Today, it seems that every social or age group of buyers is divided into dozens of subcategories for which the computer manufacturers create new models. The diversification of computer market has led to the production of various types of models in the last few years. Since Microsoft commenced a more dynamic stage of innovative development, since Satya Nadella became their CEO in 2014 (source), it was clear that we should expect something big from their design team. This hunch has proven to be correct. A few days ago, Microsoft presented their state-of-the-art computer device – Surface Studio.
Key performance characteristics
What Microsoft engineers and designers wanted to achieve with this device was making a user-friendly computer unparalleled by any other previous device. When you have a look at it (check out this official Microsoft presentation video), you might think that you’re looking at a beautifully designed monitor. It’s thanks to its slender design that you can’t actually see that this is a personal computer.
Microsoft opted for LCD technology rather than OLED or ULED. You might think that it is inferior to other types of screens, however, it is based on Samsung’s PixelSense display just like other Surface products. And we all love them Surface displays, don’t we? Moreover, it contains a TrueColor visual enhancement that displays 13.5 million pixels. Due to such an abundance of pixels, the colors on this screen look extremely vivid and the images are crispy and sharp.
Furthermore, when it comes to its powerhouse set, Surface Studio offers a Skylake Core i5 processor, 8GB of RAM, a 1TB hard drive and 2GB Nvidia GTX 965M. However, this is only the basic version. Also, it’s the most affordable solution, costing $2,999. There are two more advanced configurations that cost $3,499 and $4,199. Read more about them in a piece brought by PC World.
Smooth screen usability and the Dial
Microsoft already successfully introduced their special Surface Pen technology with Surface Pro tablets. However, the new version of this digital writing tool is more advanced than its predecessors. Moreover, it’s accompanied with the Dial – a special controlling device that takes the entire user experience of Surface Studio to a new dimension. This round-shaped, apple-sized tool is placed on the screen and it serves as an advanced version of a mouse. You can use it to open programs, rotate the screen and choose any other option that you might need during your work.
Although some designers have expressed their concerns about the practicality of the Dial, Microsoft designers are expecting it to become an inseparable part of your work, once you master working with the Surface Pen and the Dial at the same time. A video published by Business Insider shows how those two items can be simultaneously used in a handy and creative way.
Unfortunately, the Dial is a separate component that costs $99. Still, it’s a great value for money, since it enables its users to experience Surface Studio in a completely different way.
Hinge-enhanced, multi-level experience
The technical specifications show that this new computing prodigy is a powerful device. But how does this translate to its practical usability? When you first get in touch (literally) with this touch-screen machine, you will notice that it can be used in different ways. Firstly, you can adapt its position to your current needs. From a 90-degree angle for watching multimedia content to a 20-degree horizontal position, Surface Studio can satisfy different user demands. This is all a result of their innovative hinge-producing technology. Since Zero Gravity hinges are the connective tissue that hold together the monitor, the stand and the small case below, those sensitive components are produced with special care and attention.
Preorders and shipment postponements
Although the initial news from Microsoft claimed that first shipments of the Surface Studio models with the i5 processors were scheduled for this December, the latest update postponed the beginning of deliveries and rescheduled them for the beginning of 2017. On one side, the number of preorders and the postponement of their shipments clearly show that Surface Studio is going to be the most valuable hardware innovation in the IT-field in 2017.
On the other hand, Microsoft might be playing a little marketing game, since the latest information coming from their press releases serve to convince us that the demand for their Surface Studio models is extremely high. Either way, its announcement and appearance has spiced things up in the last quarter of 2016, casting a new light on our expectations from personal computers in 2017.
Integration with future technologies
Its beautiful design and compatibility only with the Windows 10 OS reveal that Surface Studio represents a cornerstone of future development of the Microsoft personal computer. Also, from a business point of view, Microsoft is not only aiming at providing their loyal users with a ground-breaking computing device, but they’re also making an effort to attract some of the Apple users, too. This new stage in their rivalry is exciting news for all tech enthusiasts, because it will certainly lead to fierce IT competition. We can only expect more advanced machines that will satisfy our growing computing needs.
Surface Studio will change the way people use their home computers and how they perform their business tasks. In addition, it will set new standards in design and user experience, which will serve as a challenge to other manufacturers of those devices to keep broadening the horizons of technological development and advancing the field of personal computers.
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