Dell Studio Hybrid mini desktop unboxed on video

Now that all the mystery over the Dell Studio Hybrid is a lot less, err, mysterious, it's time for the machine to get unboxed, set up, and revealed for all. We already know that the Studio Hybrid isn't a massive performer, but given its $499 price that includes a keyboard and mouse, we're not about to complain. The reviewed unit was packed with an Intel Core Duo T2390 CPU, 3GB DDR2 RAM, 250 GB 5400 RPM HDD, 8x slot-loading DVD burner, and Intel X3100 GPU. Peep the red shiny goodness (or badness, depending on your needs) after the break in full video splendor.

[Patriks7 @ Aug 14th 2008 4:07AM]

the red makes it look naughty :$
but really sexy at the same time!

time to go order one!

[d00b @ Aug 14th 2008 6:06AM]

It's strange to see the model sporting a HDMI connection (the guy even says he wants to use it as a HTPC playing HD movies), yet the unit's X3100 chip canNOT play HD movies smoothly. Also, it lacks many of the things a HTPC needs: TV tuner, IR receiver for remote control, WiFi. Yes, all these things can be added externally via USB, but then what's the point of getting a small box if you have all sorts of things hanging out from it?

This thing will appeal to those clueless who buys on looks alone. Those with more tech sense will wait until year-end, when models that incorporate the newly-introduced X4500HD (or AMD/Nvidia equiv) will hit the market.

[Barry @ Aug 14th 2008 4:07AM]

Beats the pants off the Mac Mini. Oh, damn, except for Vista.

Shoehorn OS X or Ubuntu on that sucker and it's a winner.

[patriotsn1 @ Aug 14th 2008 5:42AM]

I like vista.

[Neeko @ Aug 14th 2008 6:27AM]

This doesnt beat a mac mini at all. And im not a APPLE defender. The 1.8 C2D can play 720p content SMOOTHLY and most 1080 content that doesnt have the highest bitrates. And the MAX memory you can put in a mac mini is 4GB. Granted OSX will only show 3.1GB being used but whatever aslong as its paired memory ull get better video GFX performance. The price is the ONLY selling point over a mini. But if your looking for a HTPC the mini beats it hands down.

[Ruben @ Aug 14th 2008 7:23AM]

The Mac Mini has a GMA950, which is worse than the X3100. The base processor is a 1.83, while this Studio Hybrid has a 1.86.

The embedded HD decoding chip is what provides HD decoding speed, or a much better processor, which both units are missing at the base price. Both of these PC's would need a 1GB memory upgrade right out of the box. The Mac Mini is not better than this.

The Mac Mini is no better than this Studio Hybrid at decoding HD content, because both are missing dedicated HD decoding chips. And the Mini is more expensive.

[Ruben @ Aug 14th 2008 7:27AM]

Sorry, didnt notice it was a Core Duo, which can still play HD content relatively well, but isnt as good as the C2D in the Mini.

I still stand by the Mini not being better than this.

Either way, the second model up Studio destroys the Mac Mini, still for less money. You might want to go for the 2.0 Mini anyways seeing as though that's the only way you will be able to burn DVD's. I still cant believe they are pulling that crap.

[Mike10010100 @ Aug 14th 2008 9:58AM]

I would love one of these if not for one thing. No built in Tv tuner input. I've messed around with some of the external ones, and they don't work half as well as the ones that come standard inside computers. My touchsmart worked from the moment it booted up.

Max out the processor on this one, give it a bigger hard drive, more ram, the blu-ray option (all of these are available at the customization part), and put in a built in tv tuner (not possible as far as i know) and it would be a good and semi-affordable buy.

[kyle allen @ Aug 14th 2008 4:08AM]

id say the red makes it look like... a red computer

[Cameron @ Aug 14th 2008 4:27AM]

It would work for OS x86 but you will need an external sound card(USB) and a NIC(USB)

If it works in ubuntu then you can push the drivers over to Mac OS X without buying anything external.

[Adrian Williams @ Aug 14th 2008 4:30AM]

I would be afraid it would tip over if someone bumped my desk

[Colin Potter @ Aug 14th 2008 4:55AM]

what kinda software/hardware would it take to turn this into a PVR? Slingbox type setup or what?

[d00b @ Aug 14th 2008 7:08AM]

For hardware you need a TV tuner; for software, a media center software like Vista's MC or a 3rd-party solution like MediaPortal. Since this unit doesn't have internal expansion, you can use a USB device, or a network tuner like the HDHomeRun. But you also need a big hard drive, larger than this model's 2.5" drive space can accommodate. In short, you need a different PC.

[Ruben @ Aug 14th 2008 7:30AM]

You could get away with having everything available to you without having device clutter at your entertainment center. Network everything. Make all your storage available on a NAS, and use the HDHomeRun. Clean, elegent, and for adding one to a TV, its just a matter of picking up another PC (be it this or any other SFF PC).

[Homeboy @ Aug 14th 2008 4:56AM]

I which Dell would make a a version maybe twice as tall that can incorporate better hardware. I badly want one but it's quite pricey coming with specs I'm unsure I'll be able to live with in the long run.

[Bas @ Aug 14th 2008 5:12AM]

How do you connect this thing to a TV? I don't see an TV-out.

[Colin Potter @ Aug 14th 2008 5:15AM]

Uh.... what would you call the HDMI and DVI ports? anything that doesnt support those connections is HARDLY a TV.

