Pretty decent for a whole computer including monitor, keyboard and mouse! Would be a perfect budget computer for homework / kids bedroom :smiley:
Small enough to fit almost anywhere, the Acer Aspire XC-703 offers plenty of power and performance for your multimedia creativity and HD entertainment. Conveniently located on the lower front of the machine are frequently used I/O ports, which provide an easy way to access data. An Intel® Celeron® processor powers the XC-703 so you can easily finish tasks, watch videos, play games, and keep in touch with friends. The sizeable 1TB hard drive gives you plenty of space to store all your data, while the HDMI port lets you easily take your content to a big screen.
The Aspire XC-703 comes supplied with the Acer K192HQLB 18.5-inch LCD monitor, which delivers exceptional visuals with fine details and smooth movement. Using Acer Adaptive Contrast Management (ACM), the monitor optimises contrast to present the highest level of clarity and detail. Additionally, the K192HQLB LCD monitor uses less power making it environmentally friendly.
Top comments
SweeneyUK
15 May 1757#5
Hard to complain yet you complained about every component. it's £179....
coldo
15 May 1719#12
The NHS should stock up on these !! at least a bit more secure than win XP !!
badbunny42
15 May 1716#2
Don't forget the free upgrade to Windows 10 (Still available if you ever (or even never) use Assistive options
First this is HotUKdeals so heat added for the deal
1. Of course it's small compared to a bigger screen, however it's adequate for the task...
2. 4GB - explain why this is low these days? What needs (Needs, not "can take advantage of") more than 4GB that you would run on this machine? (it supports 8GB and is cheap to upgrade)
3. 8.1 is still in support...(Windows 8.1 falls under the same lifecycle policy as Windows 8, and will reach end of Mainstream Support on January 9, 2018, and end of Extended Support on January 10, 2023.)
4. It's all about perspective, it's actually a 64bit, 4 year old CPU, still usable
Post a deal that includes the same or better spec for £179...
Latest comments (83)
joe_shmoe
22 May 17#83
If you are going to fart about, I will pop to the mess hall as I am actually hungry.
joe_shmoe
22 May 17#82
Who emplyed Riker>
joe_shmoe
22 May 17#81
This entire pc is based upon a soldered laptop chip.
It is not changeable or upgradeable.
It is roughly the same performance as an 8 series twin core from 10 years ago (but the lowest end..)
It is a load of old laptop reclaim junk in a desktop box.
**** the salesman's **** with a pineapple.
myspace
21 May 17#80
The free upgrade to 10 was still available recently, google it!
propermunch
21 May 17#79
I didn't realise I could get this free?!! (link is broken by the way)
mgk
20 May 17#78
Anyone seen a goo desktpo deal with a bit better spec....cant find anything listed recently other than this which is a great deal but a bit les power than I want
TechBB
20 May 17#77
That statistic is largely based on the enterprise customers' use. Three of the reasons for this are:
1. Enterprise customers do not upgrade to a new OS without careful planning and analysis of the compatibility of that OS with the software they use. A new OS also introduces change in an environment. From an Information Assurance perspective, that can impact Availability and even Confidentiality and Integrity, depending on the variables and unknowns. The fact that many companies still have Windows XP and even 2000 & NT installed is evidence of this fact.
2. Windows 10 requires new processes with respect to patching and upgrades and is, therefore, not a small piece of work. It requires involvement from many teams. Therefore, many enterprises are nowhere near upgrading as yet.
3. Unlike consumers, enterprises can't just upgrade a computer or buy new computers. They're processes, lifecycles and budgets governing the procurement of new equipment.
TechBB
20 May 17#76
I completely agree with your point about SATS and utilising computers to improve learning.
Furthermore, I find it bemusing when people comment on others' grammar while making comments that are poorly structured, grammatically speaking. :smirk:
With respect to incorporating computers in the curriculum, one has to accept that times have changed and we are living in an era where technology is changing at a pace that even IT professionals find challenging.
