Display quality is just fine. There's nothing spectacular at play here. Color reproduction is accurate, though not especially vibrant. Brightness controls sit on the right side of the machine, adjacent to the DVD-burner. Video playback is flawless -- as expected, given the graphics hardware. The built-in speakers are adequate. While loud, they don't quite fill a room, which is fine for an office environment (preferable, even). They sound rather nice too -- a bit more bass would be great, but audio is clear, and crisp. Alas, this particular display is not a touchscreen. If jabbing at a screen is vital to your workflow, the offers a multi-touch display, in a larger shell.

The Compaq 6000 Pro's connectivity options are about average, for the category. On the left, you'll find the multi-format card reader, a pair of USB ports, the headphone and microphone jacks, and a four-pin Firewire port. The rear offers up five more USB ports. If you're serious about security and need those disabled from time to time, you'll also find PS/2 serial connectors for a mouse and keyboard. Audiovisual aides consist of a DisplayPort connector, and an audio output jack. The Gigabit Ethernet port is complemented by built in 802.11n connectivity -- both are standard complements, for the category.

But here's something that isn't: lay the Compaq 6000 Pro on its face (after you've shut it off, of course), and you can use a flat head screwdriver to pop off the rear panel. It's not as elegant as the ThinkCentre M90z's tool-free access, but still an exceedingly rare feature for All-in-Ones.

Internal access is also a feature that's arguably vital for breaking into the business space. If that black tower on your desk stops chugging along one day, you (or your IT specialist) can pop off the lid and tinker inside, making cost-effective upgrades or repairs without being beholden to the company you purchased it from. The Compaq 6000 Pro isn't nearly as amenable as a proper tower platform, but it's leagues ahead of most of the All-in-Ones that pass through our labs.

Inside, you'll be able to swap out the RAM, hard drive, and optical drive by removing panels that cover sections on the rear of the chassis. There isn't any room for adding additional components, but if you'd like to replace that DVD-burner with a spare Blu-Ray drive, you'll be fine. The entire unit is also VESA-mount compliant, for strapping to an articulating arm or attaching to a wall.