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Dell expands its "Studio" family

When it comes to designer PCs, Apple's offerings tend to rank near the top. For all of the complaints about high prices or a lack of features, products like the MacBook Air and Mac Mini are often acclaimed for their minimalistic designs.

Dell is looking to blaze a path of its own with a new line of desktop computers which will complement the recently introduced Studio 15 and Studio 17 notebooks. The new Studio Hybrid desktop PC is the size of a collegiate dictionary according to dell and can be situated either horizontally or vertically.

Continuing the trend of offering customers a choice to personalize their machines, Dell offers interchangeable sleeves in Bamboo, Emerald, Quartz, Ruby, Sapphire, Slate, or Topaz. In addition, an optional Bamboo finish can be had for a whopping $130.

Once you can past the Studio Hybrid's design, there's plenty to offer under the hood. The base machine comes with a Pentium Dual Core T2390 (1.86GHz) processor, 8x slot-loading DVD burner, 1GB of DDR2 memory, 160GB SATA HDD, and an integrated Intel X3100 graphics adapter.

A fully decked out machine features a Core 2 Duo T5750 (2.0GHz) processor, Dell E207WFP 20" monitor, 6x Blu-ray drive, 3GB of DDR2 memory, and a 320GB SATA HDD.

Prices start at $499 for the base configuration and go on up to $1,099 for the aforementioned range-topping model. The Dell Studio Hybrid desktop PC is available for purchase right now. PC Magazine already has a review of the machine up on their site as well.

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pick one up to spite apple
By TheDoc9 on 7/29/2008 2:18:39 PM , Rating: 2
With a bit more power this would also make a good HTPC.




RE: pick one up to spite apple
By murphyslabrat on 7/29/08, Rating: -1
RE: pick one up to spite apple
By Vertigo101 on 7/29/2008 2:33:43 PM , Rating: 5
No.

The PS3 XMB media playback still has plenty of problems with older DiVX content, not to mention files with AC3 audio.

As for the linux side of things, still no.

A $399 PC would handle the job much better than an in-order PPC core.


RE: pick one up to spite apple
By Aikouka on 7/29/2008 2:35:41 PM , Rating: 3
Well, I think that just comes down to personal preference. I have a PS3 and a 360, but I still have a PC hooked up to my TV to handle multi-media. It's great to not have to jump through hoops when a media type isn't supported and was especially great when the PS3 and 360 didn't support MPEG4. It's also good, because I still haven't been able to get the PS3 or the 360 to properly display some videos. For example, some videos that I have with embedded subtitles have issues with the bottom of the subs being cut off. I don't have this problem on the PC, but nothing that I've done on the 360 or the PS3 has fixed it.

Although, I don't think I'd choose something like this anyway, as my media machine also serves to store files (video and other things) in which this thing does not look like it has ample space to hold multiple terabytes worth of hard drives.


RE: pick one up to spite apple
By Schadenfroh on 7/29/2008 3:11:37 PM , Rating: 5
I disagree, the PS3 is incapable of playing NetFlix, HULU, Fancast or just about any video streaming that require the latest version of flash.


RE: pick one up to spite apple
By mmntech on 7/29/08, Rating: 0
RE: pick one up to spite apple
By afkrotch on 7/30/2008 3:30:31 AM , Rating: 2
quote:
I agree that the Dell Studio is overpriced given its hardware configuration, especially if you want to use it as an HTPC.


I really don't see it being overpriced. You'd be hardpressed to build a machine with the same specs and near the same size for the same price.

With it's innards, I think it's more than capable of playing any media files you wanted to play. Yes, a discrete graphics solution would be good, for the blu-ray config, but not a necessity. Throw on an external usb tv tuner and you'd be pretty set.

As soon as I saw this I thought "wow, perfect HTPC for me. Cheap and hdmi capable." Storage isn't of a concern to me. It can have a 10 gig hard drive for all I care. I store all my files on my 7 TB file server.


RE: pick one up to spite apple
By retrospooty on 7/29/2008 9:23:19 PM , Rating: 1
Goog then... Ill pick one up to Spite Sony!


RE: pick one up to spite apple
By bugzrrad on 7/29/2008 2:52:56 PM , Rating: 2
What video "card" is in the BluRay unit? The X3100 can't do hardware accelerated H.264


RE: pick one up to spite apple
By daftrok on 7/29/2008 8:55:35 PM , Rating: 2
Im assuming a 9200 or something along the lines of low end video cards


RE: pick one up to spite apple
By Flunk on 7/29/2008 9:33:01 PM , Rating: 2
X3100, there is no option for discrete graphics. It must decode with the CPU but that shouldn't be a problem for a Core 2 Duo.


After all these years, PCs are trying to have style
By Belard on 7/29/2008 2:32:04 PM , Rating: 2
Since the Apple iMac, the PC companies have yet to do anything with syle. So now they're figuring this out?

