passmark, that means overall they are about twice as fast in processor performance terms. If you are looking to do more demanding work, like intensive photo work, video editing and other CPU heavy applications you should look at the higher end models which feature more powerful processors (i3 and i5). Same for those looking for an affordable gaming machine look away now.But overall if you have only normal requirements for a pc, this makes a good media hub, has no problems playing back HD video easily, lots of ports and connections, the all in on nature has drawbacks (servicing for one) Likewise office pc's have little need for beefy performance, 4GB of ram and a 500GB hard drive are just fine here (you can upgrade both) It's also more than enough for a kids computer or general family one.Lenovo have done a pretty good job here, considering the attractive price point if you want a compact all in one at a good price this is well worth a look. I will stress though if you want more firepower in terms of doing heavier work tasks this isn't going to be suitable for your needs.

5.4.2014

This is pretty good overall, BUT I'm going to tell you things I didn't like about it, so you can make an informed decision:⦁ Yes, it's all-in-one but there's still a power brick. (Not really an issue, as it can be tucked away.)⦁ The fan noise is a bit annoying, as is the hard drive noise. (Perhaps I'm just too fussy) (You get used to it)⦁ I think the photos are a bit misleading about the thickness. It's a little bit chunky and heavy, but still, space-saving.⦁ The screen starts to look crap if you look at it from the "wrong" angle. (It doesn't have IPS, In Plane Switching, but thankfully you can just tilt the screen if you kneel down or stand up). This is probably something most people won't even notice,to be honest; I'm just a nerd, being hyper-critical!I did hate Win 8.1 but am warming to it! It's quite jarring moving between the new interface (with the live tiles) and the old school windows (x86). There's just not that much good software written for Win 8.1 (yet), but it's promising. There is some good stuff appearing in the App Store every now and then. (Now that I'm used to it, I do love the live tiles and colour schemes. Congratulations to Microsoft!)As there's no touch sensitive trackpad, it's a bit weird navigating some of the interfaces. You use the scroll wheel on the mouse (which goes up and down) to scroll content that goes from side to side, in some places like the AppStore.+ There's good integration with the "cloud". I use Microsoft's OneDrive (formerly Sky Drive) which syncs docs between my PCs and Macs [1]+ I didn't actually have to choose a username and password to set up this computer. I just use my existing Outlook.com password. [2]+ What is fantastic is the upgrade-ability. (I've been eying up some upgrades on Crucial. A 240GB SSD is currently about £83, am saving up for it). You can just pop the back cover off and put in new RAM or a hard drive (or SSD). [It takes laptop sized upgrades..](I'll put a link in the comments so you can see what I mean).This model makes for a good general or home office computer. It should last you a good long while. As memory prices fall, you can upgrade at your own pace.Despite its shortcomings, I think it's worthy of 4-stars because of its value. For about £350- £390, it's reasonable value IF you can tolerate Windows 8.1. [Is it as nice as an iMac? Not by a long shot! It's a different class entirely. But it is a fraction of the price.]Update----(Let me be clear - an iMac is an order of magnitude better than this, because of the close integration of the hardware and software. This is a piece of crap compared to an iMac, to be very blunt!)When you take usability into account, my rating is closer to 3-stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️? WiFi reception has been disappointing - I've had to use a power line adapter? It feels sluggish at times - hope to upgrade to an SSD and more RAM when I can afford it--[1] I now have Office365 on my iPad - Word, Excel and PowerPoint are now basically platform agnostic.[2] If you don't know what outlook.com is, it's basically Hotmail. If you have an existing Microsoft email account, like Hotmail, it integrates really nicely with Windows 8.1.

15.5.2014

This desktop is great for use in a small area, as it is of quite a compact design. Aesthetically speaking, it is quite a sleek model, and it looks nice enough. It would have been improved if the buttons, on the attached keyboard, had been touch sensitive. From a design point of view, I am a little surprised that this wasn't part of the package.The DVD drive is of the laptop type, and feels very flimsy when it is fully extended. I would have preferred it to have been a feed-in style, as seen in most cars and, also in many games consoles.The wired keyboard and mouse seem to be at odds with the main marketing of the machine as a smart modern desktop.

