Lenovo B50 Review and Ratings

Introduction & Features

The Lenovo B50 is an all-in-one desktop with modest aspirations. It doesn't boast the sleekest, thinnest design. It doesn't include a battery that would let it act as a giant tablet. It doesn't lie flat for tabletop use, although it features a touch-screen display. And despite the presence of dedicated graphics—a rarity among all-in-ones—it's not a gaming powerhouse.
What the B50 does do, however, it does well. The 24-inch (all right, 23.8-inch) display is an in-plane switching (IPS) panel for wide viewing angles and features 10-point multi-touch support, both of which mean the system can be enjoyed while seated in front, to the side, or next to others. And edge-to-edge glass lends a touch of luxury to an otherwise ordinary look. Below the display, two JBL speakers pump out impressive sound. Lastly, a useful collection of ports and a DVD burner lend the B50 some PC bona fides in an area where many all-in-ones sacrifice in an effort to compete with tablets and other consumer electronics.

On the inside, a fourth-generation Intel Core i7 processor, 12GB of memory, Nvidia GeForce graphics, and a 2TB hybrid hard drive deliver ample application performance and modest 3D gaming capability at the right settings. The whole package can be yours for $1,099, while penny-pinchers can choose a lower-end model with a Core i5 CPU and integrated graphics for $849.
With its crisp display and surprisingly powerful audio, the Lenovo B50 works well for entertainment pursuits such as watching movies and YouTube videos. And in a small to medium-sized room, it might suffice for music playback, something we don't typically recommend with the integrated speakers of an all-in-one.
For general office use, its internals are overkill, though they should give you a leg up in the race against obsolescence—an important consideration for any PC purchase, but even more so with an all-in-one that forces you to junk the display along with the computer when it reaches its end. Although its mid-range GeForce GT 840A graphics processor won't make the Lenovo the belle of the frag party, when paired with a Core i7 it makes the B50 capable of media creation and editing chores, smooth HD video playback, and serious multitasking. This is one all-in-one you won't soon outgrow.

Design

The Lenovo B50 won't turn heads, but it's not without its charms. It comes dressed in business black, making it a fit for either home or office. Edge-to-edge glass covers the display on the front, and a speaker bar runs the width of the system along the bottom edge. A textured plastic cover hides the internals behind the display. A sturdy, V-shaped stand offers steady support and some tilt adjustment.
The display offers every feature you could want. Besides providing IPS technology for wide viewing angles and 10-point multi-touch support, it features 1,920x1,080 resolution for 1080p HD playback. Images looked crisp and bright, and the touch support felt accurate and responsive. We also like the size of the display; at roughly 24 inches, it's not so big as to overwhelm you when seated directly in front of it in desktop mode, but it's big enough that the gang can gather around without needing to be crowded right up front when watching a movie.
The two front-facing JBL speakers pumped out the jams, as it were. We've grown accustomed to all-in-one audio that suffices for movie dialogue but falls short of the depth and power required for anything approaching fulfilling and enjoyable music playback. Not so with the B50. Its speakers emit full, loud sound that can fill small to medium-sized rooms, and it remains clear at maximum volume with a decent bass response.

A 2-megapixel Webcam sits above the display and produces a clear image with accurate colors and skin tones for videoconferencing, yet it's actually a possible reason to postpone your B50 purchase: Lenovo says it will soon introduce a version of the all-in-one with a 3D Intel RealSense camera, which will let you scan objects in three dimensions and interact with games and other apps by moving your hands and head in front of the camera.

Features

The B50 lacks the onboard battery that smaller all-in-ones such as the Dell XPS 18$1,299.99 at Dell and Lenovo Horizon 2s$944.89 at Amazon provide so that you can unplug them and use them as you might a tablet, curled up on the couch or sitting at the kitchen table. Instead of entertaining tablet aspirations, the B50 stays true to its desktop roots and provides a wealth of ports and connections where smaller all-in-ones offer a stripped-down collection.
On the back panel, you'll find both HDMI-in and -out ports, three USB 2.0 ports, and an Ethernet jack. Most systems include an HDMI-out port, which lets you connect a second screen. The HDMI-in port, ideal for cramped apartments or dorm rooms, lets you use the B50 as a display with a game console, cable box, or other device with HDMI out put.

On the left edge are a pair of USB 3.0 ports, headphone and microphone jacks, and a flash card slot. On the right you'll find a tray-loading DVD burner, the power button, and a button to switch between PC mode and HDMI-in mode. The Lenovo also has you covered for wireless communication with 802.11ac Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 4.0.
By contrast, you don't get the latest technology with the bundled peripherals; the keyboard and mouse are both wired. For a system priced north of $1,000, we expected a cordless set to be included, or at least a higher-quality one: The mouse is your basic ambidextrous rodent with an optical sensor. The keyboard feels light to the point of being cheap and sounds clacky when typing.

We were also shocked by the amount of bloatware Lenovo added to the system. You'll find dozens of preloaded apps on the Start screen, from Amazon to Zinio, with a large number of Lenovo's own apps as well. Thankfully, the company confirmed for us that the Superfish adware package that posed a security risk is not included.