Children need to be prepared for the future, where just being able to read and write well will not be sufficient, if they hope to succeed. Learning to use technology effectively will be critical for modern inventors and entrepreneurs so anyone knocking the introduction of computers in schools is very ignorant of the educational needs of children in the 21st century.
It is a 4 year old laptop chip,similar in total power to a ten year old c2d dual core.
It is soldered on.
This machine is not upgradable in any meaningful way,it will always perform like a cheap laptop.
Caveat emptor!
mrkaroshi
19 May 17#74
Its a Celeron. Old architecture with crippled performance.
fishmaster
18 May 17#73
You don't need to use it, there is another way which is fresh installing Windows 10 and use the 8.1 key obtained from the motherboard to activate the system. This definitely works.
usetheforceluke
18 May 17#72
yup, 1
Pablo147
18 May 17#71
Does anyone know if the base unit has an HDMI port?
ROCHJA
18 May 17#70
Thank you. I have placed an order and expect it Friday. Upgraded to Windows 10 it will serve me well.
amour3k
18 May 17#69
True enough, good point.
FlexR
17 May 17#68
Correct, but idk how many votes it needs on "Expired" before the listing actually updates to expired (or even if it's like that or if it just alerts mods it's had x votes of expired for them to review)
MrHot
17 May 17#67
WannaCry was mostly a management issue.
No local admin and SRP/BitLocker would have stopped the initial infection.
Turning the firewalls on and/or disabling SMB server on desktops for the internal spread.
Both of these would have worked on XP.
MrHot
17 May 17#66
The problem is the software often is **** and won't run on anything else.
And using what I assume is Home edition, is not suitable for mass deployments, even 10 Pro is not suitable (need Ent now).
Neither will stop a user opening and infecting themselves with malware - XP, 7, 8 and 10 can be locked down to mitigate this.
scott_safc
17 May 17#65
Nope, it'll only allow you to reinstall windows 10, which is annoying as hell seeing as I bought the machine with windows 8 built into it. Even tried using the manufacturer windows 8 recovery dvd that came with my laptop but that's no good either :disappointed:
amour3k
17 May 17#64
Then Deal need's expiring then?.
Mathemagician
17 May 17#63
Thanks for the tip about the upgrade have just used it to upgrade from W7 to W10, I don't feel I'm abusing it though
FlexR
17 May 17#62
Because it's expired.
DragonQ
17 May 17#61
Says £199, not £179. >_>
marty-401
16 May 17#60
Sorry but we got crossed wires. I was referring to comment #24 "Great for my primary school, if you only we had the the budget to stretch to a few."
johnnyd57uk
16 May 17#59
This may not be the last comment on this thread but may I suggest that at least 80 if not 90% of all the computers in the world have this spec or lower. Of course you are going to have the bods complaining about the cpu, the 4gb of ram, the 1TB hard drive but for the money and warranty its a decent price.
amour3k
16 May 17#58
Fair enough?, that's a good point for other's to note too I guess?.
How about Window's built-in 'roll-back' feature/abilities, etc?.
Can't you use that one too?, or .....
scott_safc
16 May 17#57
I wouldn't bother, bought my laptop with windows 8 built in and it used to run like a dream. Ever since I upgraded to windows 10 I've had nothing but massive lagging issues with it, disk maxing out @ 100% etc... Won't even let you downgrade back to windows 8 either.
If the system you have is capable of running windows 10 then maybe it's worthwhile, my current system is actually better than the one advertised here and just can't seem to cope with it, wish I'd never upgraded...
joe_shmoe
16 May 17#56
Unfortunately, 4 GB ram with that machine is actually 3.5 after the onboard gpu has .5 dedicated.
My father has a similar machine,and believe me, with a few browsers open and watching youtube or streaming a video,you will run out of ram.
I would not buy this,it is too much hassle and expense to make it worthwhile.
Mathemagician
16 May 17#55
After the Windows Vista fiaso I didn't upgrade my machines to Windows 10 when it was offered.
