Dell introduces new Studio laptops, Studio Hybrid PCs

Dell introduced last week “Studio,” a new consumer notebook product line designed for self-expression. Dell’s Studio products combine aesthetics and technology into a fresh approach to hi-def mobile lifestyles.

“People seeking stunning design, brilliant colors, and innovative new technology find inspiration in Dell’s new Studio brand,” said Michael Tatelman, Dell vice president for consumer sales and marketing worldwide.

“These products are built for today’s digital nomad based on the millions of conversations we have every year on dell.com, Ideastorm and community forums. With Dell Studio we’re answering the call for personalization, connectivity and simplicity,” he added.

The first Dell Studio products are two distinctively styled laptops, the Dell Studio 15 and Dell Studio 17. The two laptops combine sleek designs, striking visual color elements and personalization options with features such as standard built-in webcam, capacitive touch media control buttons, slot load drives, optional mercury-free LED displays, and built-in mobile broadband.

These laptops are available through Dell authorized retailers at P61,399 (Studio 15) and P87,399 (Studio 17).

The new Studio products inherit design elements first introduced in Dell’s award-winning XPS M1330 and M1530 laptops, including a sleek wedge-shaped profile and an iconic drop hinge design.

Taking its cue from the Inspiron portfolio, Studio laptops also offer several personalization options that allow a customer to color-customize a laptop unique to him or her.

And as with Inspiron products, Dell will offer optional color-coordinated accessories and peripherals like backpacks and slip covers, mice, ear buds, etc. so customers can assemble a mobile high-definition package that’s unique.

“One year ago today we refreshed and revitalized our consumer portfolio with emphasis on product style, design and personalization. Flamingo Pink and Midnight Blue laptops have since become regular sights on college campuses and in coffee shops” said Alex Gruzen, senior vice president of Dell’s consumer product group.

“The new Studio products demonstrate that Dell is continuing to focus on design and value, delivering attractive, feature-packed mobile digital lifestyle products,” he added.

Starting with either a 15- or 17-inch high-definition display, customers may pick one of six optional color choices, including new Plum Purple and Tangerine Orange, in addition to Flamingo Pink, Midnight Blue, Ruby Red, Spring Green or standard Jet Black.

For a more subtly personalized laptop, Dell has added an optional high-gloss Graphite Gray color that can be customized with contrasting Black, or more vivid Blue, Pink or Red edge trim around the display back.

Also launched together with the new Studio line was Dell’s smallest, most personalized and most environmentally responsible consumer PC, the Studio Hybrid.

The Studio Hybrid’s new unique shape and size, personalized with six optional, external jewel-toned color or bamboo sleeves, unleashes stylistic expression and inspiration.

“The design and craftsmanship of the Studio Hybrid alone are enough to cause you to do a double take,” said Walt Mayo, Dell vice president for consumer sales and marketing in the Asia-Pacific and Japan.

“Combine that with the performance of this little beauty and its environmentally smart DNA, and you’ve got something truly unique – something that you can make your own,” he added.

As with Dell’s Studio line, the Studio Hybrid was designed to enhance personal expression. Dell’s smallest desktop PC, about the size of a collegiate dictionary, can fit just about anywhere.

Depending on the location or decor, the Studio Hybrid can be set up in a vertical or horizontal orientation, and be personalized with a choice of seven optional, inter- changeable external finishes or color sleeves: Bamboo, Emerald, Quartz, Ruby, Sapphire, Slate, and Topaz.

Hitting the retail shelves this October, the petite Hybrid PC has the performance to take on the digitally enlightened user’s everyday activities like creating mash-ups, content for personal webpages, editing and uploading videos and digital photo albums.

The Studio Hybrid is at home in the living room, fitting easily into entertainment centers, and connecting to HD TVs via a standard HDMI port with its optional TV tuner.

When paired with an optional wireless keyboard, people can easily flip back and forth from watching a favorite broadcast TV show or sporting event to checking online stats, sending e-mail, looking at digital pictures, etc. on the TV.

The Dell Studio Hybrid is about 80 percent smaller than the typical desktop mini-tower, and uses up to 70 percent less energy. In addition to being extremely energy efficient and Energy Star 4.0-compliant, the Studio Hybrid’s unique packaging was designed to be environmentally responsible.

Both Dell Studio and Studio Hybrid offer optional Blu-ray disc drives to deliver cinematic video quality on high-definition displays. Optional built-in mobile broadband connectivity through wireless carriers means users can connect on their own terms, wherever there is cellular coverage.

Users can also simplify password management while preventing unauthorized access with the optional fingerprint reader.

There are also unique user interfaces like the Dell Dock, a task-based application organizer that places the most frequently accessed programs front and center, and Dell Video Chat, a one-click, easy-to-set-up-and-use video and voice communication program.

The Dell Dock automatically sorts installed software applications on the PC into user-friendly categories, which can be accessed by a simple taskbar, leaving the desktop free of clutter.

Users don’t have to locate and open a program by application name or icon on the desktop, but instead can locate it by task, like “e-mail and chat,” “security,” “view photos,” “play music,” etc.

The task bar is customizable: users can chose its anchor location, background and font color, and even the icons used to represent a category.

The Studio laptops and Studio Hybrid PC will also include a new, user-friendly communications program, Dell Video Chat. Families and friends can stay in touch using video chat, recording and sending video e-mails, or even PC-to-PC phone calls around the world.

The application supports four-way calling, making virtual family reunions a reality.