Dell is "Putting the computer back on the desktop, or countertop, or bookshelf..."

Dell's Hybrid mini PCs hit the market today. The catchphrase? "Putting the computer back on the desk, or countertop, or bookshelf.."

According to Matt Buchanan over at Gizmodo;

This seems like the future of consumer desktops that aren't gaming/performance beasts or servers (since the desktop is otherwise being supplanted by laptops in the consumer space). Definitely a winner from Dell's design department—but let's see how well these sell..."

New Studio Hybrid PC: Ultra-Small, Colorfully Stylish, “Green”

· Puts the PC back on the desktop, or the countertop, or the bookshelf, or the entertainment center

· New Inspiron PCs include sub-$800 13-inch laptop

ROUND ROCK, Texas, July 29, 2008 — Dell’s smallest, most personalized and most environmentally responsible consumer PC, the Studio Hybrid, launches today. Available immediately at www.dell.com/hybrid, the PC’s new unique shape and size, personalized with six external jewel-toned color or bamboo finish options, unleashes stylistic expression, inspiration and fun and looks great in any room.

Dell also unveiled two new Inspiron PCs, including the Inspiron 13, a sleek and stylish sub‑$800 13-inch laptop perfect for students heading back to school, available starting next week at Wal-Mart. The Inspiron 518 desktop, available immediately at www.dell.com, is designed for everyday family multi-media activities, be it catching up on favorite TV shows via the Internet, playing online games, and storing and accessing music playlists and digital images.

Studio Style, Energy Efficient

As with Dell’s recently announced Studio laptops, the Studio Hybrid was designed to enhance personal expression and creative living. Dell’s smallest desktop PC, about the size of a collegiate dictionary, can fit just about anywhere. Depending on the location or decor, the Studio Hybrid can be set up in a vertical or horizontal orientation, and be personalized with a choice of seven optional, interchangeable external finishes or color sleeves: Bamboo, Emerald, Quartz, Ruby, Sapphire, Slate, and Topaz.

With a starting price of $499, the petite PC has the performance to take on the digitally enlightened user’s everyday activities like creating mash-ups, content for personal web pages, editing and uploading videos and digital photo albums. The Studio Hybrid is at home in the living room, fitting easily into entertainment centers, and connecting to HDTVs via a standard HDMI port. When paired with an optional wireless keyboard, people can easily flip back and forth from watching a favorite broadcast TV show or sporting event to checking online stats, sending email, looking at digital pictures, etc. on the TV. Customers can configure a Studio Hybrid with variety of optional technologies and peripherals to make it truly unique, like:

· Optional Wi-Fi networking – allows people to place the PC anywhere that’s convenient for them.

· Optional wireless keyboard and mouse help ensure a clean desktop, counter top or coffee table.

· Optional Blu-Ray Disc drive for watching high-definition DVDs.

· Optional TV tuner that enables users to watch, pause and record live TV.

The Dell Studio Hybrid is about 80 percent smaller than the typical desktop minitower, and uses up to 70 percent less energy. In addition to being extremely energy efficient and Energy Star 4.0 compliant, the Studio Hybrid’s unique packaging was designed to be environmentally responsible:

· Reduced packing materials 30 percent by weight.

· Packing materials are also 95 percent recyclable.

· Reduced printed documentation 75 percent by weight.

· System recycling kit is included.

The Studio Hybrid is available today on www.dell.com/hybrid and will be featured in select retailers later this fall.

#506228

loving the bamboo one.

#506337

They've got a really sexy look

#506339

I swear, why must these mini things have the stupid ass intel graphics. Give me something with a little more power. Not asking for the latest and greatest. Just something other than intels garbage.

#506351

I swear, why must these mini things have the stupid ass intel graphics. Give me something with a little more power. Not asking for the latest and greatest. Just something other than intels garbage.

Jep, thats a point, I would be happy with a ATI x1400 or something like that

#506352

These new PCs definitely have style.

