Our review model, priced at $699 (as of June 3, 2011), packs a 2.5GHz Core i5-2400S processor, 4GB of RAM (upgradable to 8GB), and 320GB of hard-drive space. The system also features a tray-loading DVD slot, Wi-Fi 802.11b/g/n, and runs the 64-bit version of Windows 7 Professional.

The Veriton L4610G is housed in a matte black-and-gray plastic chassis. The chassis is small--much smaller than the towers of most mainstream desktop PCs--measuring 9.84 inches tall by 8.07 inches long by 2.44 inches thick. You can orient the machine upright on the included stand, or lay it on its side (the right side of the machine has four rubber feet).

The Veriton L4610G's design isn't anything special, though Acer obviously tried to mix it up a little: The front of the machine is split into three parts--one gray, one silver, and one black. The Veriton L4610G has some angular touches, too, including a slim, octagonal stand. The front of the machine holds a power button and a few convenience ports--headphone/microphone jacks and four USB 2.0 ports.

The remaining ports--four additional USB ports, a VGA port, a DVI port, a gigabit ethernet port, an LPT printer port, and a COM1 serial port--occupy the back of the machine, which also accommodates a Kensington lock port, input/output jacks, and another microphone jack.

The Veriton L4610G ships with a three-button optical mouse and a keyboard. Both are basic, Acer-branded, USB-wired peripherals with no special touches. The keyboard has wide, flat keys and gives little feedback, though it does have edicated buttons for volume controls (mute/up/down) and a sleep button.