Check out this computer concept that has been around for years. Interesting?

http://www.geocities.com/discpc




By Smartless on 7/29/2008 2:40:57 PM , Rating: 1
Lol for some reason, I thought that was one of those scales that checks your body fat percentage.


By ksherman on 7/29/2008 2:56:56 PM , Rating: 2
Interesting? Um, no. Sorry.


By kelmon on 7/30/2008 3:49:33 AM , Rating: 2
I think the only interesting aspect of that is the part where you wonder what the designers were thinking of. It looks like the PC version of the old 7Up Cool Spot mascot and is absolutely hideous. Clearly they grasped the concept of the "all in one" design concept and then, for reasons unknown, decided that packing it into a circular design was the way to go. Circular designs are not attractive.

Dell's XPS One, for example, is a much better design.


By Belard on 7/30/2008 5:20:11 AM , Rating: 2
Well, it is out to be a different sort of design. Looking at the new HP and Sony AIO designs, they look like LCD monitors pretty much.

On the iMacs, the entire bottom is dead space for the computer parts. On this Discpc design, the speakers are on the side. A handle on the back. It cant be put on a table on its own, but neither does any of todays AIO computers.

Circular designs are ugly? What about rims on cars? Airliners, missles? Power buttons? The Dell Logo? Sony actually has a circle computer, its the size of the mac mini and costs about $1000 I think.


By afkrotch on 7/30/2008 7:48:43 AM , Rating: 2
Umm...rims on cars are circular cause they have to be, not because they are trying to be stylish. They work with what they can do. Airliners and missles are long tubes, not an orb flying through the air. Circular buttons are circles, as they use less plastic than a square button that is the same length of the circle.

Certain things aren't circles as they are more organized. Like keys on a keyboard or cardboard boxes.

Dell logo is just the word Dell with a bent E. It happens to be in a circle half the time.


By kelmon on 7/30/2008 9:32:59 AM , Rating: 2
Well, if you like circles then that's fine but I personally don't find them attractive. It's a constant shape that doesn't provide any interest to the eyes. It's boring.


Well ...
By Darkness Flame on 7/29/2008 5:17:03 PM , Rating: 5
I think it's a great competitor to the Mac Mini. I mean, weight the pros and cons.

Pros
+ Upgrade the processor to a 2.6 GHz T9500, instead of a 2.0 GHz
+ Up to 4 GBs of RAM, instead of 2
+ Up to 360 GB hard drive instead of 160 GB
+ Intel X3100 graphics instead of GMA 950
+ 5 USB ports instead of 4
+ Built-in HDMI and HD Audio output
+ Option for built-in Blu-Ray drive
+ Option for built-in Draft-N Wireless
+ Comes in more than one color
+ Can be placed upright
+ More energy efficient
+ Cheaper

Cons
- Larger and heavier
- No built-in Bluetooth
- Wireless internet is only an option
- Still only integrated graphics
- No built in speaker

In an overall sense, it seems like a good deal for a micro desktop option.




RE: Well ...
By CSMR on 7/29/2008 11:53:11 PM , Rating: 3
Good list.
Shame they aren't using the almost-out G45 (X4500) integrated graphics. Would be ideal for this form factor. Hopefully they will make a new model.
No integrated speaker isn't really a con for the people that read this forum.


RE: Well ...
By kelmon on 7/30/2008 3:35:37 AM , Rating: 2
I have no idea what Apple is doing with the Mac Mini but it definitely seems to be the unloved child in the product family. In this respect the Mac Mini hasn't really been upgraded since the original move to Intel and making a better system shouldn't be difficult. The Mini either needs to be put out of its misery or just killed off entirely.

In respect to the Dell, I'm actually pretty impressed and that's not something that I say very often. Clearly this isn't going to appeal to hardcore PC gamers but I think the styling, price and specifications will appeal to your average consumer looking for a decent desktop PC. Good on Dell and congrats to their design department.


Is it just me....
By Dianoda on 7/29/2008 2:21:23 PM , Rating: 2
Doesn't the vertically-oriented unit + stand look like it would tip over in light breeze (or more likely, a slight bump)? Broken hardware waiting to happen if you ask me...




RE: Is it just me....
By maven81 on 7/29/2008 4:51:43 PM , Rating: 3
Depends on how heavy they are I guess. But my question is how is this thing any different from an external usb hard drive design wise? Looks just like any Lacie or Western digital enclosure, just in different colors.


RE: Is it just me....
By kmmatney on 7/29/2008 5:42:53 PM , Rating: 2
It has to be screwed into the base somehow. They couldn't be stupid enough to let gravity hold it in (can they?)


