Design and aesthetic
One problem I have always faced with desktops in the past is that they are a bit too large for both my needs and the desk. But the Asus A3402 AIO doesn’t look like the traditional desktop I have grown up with. It’s unlike the desktops I have used before. Because it’s an all-in-one PC, it fits a computer, a screen, a webcam, and speakers into a space-saving frame.
The front of the computer dominates a 23.8-inch touchscreen display that appears like a giant smartphone screen sitting on a metal, L-shaped stand. The back of the system is a textured, white-plastic panel that looks very minimalistic. Like the iMac’s, the A3402’s stand doesn’t allow for height or swivel adjustment, only tilt. All ports are located on the back: an HDMI-in and an HDMI-out port, three USB 3.2 Type-A port, an Ethernet jack as well as a USB-C port. It’s good to see all the ports in one place. The other ports on the body of the computer are a 3.5 mm headphone jack and an additional USB Type-A port, both located on the bottom of the monitor. The location of the headphone jack is a little odd and initially
I have moved the computer around my house several times from setting up in the family room, then to my room, and back to the main hall, where it’s been stationed for a few days, serving as my primary computer.
Screen and speakers
At 23.8 inches, the screen size is somewhere between 21 and 27-inch. I always felt the 27-inch screen size was too large for my taste, while the 21-inch felt a bit too small for a consumer desktop. My parents struggle to read emails and e-paper on a laptop screen, but they found the 23.8-inch just the right size for web browsing and watching YouTube videos. The colors are vibrant, and everything looks crisper. The IPS FHD LCD screen is great, but if you have used an ultrawide monitor in the past, the screen may feel cramped.
It’s also nice to see the speaker output from a system as thin and light as this. The bass is underwhelming, but the music and movies sound great.
Keyboard and mouse
Both the keyboard and mouse come inside the box, so you don’t need to buy them separately. The size of the keyboard is standard but feels great to use. The bundled mouse, meanwhile, is sleek and lightweight. It has a minimalist design that lets the mouse blend into an office environment. It’s just a clean and straightforward wireless mouse.
Performance
The A3402’s performance depends on what kind of user you are. I am not a power user nor are my parents and if I would want to consider a family computer, the A3402 fits the bill. Inside, the AIO is powered by an Intel Core i5-1235U processor, 8 GB RAM 512 GB of SSD storage. From opening websites to running apps, day-to-day use was fast and fluid. I could edit and share documents in Google Docs, write and upload stories on the CMS.
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