Dell's Studio Hybrid torn down for kicks and giggles

We've only one thing to say here: it's about time! Dell's Studio Hybrid has been shuffling around for well over a month, and we're just now seeing someone with the nerve to take a putty knife to this cute 'lil desktop and photograph its innards for all to see. As expected, there ain't much breathing room in the 7.7- x 2.8- x 8.3-inch box, but there's a smattering of pictures and a full disassembly video waiting in the read link below. Go on and look, sicko.

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 21st 2008 4:38PM]

Also, based on the European prices, I would imagine that one could get a notebook with similar specs, or perhaps even better. So I think that this is still overpriced here for what it offers.

[johnkzin Posted Sep 21st 2008 4:59PM]

Anyone installed Ubuntu on it yet? Kinda annoying that Dell only gives you the ubuntu option on _some_ of their systems, and not all of them.

The other question is... I wonder if anyone sells an external battery pack that works with it. Seems like it could be an interesting starting point for an "in backpack" file server and network gateway type system. Put an SSD in it, a 3G USB dongle on it, use it as a wifi access point. Then your netbook, umpc, internet tablet, 2G iPhone, or iPod Touch just uses it as its wifi access point, and maybe as its file server. You could maybe even put a SIP server on it, if the USB dongle gives you access to the voice channel in addition to the data channel.

[Callanish Posted Sep 21st 2008 10:36PM]

As long as this studio hybrid can sit next to my TV without taking up much room, run windows media center so I can use my Hava box ( slingbox type ) to stream content from my UK cable box, and work with one of WMC's remotes, then I think i would consider one of these Dell products as an all in one media center. That extra nuovo wireless keyboard Dell sells with it looks kind of decent for websurfing on the big tube as well. Downside....wish it had just a bit more horsepower, but maybe that'll be solved with the next version of it.

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 21st 2008 11:21PM]

I have this PC. Already had an issue with DVD player. It won't play protected DVDs (custom burned DVDs play fine). Support had me install some codec but that did not fix the problem. I need to call back tomorrow for another solution.

Buyer's remorse for sure....

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 22nd 2008 12:34AM]

User error.

[SkonOfVulcan Posted Sep 22nd 2008 3:56AM]

I doubt it's user error. This kind of thing happened all the time whenever new systems hit the market at Dell. I worked tech support for them for while. I saw lots of simular issues for example we often had bullitens come out saying "if you get any calls relating to xxxx check this first".

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 23rd 2008 9:48AM]

User error my foot. I'm not some PC-illiterate noob. I even had the DVD player replaced and still no resolution. Horrible!

[k2001 Posted Sep 24th 2008 2:49PM]

dvd from different region???

[Lancelot9201 Posted Sep 22nd 2008 12:25AM]

For what you get, don't get really, this thing is so over priced that it's sad. What's worse is that people are buying
these & will really regret it in the long run when they see the terrible 720p playback they'll get because of the
"Core Duo" chip... For the same amount of money they could have bought a notebook that has all
that this thing is missing & more.. I'd never buy one just because of the $70 Dell wants for a wireless card, or the
$100+ they charge for a decent "Core2Duo" processor..
Dell really missed the boat here, If they hadn't gotten so freaking stupid, thinking that they could imitate Apple, they could have brought something to the marketplace they could be proud of..

[Slick Posted Sep 22nd 2008 12:48AM]

I like how the average windows kid is this particular response section of the thread keeps jabbering on about huge amounts of ram and driver issues, while the Linux kids are talking semi ground breaking software and kernel changes through new hardware.

[TheRealMikeyG Posted Sep 22nd 2008 11:55AM]

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showpost.php?p=14454193&postcount=48

fail at being the first.......