But I've had it since on new computers and am now upgrading my W7 Pc as I type this thanks to the link
on these pages i.e https://www.microsoft.com/en-gb/accessibility/windows10upgrade
Any problems I'll report them
bigsofty
16 May 17#54
209 now with delivery. Just past worth-it for me as I can get the original parts for about 160'ish.
mikerr
16 May 17#53
Expired, its now £199
GDB2222
16 May 17#52
My experience supports this.I bought a laptop with a Dual Core N2830 Processor (which is broadly comparable to the J1900 in this deal), and it just doesn't feel anywhere near as fast as my 9 year old C2D desktop. Both have the same RAM and both have an SSD. The screen resolution on the laptop is the same as this deal, and I agree that it's no fun at all to use.
I thought about recommending this system to a friend who is on a very low budget and desperately needs a new machine, but I just don't think it's a sensible buy. It looks hot at first glance, but really it's not.
FlexR
16 May 17#51
£199 now :disappointed:
spannerzone
16 May 172#50
Indeed and this may be better for video playback and such, I've got older Core2duo's that are fine until you try and play an HD video and they just struggle or max out the CPU.... these newer and weedier Celeron's are far more optimised for HD video playback than a 9 year old CPU. Horses for courses.
spannerzone
16 May 17#49
It's a this point you need to realise you're never going to convince some people.
Just like those people telling you to buy a 10 year old BMW instead of buying a Dacia.
This is a decent deal if you know what you're buying and accept the compromises of budget machines
sabresonic
16 May 17#48
I've had one of these for over 2 years, swapped hard drive (500gb) and replaced it with SSD. I use it as an HTPC and its been great. Got mine from eBuyer after it was posted on here, no monitor though. Would have been better if I could get an extra drive in but unless you remove DVD you can't - my only small gripe. Pretty sure it was £129 but as already said, no monitor and only 500gb h/d.
Alfresco
16 May 171#47
This is a decent deal for what it is. You can't really compare it to an old, higher end, second hand pc at the same price. The more up to date components, i/o and power consumption, along with the warranty makes this much more attractive to most. (even though i have an addiction to keeping old pc's alive)
ramper777
16 May 17#46
Again all 2nd hand ... which doesn't offer an alternative to the original post.
pheyshunt1
16 May 17#45
I think we may just have a social justice warrior here. Hugh Mungus.
BigPro
16 May 17#44
Were you born in a barn? 4GB is a LOT of memory for running an work/study/basic gaming PC. You only need more if you are doing memory intensive processes like rendering and high end games with all max settings enabled.
M_z
16 May 17#43
I'd be tempted and because it is recycling old kit, its more environmentally friendly too. But its not new, its got nowhere near 1TB storage and is the TFT monitor going to be any good? So you aren't really comparing like for like - just pointing an alternative option that some people will prefer, some not.
Awaken
16 May 17#42
It's 2nd hand as soon as you turn it on? It doesn't magically stop working or become less capable.
wingman0401
16 May 17#41
Are any of the parts upgradeable? Thinking 8GB ram and an SSD would be helpful.
About the same performance (Core 2 Duo E7400 - not top spec but still faster for most things - dual core vs quad core but better per core), 19" TFT, 1 year warranty and Windows 10, pre-installed on an SSD for £170, which would make it far superior for general home use.
Yeah, do that if you want to get new issues with every new update and have no privacy.
M_z
16 May 17#38
Would you be comparing a top spec 9 year old machine with a bottom spec current machine by any chance?
Most people looking at a very basic setup like this, if they have an old pc it will be the basic model from 9 years ago won't it? So this will be quicker - plus you get a guarantee, and fresh install.
Can you buy a rebuilt re-installed top spec 9 year old pc + monitor with a guarantee for £50? Probably not, so it only makes sense if you want to do it yourself - which i lot of people do not, and probably cannot.
ramper777
16 May 171#37
You link to 2nd hand PC's ... this is new with a 12 month warranty.
