HP unveils Z1, the world's first all-in-one workstation

We’re used to all-in-one PCs and pretty much every major desktop PC manufacturer, out there has a few models. They’re usually not as powerful as their mainstream desktop PCs, because of slightly lower spec’d hardware, but HP has taken the same compact design and built a workstation around it. The HP Z1, as it’s being called is the world’s first ever workstation. Traditionally, workstations are massive - much larger than the standard desktops and they bundle a ton of processing power, all thanks to massive processors, graphics cards and hard drives. HP has managed to squeeze all of that firepower into the elegant, compact chassis of an all-in-one PC.

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The Z1 is designed for professionals working on CAD and 3D modelling or any other graphics intensive applications. The Z1 has a 27-inch LED-backlit IPS display and HP has stuffed it with quad-core Intel Xeon processors in place of the desktop Core i3/i5/i7 line of processors. There’s also NVIDIA’S workstation class of graphics solutions - Quadro built into it. Customers can choose from a variety of options for the hard drive solutions to choose from - 7200 and 10,000 rpm drives, SSDs and even RAID setups - like in a regular workstation. This is probably one of the few all-in-one PCs that can be opened up and upgraded with ease. HP boasts that it’s a tool-less setup, so users can swap out hardware with ease. 

Like any other all-in-one, there are speakers built into the display, too and the integrated webcam is capable of recording HD video as well. There’s no official date on the Indian launch yet, but the Z1 will start selling in the U.S, sometime around April with the cheapest model priced at $1,899 (approx. Rs. 95,000). Of course, with customizations that price is expected to swell up. The Z1 changes the way users look at workstations. They’re no longer bulky, ugly boxes that make a lot of noise. With a few compromises, it’s possible to shrink them down to the size of an all-in-one. Workplaces that require the processing power, but don’t have a lot of space will find the Z1 to be a blessing.