Dell finally uses its designers, sheds ugly duckling facade

In between all the announcements, Dell was kind enough to bring some humor to CES with its irony -- after finally making something that doesn't look like it was designed in Soviet Russia, the company reveals that it's only a concept product. The "ultra-flat" LCD (with a resolution estimated as high as 1920 x 1200-pixels) is encased in glass and features four built-in speakers. Dell manages to keep it svelte by taking a design cue from Microsoft and outsourcing the power supply to your floor rather than keeping it inside the actual device. There is also a microphone / webcam on the top, not unlike the supposed Apple display rumors; overall a very well thought out and nicely designed device -- we're hoping to find it leaked somewhere on Dell's site soon.

[Luke @ Jan 12th 2007 5:38PM]

OOOoooh, Yummy :)

***Lukidge***

[Taz @ Jan 12th 2007 5:42PM]

I wonder if it's available without the glass surround... makes it kinda tricky to use in a multi-monitor setup :)

[LittleJoe @ Jan 12th 2007 5:57PM]

I don't know... that looks pretty ugly to me.

[Saffy @ Jan 12th 2007 6:03PM]

Um...no thanks. The last thing I want on a display I'm going to pay more than a grad for, is a honking big piece of plate glass on the front, waiting to break. And if I'm paying that much for a monitor, I'm also likely to have speakers that are better than whatever they slapped up there.

Plus, I'm holding off my final judgement 'til I see a better picture from a different angle. But from what I see here, it's ugly.

Not that Dell doesn't deserve some props for trying something new...

[Mr. B @ Jan 12th 2007 6:24PM]

It's a step in the right direction. There's no good reason for every company except Apple to make ugly hardware.

[Lee Gibson @ Jan 12th 2007 6:42PM]

Wake me up when they get GOOD designers. Because that ain't it.

[zib @ Jan 12th 2007 6:48PM]

what's the inchage of this baby?

[mbcauley @ Jan 12th 2007 7:20PM]

doesnt look half bad to me

[alex kessaris @ Jan 12th 2007 7:22PM]

it's still ugly. And what's with that operating system?

[Pal @ Jan 13th 2007 11:52AM]

It's Windows XP under the Royale Noir theme.

[alex kessaris @ Jan 13th 2007 12:46PM]

thanks Pal, I think my comment was mildly harsh, but I'm a true believer in structural functionalism.. I do believe this design could do with a bit less plexiglass. I like to imagine 'what will it look like in 5 years after it's gathered a bit more dust.. what will it be like having to convince a khaki-wearing salesman that I don't really need it.. and what will it look like in 20 years at a rummage sale? I think maybe like the equivalent of a 70's era wood cabinet TV.

[xVariable @ Jan 12th 2007 7:22PM]

That shit is UG-A-LY. 0.0

A fine example of a company that "don't get it".

[Rob @ Jan 12th 2007 7:26PM]

Designers? Orly? Looks like a Dell truck hit a Sony truck cause that sure looks like a rip on the SONY Bravia XBR2/3 with "floating glass."

[aural @ Jan 12th 2007 7:43PM]

That thing looks TERRIBLE. I dont know what you guys are talking about... the newer Dell Ultrasharp monitors look great. Sure, they arent as industrialy cool as the Apple displays, but for the price difference, I'd choose the Dell display any day.

The Glass-with-built-in-speaker thing is ugly and built in speakers are a bad idea. They never sound very good and for those people that actually want to use nice speakers, they are stuck with those monstrosities sticking off the side of their display.

I say send those designers back to the lab, back to school, or better yet, give them 10 minutes to pack their desks up and get out.

[mobi fin @ Jan 12th 2007 7:44PM]

yami!
vistalicious baby! i'll take one come Jan 30th

one thing are those 4 reound copper things speakers? if so I don't see any wires running to them???

[Geoff @ Jan 12th 2007 7:50PM]

Is it just me, or does it look like someone just took a regular Dell LCD and mounted it to a piece of glass?

How anyone can seriously think this looks good is beyond me...

[Hexiumboy @ Jan 12th 2007 8:25PM]

THAT reminds me of mother's induction cooktop.

I wonder if you can tilt it back and whip up a hot snack as well?

The heat output from the lcd backlights could be ramped up to to toast stuff.

The great thing, multimedia cooking lessons could be viewed at the same time.

Are you sure it's not another secret project?

Dell could be flying under the radar with this one.

Stealthing up on the kitchen appliance market.

[glacia @ Jan 12th 2007 8:28PM]

Glad to hear this is just a concept. I like Dells stuff. The silver gray notebooks look much better than brand X.

Most of the models the goatee crowd whines about are business models. And no matter how much you try to explain the concept of a work computer they don't get it.

[ryan @ Jan 12th 2007 9:17PM]

it wouldn't look half bad if the glass bezel wasn't 6 inches wide

[David Li @ Jan 12th 2007 9:24PM]

Hey guys, the soviet russia link is broken.

[myscrnnm @ Jan 12th 2007 9:31PM]

The Sony BRAVIA floating design with glass looks so much better. With the BRAVIA televisions, they found a balance to make the glass seem subtle and elegant. This Dell just looks cheap, at least in the picture.

