Dell Studio Hybrid gets reviewed, does alright

Now that Dell's Studio Hybrid has gone on sale for the adoring public, you're probably trying to talk yourself into buying one. Not so fast, buckaroo. According to a review just posted by PC Magazine, this mini PC is probably only right for a certain sect of folks. On the upside, the unit arrives practically devoid of bloatware, which is astonishing and wonderful in its own right. Still, the Penryn T8100 CPU jammed within wasn't a top performer, so those looking for lighting fast performance will likely be disappointed. Furthermore, the lack of expansion options and weak integrated graphics were also frowned upon, but we wouldn't expect anything different given the design. In the end, critics deemed it a great buy for style-conscience consumers, but it couldn't help but mention that there "are more-powerful and more-expandable choices out there if you're less concerned about design."

[King Mustard @ Jul 29th 2008 10:54AM]

It's certainly good looking.

[strang @ Jul 29th 2008 11:00AM]

I agree, may be a nice competitor for the Mac Mini.

[d @ Jul 29th 2008 11:00AM]

especially that bamboo option. The only issue is integrated graphics - I'd be on it like a spider monkey otherwise.

Of course, my MacBook is integrated graphics anyway... but it's a laptop, so it doesn't count.

[Michael Scrip @ Jul 29th 2008 12:33PM]

> "I agree, may be a nice competitor for the Mac Mini."

Who wants to compete with the Mac Mini? It's a laptop in a shoebox with no monitor? Does there need to be competition in that tiny market?

I like Dell's other computers currently... the Inspiron 13 and the Studio laptops. Why would anyone get this tiny computer? For $499 you can get a real tower with multiple drive bays and a real video card.

[Tom @ Jul 29th 2008 4:02PM]

I think it looks pants. Doesn't compete with any Apple products on aesthetics.

[vaughn @ Sep 21st 2008 9:29PM]

It's a nice variation on the Mac Mini theme. Looks like its main advantage is the stock hard drive size, it's very similar otherwise save for the ease of access. Having been inside the Mini to install a larger drive for a friend it's not that hard to get open, but it's not that easy either. I'm a touch surprised on the price as its pretty comparable price wise to the Mini. It's a shame it doesn't have built in Bluetooth, otherwise you have to use a USB port for a BT dongle, not to mention WiFi appears (From Dells website) optional and not standard. Tiny machines like this really should have as few wires as possible since they are 'appearance machines'.

[Kespar @ Jul 29th 2008 10:55AM]

...so its aimed at apple users then?

[Marques @ Jul 29th 2008 10:58AM]

Uh oh. I sniff someone is going to be ranked lowly for that comment.

Oh crap...am I for this comment?


*Runs and hides from Apple fanboys*

[King Mustard @ Jul 29th 2008 11:08AM]

Looks like it may be competition for the Mac mini.

[Argot @ Jul 29th 2008 11:25AM]

Yes. Because it's a computer that "does alright", nothing more.

[Evan @ Jul 29th 2008 10:59AM]

funny how Macs dont get this kind of criticism despite identical qualities (except more $)

[fred @ Jul 29th 2008 11:06AM]

If this was the Mac Hybrid, no doubt about it.

[Jon Doe. @ Jul 29th 2008 11:07AM]

huh. I heard plenty of bitching about the Mac Mini when it came out about the graphics. But at least there people were willing to realize that it was a web\e-mail\wor processor machine. Not a gaming rig.

[Jon Doe. @ Jul 29th 2008 11:00AM]

Oh for the love of. Top performer? Look at its form factor? You'd have to have an 80MPH wind tunnel in there to keep it cool with a quad core and SLI. Hell its small enough that even normal discrete graphics would probably get warm in there. Things like this are great for people like my parents who simply want to do e-mail, web, etc.

I swear, do the writers on Engadget do this shit intentionally to get hits or are they really this stupid?

[fred @ Jul 29th 2008 11:04AM]

If today is any indication, they are going for the gold medal in shoddy reporting.

[Kespar @ Jul 29th 2008 11:06AM]

surely if you read the link the comment is actually that of pcmag.com

stand down police of the internets, nothing to see here.

