Dell has made massive strides over the past year in revamping their PCs' rather austere image, with products such as the XPS One desktop or the more recent Studio notebook line. Continuing with its focus on exterior design, the company has now unveiled a new line of desktops that is set to compete with the likes of the Asus Eee Box in the market for sleek, space-saving mini machines.
Dubbed the Studio Hybrid, this gracefully curved small form factor machine will run Intel's Pentium dual-core and Core 2 Duo processors, and support up to 4GB of RAM and up to 320GB of hard drive storage. You also get Gigabit Ethernet and optional wireless networking plus tons of functionality packed into a compact package, including HDMI and DVI ports, an 8-in-1 memory card reader, and a slot-loading 8X dual-layer DVD burner - it will offer a Blu-ray drive option for an extra $250 in August.
The price isn't too bad, either, starting at $499 without monitor and $689 with a 19-inch LCD. Though spec-wise you can probably get more bang for your buck opting for a typical budget-priced midtower PC, if you are looking for a space-saving media PC then the Studio Hybrid's sleek design holds plenty of appeal. It will come in a variety of colors and be available through retailers later this year.