6.4.2014

This is a great budget computer for office type tasks and surfing the net. The relatively slow (by modern standards) processor and built in graphics do not suit recent games but then that is not what it is intended for and the price reflects this.I love the fact that all the processing takes place behind the monitor screen, which is barely thicker than a straightforward VDU screen. This avoids the need for a separate bulky box containing all the processing gubbins. I presume it uses similar technology to laptop computers. This may have an effect on the ability to upgrade.As it is a budget model, the keyboard and mouse are wired using USB. There are six USB ports though (including two at the front)

8.11.2014

Bought it for my Mum as her old PC was out of dated and had hardware issues, and must says she loves it, It's small and fit perfectly on my mum desk, She is happy from it, and how fast it's working.Only what we don't like about is Windows 8 especially that it's not a touch screen which makes a little sense in my opinion.Only issue I got is the pre-installed software from Lenovo which was causing some problems at first until I disabled/deleted as well as choice of anti-virus which was disabling internet connection until I disabled it. But once I get rid of those software this PC is like a dream my mum says.Overall if you are looking for a PC for you daily life (nothing serious such as gaming on high details,

17.12.2014

Recommended - Lenovo took off where IBM left off. Product met expectations and has proven to be "as good as the brochure".The option for cordless keyboard and mouse was available but I bought a Logitech wi-fi keyboard and mouse - spares now available for when the day comes.The major problem is Windows 8.1 - totally inaccessible for several "digging operations". Like washing your hands with gloves on. Seriously considering back to XP or Windows 7!Thoroughly recommended

20.8.2014

4* simply because the mouse and keyboard are not wireless. Wireless and this purchase would be perfect.System itself is slick (bar the cables coming from the mouse and keyboard) and very fast. Spec is excellent and great value for money with 8GB RAM and quad cores.Windows 8.1 pre-installed. Excellent. Great OS despite all the bad hype. I have a laptop with Windows 8.1 also and it never fails to let me down performance wise.Delivery was excellent as expected.

24.8.2014

Excellent all-in-one computer, particularly for the inexperienced, such as I, to replace my old computer running Windows XP. Great value. Incidentally, although it comes with the new Windows 8.1, the series of updates being received automatically are making 8.1 work much more like my old XP - very reassuring for someone who doesn't want to learn new tricks now.

5.6.2014

Great value, super keyboard, v easy to get head round W8.1, fantastic wide screen, and v quick start-up (so far!)Not keen on the Lenovo s'ware add-ons - their computer scan took so long I had to cancel it, so will never use them. Wrestled to get some pre-installed games to install! I expect it's fine in Chinese...

14.8.2014

Bought this as a back up and to watch foreign films. Cheap and cheerful, but really good quality! Sound quality excellent for films and music, and good screen size is like watching TV. Never heard of them before, until Which magazine recommended them. Highly recommend.

8.6.2014

The computer itself is excellent but getting used to Windows 8 has been difficult as it was a change from 10 year old Windows XP. Quite a culture shock but I am getting used to it. Much bigger and clearer screen. I would recommend this computer to anyone.

16.4.2014

Great machine, lots of new things to get used to after using XL.Mouse and keyboard very smooth in use.So much better than old tower type set up.Still discovering all the apps etc.

12.3.2015

awesome computer, came on time, runs all my software smoothly no problems. love the fact its an all-in-one no hassle with a tower! Lenovo is great make would recommend to anyone!

20.7.2014

Delighted with this and, shortly after I purchased it, 'Which' magazine said it was the best budget all-in-one computer on the market. It's quiet and was easy to set up.

18.4.2014

Arrived on time, very easy to set-up and does what it says on the tin. Added Microsoft Office with ease and just getting the hang of windows 8.

Lenovo C365 (57327892) - Reviews

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