Having been disappointed by so-called 'ultra-slim’ desktops from HP in the past, we were a bit sceptical about what the new HP Compaq dc7800 might have to offer.

However, this latest attempt really is starting to live up to the name. OK, it’s not as slim as a notebook - or as most thin clients for that matter - and the brick-like AC adapter is a bit of a disappointment, but it’s pretty small, nonetheless. More than that, it can be made to almost disappear - simply by ordering the custom monitor-come-stand designed to go with it.

Of course, you don’t have to go for an HP display; any monitor can be used if you want. However, buy the 19in HP L1906i flat panel we tested (£149 ex Vat) and the processing unit can be screwed into place at the back (complete with its AC brick) so that the whole thing takes up no more room than the monitor alone.

And it’s a pretty nice monitor too. Clear and bright with a maximum resolution of 1,280x1,024, and there’s a counterbalanced mechanism to slide the screen up and down or tilt it back for comfortable viewing, making for a very usable as well as a stylish solution.

A single screw secures the lid of the small processing unit, which removes completely providing easy access for maintenance. Several configurations are available to suit different applications and budgets. Ours was fairly high end, shipping with a 2.66GHz Intel Core 2 Duo 6750 processor, accompanied by 1GB of DDR-2 memory. This we found more than adequate for running Microsoft Office and most other business applications
(a 60-day Office evaluation is included), although more Ram would be a good idea, given the Windows Vista operating system that comes with this model.

Up to 4GB of memory can be accommodated in total, using notebook-style Sodimm modules, with a similar notebook-style 2.5in 160GB hard disk and DVD/CD writer also supplied on this model.

On the downside, the Intel integrated video controller is nothing to get excited about, so this isn’t a suitable system if you want to do 3D modelling, photo editing or run any other graphics-intensive applications. The lack of any expansion slots could be an issue too, although you do get a Gigabit Ethernet interface and a whopping eight USB2 connectors as standard.

Another plus point is the lack of noise. We found the dc7800 Ultra-slim to be a lot quieter than most other desktops, thanks mainly to the external power supply and the use of low-energy components. These require less cooling as well as far less electricity than most other desktop PCs - the dc7800 consumes around 80 watts when in use and 10 in hibernation mode.

Things we didn’t like about the dc800 were the barely audible speaker built into the casing and the rather flimsy mouse delivered with the product. The keyboard was solid enough, but the use of cabled peripherals didn’t square with the stylish space-saving design. A wireless keyboard and mouse as standard would be a neat finishing touch.

Finally, like other members of the HP Compaq dc7800 family, the Ultra-slim supports Intel’s VPro technology, enabling it to be managed remotely whether initially powered up or not. The necessary software agents come preconfigured, but additional management software will be required to take full advantage of this option.