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Microsoft unveils Surface Studio, a 28" AIO touchscreen PC starting at $2,999

Arthur

By Arthur
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Arthur

Arthur

Posted
Posted (edited)

Impressive device, but really expensive.

 

www.microsoftstore.com/store/msusa/en_US/pdp/Surface-Studio/productID.5074015900

 

Key Specs

  • 28-inch PixelSense touchscreen with 3:2 aspect ratio
  • Quad-core Intel Core i7 processor
  • up to 32GB RAM
  • up to 2TB 'rapid hybrid drive'
  • Nvidia GeForce GTX 980M graphics
  • HD webcam
  • Audio port
  • SD card slot
  • Mini DisplayPort
  • Ethernet port
  • 4 USB 3.0 ports
  • Stereo speakers with Dolby Audio Premium

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BzMLA8YIgG0

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WMklcdzcNcU

 

 

There's a new Core i7 Surface Book too.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A1OsmndtIrY

Edited by Arthur
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DJ-1701

DJ-1701

Posted
Posted
Impressive device, but really expensive.

 

Would make a nice IT suite, but way too expensive.

 

Yeah, but what do you expect from Apple... wait, what? ;)

  • Thanks 1
DJ-1701

DJ-1701

Posted
Posted
Reportedly it has a hybrid drive, no SSD. In this day and age, seriously??

 

I guess it's due to storage requirements for some of the files people would plan to use on it. A hybrid drive would still speed it up somewhat... though yeah I would prefer an SSD even if I had to use an external HDD or file server.

FN-GM

FN-GM

Posted
Posted
I guess it's due to storage requirements for some of the files people would plan to use on it. A hybrid drive would still speed it up somewhat... though yeah I would prefer an SSD even if I had to use an external HDD or file server.

 

In a device that size surely they could fit 2 drives?

Nixon77

Nixon77

Posted
Posted

The new Macbook pro apparently offers a 2TB SSD.

 

I would not be willing to spend that much on a Surface product, I have had countless issues with the things.

Norphy

Norphy

Posted
Posted (edited)
Reportedly it has a hybrid drive, no SSD. In this day and age, seriously??

 

Is it a hybrid drive a-la a Fusion drive in a Mac or is it a hybrid drive like what you buy from Seagate?

 

Spec for spec, it looks they offer similar options to the 27" Retina iMac, though it's hard to say for sure since the iMacs use AMD graphics cards rather than nVidia. The screen dot pitch is roughly the same, they offer similar CPU, memory and storage options. The adjustable stand looks like it's a nice idea for the arty types but I doubt that most people will give a crap about it on a screen that size. Retina iMacs start from a fair bit less though, the cheapest is $1800. One kitted out to the same level as the top end 27" Surface is $3,400. The top end Surface is $4,100. If you really want a high resolution AIO and you don't care about scribbling on the screen, it really looks like the Mac is the better contender. Even if you want to run Windows on it, a Windows license isn't going to cost $700.

 

Christ on a bike, it's coming to something when a Mac is looking like the better value proposition.

Edited by Norphy
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DJ-1701

DJ-1701

Posted
Posted
One more step and the 'Surface' will be a literal Surface

 

Continue that idea... what's next, Microsoft Wall? Microsoft Room?... Mix in 3D technology... Microsoft Holodeck... *snaps fingers* no wonder the Federation had all those issues. ;)

 

Anyway, price tag ouch, but I am impressed with their new outlook on the tech... maybe in danger of becoming Apple, but interesting concepts... Apple haven't made a touchscreen Mac, and Microsoft's implementation certainly looks interesting, especially being able to adjust the angle like a graphics bench. Will it pay off how they plan? Only time will tell.

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Arthur

Arthur

Posted
  • Author
Posted
In a device that size surely they could fit 2 drives?

It could just be the angle, but the base doesn't look much taller than an IEC C14 socket. :eek:

 

bxPdja.jpg

Arthur

Arthur

Posted
  • Author
Posted

www.penny-arcade.com/news/post/2016/10/26/the-surface-studio

 

Moving the Studio from one position to the next is startlingly easy. You can adjust it to whatever angle is most comfortable for you with two fingers. Once there the Studio provides enough resistance to draw comfortably without worrying about pushing it out of position. When you are drawing on it, the screen is completely engrossing. At a distance the screen is beautiful but when you are on top of it drawing, it’s absolutely stunning. Tycho asked me to compare it to my Cintiq, and I told him that drawing on the Cintiq now felt like drawing on a piece of dirty plexiglass hovering over a CRT monitor from 1997.

 

The feeling of drawing on the Studio’s screen is hard to describe. I will say that the first time you do it, it feels wrong. Like you’re going to get in trouble because you clearly are not supposed to drag a :censored: stylus across this thing! I’ve been drawing on it for a week now and it has gone from feeling naughty to just plain magical. The 3:2 aspect ratio is also great. The screen seems to take up more of my vertical field of vision and when I’m working on it I feel like there is MUCH less wasted space on the sides.