Awaken
16 May 171#36
Well, for me, the big reason that makes it a non deal is this:
They may want that, but that equally won't happen. Almost 39% of all desktops/laptops run Windows 7, compared to under 30% running Windows 10.
There is nothing wrong with Windows 7 with a decent AV.
johnnyd57uk
16 May 17#34
Great this has got some good heat. Cant understand the criticisms. Its a decent basic computer and it wasnt posted as anything other than that. As such the specs are fine. If anyone can find a cheaper bundle for the same.price... post it. If there is a question about reliability keep your recipt. We still have a 2 year European warranty in operation ...until Brexit lol
Awaken
16 May 17#31
This would have a hard time keeping up with an average 9 year old PC. Add to that a 19" monitor can be had at most car boot sales for a fiver.
Cold!
UncleWilly to Awaken
16 May 172#33
Gosh, I never realised that using a computer was a competitive sport!
Seriously, why do some people have an obsession with how fast a PC runs? As others have said, for standard internet usage, this is a perfectly fine set-up and, at a time when desktop deals are far less prevalent, has to be a very good deal.
dannyscun
16 May 17#32
Heat for the price, but ordered this same PC for a member of staff at work and it lasted 8 months. Motherboard died!
thegamingkinginfo
16 May 171#30
Forgot lack of RGB lighting :stuck_out_tongue:
Maclurio
16 May 171#29
Lol that is htukdeals.
Skymonkey
16 May 174#28
Came to read the comments - more drama than Eastenders. Have some heat.
marty-401
16 May 17#25
Ok, I will say it before someone else does.......stick to improving their grammar before letting them loose on a computer.
M_z to marty-401
16 May 172#27
Have you seen what they have to do for the year 6 Sats test these days? Plus what is wrong with using all the teaching tools available, including computer based ones? Unless you want to argue that they should bring back the slate, this is what has always happened in education - its a good teacher that makes optimum use of the available tools.
GDB2222
16 May 171#26
The NHS are not the only ones! I built myself a new i7 PC with all the works to replace my old C2D machine that's nine years old. That was a year ago, and the new PC sits under my desk, unused. The old machine trundles along quite well, doing everything I need it to do, and I just haven't prioritised transferring everything over. I imagine the NHS are the same. The fact is, for most offices, the old CPU with an SSD and perhaps a RAM upgrade is really quite sufficient.
RobDaDestroya
16 May 17#24
Great for my primary school, if you only we had the the budget to stretch to a few.
welshknight
15 May 171#23
It might be a fact they have lots of computers in storage, it's also a fact that very few of their computers were actually infected and most of the service difficulties came from terminals or servers being shut down preventatively, not an entirely stupid thing to do. It's also a fact that it's not just a case of throwing new computers in every location... for example specialist locations - where there is custom, often critical and expensive hardware running legacy OS; for example embedded XP that need complex custom solutions to protect them and the IT offices can't cover all bases.
amour3k
15 May 17#21
Look's good for the money, and for something that's new in every way as well. :-)
drummerdickens
15 May 177#20
Haha where did he personally attack you? He just called you out on the fact you slated a PC that costs £179.
Are you expecting Alienware for that price?
spannerzone
15 May 177#19
That'll never happen - Microsoft have left this huge door open as they want everyone to go over to Windows 10. You can also do a fresh new install of Win10 using a Win7 or 8 licence key, no upgrade required, just a fresh new install.
Assistive technologies is just a name given to a bunch of features that many people might use in everyday situations like the high contrast screen settings, magnifier, zoom and so on...not just special features that only disabled people might need. MS want everyone to adopt Win10 and this allows a continual stream of upgrades that would otherwise not happen. MS probably have to be seen to not give it away to everyone so as to not upset their OEM's like Dell, HP and so on.
Nexy
15 May 174#18
Microsoft want everyone on Windows 10. WannaCry demonstrates why. It costs them nothing, but improves the chances of an upsell on OneDrive and Office 365, while decreasing the risk of that user becoming a ransomware statistic. They aren't going to care if you abuse a loophole to upgrade to 10.
