Read reviews for desktop computers from people just like you! To begin, select a manufacturer from the following list:
Manufacturer
IBM
Description
Positives:
Sharp monitor; IT-friendly software and features; built-in speaker; easy access to internal components; choice of application suites, including Office XP Pro.
Negatives:
Staid design; limited space for internal expansion; a few odd software inclusions.
Facts:
The NetVista M42 won't win any speed or beauty contests, but IBM's deployment tools and support options will please IT.
Review
The cost of owning a business PC doesn't end with the purchase price. Corporations also must invest in deployment, maintenance, and support, all of which can turn a seemingly inexpensive PC into a financial sinkhole over the long run. With support options such as ImageUltra and RapidRestore, IBM gives IT departments the tools they need to easily manage the deployment and maintenance of multiple PCs. The IBM NetVista M42's tools, support, and optional services contribute to lowering the total cost of ownership and complement a well-rounded, if generally unexciting, corporate system.
The cost of owning a business PC doesn't end with the purchase price. Corporations also must invest in deployment, maintenance, and support, all of which can turn a seemingly inexpensive PC into a financial sinkhole over the long run. With support options such as ImageUltra and RapidRestore, IBM gives IT departments the tools they need to easily manage the deployment and maintenance of multiple PCs. The IBM NetVista M42's tools, support, and optional services contribute to lowering the total cost of ownership and complement a well-rounded, if generally unexciting, corporate system.
Built for office apps
With a 2GHz Pentium 4 processor, 256MB of DDR SDRAM, and a 40GB hard drive, the IBM NetVista M42 arrives well equipped for mainstream business applications. It performs on a par with other systems in its CPU class, although we do question one aspect of the M42's architecture: the Intel 845G/GL chipset that drives the NetVista's integrated graphics subsystem is allocated a whopping 64MB of system memory. IBM might want to rethink this move, as no amount of video memory can compensate for the relative pokiness of the Intel chipset. Business users would be better served by conserving system RAM.
Though built into a low-profile desktop case that also can stand vertically, the NetVista is nowhere near as compact as enterprise systems such as the Compaq Evo D500 and the Dell OptiPlex GX50. Instead, it's more than 16 inches deep and fairly heavy, thanks to its sturdy metal chassis. (IBM also offers a chassis that's 2 inches shorter and 3 inches deeper, if you need something smaller.) Overall, the flat-black NetVista suffers from a dated, unappealing appearance.
Bigger might be better
Fortunately, what lies beneath the surface is more attractive. It's refreshingly easy to access the machine's innards; just push two buttons on either side of the case and lift off the cover. You'll also find that it's just as simple to remove the floppy, CD-ROM, and hard drives, which are installed in separate cases that come right out. IT staff could replace the hard drive in about 30 seconds, though it would take a bit longer to swap the other two drives, which are screwed to their bezels.
Though it lacks the sleekness of a compact desktop, the system shares the expansion limitations. The NetVista has two memory sockets (one of which is free), three PCI slots, and an AGP slot. But the case limits you to half-height cards, which severely cut your options. Although we'd love to be able to add a faster video card, for example, we don't know of one that would fit. On the other hand, you couldn't ask for more external expandability; the NetVista serves up six USB 2.0 ports, two of them front-accessible.
IBM's G78 CRT monitor earns kudos for its dazzling contrast and above-average clarity, as it stays surprisingly sharp even at its maximum resolution of 1,600x1,200. More kudos go to IBM for equipping the NetVista with an internal speaker, generally not found in most corporate systems.
IT-friendly all around
To help large corporations simplify the deployment of multiple systems, IBM offers a contract service called ImageUltra, which loads a custom image on each machine prior to shipping. Another IT-friendly feature, Rapid Restore, enables push-button backup and restoration of the entire hard drive. The NetVista also has a robust set of boot and I/O security features embedded in the BIOS. Each NetVista comes with Symantec's Norton AntiVirus 2002, PC-Doctor, IBM's online-support tools, and a choice of Lotus SmartSuite, Microsoft Works, or Microsoft Office XP Professional. In the service of a standard disk image across all configurations, IBM also supplies RecordNow, a CD-burning utility, and WinDVD, even though the system has only a 48X CD-ROM drive.
IBM's praiseworthy support plan blankets the machine with a three-year parts and labor warranty, which includes onsite service and 24/7 toll-free phone help. Some upgrades also extend onsite coverage to four years and add round-the-clock accessibility, which is useful for call centers and other enterprises that operate 24 hours per day.
IBM's experience shows in the software, service, and generally IT-friendly design. So long as you never want to add a card to the system, you're in business with the NetVista M42.