Hands on with the Surface Studio, Microsoft’s first desktop computer

It's sleek, beautiful, but a little bit strange.

Read the whole story

 

[iguanarama]

But ultimately, it feels like the kind of thing that a lot more people are going to lust after than are ever going to use it.

Is that a bad thing? If they successfully go after the high end design market and capture a sizeable percentage? Word on the early-reviewers-street is that it's a win.

 

[AlanAlias]

Dear Santa...

 

[RandomBits]

It certainly is a very nice machine... for the right use case, it doesn't feel like a general purpose machine for the masses as the article points out. Would like the hardware to be stronger as well, but then the price becomes even more stratospheric.

I wonder how many iterations it would take for Microsoft to iron out the version 1 bugs that are sure to crop up. We'll see if Microsoft has learned from all their launch hiccups in the past.

 

[LuDux]

Speaking as a Mac fan, I think Microsoft just out-Apple'd Apple.

And Wacom should be shitting bricks right about now. Cintiq's are now defunct.

 

[John_5mith]

As a minimum, it's going to get me into a store (maybe a Microsoft store) so I can take a look at it. It sounds fascinating.

 

[loquacio]

I hope at some point we'll see a Surface iMac competitor at a more consumer friendly price, but I'm doubtful it'll happen anytime soon. With the fancy hinge and pen input being its main tricks, all you've really got to play with is replacing the guts for lower spec'd parts and that won't knock off the ~$1500 needed to put it in average consumer range. Sure you can shrink the screen a bit and use a slightly less amazing one, but you still need a pretty high res if you expect users to be up close and personal with it.

Hopefully the other other OEMs will pick up the slack like they have with 2 in 1s.

 

[wolf_fire]

Looks like MS finally wised up and took a few pages from Apple then went one step further. A great idea, even if I could never personally afford one...

My concern is that as a repair guy, the vast majority of hardware failures I see are from all-in-ones because they have chronic heat dissipation issues. After spending $3k on a computer I wouldn't want to have it feel like I'm having to repair it more than using it.

Maybe Microsoft has dealt with that problem here, but I'm not holding my breath after seeing the density specs.

 

[LordDaMan]

—I'd like a stronger GPU than the Nvidia GeForce GTX 980M—but can still handle reasonable gaming, albeit not at the full native screen resolution

There's not many GPUs that could handle that sort of performance out there. You would need something like a nvidia titan X which would add at the very least another grand just for the card and would require a considerably larger device as they need a lot of cooling

 

[sunflower]

Teachers might love this. A relative that teaches math uses a similar custom device connected to a projector. She says she likes being able to see the class as she is writing, as opposed to having her back to the class at a whiteboard. She can also change colors easily to color code different parts of a problem and then save the problems worked for distribution.

 

[ZPrime]

LuDux[/url]":17zecsq3]Speaking as a Mac fan, I think Microsoft just out-Apple'd Apple.

And Wacom should be shitting bricks right about now. Cintiq's are now defunct.

According to digital artists I've talked to, the Cintiq was screwed when Apple came out with the iPad Pro and the Pencil. The Pencil is apparently better at pressure levels and "immersion" than a Cintiq - this was coming from a lawyer who was a serious digital artist in his spare time and had the cash to splash for whatever the hell he wanted. In the same vein, he said the Pencil is more advanced that what MS is using in the Surface Book; not sure if the same applies to this Studio thing though.

 

[TheColinous]

What I'd like to know is how this handles the typical use scenario with 50 layer artwork where half of the layers are adjustment layers. Often, artwork don't rely that much on the GPU. It's more CPU intensive. A 980 should be more than fine if you do static images. It might be underpowered if you do 3d modelling with that screen, though, so there's that.

For my digital painting though, the CPU is more important because of the layers.

 

[beeba]

i'm not so sure that wacom should be so worried yet; what happens when the guts become outdated? your wacom is still useful, but you need an entire new surface (unless it's swappable or something).

on the other hand, that means another surface sale while wacom doesn't get the recurring revenue...

but people can look a little ahead and choose accordingly, can't they?

i guess this is the iMac argument, and those still sell really well.

 

[Deckard75]

Very impressive. It seems to be a true artists computer.

I think if Steve Jobs saw this it would make him rethink not wanting to use digital pens.