This PC is fine for Facebook, eBay, email, Amazon, Netflix and iPlayer. So fine for 90% of people.
coldo
15 May 1719#12
The NHS should stock up on these !! at least a bit more secure than win XP !!
_hukdealer_ to coldo
15 May 17#17
NHS has lot of brand new computers, they just don't use them (most likely they fancy XP the most)...
They buy plenty of powerfull PCs time from time to reach the budget. Then they keep them for years in self storage. They just go out of date in few years and they probably throw them unopened to auction for few bucks. I work for logistics at NHS in London, it's a fact.
you_gotta_be_kidding
15 May 173#16
LMAO... anyone would think you're new here
zipt
15 May 1712#15
Anyone that thinks you can't use a web browser on 4GB of ram is an idiot. 4GB is perfect for basic tasks
aLV426
15 May 173#14
Like I stated this is HotUKdeals and not the best forum to discuss technical issues.You cannot directly compare a mobile phone processor to that of a Celeron. Your entire point is based on personal bias, have you actually used a PC equipped with a Celeron processor?
If you compare it to the latest generation i7 running benchmarks, then yes it is very slow, if you just surf the internet I doubt you would be able to tell the difference between this & an i7.
The minimum spec required for Windows 8.1:
Processor: 1 gigahertz (GHz) or faster.
RAM: 1 gigabyte (GB) (32-bit) or 2 GB (64-bit)
Hard disk space: 16 GB (32-bit) or 20 GB (64-bit)
Graphics card: Microsoft DirectX 9 graphics device with WDDM driver.
This machine meets at least double the minimum recommended requirements...
cidharten
15 May 171#13
Nice find. The monitor is standard 1366 x 768 res, if anyone wants to know.
It's almost as if the phrase "Having said that" means something. Feel free to respond with evidence, but instead you've just incorrectly personally attacked me. Please consider your future conduct.
commenter14
15 May 173#9
You can't get better spec for the price, my entire point is that the price is too low for a usable computer. 4GB will barely run a web browser in Windows 8.1. The processor is beaten by mobile phones these days. Not a good deal.
Sometimes in life not going for the thing that's cheapest is a better deal in the long run.
aLV426
15 May 1714#8
First this is HotUKdeals so heat added for the deal
1. Of course it's small compared to a bigger screen, however it's adequate for the task...
2. 4GB - explain why this is low these days? What needs (Needs, not "can take advantage of") more than 4GB that you would run on this machine? (it supports 8GB and is cheap to upgrade)
3. 8.1 is still in support...(Windows 8.1 falls under the same lifecycle policy as Windows 8, and will reach end of Mainstream Support on January 9, 2018, and end of Extended Support on January 10, 2023.)
4. It's all about perspective, it's actually a 64bit, 4 year old CPU, still usable
Post a deal that includes the same or better spec for £179...
Snakeyes646
15 May 17#7
Nice thanks, will do for my 10yr old :smile:
rapid111111
15 May 17#6
good value, heat.
SweeneyUK
15 May 1757#5
Hard to complain yet you complained about every component. it's £179....
commenter14
15 May 175#4
That's poor. Microsoft have set up that system to assist disabled people. If it's abused then they might withdraw it in the future.
commenter14
15 May 171#3
For the price it's hard to complain. Having said that...
1. 18.5" is pretty small for a monitor. Only 3.5" larger than a big laptop screen. I think 21" should be the bare minimum for a monitor.
2. 4GB is very low these days.
3. Windows 8.1 is outdated.
4. Really poor processor...
5. ...which won't at all be helped by a HDD.
johnnyd57uk
15 May 17#1
Decent bundle for the kids and basic tasks. Good reviews. Have some heat
![Fresh Breakfast Meat Box (Using code) @ Campbells Meat [Haggis / Lorne Sausage / Bacon / Black Pudding & More]](/images/topics/208684_1.jpg)
![[Xbox One] Q. u. b. e: Director's Cut on Deals with Gold](/images/topics/208716_1.jpg)
Opening post
Small enough to fit almost anywhere, the Acer Aspire XC-703 offers plenty of power and performance for your multimedia creativity and HD entertainment. Conveniently located on the lower front of the machine are frequently used I/O ports, which provide an easy way to access data. An Intel® Celeron® processor powers the XC-703 so you can easily finish tasks, watch videos, play games, and keep in touch with friends. The sizeable 1TB hard drive gives you plenty of space to store all your data, while the HDMI port lets you easily take your content to a big screen.