[d @ Jul 29th 2008 11:10AM]

Engadget is not a gamer blog. Engadget is not a technical blog. Engadget is not a "geek" blog. Okay, not entirely a "geek" blog. Engadget is a technology blog, and this is a piece of technology. If someone's parents need a computer that does email and web that will go with that person's parents decor, and that person reads Engadget, then that person is now very happy because they know where to read a review on a small PC that isn't over powered and goes with his (or hers, but chances are...) parents decor.

[Jon Doe. @ Jul 29th 2008 11:10AM]

Yah but its a blog and blogs add their own thoughts to a topic. There is no reason not to say but of course this isn't targeting the gamer but casual users? Its sensationalistic "reporting'....that isn't reporting on a blog....whatever. I'm not expecting CNN but at least don't make something out to be what it isn't. Now if PC Mag is doing the same thing. They deserve to get a slap on the hand as well, but Engadget doesn't need to just go....ditto...what he said.

[Big John @ Jul 29th 2008 12:27PM]

No, you just refused to read the article. It's slower than dogshit compared to competing products.

Wild.

[sk @ Jul 29th 2008 12:44PM]

More hits for Engadget = more ad revenue = makes Engadget happy. This is a blog, but it's also a business and the name of the game is to make money.

[luzzio @ Jul 29th 2008 12:56PM]

It's a gadget blog.

En...gadget.

[i am not what i am @ Jul 29th 2008 11:04AM]

neat looking desktop pc, this will be superb for office use and casual multimeda

[Jubei @ Jul 29th 2008 11:05AM]

Looks like one of those cheap flashy looking hard drives or NAS drives. It looks great in your home, if you haven't decorated your house since 1972.

[Bill @ Jul 29th 2008 11:08AM]

5400rpm HDD FTL. That's probably the real bottle neck.

[Chuwy @ Jul 29th 2008 11:09AM]

Any ideas about some nice alternatives? Similar form factor, better processing power.

[alex @ Jul 29th 2008 12:35PM]

Have you looked into the HP Pavilion S3530F. It's nice and powerful though don't know what the noise level would be on it. It's definitely more bang for your buck.

[Rob Pereira @ Jul 29th 2008 12:51PM]

@alex:
It sure is more bang for the buck but it is not a similar form factor at all. 4+ of the Dell pc could fit inside that HP's case.

[MBS @ Jul 29th 2008 1:20PM]

HP Pavilion Slimline s3500t series should be a competitor.

Similar form factor, not nearly as cool looking though.

[Skazer @ Jul 29th 2008 11:13AM]

Anyone else notice that these pictures make the thing look awful while the earlier Dell-submitted photos look much nicer?

[Jagster @ Jul 29th 2008 1:55PM]

Do you think this may not be on purpose? This *is* applegad... er, engadget.

[mr picky @ Jul 29th 2008 11:14AM]

'style-conscious'

[StevenN @ Jul 29th 2008 11:14AM]

Errrrr, "all right" it two words.

[John @ Jul 29th 2008 11:16AM]

Somehow the reviewers are astonished when Crysis only runs at 1 fps. Integrated graphics. low-power consumption, what else do they expect?

I really despise this obsession with using how well a computer plays graphic-intensive games as performance benchmarks. People do other stuff with computers, you know. And I'm sure this sort of machine would be the last choice in the minds of those that want to play such games. I guess asking for a review of a machine in the context in which it was meant to be used is too much.

[kal326 @ Jul 29th 2008 12:03PM]

No joke, is considering how fast a desktop that's only about the size of a GTX280 runs Crysis really relevant? When's the last review you saw on how well a Mini Cooper pulls a semi trailer?

[trumpton @ Jul 29th 2008 11:21AM]

OMG! A cheap, stylish mini-PC for regular consumers who don't have any interest in running the latest games fails to match similarly-priced machines three times the size and as ugly as old boots!

[Adderz @ Jul 29th 2008 11:25AM]

Why does every PC suddenly need to be expandable and have graphics cards? This is OBVIOUSLY not targeted at gamers, so why are they even running Crysis?

Expandability is what i stopping the evolution of designer PC's. If everybody always needs "expansion" then we are going to be stuck with the same huge beige boxes for the next 100 years. Does it not enter into their heads that some (if not most) people DONT need to EVER upgrade?

