TECHNOLOGY
Microsoft's Aluminium Surface Studio
The reviews of Microsoft's new Surface Studio desktop PC have come as good news for the company.
17 November, 2016
Several tech writers have lavished praise on the new device, admiring its design as well as its hardware capabilities.
Those reviewers have also noted that Apple has possibly been outdone with this creative-space release.
The Surface Studio, with its sleek lines and adaptive design, is definitely a successful outing for Microsoft from an aesthetic perspective. This is especially important since the new release is expected in stores on December 15, in time for the end-of-year holiday rush.
One big factor in the Surface design's positive reception is the material choice of aluminium. The oversized 28-inch, 10-bit color screen is set in an aluminium case that is impossibly thin, atop a solid base with a total product weight of 21 pounds (9.56 kilograms). That sounds like a lot, but the aluminium supports the massive display even as adjustments seem effortless.
The Surface Studio, with its sleek lines and adaptive design, is definitely a successful outing for Microsoft from an aesthetic perspective. This is especially important since the new release is expected in stores on December 15, in time for the end-of-year holiday rush.
One big factor in the Surface design's positive reception is the material choice of aluminium. The oversized 28-inch, 10-bit color screen is set in an aluminium case that is impossibly thin, atop a solid base with a total product weight of 21 pounds (9.56 kilograms). That sounds like a lot, but the aluminium supports the massive display even as adjustments seem effortless.
Image: HIconsumption
That is because of a zero gravity hinge feature that seamlessly moves the display from its upright position into Studio Mode. A graphic artist who paints, draws and writes in this "tablet" mode can do so in a free, more natural way, even resting a hand on a screen perfectly designed to work with Microsoft's Surface Pen and new Surface Dial as well.
That new Dial has been especially warmly received, with Mashable arguing it outshines the main device: the simple but powerful aluminium knob matches the system and works with the Surface Pen to change brush stroke widths or color, with app offerings to complement users of professional-quality Adobe Creative Cloud, Bluebeam, and similar tools. The Dial also offers a fluid way to change music, scroll news stories, or complete other tasks independent of project work.
That new Dial has been especially warmly received, with Mashable arguing it outshines the main device: the simple but powerful aluminium knob matches the system and works with the Surface Pen to change brush stroke widths or color, with app offerings to complement users of professional-quality Adobe Creative Cloud, Bluebeam, and similar tools. The Dial also offers a fluid way to change music, scroll news stories, or complete other tasks independent of project work.
The Surface Studio screen offers a 10-point multitouch experience, meaning that it accommodates the creative touch power of both hands on a 4500 x 3000 resolution (192 PPI) screen. The system has three color settings – sRGB, DCI-P3 and Vivid Color Profiles – and is intentionally built with a 3:2 aspect ratio, so that the experience is more like working on a canvas than one might see in the more common 16:9.
The system runs Windows 10 Pro software, has a 6th Generation Intel Core i5 or i7 processor, and also offers the memory and storage capacities one would expect for data-rich creative needs.
The Surface Studio is fitted with a 5.0 MP camera with 1080p HD video and the Windows Hello facial recognition security sign-in, and comes with the Surface Pen, Surface Keyboard, and Surface Mouse.
Image: Windows Blog
The Surface Studio is fitted with a 5.0 MP camera with 1080p HD video and the Windows Hello facial recognition security sign-in, and comes with the Surface Pen, Surface Keyboard, and Surface Mouse.
Image: Windows Blog
The Surface Pen (encased in aluminium as well) offers 1024 levels of pressure sensitivity, has a 12-month battery life, and is compatible with other Surface products. The pen also makes it easy to convert handwritten notes to text and share them, simply clicks for quick One Notes or screen shots, and lets users do that in an intuitive way on a machine that Microsoft advertises as performing with smooth, real-time responsiveness.
Banner image: Windows Blog