Thanks for the news

#506354

I swear, why must these mini things have the stupid ass intel graphics. Give me something with a little more power. Not asking for the latest and greatest. Just something other than intels garbage.

I assume you're talking about the Mac mini, too, as you're ranting about the mini PC in general, correct? Because I do agree. I wish that both this and the Mac mini had a nice graphics card.

Anyway, they certainly do look very nice, and you get good hardware for the price, as well. I did a custom build that came out around $1,600 and it included a 24'' flat panel. Not too bad.

#506371

The graphics hardware is irrelevant in the cheaper sector. Intels IGP should at least have Dual-DVI. :-(

#506417

As a user of the GMA965, I'd have say the card could stand to be a little faster. But it works fine when you are doing image/video editing. Of course how many laptops have you seen that are 17" and get almost 4 hours on the battery?

This machine is shaping up to be superior than the Mac Mini. More color choices, and is kicking Apple in the patootie with its recyclability. This is a clear win for Dell. Because I've never owned a Dell, what's the reliability on them?

#506655

This machine is shaping up to be superior than the Mac Mini. More color choices, and is kicking Apple in the patootie with its recyclability. This is a clear win for Dell. Because I've never owned a Dell, what's the reliability on them?

I've had a Dell Dimension 9150 for somewhere from 2-3 years, it runs very well and is extremely reliable. Only problem is it has Windows on it... I've seen too many blue screens of death.

#506683

I've had a Dell Dimension 9150 for somewhere from 2-3 years, it runs very well and is extremely reliable. Only problem is it has Windows on it... I've seen too many blue screens of death.

Blue screens were common on my old Packard Bell desktop with WinME.

Off topic: what's the typeface in your sig/avatar? I've been looking for it for the longest time.

#506730

Off topic: what's the typeface in your sig/avatar? I've been looking for it for the longest time.

Continuum Light. I really like the font, it's very nice. [/Off topic]

#506733

Thanks!

#506805

I had to order one when I saw this post. People are complaining about a video card... Come on if you are looking for a gaming PC this is probably not for you. I will be using this as a Media PC.

#506816

As a user of the GMA965, I'd have say the card could stand to be a little faster. But it works fine when you are doing image/video editing. Of course how many laptops have you seen that are 17" and get almost 4 hours on the battery?

This machine is shaping up to be superior than the Mac Mini. More color choices, and is kicking Apple in the patootie with its recyclability. This is a clear win for Dell. Because I've never owned a Dell, what's the reliability on them?

Yeah, true.

#507362

whats this? a computer company other than apple actually bringing original thinking to the market!

#507366

No, you're certainly mistaken.

These look like they'd really work as a home media server, or indeed a small server of ones own. I do hope they offer a server version :/

#507378

@ Phoshi - If that was in response to my comment... reread what I said (it wasnt sarcasm) I think these systems look great

#507417

Mine was

I do too, they look awesome and I want one.

#507428

I, too, am going to have to scuff at Intel. Their IGP chips are pretty much worthless to me. A *lower-end* ATI IGP chip in my laptop can run CoD4 just fine while with intel chips it won't even start up. They support nearly none of the required shaders, etc that are needed to run something as simple as CS.

#507432

But this clearly isn't intended as a gaming machine, what you're doing is the equivalent of complaining that Windows Vista is a shit server, when really that's not it's job at all (It's server '08's job, just like running COD4 is a gaming PC's job)

#507439

But this clearly isn't intended as a gaming machine, what you're doing is the equivalent of complaining that Windows Vista is a shit server, when really that's not it's job at all (It's server '08's job, just like running COD4 is a gaming PC's job)

Server '08 makes me want to puke over a pile of diarrhea. It's just outright sickening! I stick to Windows 2000 Pro or even Server '03 -- that's if Windows was a necessity. If at all possible, Linux wins hands down. Which, these machines would be lovely for.

And, I wasn't complaining about these specific machines, I was talking about Intel's IGP chips in general.

#507446

Replace vista with XP and 08 with 03 then

Well, their chips are super-lowend, then, and are not for that purpose.

They're for... um...

#507447