Advent AIO-156

The AIO-156 was able to play standard-definition YouTube streams, video files and DVDs smoothly, but the teeny integrated speakers hardly did justice to the experience. When we tried more demanding media files, at resolutions of 720p and above, the results were jerky and unwatchable.

At £374 exc VAT the AIO-156 is the same price as the AIO-100, so while that older unit remains available it's worth considering as an alternative.

The decision boils down to your views on the 156's touchscreen: if you like the idea of having applications and icons literally at your fingertips, in a proper desktop machine, this may be your best bet.

But for our money, the touchscreen feels like a superfluous gimmick, and the AIO-100's larger, more vibrant screen makes for a more pleasurable overall experience. For that reason, though there's a lot to like about the AIO-156, we fear it's a step backwards.

Author: Darien Graham-Smith