InFocus BigTouch review

All-in-one PCs don’t usually strain the workbenches in the PC Pro Labs, but, as the name suggests, the InFocus BigTouch is a little larger than the average system. Indeed, InFocus has fused a 55in LCD TV, optical touchscreen technology and the innards of a laptop to create a truly gargantuan all-in-one.

The sheer size of the BigTouch is initially overwhelming. It weighs a staggering 38kg and, at more than 4ft wide, assembling and lifting the machine is a two-person job. It’s by far the biggest screen we’ve seen on an all-in-one PC, but while it looks like a giant TV, the BigTouch isn’t designed to dominate living rooms – InFocus intends this system to be used in classrooms and boardrooms.

Unsurprisingly, the BigTouch is virtually impossible to use as a regular all-in-one PC. Stretching a Full HD resolution across a 55in display means the panel’s pixel structure is visible even from a couple of feet away. In addition, the LCD screen’s brightness levels are dazzling up close, and it’s difficult to reach the top or sides of the screen while seated.

If you’re presenting to a room full of people, however, the BigTouch makes a lot of sense. The wide bezels make it easy to use Windows 8’s edge-swipe gestures, and the 1,920 x 1,080 native resolution looks pin-sharp if you’re sitting a little further away. The huge screen and relatively modest resolution also ensure text remains legible from a distance, too.

The five-point touchscreen uses optical sensors mounted around the screen’s edges, and it’s consistently smooth to use – Windows 8’s Live tiles skimmed left and right fluidly. The included SSD made sure applications sprang to life quickly, too.

The BigTouch’s panel delivers solid image quality. The maximum brightness of 513cd/m[sup]2[/sup] is enough to remain legible in even the most brightly lit boardrooms, and the contrast ratio of 2,230:1 is even better. The BigTouch delivers undeniably punchy images, and its matte finish is a boon in the office. Colour accuracy isn’t hugely impressive, however, and the high colour temperature of 8,370K left images looking excessively bluish and cold.

Physically, the BigTouch’s chassis is less striking – InFocus has gone for a practical, no-nonsense design. The screen is surrounded by a thick, plain bezel, and we’ve no issues about build quality – the BigTouch may be made of plastic, but it feels built to last. It’s also littered with connectivity options: there are four USB 2 sockets on the right-hand side and two more around the back, plus HDMI, S-Video, RCA, D-SUB, component and composite inputs, and a pair of audio inputs and outputs.