KEY POINTS:
PCs have long been ugly ducklings compared to their swan-like Mac counterparts. Thanks to its curvaceous yet petite design, Dell's Studio Hybrid PC looks set to change all that.
Only slightly larger than the Mac Mini or ASUS Eee Box PC, the Hybrid is pitched as an
environmentally friendly PC for space-challenged people wanting less clutter but more style, and it has the makings of a solid media centre PC.
Looks-wise, the Hybrid is definitely eye catching. It's oval case design also comes with a stand which allows it to stand vertically (or horizontally).
Equally nice (even if somewhat pointless) is the glowing blue Hybrid logo which automatically switches orientation when the Hybrid stands vertically or horizontally.
Last but by no means least, the Hybrid can also be customised using seven different coloured slide-on sleeves which transform it from being yet another boring beige PC box, into a stylish decor friendly bit of kit.
Unlike the Mac Mini or the Asus, Dell's Hybrid packs some real power in the form of an Intel Core 2 Duo T8100 CPU, giving it power for more demanding applications that'd leave most other compact PCs displaying an hour glass pointer and chugging.
This said, the Hybrid also uses integrated Intel graphics hardware, which whilst fine for delivering Windows Vista Aero eye candy, unfortunately translates into weak 3D graphics performance. If, like me, you tend to use a games console for gamming (or just don't bother with games), this isn't going to be a biggie as the Hybrid graphics hardware delivered the goods when it came to apps that weren't too demanding in the 3D graphics department.
On the storage front, the Hybrid packs a notebook style slot-loading DVD burner (which can be upgraded to a Blu-ray combo drive). By default there's a 250GB notebook PC hard drive (which can also be upgraded).
Using notebook PC components also means that the Hybrid uses a meagre 1 watt when powered off, and an equally impressive 44W when under load.
Whilst Dell designed the Hybrid for individuals wanting an uncluttered existence, I found its petite form factor, stylish design and the bundled bamboo sleeve made it an ideal media centre machine.
Not only did it consume hardly any space (which is a good thing given the clutter of my existing home theatre setup), but it was also a great-looking addition to the gear already in my wooden entertainment cabinet.
As a media centre machine, the Hybrid definitely did the business thanks in no small part to its built-in HDMI, FireWire and SPDIF optical audio-out ports. Add an eight-in-one media card reader, 2GB of RAM, and a CPU with enough power to deliver 1080p HD content, and all I had to add was a windows media centre remote and receiver.
While there's a lot to like with the Hybrid, there are also some gotchas. Anaemic 3D graphics performance aside, the Hybrid's slick design commands a $1,299 price premium, making it pricey compared to a similarly-specced budget desktop PC.
Whilst the use of notebook PC components may make for an environmentally friendly design, its design also limits the Hybrid's upgrade options. Given its solid base spec however, none of these issues proved to be show-stoppers.
If you're after a slick looking, compact PC that is equally at home as an environmentally friendly office PC or as a stylish media centre machine, the Dell Studio Hybrid is pretty hard to beat. More-powerful and more-expandable PC choices available, but the Hybrid's slick design and a compact form factor make it a great choice for space constrained and style conscious PC users.
Dell Studio Hybrid
From $1,299
Specs
CPU: Intel T8100 Pentium® Core Duo
Memory: 2Gb DDR2 SDRAM
Hard Drives: 250Gb Serial ATA Hard Drive (5400 RPM)
Optical Drives: Slot load CD/DVD Writer (Dual Layer DVD+/-RW Drive)
Or Slot Load Blu-ray Combo (DVD+/-RW & BD-ROM Drive)
External Ports: 1x IEEE1394, 5x USB 2.0
Graphics: Intel Integrated Graphics Media Accelerator X3100
Audio: Intel High Definition Audio 2.0
Digital Audio: S/P DIF Out
Analog Audio: Headphone (front
Line-in / Line-out (back)
LAN: Integrated 10/100/1000 Ethernet
Video: HDMI video connector, DVI video connector
Card Reader: SD, MMC, Memory Stick Pro, xD Memory Card
Dimensions: (H)223.5mm, (W) 76.0mm (D) 211.5mm