 

[quietnine]

in an industry where the innovation is constantly on mobile and laptops, its really great to see someone say "how can we make the desktop platform *better*?"

I see this as an attempt to show designers the strength of touch and pen inputs. If MS succeeds in convincing others that touch and stylus have their moments as the strongest input options for certain situations, then they deal non-touch-ready OSX platforms a serious blow.

 

[Deckard75]

I used to be involved in computer graphics in the late eighties early nineties. We used Amiga 2000's and programs like DigiPaint and Deluxe Paint 3 to illustrate and to animate. At the time the wow factor was so much better then what the competitor's had at the time (macs and PC's).

To me the Amiga was a true artists computer.

This Surface Studio reminds of that wow factor from years past. It truly seems to be a major step forward in terms of being an artists computer.

 

[AaronSullivan]

The iPad Pro finally hit at a price and value that I could get my old Wacom Cintiq dreams fulfilled and I love it. However, this is a great looking device and I like that there is competition heating up on this. Apps for iPad Pro for drawing illustrating need a boost with people willing to pay for them, in my opinion. Meanwhile, while this has "it all" it is also in an entirely other price class. (I use the iPad Pro for so many great portable things as well)

It's worth noting that Wacom has announced a new portable pro line of tablets that seems built to compete with surface and iPad Pro. Price details aren't out until November, though.

So far this thing looks like a nice dream machine and I'm so impressed with how far Microsoft's hardware division has come along. Love that this space is getting competition and advancement. (Next heat up comes in March timeframe is when Apple is rumored to reveal work on the iPad Pro side of iOS 10)

 

[Jaycee842]

For the past three years or so Microsoft has blown everyone away. They are innovating at a high level while Apple sits comfortably on its pile of cash building a spaceship. Hopefully Apple shows us something great in the world of Macs tomorrow.

 

[nizmo_man]

They couldn't put 1070M in there?

 

[Mitlov]

I don't think it's strange that this AIO targets professionals instead of families like the Mac Classic did. The market is FULL of Windows AIOs that target families and consumers. This serves a business niche, yes, but an unserved business niche. If you want a $700 AIO for your uncle, take one of the many options from HP, Dell, etc.

 

[Drum]

Ken Russell[/url]":1pwzc1gf]LOL, and to think of the rig I can make for half of that...
Well, it might not be so tiny, but it'll never overheat and look pretty nice.
Looks aren't everything.

Let me know when you pull together a similar touch and pen enabled 28" hi-res (and 3:2!) display. I'd love to see it.

 

[rbell]

LordDaMan[/url]":253al78i]

—I'd like a stronger GPU than the Nvidia GeForce GTX 980M—but can still handle reasonable gaming, albeit not at the full native screen resolution

There's not many GPUs that could handle that sort of performance out there. You would need something like a nvidia titan X which would add at the very least another grand just for the card and would require a considerably larger device as they need a lot of cooling

Are you suggesting that mobility graphics is good enough? At this price point, mobility graphics seem very underpowered. Apple deservedly takes a lot of crap for not offering anything better than mobility graphics in their iMacs. ZBrush may not care about the graphics card but every other 3D package does. (Since this is being pitched to creatives)

 

[DrPizza]

Rosyna[/url]":129hhiwl]I guess the fact the Surface Studio has a physical switch for sRGB and DCI-P3 color spaces, like many Android devices, is indicative of the poor color management in Windows?

Physical switch? Where?

 

[jdale]

The ability to transform from a regular computer to a drafting table is not merely some gimmick; it's a significant and desirable feature.

I don't get the All-in-one aspect though. From the description, the screen won't be obsolete in three years. The hinge won't be obsolete. The form factor won't be obsolete. But you'll have to replace it because the rest of the computer will be. Why? Why not make a screen with the form factor and hinge and allow the user to attach it to any computer?

Maybe the answer is "because architecture firms have a lot of money" but that's not a good answer for a comic artist.

 

[The questioner]

Overall I'm left with the impression that Microsoft could've built many of the unique features (Touch, Surface Pen, Surface Dial...) into the monitor itself allowing the end user to use any PC equipped with Windows 10. I would've been willing to pay $1500.

Edit: Ninja'ed by jdale

 

[Mitlov]

jdale[/url]":226cpkin]

The ability to transform from a regular computer to a drafting table is not merely some gimmick; it's a significant and desirable feature.

