Review: Dell Studio Hybrid Desktop home entertainment computer

While other manufacturers have come up with so called media centre or entertainment computers, this is Dell's first foray into the field.

The idea behind such PCs is that they're primarily going to be used for entertainment rather than work, so they're designed to fit in with other home entertainment gear.

That's why the Studio Hybrid Desktop comes in a variety of colours and is rather more shapely than the average Dell. It looks great and the shape of the front is offset by the lit-up word 'Hybrid' on the faceplate.

As with all Dell computers, there are many varieties available and each will be built to order. The rounded case of the model we're looking at uses an Intel Core 2 Duo T8100 processor and has 2GB of memory. This gave it fairly reasonable results in our lab tests, although because its graphics hardware isn't up to much it won't be much use playing recent games in any kind of decent quality.

That's not a problem for video playback, though – the computer is perfectly happy to play large-format full screen movies or television programmes (it doesn't include a TV tuner, though). Designed to connect to a large television, the Hybrid has an HDMI output as well as DVI to attach to a monitor. People with older TVs will be stuck, then, but the true potential of the Hybrid really requires a newer TV to show it off.

It has a 320GB hard disk for storing all those music and video files, as well as a DVD writer (which can handle CDs but not Blu-ray discs). There's also a memory card reader for easy viewing and copying of photos.

The computer uses Windows Vista Home Premium as its operating system, which includes the excellent Windows Media Center software for viewing and organising music and video. Dell has also loaded something called the Dell Dock, which appears at the top of the screen and allows easy access, through large icons, to common programs. It's a lot like the dock featured on Apple computers.

Sound is important for a computer such as this, and it doesn't disappoint: it can play full surround-sound, and has an optical output for connection to a suitable amplifier. It's also quite quiet in operation, which is very important during the quiet bits of films.

Being designed to sit under a television, the Hybrid doesn't come with a screen, although you can add one when ordering for an extra cost. The same goes for speakers, but it does come with a so-so Dell keyboard and mouse as standard, along with Microsoft Works 9 should you decide to do some work on it after all.

The standard warranty is for one year, but this can be added to when ordering as well. There are five USB ports and a Firewire connection for digital camcorders. Power is supplied through an external but slim 'brick'.

Note that Dell's prices fluctuate depending on various factors, so the price we quote, which is correct at the time of printing, should be taken as a guide, but it does include delivery. At nearly £620 the Dell Studio Hybrid Desktop is no small investment, but it certainly delivers on that for people interested in music and video on the computer.

It's true that you're paying extra for the looks, but then this computer really won't look out of place in the living room, and might even attract a few admiring glances from guests.