As it turns out, Dell’s new Studio Hybrid PC has little in common with Toyota’s thrifty Prius sedan. No high-end batteries. No carpool lane privileges. And I’m pretty certain it won’t do much to improve fuel economy on your daily commute.

Instead, that “hybrid” PC is a small computer that puts a dual emphasis on energy efficiency and design. Dell is trying desperately to break from its past reputation as a maker of mind-numbingly beige PCs. The Studio Hybrid is one of its first products to have been styled by former Nike design whiz Ed Boyd.

Like all Dell computers, the Studio Hybrid is available in a dizzying array of configurations. The most basic model features a zippy Intel Pentium Dual Core processor, DVD burner, generous amounts of RAM and hard drive space, and it costs just $499. But while a wired Ethernet port is standard, that price doesn’t include a wireless card, so plan on adding another $70 for that vital accessory.

As with similar small mold factor computers such as Apple’s Mac mini, ASUS’s Eee Box, and Hewlett-Packard’s Slimline series, the Studio Hybrid comes without a monitor. Such computers are generally aimed at college dorms, living rooms, or as second family computers. To that end, the Studio Hybrid is small ample to sit on a crowded desk or be tucked underneath a television. Lying flat, it’s about the size of a Thomas Pynchon hardback.

Dell vs. Apple?

Still, when I first heard about the Studio Hybrid, I was a bit skeptical. Dell? Design? Yeah, right. But whether Dell wants to swim in Apple’s pool, so be it. Still, as a pretty committed Mac user, I was more than a little shocked to find that the Studio Hybrid gives the Mac a run for its money — both in terms of hardware and…

[Source] dhiram