I don't get the All-in-one aspect though. From the description, the screen won't be obsolete in three years. The hinge won't be obsolete. The form factor won't be obsolete. But you'll have to replace it because the rest of the computer will be. Why? Why not make a screen with the form factor and hinge and allow the user to attach it to any computer?

Maybe the answer is "because architecture firms have a lot of money" but that's not a good answer for a comic artist.

The form factor is great for cramped art offices and bullpens.

 

[The questioner]

Mitlov[/url]":1ajdmlrn]

jdale[/url]":1ajdmlrn]

The ability to transform from a regular computer to a drafting table is not merely some gimmick; it's a significant and desirable feature.

I don't get the All-in-one aspect though. From the description, the screen won't be obsolete in three years. The hinge won't be obsolete. The form factor won't be obsolete. But you'll have to replace it because the rest of the computer will be. Why? Why not make a screen with the form factor and hinge and allow the user to attach it to any computer?

Maybe the answer is "because architecture firms have a lot of money" but that's not a good answer for a comic artist.

The form factor is great for cramped art offices and bullpens.

You're right about form factor but you can purchase powerful tiny machines with five year warranties.

 

[sonolumi]

Rosyna[/url]":2ukpssof]

DrPizza[/url]":2ukpssof]

Rosyna[/url]":2ukpssof]I guess the fact the Surface Studio has a physical switch for sRGB and DCI-P3 color spaces, like many Android devices, is indicative of the poor color management in Windows?

Physical switch? Where?

A "single button tap" was mentioned in Ars' original article.

He also showed off live color gamut switching, with a single button tap switching the display between sRGB and DCI-P3, which visual designers will certainly appreciate.

It's an icon in Action Centre. Panos demonstrated it during the presentation.

 

[DrPizza]

Rosyna[/url]":1isd85i6]

DrPizza[/url]":1isd85i6]

Rosyna[/url]":1isd85i6]I guess the fact the Surface Studio has a physical switch for sRGB and DCI-P3 color spaces, like many Android devices, is indicative of the poor color management in Windows?

Physical switch? Where?

A "single button tap" was mentioned in Ars' original article.

He also showed off live color gamut switching, with a single button tap switching the display between sRGB and DCI-P3, which visual designers will certainly appreciate.

It's a software toggle so that you can switch between DCI-P3 and sRGB on the fly. I'd guess it changes profiles and changes the LUT in the screen all at the same time.

 

[richten]

It looks really cool but I think one good thing about Cintiq and other Wacom tablets is that they don't include a computer. You can get a cheap computer and work with that if that is what you need, or if you need a beefy computer (for 3D for example) the Wacom tablet also works. Or if you want to update your computer, or send it for repairs the tablet still works. Those are options this does not offer.

 

[sonolumi]

The questioner[/url]":36s8xq6p]Overall I'm left with the impression that Microsoft could've built many of the unique features (Touch, Surface Pen, Surface Dial...) into the monitor itself allowing the end user to use any PC equipped with Windows 10. I would've been willing to pay $1500.

I'd buy the monitor, with all its features, were it available by itself. I already have a i7 self built rig with 32gb RAM, what I'm missing is that gorgeous pen touch display.

As others have mentioned here and on the announcement article, Wacom must be very worried right now. Pen Tilt doesn't beat better colour accuracy, higher resolution and better touch control. Nor does Wacom's price structure compare favourably with the Surface Studio. Eye watering though the price of the Studio may seem at first glance, it does represent better value once the total price of required hardware is calculated.

I hope the Surface Studio has a similar effect on PC manufacturers that the Surface range has. Third party 2 in 1s have exploded in popularity. People are comfortable with touch. Touch is to keyboard and mouse what a GUI is to CLI - sure you might have more control with the later but the former is often more intuitive.

 

[sonolumi]

sessamoid[/url]":ee4lsnqr]Lack of tilt detection is a big disadvantage when comparing this to the Apple Pencil for artistic purposes.

Lack of fully featured desktop apps is a bigger deal. If I could run the full desktop apps I use on an iPad Pro I would already have one.

All artists use cases are different and plenty do well with the iPad Pro. Tilt isn't the one game changer that trumps all other considerations for me.