Lenovo ThinkCentre M90z review

Lenovo’s business PCs always boast a party trick or two when it comes to getting to the internals, but the cramped confines of an all-in-one represent another challenge entirely. At best we’ve seen hatches for upgrading the RAM, but few manufacturers even go that far; it’s mostly a case of what you see is what you’re stuck with.

The solution, according to Lenovo’s ThinkCentre M90z, is to make the whole back panel of the machine removable. Two latches at the base free the panel from its housing and reveal the ingenuity required to build such an awkwardly shaped system. The processor cooler and power supply are fixed, but there’s a spare RAM slot next to the installed 2GB module, and both the desktop hard disk and slimline optical drive can be easily slid out of their bays without tools. Replacements can be installed in a matter of minutes.

Then there’s the choice of optional ergonomic stands: our sample came with a sturdy height-adjustable stand, complete with a bar on the back for easy lifting and lowering through an impressive 110mm, but you could also opt for the standard picture frame-style hinge or an extendable wall-mount arm. It means the M90z will fit on a busy office desk just as easily as a reception desk or a boardroom wall. Few all-in-ones can boast such flexibility.

The sturdy base and stand hold up a frame that’s typical Lenovo: solid, black and built to last, with little time wasted on such niceties as looks. It certainly wouldn’t get lucky in a nightclub of VAIOs and iMacs, but that’s not what the ThinkCentre line tries to do; instead its ease of upgrade and build quality put any concerns about blandness firmly in their place.

The M90z follows the current trend towards 23in Full HD screens, and for the intended office environment the quality is perfectly good. A matte finish means you don’t have to worry about reflections, this panel will be fine under fluorescent lights. And with an even 250cd/m[sup]2[/sup] backlight and no visible backlight bleed, it sailed through our DisplayMate tests. It does lack a bit of punch and colour, but then this isn’t meant for watching movies. There is a set of stereo speakers built in, and they’re loud enough for the audio they’ll likely be tasked with.

We’re still not convinced a touch interface on a PC is for everyone, so it’s good to see it as an optional feature on the M90z. Our review sample came without touch, and also lacked the webcam – which comes with its own sliding lens cover to disable it completely – so we can’t pass judgement, but they’ll soon be available to configure on Lenovo’s website should they be up your street.

Around the sides you’ll find a bog-standard DVD writer next to a card reader and two USB 2 ports, with a further four around the back. There’s no wireless adapter but you get Gigabit Ethernet, and Lenovo has opted for a D-SUB input for using the M90z as a monitor for other devices, and a DisplayPort output for hooking it up to an external display.

Inside, the M90z is a very powerful system, with a 3.2GHz Intel Core i5-650 desktop CPU and 2GB of RAM. It coasted to an overall benchmark score of 1.94, which puts it way ahead of most all-in-ones we’ve tested, making it ideal for intensive applications. The caveat is you can’t throw anything too graphically demanding at it: with only an Intel HD graphics chip it failed to get close to 30fps in our lowest Crysis test. A full-blooded workstation this certainly isn’t.

It has a 250GB hard disk with Windows 7 Professional 64-bit installed, and you get all of Lenovo’s ThinkVantage software tools to ease rollouts, updates and remote fixes, plus it’s vPro certified. The ThinkVantage Client Security software also combines with the integrated TPM for enhanced hardware security, and you can specify an optional chassis intrusion switch too.

Throw in a basic wired keyboard and mouse set, and you have a competent and well-rounded all-in-one with some delightful touches to set it aside from the normal consumer-focused offerings. At £756 exc VAT from a reseller for the basic hinge-arm version, it’s not expensive either – the adjustable stand could add as much as £50 when Lenovo begins to offer a customisable version, but even with that it looks good value. The only question is whether many offices would consider an all-in-one a little limiting in the long-term. It may therefore be a niche product, but for those who buy into it, it’s the first all-in-one really suitable for use in a business environment.

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