Dell Cranks Up the Style for Studio Notebooks

By Geoff Duncan Published April 30, 2009

Dell Cranks Up the Style for Studio Notebooks — Image used with permission by copyright holder

Computer maker Dell is looking to further shed its image of making only boring grey PCs and notebooks, and to that end has just vastly expanded the number of Design Studio stylized notebook lid designs available for its Studio 15 and Studio 17 notebook models—although a handful are also available for Inspiron Minis. Dell has just added some 120 new designs to the collection, featuing artists like Deanne Cheuk, Maya Hayuk, TWEEQIM, Korakrit Arunanondchai, Filth, Robert Hargrave, and Keith Warner—including a total of 13 Product (Red) designs that direct $20 towards the Global Fund to fight AIDS and other diseases.

Design Studio covers add $85 to the cost of a Studio 15 of Studio 17 notebook. Some of the designs attempt to integrate with the notebooks’ form factor and industrial design; others seem to ignore it entirely, opting for color, form, and expression over any sort of integrated design. Dell has also rolled out a new Flash-based Design Studio browser that lets customers quickly flip through available designs.

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Geoff Duncan writes, programs, edits, plays music, and delights in making software misbehave. He's probably the only member…

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