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Despite what your gut may tell you, the Dell Studio Hybrid doesn’t actually run on a combination of ethanol and D-cells. It does, however, consume about 70 percent less electricity than those hulking desktop towers, meaning you can green up your digs and improve the décor in the process. This uber-cute little media-cruncher comes in your choice of rich automotive colors (or bamboo, for Pier 1-themed abodes), and you can swap colors on demand with interchangeable sleeves.
The Hybrid starts at $500, but by the time you trick it out with goodies like a slot-loading Blu-ray drive, Wireless-N adapter, Logitech’s diNovo Mini Keyboard (a must if you’re planning couch time), a digital TV tuner, and the bamboo sleeve (a $130 upgrade—WTF?), the price rockets north of $1,300. Thankfully, Dell provides carte blanche in configuring the system, so you can pick and choose until you’re tapped out.
Hybrids can serve desk duty or accent your living room: Even the base model comes stocked with an HDMI port (DVI, too), so it’s a cinch to pair with an HDTV. Granted, the system’s integrated graphics don’t have the muscle for 3D games (that’s what Xboxes are for), but they do just fine with Blu-ray movies at 1920 by 1080. Well, mostly fine: For some reason the video stuttered every time we adjusted the volume.
Mini PCs are nothing new—Apple Mac Mini, anyone?—but Dell scores big points for style, power conservation, and customization. This compact, sexy desktop should prove equally appealing to decorators, environmentalists, and users with really small desks. —Rick Broida
WIRED Sips power, unlike those heinous watt-guzzling towers. Swappable color sleeves let you change the paint job to match your mood—or paint job. Reports for media-center duty with HDMI port and slot-loading Blu-ray drive. Metal stand cleverly morphs between vertical and horizontal positions.
TIRED Wussy integrated graphics choke on 3D games. Looks rigged for silent running, but actually runs a little noisy. $130 bamboo sleeve will only appeal to aristocratic pandas.
$1,365 (as tested), dell.com