 

i-zVCpPqB-XL.jpg

googlemad

googlemad

Posted
Posted

It looks good but clearly targeted at the professional market rather than consumer level so the pricing isn't really an issue there

 

The only issue I have really is the fact it is an all in one, so when the hardware becomes redundant in a few years chuck it out and buy another...would have been nice if there was the option to hook up the display to an external PC for future proofing

 

Anyway...who will be the first to release an air hockey game for Windows 10 :D

3s-gtech

3s-gtech

Posted
Posted (edited)

Maxwell graphics - the 980M is nice and there's no Pascal equivalent but it's still last gen in a new product. Hybrid drive is a fail - M2 SSDs are not bulky to fit alongside a 2.5" slot!

 

Edit: looks like they've pulled the same trick with the Surface Book i7.

Edited by 3s-gtech
Dos_Box

Dos_Box

Posted
Posted (edited)

It looks to me that Microsoft are making large efforts to move into the 'creative' space currently dominated by Apple.

They have been making leaps and bounds in recent years as regards to design and usability of their branded devices and has alreay been pointed out, the price, whilst at first appearing steep does begin to look very favorable when you factor in such items as the extra Wacom tablets that design departments have to buy in sperately.

Not to mention that it is a very good way to save space (if you have ever seen the size of a top end Wacom tablet you'll understand!).

I also think this is a step along the way that design devices are headed. If you look at this Microsoft blog post from yesterday: https://blogs.windows.com/windowsexperience/2016/10/26/ten-things-we-announced-today-at-microsofts-windows-10-event/?utm_content=bufferc3bf0&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=buffer#OGLG9oOHHU745JiY.97 you do get the distinct impression that 3D design and VR are going to be a BIG thing in the future and this is Microsoft making it's first steps along this route.

I can understand the talk about the GPU and drive type employed, but as a first gen type device I suspect that these critisisms will be addressed in later relases once they get over the inevitable teething problems (and there will be given it's a whole new type of platform for Microsoft).

I hope they have some at BETT because I really do want a play!

Edited by Dos_Box
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localzuk

localzuk

Posted
Posted

This is what the current generation of iMac should have been to be honest. Why Apple still don't put touchscreens in their desktop machines still confuses me.

 

It is a brilliant piece of engineering, I'd say Microsoft have swing and hit big time with this - then again, it isn't aimed at average home users - it is clearly for the creative crowd.

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DalekSec

DalekSec

Posted
Posted
This is what the current generation of iMac should have been to be honest. Why Apple still don't put touchscreens in their desktop machines still confuses me.

 

It is a brilliant piece of engineering, I'd say Microsoft have swing and hit big time with this - then again, it isn't aimed at average home users - it is clearly for the creative crowd.

 

You'll like this article : Mac v PC - who's cooler now? - BBC News

 

Basiclly along the lines of what you're saying.

 

Apple need to respond to this with a great bit of tech or might be left behind, spending to much time focusing on phones imo!

  • Thanks 1
localzuk

localzuk

Posted
Posted (edited)
Maxwell graphics - the 980M is nice and there's no Pascal equivalent but it's still last gen in a new product. Hybrid drive is a fail - M2 SSDs are not bulky to fit alongside a 2.5" slot!

 

Edit: looks like they've pulled the same trick with the Surface Book i7.

 

If there isn't a newer model, then how can it be last generation?

 

Not to mention, a 2TB SSD vs a 2TB Hybrid drive is quite a big difference in price... As in 10x the price.

 

You'll like this article : Mac v PC - who's cooler now? - BBC News

 

Basiclly along the lines of what you're saying.

 

Apple need to respond to this with a great bit of tech or might be left behind, spending to much time focusing on phones imo!

 

Apple have been riding the coat tails of their Steve Jobs era products since he died. They've not really introduced anything new and useful since then (except maybe the Mac Pro, but they've not really pushed it very well at all), just made new versions of what they've already released - which explains why their sales numbers are starting to show signs of trouble. People get bored. They need to release something new and useful (key being both, as the Apple Watch isn't really useful), that appeals to the trend setters. Everyone else follows them, even if it costs an arm and a leg.

Edited by localzuk
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3s-gtech

3s-gtech

Posted
Posted
If there isn't a newer model, then how can it be last generation?

 

Because Nvidia won't be producing mobile parts (apparently), just picked desktop GPUs. The 'equivalents' are actually desktop GPUs, so that's what this should have (probably a GTX 1060 is closest). Pascal's efficiency and I guess a desire to unify model numbers are both factors.

Nixon77

Nixon77

Posted
Posted

Apple can't put all these features in at once, otherwise you would have no reason to upgrade, there would be nothing new for them to showoff.

 

MS on the other hand just gets on with it.

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