[Homeboy @ Aug 14th 2008 5:17AM]

Have you been living under a rock for the past 5 years? Welcome to year 2006.

[vdogg89 @ Aug 14th 2008 9:36AM]

Lawl

[Jin Saotome @ Aug 14th 2008 6:40AM]

I'd kill for a barebones version of this... no HDD, no OS, no RAM. Add built-in WiFi, the diNovo and you're set. I'm sure you can get RAM and an HDD for cheaper than what Dell offers... Wonder how the x3100 handles HD decoding and such (720p).

[comfysofa @ Aug 14th 2008 8:26AM]

The for the info the x3100 video card does handle HD content....ive got one in my shuttle (the media centre version) - plays mkv's ts's the lot...just thought i clarify that as ive got one...

[d00b @ Aug 14th 2008 9:35AM]

The X3100 doesn't do hardware decoding of HD content. Of Intel GPUs, only the X4500HD does. You can still play HD if you have a fast enough CPU, which this Dell model doesn't (may be with a CPU upgrade).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intel_GMA

[jed @ Aug 14th 2008 7:37AM]

you know what would be great? if they offered these same specs on some kind of portable computer, weighing about the same, but having a built in keyboard and monitor. what a hell of a deal that would be.

[Cybergypsy @ Aug 14th 2008 7:35AM]

He needs a mac,,,,LOL did he Kudo's LOL

[OSnix*-geek @ Aug 15th 2008 12:47PM]

Oh you mean, because he made no mention of the fact that the mac mini employs the same "external" PSU. I am not saying Apple was the first, but it's probably the more known implementation. I found that ironic. See here's the thing all you mac/apple/os X haters.... you hate.. but you are ignorant, because you don't even know WTF you are talking about. Geez! I am a "mac" dude and I bet know magnitudes more about even PC's than most of you. The "PC" support guy at work is a complete moron, so much so that my office colleagues often come to me for support on their PC's, and I am not the IT guy. :::shakes head:::

[CiASpook @ Aug 14th 2008 7:57AM]

I have ordered this with a 2,1GHz T8100 C2D, 3GB memory. Lets see if it will run 720/1080p on winxp and xbmc for windows.

[YourTechSupport @ Aug 14th 2008 8:09AM]

Okay. The specs and numbers look great for a computer that size. I'm impressed.

But... I didn't see a microphone (pink?) port anywhere on there.
I thought it was called a *cough* studio desktop?

[Mark @ Aug 14th 2008 8:21AM]

Just like the Mac Mini and the Apple TV this seems underpowered for HD output. It might make for a very easy to use and power frugal internet / casual platform though. I just wish they'd stuck a bit more horsepower in it so it could be used in other ways.

[freakmarket @ Aug 14th 2008 10:00AM]

Ummm .. x3100 IS a high def chipset ... that's what Intel designed it for ... it runs BluRay well if you have a mid range Core Duo or higher and 3gb RAM.

[Your Companys Computer Guy @ Aug 14th 2008 10:05AM]

I'm just gonna say im not an apple fan boy. I've been a pc guy for all my life, until last year when i picked up a mini for my HTPC (i now own two and a mac pro). Well first off a quick look at dells site reveals that the 499 and 699 versions of the studio come with a Pentium Dual Core, not even a Core Duo or Core 2 Duo. Add in the Core 2 Duo upgrade for 50 and add in wireless, which the mac mini has and suddenly you're at $619. And you still have no remote. Granted you have .17 more GHz and 80 GB more hd space. the speed wont be noticed and the hd space doesn't matter since all my media is on a raid array anyway. but i guess it all in what looks good to you. And how did this guy miss the case being translucent?

[Ruben @ Aug 14th 2008 2:29PM]

A Pentium Dual Core is a Core 2 Duo.

Pentium became the branding for low end Core / Core 2 Duo's. Its the same tech (minus a few features, and less cache), just the low end of the Core's.

The Mini is always spec'd with 1 GB of ram, while this one has 3GB at $699, not to mention it has a Core 2 Duo 2.0GHz, which requires you to pay $799 to get for the Mini.

The extra space might not matter to you, but there's a vast majority of people who welcome the extra space, because if your not paying any more for it, why wouldn't you get it?

And every model here comes with a DVD burner.

The graphics chip on the Mini is a disaster. The X3100 is much much better, but still a far cry from dedicated.

Compared to this, the Mini is an absolute joke when it comes to specs. The Mini needs a refresh like no other device. Its greatly behind on tech, and grossly overpriced for what you get. Sure, there was a time when it was worth it, but those days are long gone. At its current spec, i would rather throw money into a fire.

The only thing the Mini has is the ability to run OSX, which doesn't matter to me, and doesn't matter to a lot of people, otherwise, its inferior in every way.

[sonicwind @ Aug 14th 2008 2:42PM]

what's it a hybrid of? it just looks like a computer. I thought hybrid meant it was part werewolf or something, or microwave.

[Sam Lowry @ Aug 14th 2008 6:23PM]

Apparently "hybrid" is referring to Laptop & Desktop parts.

[Lancelot @ Aug 16th 2008 9:42PM]

Wow, has anyone priced one of these out. Dell is charging up the butt for most upgrades. just to get the best Core2Duo processor
will cost over $300.00 & it's not even the extreme version. Look at what they want for a monitor you'll be stunned. At first, I thought I was pricing an LCD TV or something. Finally, you can't upgrade the graphics at all.. Yes, it looks pretty but once again Dell missed the mark in my opinion.