[Duke 2 @ Jul 29th 2008 11:56AM]

Does it not enter into their heads that some (if not most) people DONT need to EVER upgrade?

Umm, no that never entered my head. Most everyone DOES need to upgrade their PC over time. Matter of fact... can't think of ANYONE (even casual users like my parents) who hasn't ended up with unusable PC's due to increased memory / space requirements (and graphics to a lesser extent) after a few years.

[From My Cube @ Jul 29th 2008 11:39AM]

Agreed! I dont need 700 gigs of ram and 150 terabytes of HDD space. I simply want my computer to run Office and IE with no lag....I may get one of thses despite PC mag ripping on the,.....


PC mag, not all of us want uber gaming machines. Some of us, gasp, dont play computer games because the law makes us cut the grass

[Kespar @ Jul 29th 2008 11:49AM]

law makes us cut the grass = brilliant.

[Adderz @ Jul 29th 2008 12:03PM]

@Duke

Without you, your parents would have no idea a computer could even BE upgraded, let alone know how to do it themselves, source parts etc.

If you asked 90% of the population wat a PCI or AGP slot was (or was used for), they would have no idea, and yet most computers have at least 3 (PCI) as standard. Is this completely unnecessary? YES

Most people dont need to upgrade their computers past ram and hard drives, and both are do-able on this machine.

If you think computers NEED to be upgraded, take a look at Macs and the success they have had. I own Macs because i DONT need to upgrade.

[jakem @ Jul 29th 2008 1:11PM]

Actually, this would be perfect for me if it had beefier graphics. I'm looking for a mini PC that can drive my 30" monitor at 2560 X 1600. That means no integrated graphics for me. I don't want to game on it, I just want the higher resolution.

[Jason @ Jul 29th 2008 7:59PM]

Umm, Duke, I've got a 7yr old PC for my media server. Serves my two little client PCs just fine streaming DVDs, TV, music, and games. You're not being ripped off or anything, you're just paying a premium for a system that's obsolete in a couple years. No biggie.

[strider_mt2k @ Jul 29th 2008 11:28AM]

If only I didn't need a gaming machine.

For doing just about everything else this would be a winner for me.

[Olivier @ Jul 29th 2008 11:42AM]

Damn I was hoping for more aggressive pricing from Dell on this. It's only marginally better (bigger hd and better Graphics) than a Mac Mini similarly priced. The Mac mini of course can run OS X without any effort while this may need some hacking.
If only they offered it straight with Ubuntu instead to shave another $50 off.

Does anybody know/think that the hardware on this will work with Ubuntu with no further hacks needed? ANy idea of the noise on this machine?

I love the Mac mini but I am trying to get away from Apple (al lmy machines are laptop) as I believe they try to enforce a little too much control on what I can and cannot do.

[Olivier @ Jul 29th 2008 11:45AM]

Damn I was hoping for more aggressive pricing from Dell on this. It's only marginally better (bigger hd and better Graphics) than a Mac Mini similarly priced. The Mac mini of course can run OS X without any effort while this may need some hacking.
If only they offered it straight with Ubuntu instead to shave another $50 off.

Does anybody know/think that the hardware on this will work with Ubuntu with no further hacks needed? ANy idea of the noise on this machine?

I love the Mac mini but I am trying to get away from Apple (al lmy machines are laptop) as I believe they try to enforce a little too much control on what I can and cannot do.

[Evan @ Jul 29th 2008 12:20PM]

What's wrong with wanting style in a PC? Paying a small premium on the appearance of a PC is no different in than spending money on a vase or picture frame. Or do all the style-haters here stick their photos to the wall with thumb tacks?

[Jason @ Jul 29th 2008 8:01PM]

Hell yeah, especially when you can buy it to match your shoes.

[blomster @ Jul 29th 2008 12:23PM]

I wonder how quietly it runs.

[Jason @ Jul 29th 2008 8:03PM]

Like this....

[michaelportent @ Jul 29th 2008 12:30PM]

If I wasn't dead set on getting a laptop next, I might actually consider this for its green implications.