The Aspire XC-703 comes supplied with the Acer K192HQLB 18.5-inch LCD monitor, which delivers exceptional visuals with fine details and smooth movement. Using Acer Adaptive Contrast Management (ACM), the monitor optimises contrast to present the highest level of clarity and detail. Additionally, the K192HQLB LCD monitor uses less power making it environmentally friendly.
Top comments
https://www.microsoft.com/en-gb/accessibility/windows10upgrade
1. Of course it's small compared to a bigger screen, however it's adequate for the task...
2. 4GB - explain why this is low these days? What needs (Needs, not "can take advantage of") more than 4GB that you would run on this machine? (it supports 8GB and is cheap to upgrade)
3. 8.1 is still in support...(Windows 8.1 falls under the same lifecycle policy as Windows 8, and will reach end of Mainstream Support on January 9, 2018, and end of Extended Support on January 10, 2023.)
4. It's all about perspective, it's actually a 64bit, 4 year old CPU, still usable
Post a deal that includes the same or better spec for £179...
Latest comments (83)
It is not changeable or upgradeable.
It is roughly the same performance as an 8 series twin core from 10 years ago (but the lowest end..)
It is a load of old laptop reclaim junk in a desktop box.
**** the salesman's **** with a pineapple.
1. Enterprise customers do not upgrade to a new OS without careful planning and analysis of the compatibility of that OS with the software they use. A new OS also introduces change in an environment. From an Information Assurance perspective, that can impact Availability and even Confidentiality and Integrity, depending on the variables and unknowns. The fact that many companies still have Windows XP and even 2000 & NT installed is evidence of this fact.
2. Windows 10 requires new processes with respect to patching and upgrades and is, therefore, not a small piece of work. It requires involvement from many teams. Therefore, many enterprises are nowhere near upgrading as yet.
3. Unlike consumers, enterprises can't just upgrade a computer or buy new computers. They're processes, lifecycles and budgets governing the procurement of new equipment.
Furthermore, I find it bemusing when people comment on others' grammar while making comments that are poorly structured, grammatically speaking. :smirk:
With respect to incorporating computers in the curriculum, one has to accept that times have changed and we are living in an era where technology is changing at a pace that even IT professionals find challenging.
Children need to be prepared for the future, where just being able to read and write well will not be sufficient, if they hope to succeed. Learning to use technology effectively will be critical for modern inventors and entrepreneurs so anyone knocking the introduction of computers in schools is very ignorant of the educational needs of children in the 21st century.
It is a 4 year old laptop chip,similar in total power to a ten year old c2d dual core.
It is soldered on.
This machine is not upgradable in any meaningful way,it will always perform like a cheap laptop.
Caveat emptor!
No local admin and SRP/BitLocker would have stopped the initial infection.
Turning the firewalls on and/or disabling SMB server on desktops for the internal spread.
Both of these would have worked on XP.
And using what I assume is Home edition, is not suitable for mass deployments, even 10 Pro is not suitable (need Ent now).
Neither will stop a user opening and infecting themselves with malware - XP, 7, 8 and 10 can be locked down to mitigate this.
How about Window's built-in 'roll-back' feature/abilities, etc?.
Can't you use that one too?, or .....
If the system you have is capable of running windows 10 then maybe it's worthwhile, my current system is actually better than the one advertised here and just can't seem to cope with it, wish I'd never upgraded...
My father has a similar machine,and believe me, with a few browsers open and watching youtube or streaming a video,you will run out of ram.
