Dell Studio Hybrid Desktop PC Unboxing and First Impressions

[Jason Dunn]

<p>This is an unboxing and first impressions video of the <a href="http://www.digitalhomethoughts.com/news/show/90094/dell-launches-studio-hybrid-desktops.html" target="_blank">Dell Studio Hybrid</a>, a desktop PC running Windows Vista Home Premium SP1. Configured with an Intel Core 2 Duo T2390 (1.86 Ghz) CPU, 3 GB of DDR2 RAM, a 250 GB 5400 RPM hard drive, an 8x slot-loading DVD burner, and an Intel X3100 GPU. The colour is "Ruby", and cost me $744 Canadian with taxes direct from Dell.</p><p><object classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000" width="425" height="349" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0"><param name="src" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/Q_6ZOVjhw8Y&amp;hl=en&amp;fs=1&amp;border=1" /><embed type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="425" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/v/Q_6ZOVjhw8Y&amp;hl=en&amp;fs=1&amp;border=1"></embed></object><br /><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q_6ZOVjhw8Y" target="_blank"><em>[click through to YouTube to see it in higher quality]</em></a></p><p>My first impressions of the hardware design are very favourable - all except with the colour. If I had <a href="http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=CikRyCs2xco" target="_blank">watched this video</a> I would have realized that the shell is semi-transparent, so it doesn't have the rich gloss red I was hoping it would have. It doesn't look bad, but it's not what I expected. I'll be connecting it to a monitor and firing it up next.</p><p>If you have a YouTube account, please <a href="http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=Q_6ZOVjhw8Y" target="_blank">rate the video</a>, comment, and <a href="http://ca.youtube.com/user/ThoughtsMedia" target="_blank">subscribe to our channel</a>. Thanks for your support!</p>

[Chris Gohlke]

Looks very cool. When you click the rate this video link, it points to a Dell sponsored video rather than to yours.

[Darius Wey]

Dell's press release images are certainly misleading; however, this one (http://images.thoughtsmedia.com/resizer/thumbs/size/600/dht/auto/1217340875.usr1.jpg) isn't. It was perhaps the best indication that the Hybrid PCs would have more of a translucent look.

Still, the red looks great. :)

[Jason Dunn]

Dell's press release images are certainly misleading; however, this one (http://images.thoughtsmedia.com/resizer/thumbs/size/600/dht/auto/1217340875.usr1.jpg) isn't.

Yeah, I can't blame Dell too much - I think I just saw the first image and it locked in my brain and I was convinced that's what it looked like. :)

The video, and this post, made it up onto Engadget, so I'm getting lots of interesting comments...and lots of interesting criticism. :rolleyes:

[JohnConnah]

Hi Jason, Thanks for the Post.

How is the Video playback on this unit. I am thinking of getting one with blue ray drive and am concerned on the quality of the video decoding .

Looking forward to the next video
Cheers John.

PS Back after a long time away. I used to lurk around PocketPCThoughts a good while back and rediscovered your site through the engadet link.

[Gordo]

Just got a letter from Dell offering me 20%, 50% or 75% discount off my next purchase. Of course I only got a 20% discount. I am thinking of one of these for my Multimedia room. I am also wondering if you have it set-up and are happy with the video playback. I am also considering the Blueray drive. Any Thoughts? Bun intended!

[Jason Dunn]

How is the Video playback on this unit. I am thinking of getting one with blue ray drive and am concerned on the quality of the video decoding.

I've posted three "deep dive" videos on the Hybrid to YouTube (and elsewhere) - I posted the third one last night and will be linking them up here on the front page shortly. Until then, here are the direct links:

YouTube - DEEP DIVE: Dell Studio Hybrid Desktop PC (Part 2 of 3) (http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=vPjISA8Rw_o)

YouTube - DEEP DIVE: Dell Studio Hybrid Desktop PC (Part 3 of 3) (http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=qh3Y-NbVT3U)

YouTube - DEEP DIVE: Dell Studio Hybrid Desktop PC (Part 3 of 3) (http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=qh3Y-NbVT3U)

The third (last) one covers the video playback...though I should note that when I disabled Aero Glass, I saw an immediate boost in the UI performance of Windows Media Center.

[Jason Dunn]

Just got a letter from Dell offering me 20%, 50% or 75% discount off my next purchase. Of course I only got a 20% discount.

Yeah, I always get the 20% off too. :rolleyes: I'll be surprised if it saves you any money, because Dell always does "discounts" on their systems that usually nullify the 20% discount - it rarely if ever saves you any money. But maybe your case will be different...

I am thinking of one of these for my Multimedia room. I am also wondering if you have it set-up and are happy with the video playback. I am also considering the Blueray drive. Any Thoughts? Bun intended!

Check out part three of my Deep Dive series:

http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=qh3Y-NbVT3U

I wasn't able to test Blu-ray playback, because $300 for the Blu-ray drive is crazy expensive IMO, but it handled 720p and 1080p WMV videos without breaking a sweat.