Dell launches new ‘Studio’ range of laptops

27 Jun 2008

Dell Inc has introduced ''Studio,'' a new consumer product line designed for self-expression and creative living. Studio products are highly expressive and personalised - inside and out – combining aesthetics and technology into a fresh approach to hi-def mobile lifestyles.

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

''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. These 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, and optional mercury-free LED displays and built-in mobile broadband. Available on www.dell.com/studio, Studio 15  is available at a starting price of $799 and Studio 17 is at $999. The company stated that the laptops will also be on sale at Best Buy and Staples stores in the next few days.

The new Studio products inherit design elements first introduced in Dell's award-winning XPSTM  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 personalisation options including colour customisation option for customers. And as with Inspiron products, Dell will offer optional color-coordinated accessories and peripherals such as backpacks and slip covers, mice, ear buds, and more for customers to assemble a mobile high-definition package that's unique.

Starting with either a 15 or 17-inch high-definition display, customers may pick from six optional colour 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 personalised laptop, Dell has added an optional high gloss Graphite Grey choice that can be customized with contrasting Black, or more vivid Blue, Pink or Red edge trim around the display back.

While Dell Studio systems have rich basic features, they also offer customers a wide variety of options to ensure the system facilitates and enhances the user's digital passions whether that is being the curator of their own photo or music library or creating cool new web content themselves. The optional Blu-ray Disc  drives help deliver cinematic video quality on high definition displays. Optional Built-in mobile broadband1 connectivity through wireless carriers like Verizon Wireless and Sprint means users can connect on their own terms, wherever there is cellular coverage. Users can simplify password management while preventing unauthorized access with the optional fingerprint reader.

Dell is also focused on simplifying the consumer digital experience with 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 setup 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. Customers 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 ''email & 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 will also include a new, easy-to-set up and use communications program, Dell Video Chat. Families and friends can stay in touch using video chat, recording and sending video emails, or even PC-to-PC phone calls around the world. The application supports four-way calling, making virtual family reunions a reality.