Dell Studio One 19 desktop computer review (Intel Pentium Dual Core E5200, 500GB HDD, 4GB)

It's too bad that the Studio One 19 comes up short on features because its performance is exactly where it should be. All-in-ones are still slower than their desktop counterparts, but the core components of the Apple iMac, the Dell Studio One 19, and the Sony Vaio JS250J are nearly identical. Apple's performance edge on multitasking applications is well-established, but the Dell lives up to our expectations for Windows systems in this category.

The performance of this unit actually helps us make the case for lower-end configurations of the Studio One 19. You'll find the same 2.5GHz dual-core Intel chip in our review unit in the $699 version of this system. Even though you get only half the memory at that price, that's still a strong foundation, and it gives you an idea of what the $699 performance might look like compared with the much slower Intel Atom CPU-based Asus Eee Top and the forthcoming MSI Windtop.

The Atom-based systems we've tested are so slow it might be better to consider them appliances than computers. But considering that the Eee Top costs $600, the $699 Studio One 19 suddenly starts encroaching on the so-called Nettop market with a much better performance story. Yes, the $600 Asus has touch input, and you have to pay $869 for the lowest end touch-enabled Studio One 19, so it's not a perfect comparison. But with no other full-fledged all-in-one available at such a low price, we find the lower end Studio One 19 configurations much more compelling, at least on paper, than our high-end review unit.

Dell rounds out the Studio One 19 with the usual accoutrement of all-in-one computers. The slot-loading optical drive on the right edge is more or less a must in this category. Between the left side and the rear of the system, you also get six USB 2.0 ports, a networking input, a 7-in-1 media card reader, and headphone, microphone, and audio out jacks. Built into the frame you'll find a Webcam and a pair of surprisingly decent stereo speakers. Remove the rear panel and you can also access the hard drive and the memory slots to replace or upgrade those parts. A wireless mouse and keyboard set come standard, although compared with recent streamlined peripherals from Apple, Sony, and others, the standard wireless Dell keyboard feels massive, and would take up quite a bit of space on a countertop.

Among the six all-in-ones we've tested for power efficiency, the Dell Studio One 19 consumes the second highest amount of power, trailing only Sony's Vaio LV250B, a 24-inch system with a discrete graphics card. Particularly damning for Dell is that even Apple's 24-inch iMac is more efficient than this system, and faster almost across the board. The Studio One 19 still falls within the range of EnergyStar compliance, so it's not all bad, but it seems incongruous that of the six all-in-ones we've tested, the one with the smallest display needs the second highest amount of juice but provides relatively slow performance for all of that power draw.

Dell's service and support for this system are in line with the rest of the industry. You get one year of parts-and-labor coverage standard, as well as a year of onsite service. Dell also maintains a 24-7 toll-free support line and a wealth of support resources on its Web site.

Find out more about how we test desktop systems.

System configurations:
Apple iMac
Apple OS X 10.5.6; 2.66GHz Intel Core 2 Duo; 2GB 1,066MHz DDR3 SDRAM; 256MB (shared) Nvidia GeForce 9400m integrated graphics chip; 320GB 7,200rpm hard drive.

Dell XPS 430-121B
64-bit Windows Vista Home Premium; 2.5GHz Intel Core 2 Quad Q8300 ; 6GB DDR3 1066MHz; 1GB Nvidia GeForce GT 120 Graphics card; 750GB, 7,200rpm hard drive.

Dell XPS One 19
64-bit Windows Vista Home Premium SP1; 2.5GHz Intel Core 2 Duo E5200; 4GB 800MHz DDR2 SDRAM; 256MB (shared) Nvidia GeForce 9400m integrated graphics chip; 320GB, 7,200rpm hard drive.

Gateway LX6810-01
$2,499 64-bit Windows Vista Home Premium; 2.3GHz Intel Core 2 Quad Q8200; 8GB 800MHz DDR2 SDRAM; 256MB ATI Radeon HD 3650 graphics card; 640GB, 7,200rpm hard drive.

Sony Vaio JS250J
$2,499 64-bit Windows Vista Home Premium SP1; 2.5GHz Intel Core 2 Duo E5200; 4GB 800MHz DDR2 SDRAM; 256MB (shared) Nvidia GeForce 9300m integrated graphics chip; 320GB, 7,200rpm hard drive.