Look out Apple TV....here comes Dell

[Jason Edwards]

Have you guys seen this. Dell has announced a small PC that has HDMI output and optional Blu-Ray, wi-fi, wireless keyboard/mouse and a TV Tuner. It can be stood up vertically or horizontally. Perfect for the living room.

I guess this actually compares better with the mini, but it does look to be a great media player/server. Now if Apple would just give us an updated mini with these options.

http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/29/dell-debuts-studio-hybrid-line-of-petite-desktop-pcs/

 

[notnek]

i like blu ray option but the fact that it's a dell makes me say, "no thanks."

 

[P-Worm]

I've got to hand it to Dell on this one. Those look pretty slick. I don't know what I think about the $499 price tag, but the housing is very nice in my opinion. The option for a tuner is what all of us AppleTV junkies have been begging for. Not bad at all.

P-Worm

 

[Jason Edwards]

i like blu ray option but the fact that it's a dell makes me say, "no thanks."

The name Dell doesn't bother me nearly as bad as the name Windows. If only Apple would update the AppleTV (or the mini) with these options then we would have the awesome OSX to run things.

Jason

 

[gkarris]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=22X8WHogPH0

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Y7I5h51rrE

http://www.ihatedell.net

 

[a456]

This is somewhere between an AppleTV and a Mac Mini, not only in terms of spec but also price. Does it have a remote? If not it might not sit too comfortably in the living room.

 

[adom]

That looks really good. Great design! And with the blue ray, who's guna complain? Apple def needs to step the game up a little with the small pc / apple tv updates. I am impressed Dell

 

[gkarris]

That looks really good. Great design! And with the blue ray, who's guna complain? Apple def needs to step the game up a little with the small pc / apple tv updates. I am impressed Dell

Apple's been a bit too busy with the iPhone 3G.

I would imagine they are working for a new Mini in Sept, and TV in time for the holidays...

 

[Tilpots]

Getting warmer, Dell, but not quite there. This is a job for Apple. Take the mini, add the TV, a TV Tuner, Blu Ray options, and DVR and then you're in business.

Dell's headed in the right direction with this box, but they're still holding the Wiley E. Coyote "Yikes!" sign for coming up a bit short on reaching stable ground.

 

[Schtumple]

Thats the first Dell that I've actually been impressed by...

Hopefully they can roll out more systems like this where design is taken as seriously as hardware specs...

 

[gkarris]

Thats the first Dell that I've actually been impressed by...

Hopefully they can roll out more systems like this where design is taken as seriously as hardware specs...

Quality, customer service, and respect for the customer would be nice, too...

 

[adom]

Apple's been a bit too busy with the iPhone 3G.

I would imagine they are working for a new Mini in Sept, and TV in time for the holidays...

Yeah I suppose. Though the hats still come off to Dell for the design there. Its nice to see some *gasp* colour in a computing product and used well!

 

[Jason Edwards]

This is somewhere between an AppleTV and a Mac Mini, not only in terms of spec but also price. Does it have a remote? If not it might not sit too comfortably in the living room.

If you go to the Dell store to build one of these you have many options for things like processor, memory and even a remote.

Jason

 

[TheCookie]

Ahhhhh! Vista!!! Run away!!!!

 

[iJED DV]

A little misleading, though. It's an extra $250 if you want the Blu-Ray player.

 

[jeremy.king]

No Linux or XP option

 

[one3]

The wireless card is extra too --- by the time you're done this $499 machine has become a $1000 machine.
But I do like the design. Gotta give Dell kudos on that.

 

[gcmexico]

tv tuner is pretty sweet..Apple TV needs to get one asap!

 

[Malfoy]

Ahhhhh! Vista!!! Run away!!!!

As a desktop I wouldn't touch it, but using it as a media center I definitely would. 949 as priced for me. I

 

[Eidorian]

The only reason I run Vista is for Windows Media Center. For over the air digital/HD signals it does do that well.

http://www.hexus.net/content/item.php?item=14647

http://en.expreview.com/2008/07/29/mass-studio-hybrid-spy-shots-here/

 

[mac2thefuture]

Looks the part for sure.

 

[plinden]

Not bad, but once you start adding what you need to make it a viable HTPC, the price goes up pretty quickly.

For $499 you get no remote, no Blu-Ray, no networking (not even ethernet), Vista Home Basic and no TV tuner (which incidentally is a separate USB component when you add it in - just like the EyeTV for Macs). Adding Blu-Ray, remote, wireless internet, Vista Home Premium, and TV Tuner doubles the price. Making it more usable by including 2GB RAM and bumping the HDD up to 320GB adds another $150.

Of course, it's nice that there's actually an option for Blu-Ray.

 

[r12ski]

i like blu ray option but the fact that it's a dell makes me say, "DUUUDE no thanks."

Fixed.

 

[nittany]

For $499 you get... no networking (not even ethernet)...

Actually, according to the Dell website, it comes standard with Integrated 10/100/1000 Ethernet.

I have an TV and generally like it, but I really wish its ethernet port supported GigE speed. I would think some of the sluggish interaction between it and my iTunes server would vaporize.

I'm also hoping that a hardware upgrade of the TV will appear soon. By upgraded, I mean processor speed, expanded memory, more audio output options (coax digital out rather than just optical would be nice), higher quality audio-grade connectors, quieter (yes, it's pretty quiet already, but if you pull the plug, you'll notice a lot of noise going away), input options (like for card readers and USB devices) and cooler (I don't care if the package size increases, it's still way smaller than anything else nearby - DVD transport, pre-amp, amp, satellite tuner).

Maybe this Dell will help move Apple along.

 

[meglet]

Wow. I want one of these.

I already have a custom built HTPC to go with my TV, but if I had the spare cash I'd save the space and replace it with one of these new Dells. Especially because it comes in purple!