One of the joys of doing my work is getting exposed to scores of new and disruptive products. The Thanksgiving and December holidays are quickly approaching, so it’s the time of year when I’m fortunate enough to evaluate new tech products that merit attention. It’s a tough job, but someone has got to do it.
Keep in mind that my comments are not intended as deep-dive reviews but as initial impressions to spur you to do further investigation and research.
Let’s get started.
HP Envy 34 All-in-One Desktop (2022)
Even though the All-in-One (AIO) PC market has emulated the overall contraction in the desktop PC market over the past few years, the work-from-home phenomenon spurred by the pandemic has proven to be an encore for these convenient, mostly cable-free PCs. However, take note that AIOs typically offer minimal internal upgradeability, which could be a problem for some power users who don’t want those restrictions.
HP is one of the few PC makers that consistently launches new AIO designs yearly. The latest update of the HP Envy 34, currently with a starting price of $1,700, is one of the most beautifully designed models by the Palo Alto-based manufacturer.
HP Envy 34 All-in-One Desktop | Image Credit: HP
Squarely positioned to appeal to creative professionals, it also has broad utility for consumers and mainstream SMB users. The HP Envy 34 has an exquisite non-glare 5K 34″ display, a mobile HD webcam with an integrated shutter for privacy protection, and formidable performance.
Admittedly, comparably priced legacy desktops can offer more power, particularly in the discrete GPU area. But given its extensive feature set, the HP Envy 34 offers outstanding value for my money.
It is the perfect PC for executive offices, home offices, and dorm rooms because of its cable-free nature — it requires only a power cord as the keyboard and mouse connect by Bluetooth.A D V E R T I S E M E N T
Integrated on the back of the unit are the typical assortment of interfaces:
- 4 USB-A ports
- 2 Thunderbolt 4 ports
- Audio – headphone/microphone combo
- HDMI Out
- Gigabit Ethernet
Cable management is enhanced with a magnetic clip that helps keep cords organized and within reach, a very nice touch.
Creative professionals will be drawn to the colossal 34″ display that is laid out in a 21:9 aspect ratio with 5K resolution, which puts the Envy 34 display on par with Apple’s vaunted 27″ iMac. I found the 500 nits on this display to be exceptionally bright.
The 5K resolution (5120 x 2160) is common to all models of the HP Envy 34, though more expensive configurations include higher-end, game-friendly Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060 discrete graphics.
Another significant feature users should love is that conveniently mounted in the stand are two more USB-A ports, a media memory card reader, and a third USB-C port.
External I/O Ports on the HP Envy 34-c0340t All-in-One Desktop | Image Credit: HP
When configured with a high-end Intel i9-1100 processor, Nvidia RTX 3080 discrete graphics, 32 GB of memory, and 1 TB SSD, the price can quickly climb to $3,430. But reasonably configured models are available for less than $2,000, and it’s the ideal PC for work-from-home users, design-sensitive corporate execs, and professional content creators.