Acer boasts that the Veriton N282G's Nvidia Ion 2 GPU gives the computer ten times the performance of regular integrated graphics. In our tests, the machine handled streaming HD video with relative ease, though we occasionally saw stuttering in fast-moving scenes. On the other hand, the PC failed to produce playable frame rates on our Unreal Tournament benchmark game test at any quality setting and at any resolution, so you can rule out playing graphics-intensive games.

To supplement Windows 7 Professional Edition's built-in security features, Acer provides its Veriton Control Center suite of apps, which we discuss at length in our review of the. The Control Center offers user-friendly front ends for standard Windows 7 features. Power Saver controls the machine's energy-management features; Smart Boot lets you specify which apps Windows should activate at startup; eSetting enables you to review your system's status and specifications; and eLock Management gives you the opportunity to grant access to the terminal to other users. These are fairly standard capabilities, but they're useful nonetheless.

Acer's Veriton N282G is an inexpensive compact PC with great connectivity. Most of its performance deficiencies are normal for a PC of its class, and its better-than-average security features help it stand out among low-cost business machines. For a little more money, however, you can buy a PC of similar size that offers much stronger performance.