I would not buy this,it is too much hassle and expense to make it worthwhile.
But I've had it since on new computers and am now upgrading my W7 Pc as I type this thanks to the link
on these pages i.e https://www.microsoft.com/en-gb/accessibility/windows10upgrade
Any problems I'll report them
I thought about recommending this system to a friend who is on a very low budget and desperately needs a new machine, but I just don't think it's a sensible buy. It looks hot at first glance, but really it's not.
Just like those people telling you to buy a 10 year old BMW instead of buying a Dacia.
This is a decent deal if you know what you're buying and accept the compromises of budget machines
Something like this? Not even a good deal but still cheaper:
http://www.tier1online.com/292-dell-780-sff/refurbished-dell-780-dual-core-e5300-2-60ghz-sff
About the same performance (Core 2 Duo E7400 - not top spec but still faster for most things - dual core vs quad core but better per core), 19" TFT, 1 year warranty and Windows 10, pre-installed on an SSD for £170, which would make it far superior for general home use.
Or this or this or this or this
https://www.microsoft.com/en-gb/accessibility/windows10upgrade
Most people looking at a very basic setup like this, if they have an old pc it will be the basic model from 9 years ago won't it? So this will be quicker - plus you get a guarantee, and fresh install.
Can you buy a rebuilt re-installed top spec 9 year old pc + monitor with a guarantee for £50? Probably not, so it only makes sense if you want to do it yourself - which i lot of people do not, and probably cannot.
If you don't have one already, you can buy a 9 year old PC for under £50. Why spend £180?
There is nothing wrong with Windows 7 with a decent AV.
Cold!
Seriously, why do some people have an obsession with how fast a PC runs? As others have said, for standard internet usage, this is a perfectly fine set-up and, at a time when desktop deals are far less prevalent, has to be a very good deal.
Are you expecting Alienware for that price?
Assistive technologies is just a name given to a bunch of features that many people might use in everyday situations like the high contrast screen settings, magnifier, zoom and so on...not just special features that only disabled people might need. MS want everyone to adopt Win10 and this allows a continual stream of upgrades that would otherwise not happen. MS probably have to be seen to not give it away to everyone so as to not upset their OEM's like Dell, HP and so on.
This PC is fine for Facebook, eBay, email, Amazon, Netflix and iPlayer. So fine for 90% of people.
They buy plenty of powerfull PCs time from time to reach the budget. Then they keep them for years in self storage. They just go out of date in few years and they probably throw them unopened to auction for few bucks. I work for logistics at NHS in London, it's a fact.
If you compare it to the latest generation i7 running benchmarks, then yes it is very slow, if you just surf the internet I doubt you would be able to tell the difference between this & an i7.
The minimum spec required for Windows 8.1:
Processor: 1 gigahertz (GHz) or faster.
RAM: 1 gigabyte (GB) (32-bit) or 2 GB (64-bit)
Hard disk space: 16 GB (32-bit) or 20 GB (64-bit)
Graphics card: Microsoft DirectX 9 graphics device with WDDM driver.
This machine meets at least double the minimum recommended requirements...
Sometimes in life not going for the thing that's cheapest is a better deal in the long run.
1. Of course it's small compared to a bigger screen, however it's adequate for the task...
2. 4GB - explain why this is low these days? What needs (Needs, not "can take advantage of") more than 4GB that you would run on this machine? (it supports 8GB and is cheap to upgrade)
3. 8.1 is still in support...(Windows 8.1 falls under the same lifecycle policy as Windows 8, and will reach end of Mainstream Support on January 9, 2018, and end of Extended Support on January 10, 2023.)
4. It's all about perspective, it's actually a 64bit, 4 year old CPU, still usable
Post a deal that includes the same or better spec for £179...
1. 18.5" is pretty small for a monitor. Only 3.5" larger than a big laptop screen. I think 21" should be the bare minimum for a monitor.
2. 4GB is very low these days.
3. Windows 8.1 is outdated.
4. Really poor processor...
5. ...which won't at all be helped by a HDD.