The Asus ExpertCenter E5 AiO 24 is possibly the best PC in the world for your business' reception. That might sound like an exaggeration but no other PC has a dedicated customer screen, at least as far as we know. It slips down to being 'just fine' in most other cases.
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Design
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Display
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Performace
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Price
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Features
All-in-one PCs satisfy a rather niche section of the PC market. The Asus ExpertCenter E5 AiO we recently spent time with dials that in even further. Most folks looking for an AiO are usually setting up some kind of small business and don’t want to worry about component compatibility.
They could go for a pre-built system, but maybe their available workspace is limited or they’d rather not have to deal with the mess of cables usually found behind a PC. That last point is especially true if the PC can’t be shoved under a desk and is visible to customers or prospective clients.
The Asus ExpertCenter E5 AiO avoids all of these pitfalls and provides a few extra features to sweeten the deal. While Asus doesn’t exclude home offices, the E5’s somewhat unique feature set would be a little wasted if it isn’t used in reception, a bank counter, or retail checkout. Basically, anywhere you’ve got a PC between you and your customer.
Performance to get the job done
Just like pre-built desktop systems, AiOs are often configurable. From the info page, it appears this one is as well. The ExpertCenter E5 we received was fairly well-equipped. Inside our review unit, we found an 11th-gen Intel Core i5-11500B. It’s paired with 8GB of DDR4 RAM and 512GB of NVMe storage space. Whether this is sitting on your desk in your home office or at the reception of your business, the specs offer enough performance for any receptionist or bank clerk.
The main 24in IPS display is a welcome addition. Asus could’ve cut costs here and used a cheaper option. We’re not saying this one is particularly special but the wider viewing angles you get from an IPS panel provide some versatility. The small degree of available tilt and the fact that you can rotate the screen (the whole PC in this case) into portrait mode adds to that.
IPS displays tend to struggle in other areas, like contrast ratio and response times, but those aren’t major concerns in a hotel lobby. It should be bright enough to still be visible against the fluorescent lights of a showroom.
The ExpertCenter E5’s port array further adds to its versatility. There’s a headphone jack and SD card reader on the left side, along with a USB-A and USB-C port. Around the back is where you’ll plug in the 150W power adapter. It’s also where you’ll connect another monitor via the HDMI port if you really want to.
Those are joined by a Gigabit Ethernet port (though WiFi 5 support means a cable isn’t necessary), two more speedy USB-A ports, and two older USB-A 2.0 ports for things like a slip printer, fingerprint reader, or barcode scanner.
The E5 also features a serial port to accommodate businesses with older equipment. Finally, and perhaps the only time we’ve felt the need to mention it, there’s a spot for a Kensington lock so no one walks away with your till.
Customer-friendly
‘But that’s not all’, we hear the salesman say as he directs your attention to the rear 5.65in secondary display. The optional VeriView touch display and its software take a bit of figuring out at first. Until you realise you’re overthinking it, then it becomes simple.
It doesn’t function like a second monitor plugged into a laptop, as Windows’ display settings think. But once you’ve got the proper software installed, your options are (nearly) limitless. Need your clients to physically confirm an agreement or select an option from a list? Throw that agreement or list onto the second screen and their business (and money) is a tap away.
Alternatively, you could present your guests or customers with a QR code taking them to a digital menu or payment page. Maybe you’d prefer to display an ad or the latest special offer as text, an image, or a video? Or you’re able to duplicate some or all of what’s on the main display to the smaller rear screen.
This feature sets the ExpertCenter E5 apart from, well… anything else on the market. Besides those dedicated point-of-sales machines. Those have their place at the till but good luck getting them to open an Excel spreadsheet.
Built for business
It should be clear by now that this Asus AiO is for business use. That’s further reflected in its RGB-less black plastic construction. Setup only takes as long as it takes you to get the thing out of the box and screw in the base. You won’t even need a screwdriver.
The optional wireless mouse and keyboard both connect to the same receiver, leaving a port free and there’s even a place for an optical drive. Up top, there’s a 720p webcam and built-in microphone. While you can use the webcam to join emergency Teams meetings, its real value lies with Windows Hello sign-in support. Additionally, Asus includes other security features, like the walk-away adaptive lock, to keep your sensitive business info from prying eyes.
There are also built-in speakers though we’d caution against using them if you want to retain your customer base. Still, it’s better to have the choice to not use them than to not have a choice at all.
Asus ExpertCenter E5 AiO 24 verdict
The ExpertCenter E5 marries the performance of a pre-built desktop system with the versatility of a laptop. While it’s capable of doing a lot, it doesn’t do anything exceptionally well. In some cases, that’s arguably better. Why buy multiple PCs, each for a single task, when the ExpertCenter E5 can cover all those tasks for a lot less money?
Outside of the numerous business examples, and if your workflow doesn’t require a specialised machine, the E5 will suffice as an office workstation or general-purpose home PC. But then you’re paying for features you won’t need or use. If all you need is utility, you can get it here in a single package for around R24,000.
