Microsoft Surface Studio Reviews: Apple Fans Might Be 'Tempted to Switch Camps', Despite High Price

[HobeSoundDarryl]

I meant "every other" in the sense that new computers in the next 12-24 months on both Mac and Windows will be pushing the USB-C standard and the Surface Studio owners will be out of luck after dropping $3-$4K. Just seemed odd.

As for Thunderbolt 1 and 2 adoption, Apple had already gone all in on MiniDisplayPort so it was an easy manufacturing change for them to be the Thunderbolt pioneers. With USB-C/Thunderbolt 3, there have been quite a few Windows machines that beat Apple to the punch in 2016 - Dell, HP, Razer, and others. With Thunderbolt 3 taking the shape of USB-C, I expect Thunderbolt to be much more prominent going forward.

I'll hope right with you. I'm just having a hard time seeing your time estimate pan out. Computers using Intel chipsets will likely move quickly but then you have everything else that uses USB connections. I don't see it as longshot as Lightning actually replacing 3.5mm everywhere, but I simply think you are overly optimistic about the pace of adoption.

Nevertheless, I will hope right with you. It is a great standard. Hopefully many other lessor standards- including Lightning- can go so that we can quit needing another dongle to connect any given this with that.

 

[mildocjr]

When they have a new CEO and are actively trying hard to steer the company in the right direction, i think they deserve at least an open mind.

The problem MS faces is that Steve Ballmer put them in such a hurt it's going to be a while before they get good again. Satya is all about revenue which is why everything is Subscription based. He has a clear vision and direction for MS however he is at a fault when he doesn't take the one principle that both Bill Gates and Steve Jobs had. Keeping it user friendly. Make it so a person wants to touch a button to discover what's next. Not make it look like something that just feels like wallpaper layered over and over again with something different.

The XP Start button was fantastic, you wanted to click on that thing because it looked squishy. Even the most terrifying things to non-technical people (Control Panel and networking) looked very friendly and not technical at all.

Snow Leopard looked sleek and professional, you felt like a professional when you used it, now you just feel like you're living in a glass house and everything will break with a wrong step.

I'm not saying we need to go back to jelly and metal, but I think a bit of professionalism should be instilled in the UI. Something friendly that makes you feel comfortable with it and something sleek so you have a professional mindset while using it.

The Surface Studio is basically an underpowered iMac that looks like a mac mini with a solar panel on top of it. Nothing about it looks professional, it looks kind of goofy to be honest, and it doesn't fit the bill for user friendliness in appearance.

As another example the HP Spectre looks sleek and professional, it looks like a device that only lawyers and doctors use. It has a clear direction.

 

[sofila]

On topic...a couple of friends of mine that draw for a living can't wait to put their hands on this machine for a try.
While chatting about prices and specs, both of them told me that their workflow doesn't need great hardware performance. Their focus is all on the screen and the possibilities.
And for a lot of forumers now supposed to be graphic designers...well the 1st iPad Pro iteration with his pen revealed a lot of artists in here. They're not disappearing in one night, I hope.

 

[macUser2007]

That's weird, cause I thought Apple made a device that uses both Touch and optional pen input a year ago...
...

Weird it is. Because it's called an iPad and uses a mobile OS, which right now is rather limited.

And even there Apple was way late and simply implemented what Android/Windows tablets had been doing for a while.

I am yet to see a pro use the iPad Pro as their daily rig....

Nah, the touchbar is Apple's greatest innovation in years. Impressive!

 

[fishmongerer]

Have you tried Windows 10? I wouldn't go as far as saying it's better than macOS, but between Apple inexplicably removing useful features from OS X and Microsoft adding a lot of useful features between Windows 7 and 10, I don't miss macOS that much.

God I wish it had columns view in Explorer... I've tried a few unofficial Explorer alternatives that have a columns view, but they're all broken in other ways. I have an experimental file browser I've written (cross platform) which has something that blows columns view away... but I don't have the time/resources to actually polish it enough to use it on a daily basis.

Thanks for sharing, my next computer may be a Windows machine. I have Win tablet and Chromebook. I wonder how the surface phone will do.

 

[mildocjr]

I'm a strong believer in the "never gen 1" practice, so Apple has about one year to get their **** together. Can't believe I'm seriously looking at returning to Windows.

Actually the odd gen iPhones are the best orig, 3GS, 4GS, etc. Your practice works for the iPad and now it seems like the AW is following suit. As for iMac and MBP it seems to be odd years, I think MBA is even years. No idea on MBs just yet.

