No sooner had the Asus Eee Box 202 left the PC Authority labs than another tiny PC arrived to replace it. But while the Eee Box was an Atom-powered mini-PC, best suited to undemanding email and internet browsing, the Dell Studio Hybrid is much more fully-fledged.

Inevitably, it’s more expensive. Our version, with its mobile 2.5GHz Core 2 Duo T9300 and 4GB of 667MHz RAM, will set you back over $2000 including delivery – a far cry from the Eee Box’s $469. Budget-conscious fans of the Studio’s styling, however, should note that on Dell’s website you can specify the system in a way that costs a more reasonable $999.

The advantage to the faster components is performance: where the Eee Box 202 scored a lowly 0.39 in the PC Authority benchmarks, the Studio Hybrid has more than enough power to run Photoshop with its much more impressive 1.13.

The Studio Hybrid is the first system we’ve seen that includes the Dell Dock, reminiscent of the application Dock found in Apple’s OS X. By default, the Dell Dock sits along the top edge of the screen, popping into view when the mouse pointer hovers along the edge for a few seconds.

More experienced users will prefer the instant results of the Windows Vista search bar for application launching, but for new users the Dock is friendly, and handy for launching commonly-used applications. You also get Dell’s Media Connect software – its Photo and Music applications don’t match Vista’s Media Center, but it’s the only way provided by Dell to play Blu-ray films.

For a manufacturer derided for pumping out identical-looking grey boxes, the Studio Hybrid is extremely good-looking. The striking bamboo cover can be slid off with the removal of a single screw, and replaced by any of six translucent sleeves. Not only are the translucent sleeves arguably better-looking than the bamboo version, they also knock $160 off the Studio’s price. In terms of volume the Studio is smaller than many laptops – standing vertically it’s just 197mm high and 21mm wide. The chunky metal stand can even be taken apart and both sides used independently, allowing you to mount the Studio horizontally.

Despite the Studio’s size, it doesn’t lack ports. The front, which initially looks sparse, includes two USB ports, an 8-in-1 memory card reader and a slot-loading Blu-ray drive, whose eject button is a small, touch-sensitive area of the chassis immediately below the power button. It’s capped by a 3.5mm headphone port.

Turn the system around and you’ll find 3.5mm in and out audio jacks, optical S/PDIF, four-pin FireWire, and an HDMI port, complemented by a DVI port. There are also three further USB ports, gigabit ethernet, plus a hardware reset button. Usefully, the keyboard and mouse provided are both wireless, so they don’t occupy any USB ports. Even better, the receiver is integrated within the chassis – fire the system up for the first time and the input devices work immediately. Our top-end version also contained an 802.11a/b/g/n wireless card with an internal antenna, although on custom-specified systems this is a $54 option.

It’s not unusual for small systems such as this to be essentially closed – the Asus Eee Box and Mac mini are next to impossible to access. The Studio, however, makes upgrading simple. Removing the chassis lid is child’s play, and inside there are no proprietary components. The cage containing the laptop-style Blu-ray drive and 320GB Western Digital hard disk is easily removed, revealing a pair of SODIMM slots beneath it. Even the processor can be accessed once its chunky heatsink is removed.

The hunt for compromises within the Studio isn’t entirely fruitless. It’s a near-perfect candidate for a media centre PC – particularly given its Blu-ray optical drive and HDMI port – so the lack of an internal TV tuner is mysterious. Even more annoying, you can’t specify one through Dell’s website, meaning you’ll have to add one after you buy, either running the gauntlet of installing a mini-PCI internal card or losing a USB port to an external version. Of slightly less concern is the Intel GMA X3100 graphics adapter, which this is fast enough for an extensive selection of out-of-date games, but not more recent releases.

If you’re looking for a new desktop system, the Studio Hybrid should be on your list. It’s small, quiet, very good-looking, and unlike the Eee Box it’s easily powerful enough to make mincemeat of the kind of applications experienced PC users will run. Our only quibble is the high price of our top-end version, but those willing to sacrifice a few luxuries will find themselves looking at a bargain.

Price Check: Check out the latest prices for the Studio Hybrid at www.dell.com.au