RE: Is it just me....
By UppityMatt on 7/29/2008 11:04:53 PM , Rating: 2
Just another reason for that dell sales rep to try and sell you there Extended Accidental Coverage for a mere $$$


By Chris Peredun on 7/29/2008 2:17:09 PM , Rating: 5
quote:
Pros: No crapware
Cons: Only a 30-day subscription to (Norton) Internet Security

I was pretty sure they had just finished saying "no crapware."

I think they missed a spot.




RE: PC Magazine pros and cons not quite lining up ...
By TSS on 7/29/08, Rating: -1
By 306maxi on 7/30/2008 2:42:23 AM , Rating: 1
I'm sorry but Norton is a PoS. I ran Norton for years and endured many comments from other people so I decided after a reformat not to reinstall Norton and my PC ran much much better.


By tehbiz on 7/30/2008 3:33:14 AM , Rating: 2
its called sarcasm, maybe you should wikipedia it.


By BruceLeet on 8/2/2008 2:17:07 PM , Rating: 1
Install Kaspersky, NOD32 or BitDefender and compare how many trojans Norton missed hah.


I wouldn't care if...
By Cheapshot on 7/29/2008 2:19:34 PM , Rating: 3
the PC came in a shoebox... if it had what I wanted and ran well.

But I realize that most users do not care for what is "under the hood".

All Dell needs to do now is hype it up to be more than it is as the Apple marketers do... Perhaps say in the commercial that it's Eco-friendly design and have a guy pick one from a hanging tree branch... with rotting apples on the ground below.




RE: I wouldn't care if...
By cochy on 7/29/2008 3:25:19 PM , Rating: 2
quote:
Eco-friendly


Wooah slow down. We haven't heard how these rank in those Greenpeace Toxicity tests!

=P


RE: I wouldn't care if...
By Flunk on 7/29/2008 9:36:40 PM , Rating: 2
Who cares? Since when did Greenpeace actually use relevant and accurate testing methods?


Hybrid ?
By Silver2k7 on 7/30/2008 3:02:14 AM , Rating: 2
Whats with the hybrid, I don't get it, is it just there to make it sound cool or waht ?




RE: Hybrid ?
By kelmon on 7/30/2008 3:54:41 AM , Rating: 2
To make it sound cool. On looking at it I can't see anything that has been mixed to produce this - it's a standard PC contained in some attractive packaging at a good price. If you could use the CD drive to cook toast, for example, then it could be called a "hybrid". That said, that feature is unlikely to be popular since the only option appears to be to burn...


Wow...
By JosefTor on 7/29/2008 11:45:29 PM , Rating: 3
Wow... I am impressed. The PC industry is finally developing PC's and laptops that are innovative and very stylish. I have been waiting and waiting for this moment.

Oh... I tried out the new touchscreen HP too... pretty impressive to say the least. Can't wait to try out windows 7.




Wood
By isorfir on 7/29/2008 2:14:41 PM , Rating: 2
The first thing I thought of when I saw the bamboo pc were those wood paneled buick station wagons.

http://www.intowit.com/bloggd/wp-content/uploads/2...




Poor hardware
By JasonMick (blog) on 7/29/08, Rating: -1
RE: Poor hardware
By nosfe on 7/29/2008 2:20:46 PM , Rating: 3
quote:
and some really low end nvidia mobile card

the kind that goes pop because of weak die/packaging?


RE: Poor hardware
By FITCamaro on 7/29/2008 2:31:33 PM , Rating: 2
Shit on Black Friday is typically sold at or below cost to get people into the stores. So don't compare the two. They really should offer 2GB of memory in the base model though.


RE: Poor hardware
By quiksilv3r on 7/29/2008 2:50:49 PM , Rating: 5
Hey Jason?

Mac Mini:
1.83 GHz processor
CD Burner (Not DVD)
1 GB Ram
80 GB HDD @ 5400 RPM
Intel GMA 950 graphics
$599 for that set up.

Cheers.


RE: Poor hardware
By TSS on 7/29/2008 3:06:44 PM , Rating: 3
noooo no no no. where talking "designer" here. apple's above and beyond that in a league of their own.

called "MO MONEY 4 US".


RE: Poor hardware
By mooncancook on 7/29/2008 3:31:47 PM , Rating: 2
well a quick look at today's local Fry's ad:

HP Notebook:
X2 TL60 2.0 GHz
3GB RAM
200GB HDD
DVD RW w/ LigtScribe
15.4" WXGA widescreen
$529.99

Sony VAIO notebook
C2D T5750
3GB RAM
250GB HDD
DVD RW
15.4" widescreen
$699.99

It's not worth it without some aggressive Dell coupon codes on these.


RE: Poor hardware
By afkrotch on 7/30/2008 3:58:05 AM , Rating: 2
Except no HDMI, larger size, and I don't want any of those next to my TV. Ya, the Dell isn't of a looker either, but neither is all my consoles. It fits in with those, while a 15.4" laptop doesn't fit in.