[Josh @ Jan 12th 2007 10:01PM]

I think it would look better without the speakers... But then it'd look like a smaller Sony XBR LCD tv.. :)

[Ronald McD @ Jan 12th 2007 10:43PM]

Okay, wow. As an ex-designer, I still cannot believe the crap that comes out of the computer industry. And I don't just mean aesthetics, I also mean usability. I have a feeling that most companies just let their engineers do the designing. Big mistake. Honestly, even interns from a decent design school would do a much better job.

Dell, this is ugly. You have to be kidding me if you think this is good design. It looks like a computer geek's amateurish case mod. I can't wait for the day that companies start recognizing the value of design...

[ackahn @ Jan 12th 2007 11:44PM]

hey stupid Ronald McD, I know why you are ex-designer

[Ronald McD @ Jan 13th 2007 6:23PM]

ackahn, if it's because of the long hours and the unproportionately low pay in the design industry, then you have it spot on. As I mentioned, most companies do not appreciate design and this is reflected in the industry's pay scale. My current employment is much more lucrative with incredibly flexible hours, thank you very much.

[Stan @ Jan 12th 2007 11:51PM]

Looks like Sony is gonna be after Dell for borrowing the ingenious idea of the "floating glass"... plus it does look like a Sony LA/LS series desktop that was released in Japan in summer and US in fall.

[gfhfghfghfgh @ Jan 13th 2007 6:37AM]

Engadget, you are really starting to piss me off with all the sh*t you are writing in the last time.

You got some really weird concept of "ugly" and of "beautiful". The displays Dell currently sells look totally ok. That display in the photo on the other hand looks terrible. So to sum up: I do not share your opinions on beauty. That alone would not be a problem, if you would not behave as if you were the ultimate reference on good design. But you do, and so it's an annoyance. I suppose you had too much contact with Apple, and Apple's general hipster hybris has rubbed off on you.

Please, in the future: Simply report on new products, and keep the comments (and other irrelevant news) to a minimum. Thanks.

[concerto @ Jan 13th 2007 8:26AM]

I'll take that LCD without the glass and speakers please. :) The thin bevel on the LCD (sans glass) would make a upgrade my quad monitor setup.

[jrepetti @ Jan 13th 2007 9:30AM]

Heres the 'Soviet Russia' link for anyone whos interested
http://www.engadget.com/2007/01/09/aols-linux-based-smartscreen-media-device-flies-in-from-left/

[Pip Kato @ Jan 13th 2007 9:56AM]

That's about as ugly a duckling as I've ever seen.

[Carlos @ Jan 13th 2007 6:45PM]

Um, wow, Dell don't ever let your "designers" loose again. Leave design to the pro's at Apple, and you can keep doing what your good at- selling cheap PCs at cheap prices.

[E @ Jan 13th 2007 9:52PM]

Dear Engadget team. While I enjoy your site, I am really tired of seeing the same trivial opinions, made up words to rhyme with Steve, Jobs, Apple etc... This goes for all the "if it's not a white cube with rounded edges it's not good design" crowd. Hey you like Apple, great, I am happy for you, now can we have a story that doesn't contain a long list of comments like the following: "that sucks, apple would have done better"

Seriously, if you were able to make a rational argument I can appreciate that. Then again you would be designing, not writing about tech gadgets.

Soviet design? You're kidding right? What part of Dell's monitors has anything to do with Soviet design?? Hell if you said "The Empire" or "Darth Vader" I could see it... At least point out what you don't like and explain what would be better, in your opinion. Otherwise people just need to surprise me, and maybe not post the same stupid crap.

God, just report on the new stuff, it's functionality, pro's and con's... Leave it up to people to decide if they like the way it looks. Seriously, some of you geeks on here all think your sooooo o o o o stylish, yeah, OK.

Oh yeah that new monitor, I don't like it. My personal taste leans towards something sleeker, attracting less attention. Lose the speakers, shave the glass down to about 2-3 times the width of that black border around the edge of the screen- that would be attractive. The less components bundled with a product the better webacm, mic, ok, but not speakers. Too many people have their own preference for sound, and it just makes it that much more expensive.

[Tom @ Jan 14th 2007 12:23AM]

Its not that bad.....its something I would buy just to show off....but you know, how are we supposed to know what other red-inspired designs are by dell when there is bad linkage?

[MarvinK @ Jan 14th 2007 12:33PM]

This is ugly... I don't think they got any cues from Apple--it looks more like one of their Alienware prototypes that got shot down. Not even mildly cool.

[Biff Meister @ Jan 14th 2007 3:27PM]

ugly

[catfish @ Jan 14th 2007 5:15PM]

as a computer moniter its ugly, (not to mention impractical) but I could see that working nicely as a wall mounted tv. (tuner/pwr) would have to be hidden, though.

[Dot @ May 19th 2007 8:26AM]

Sorry to say, but it's a copy of Sony TV and it's
just UUUUUGGGGGGLLLLLLLLYYYYYY