Say Goodbye to Slots and Ports Without Giving Up Accessories

One trend in personal computing can best be described as “less is more.” A handful of computer companies now offer systems that function pretty much like regular personal computers, but without some of the components that have been standard issue on PCs since IBM introduced its first one back in 1981.

This new breed of machines, sometimes referred to as “legacy-free systems,” generally come with a version of the Windows operating system and run all the same programs as regular PCs, but they lack internal expansion slots and the “ports” that are typically used to connect printers, external modems, keyboards and mice. But don’t worry. You can still connect all those devices. Instead of plugging a printer into the parallel port, the modem into a serial port and the mouse and keyboard into their own special sockets, you use the universal serial bus (USB) ports for these and many other add-on devices.

In fact, the USB ports can connect most devices--including scanners and digital video cameras--that used to require PC owners to take apart their machines to install special add-in boards inside the chassis. Some of these machines don’t even come with a floppy disk drive, though you can buy optional floppy drives that plug into a USB port.

All of today’s PCs have USB ports. What’s unique about these systems is that USB is not just an option--it’s the only way to add devices.

Intel, which has been the leading proponent of legacy-free systems, claims that removing expansion slots and extra ports streamlines the overall design and makes the machines less likely to crash and a bit faster than standard PCs.

I’ve test-driven the Dell WebPC that’s not only smaller than your average PC but a lot better-looking with its sleek system unit and matching monitor, keyboard and mouse. Unlike some vendors, Dell resisted the temptation to clone the design of the popular Apple iMac, yet the machine follows Apple’s lead of marrying form and function. Like the iMac, it even comes in colors. But instead of buying a blue, purple, orange, red or teal machine, you select an optional “color accent kit.” If your decor changes, you can buy a new kit for $29.

One thing I like about the Dell WebPC is that it is easy to set up. It took my son about three minutes to connect the keyboard, mouse and monitor to the main unit, plug in the power cord and flip the switch. But he’s 13. Adults may need a bit more time. Another nice touch--a single cable connects the monitor, the speakers and the microphone, which are built into the monitor.

The WebPC comes in three configurations. For $999 you get a system with a 433 megahertz Intel Celeron processor, 64 megabytes of memory, a 15-inch monitor and a 4.3-gigabyte hard drive. The processor is fast and powerful enough for almost all popular applications, but 64 megabytes of memory is barely adequate for many Windows programs. The capacity of the hard drive is, frankly underwhelming.

The $1,099 model gets you slightly more speed and storage with a 466-MHz processor and a 6.4-gigabyte hard drive. The system I like best costs $1,499 and comes with a 500-MHz processor; 128 megabytes of RAM, a 13-gigabyte hard drive and a DVD drive instead of the usual CD-ROM drive. An additional $850 buys you a very cool-looking 14-inch flat panel display that attaches directly to the main system unit. All models come with a Hewlett-Packard 610c color inkjet printer and a year of Dellnet Internet service. You can save $170 by forgoing the Internet service and printer. Dell offers a $400 rebate to anyone who agrees to pay $21.95 a month for an additional two-year Dellnet subscription after the first free year.

Like the Apple iMac, the Dell WebPC doesn’t come with a floppy disk drive. I criticized Apple for this and I feel the same about Dell. In both cases, if you’re willing to pay extra, you can add a floppy.

It also comes with an ethernet adapter that lets you connect it to a local area network or directly to the Internet if you have a cable modem or digital subscriber line (DSL). Dell isn’t marketing the machine for the educational market, but the ethernet port makes it an option for college students who typically have ethernet connectors in their dorm rooms and for K-12 classrooms that are wired to a school network. The absence of a floppy disk drive--a major annoyance for many users--can be a plus in some educational settings where floppy disks are a common source of computer viruses. The machine also comes with a unique help system. An “E” key brings up a self-help tutorial. If that doesn’t do the trick, the system can summon additional help via the Internet, even putting you into a live online chat with a technician.

While Dell is concentrating on the consumer market, Compaq Computer’s aiming its initial slimmed-down offering at the corporate market. Its iPAQ line, which starts at $499 without a monitor, challenges the notion that big companies need big and ugly computers. Compaq’s low-end version comes with a 500-MHz Celeron processor with 64mb of RAM and a 4.33-gigabyte hard drive: $799 gets you a pretty powerful machine with a faster Pentium III processor, 128mb of RAM and 8.4 gigabytes of disk space. The machines come without any storage but have a “multibay” that allows you to insert a CD-ROM drive ($95), DVD ($194), 120mb SuperDisk ($129) or an extra 6-gigabyte hard drive.

Any of these storage devices can be swapped in and out as needed. Unlike Dell’s WebPC, any iPAQ model allows you to configure it with additional memory or a larger hard drive. And Windows 2000, which typically costs extra, will come with the iPAQ machines as soon as Microsoft releases it. You also get five USB ports, an ethernet port and built-in audio.

Some tinkerers, gear heads and even normal users with old peripherals to connect may miss those expansion slots and extra ports. But from my vantage point, the trend toward elegant design and simplicity signals a welcome change.

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Technology reports by Lawrence J. Magid can be heard between 2 and 3 p.m. weekdays on the KNX-AM (1070) Technology Hour. He can be reached by e-mail at larry.magid@latimes.com. His Web site is at https://www.larrysworld.com