RE: Poor hardware
By afkrotch on 7/30/2008 3:41:55 AM , Rating: 3
quote:
Wow 1 GB of memory?? A T2390?? That seems pretty horrible, even at $499. My brother got a laptop with 2 GB of memory, and a far better processor and some really low end nvidia mobile card last Black Friday for $499.


Is that laptop gonna connect up to my TV via HDMI and perfectly fit in with my other home entertainment area?

Also how did he get a better proc last year, when the T2390 came out this year? Getting an old proc that's a couple hundred mhz faster, doesn't make it "far better" or even better performing.


RE: Poor hardware
By RDC on 7/30/2008 4:33:41 AM , Rating: 2
uhmm... he probably got a T5xxx processor in that wich would normally be faster, wouldn't it?


RE: Poor hardware
By afkrotch on 7/30/2008 4:47:58 AM , Rating: 2
The T5xxx available during the time would be near the performance, but wouldn't beat. The faster T5xxx procs weren't available last Black Friday. I highly doubt he got a T7xxx proc in a cheap $500 laptop. At least one that could beat the Hybrid at the same price point.


RE: Poor hardware
By PeanutR on 7/30/2008 5:50:01 AM , Rating: 2
Well 1GB seems on the low side, but the smallest of the euro versions (according to dell.dk, (Denmark)) comes with the exact specs you mention except it has 2GB of DDR2. Every other version comes with 3 or 4GB.

Dunno if they change it around for different territories though.


RE: Poor hardware
By afkrotch on 7/30/2008 7:37:38 AM , Rating: 2
That's cause they charge in Euro or pounds, so they have a higher profit margin. They can afford to jam in more memory without any loss in profit.


RE: Poor hardware
By Penti on 7/30/2008 8:18:36 PM , Rating: 2
Uhm, I'm pretty sure that Dell.dk charges in danish krone. I'm not sure where DELLs european assembly plant is though. They could send them straight from the manufacturing in China or Malaysia as it's a laptop. If it don't stop in Ireland i'm pretty sure it won't have anything too do with the Euro. In the UK they don't have any plants. Now days it can also pass through Poland and the Zloty would be involved. I'm pretty sure Dell in europe gets charge the same as Dell US for the Chinese or Malaysian stuff the EMS/ODM/OEMs sells them.


RE: Poor hardware
By Wagnbat on 7/30/2008 9:47:50 PM , Rating: 2
quote:
Wow 1 GB of memory?? A T2390?? That seems pretty horrible, even at $499. My brother got a laptop with 2 GB of memory, and a far better processor and some really low end nvidia mobile card last Black Friday for $499.


We're not talking Black Friday and was his computer "Cute"? Lots of consumers prefer form over function, and that's obviously Dell's target.


RE: Poor hardware
By Aloonatic on 7/31/2008 4:19:07 AM , Rating: 2
It's always interesting to see how the US and European markets are treated so differently.

UK/Europe:

http://www1.euro.dell.com/content/products/product...

USA:

http://www.dell.com/content/products/productdetail...

All the UK/EU options start off with 3GB RAM and the "basic" no monitor option, which has a faster processor too.

For a moment I thought, wow, we are actually getting a bargain compared to the states for once.....

Then I looked at the price of the UK/EU variant (I went straight from the US site to the UK one looking at specs, ignoring the price at first) and there it was...

Free delivery (wow) Cheapest basic option available on the first screen:

USA: $499*

UK: £529* ~ $1045* :-o

They aren't "like for like" of course, but it is funny** how they seem to make this more of a value option in the USA and a style/fashion/upper end option in the UK.

I think they look quite pretty by the way. Is good to see that these larger PC providing companies are finally thinking outside the plain black box.

* yes yes, VAT/sales tax etc etc.... but still, quite a difference

** funny strange, not funny ha ha...


Yes but...
By Sazar on 7/29/08, Rating: -1
RE: Yes but...
By LatinMessiah on 7/29/2008 9:04:31 PM , Rating: 2
Just look at it. Does it look like it could play Crysis? I doubt anyone else was thinking it. Just you. Carry on.


RE: Yes but...
By RDC on 7/30/2008 4:43:04 AM , Rating: 1
this would have been a lot funnier if it was posted on the thread with the chinese windmills :)


RE: Yes but...
By fic2 on 7/30/2008 2:31:49 PM , Rating: 1
According to the review
quote:
The Hybrid was able to load both Crysis and World in Conflict, our current 3D games, but at 1 frame per second or less, both games were totally unplayable.


Definitely too bad it doesn't have half decent integrated graphics.


RE: Yes but...
By R0B0Ninja on 7/31/2008 7:34:49 AM , Rating: 2
Decent integrated graphics?
OMG. Does that exist?

/sarcasm


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