 

[jimbobb24]

10 years ago MacOS was 20 x better than Windows.
Today MacOS is 1% better than Windows. I'm not going to give up features, power, RAM, and spend extra... for 1%

Windows in 2 years?..... are you sure they can't catch them? Apple only cares about IOS and WatchBands, and MS for the first time seems to actually want to innovate. And MS can use ALL of it's considerable R&D for actual client and server OS. No cars, headphones, Dre or Kanye to worry about in Redmond. MS servers ONE master.... computers. Apple clearly HATES computers and can't wait to exit the business. How can they win when they aren't even trying?

They are doing well and I think Windows works very well. There remain aesthetic differences that are meaningful. I prefer macOS even though I find windows pretty functional. Apple does seem to be bored -like no one but the watchband team seems really hungry for success. But MS serves lots of masters. Xbox the most obvious one.

 

[ackmondual]

Apart from the price, the the only thing holding me back from moving to a windows surface system is ..... Windows.

Tis a shame.... Microsoft has a solution that uses an undesirable OS. Apple's solution is they have a nice OS, but no product to go with it. I'd say perhaps if they could work together, but worst case scenario is we combine the worst features from both camps!

 

[cylack]

Non-starter for me without OS X. Besides, I’ve never thought “gee it would be nice if I could touch my MacBook Pro’s screen to control things”.

 

[Graham King]

I'll get excited when I see someone editing video in Premiere on it.

 

[kgi111]

Sorry Microsoft you use Windows as a platform which is total no go.
Unfortunately Apples new price scheme combined with non-upgradeable Hw.has made that an impossible go as well.
So I am now forced to second hand Apple gear.
Well what about a linux? Been there done that. My life is to short for that.

 

[racingbull]

Who would have said so... Awesome job MS: will wait for the next upgrade with full SSD-drive, though, for my office.

Will keep my MBP at home for the casual stuff.

competition is good and will hopefully push our sleepy Apple.

 

[jakefloyd]

Given almost all of my work software I use on boot camp anyway, I am excited to finally retire my 7 year old desktop.

 

[cult hero]

Put macOS on here, and still... I don't need it. It's another gimmick.

"Gimmick" seems like the wrong word. As a developer I could say all drawing tools are "gimmicks" because I don't use them. They're not though. They're just a facet of computing that basically doesn't appeal to me. (Although an iPad Pro 9.7 + Pencil seems like it would be a fun combo to replace my mountains of notebooks!)

I think the Surface Studio is a pretty cool idea. It just has a rather niche audience so far as I can tell.

 

[mohrt]

Have you tried Windows 10? I wouldn't go as far as saying it's better than macOS, but between Apple inexplicably removing useful features from OS X and Microsoft adding a lot of useful features between Windows 7 and 10, I don't miss macOS that much.

God I wish it had columns view in Explorer... I've tried a few unofficial Explorer alternatives that have a columns view, but they're all broken in other ways. I have an experimental file browser I've written (cross platform) which has something that blows columns view away... but I don't have the time/resources to actually polish it enough to use it on a daily basis.

Try Directory Opus for Windows.

 

[Sy7ygy]

DAMN but 3K is a lot of money! dont think i want to spend that kind of money on bloatware.

PAHA.

Wait, seriously?

Siri, Photos, iTunes - you are talking about Bloatware!?

Windows 10, is not bloatware.

You are in the small camp; as with all delusional Apple users.

 

[cult hero]

All in all, the Studio is nice. I just wish people would quit saying it's for creatives. Maybe hobbyists who don't do their research would buy it, but I guarantee actual pros would largely balk at the idea of buying one over a much more flexible Cintiq.

Thanks for this comment. Most of the comments related to this are people completely outside the industry (myself included). It was a good read.

With that said, those "hobbyists who don't do their research" are a wealthy group!

 

[producer26]

I'm telling you Microsoft, the only thing that keeps me from buying the surface, is Windows. (Although i might change my mind if i don't see a proper mac pro or iMac in 2017

 

[kgi111]

Have you tried Windows 10? I wouldn't go as far as saying it's better than macOS, but between Apple inexplicably removing useful features from OS X and Microsoft adding a lot of useful features between Windows 7 and 10, I don't miss macOS that much.

God I wish it had columns view in Explorer... I've tried a few unofficial Explorer alternatives that have a columns view, but they're all broken in other ways. I have an experimental file browser I've written (cross platform) which has something that blows columns view away... but I don't have the time/resources to actually polish it enough to use it on a daily basis.

I use Windows 10 every day (at work). I still find it a pretty sad story.
No doubt Microsoft is in 5. Gear at the moment and Apple seems to be at some kind of a strange stand still.
But Windows 10 for me is still like they put lipstick on a pig and it is still capable of self-destruct.

 

[jase1125]

The way Mac hardware is at the moment I wouldn't be surprised.

Even if we consider the fact that it runs Windows, which is, in fact, inferior to macOS.

But if I have to shell out up to $3k for a poorly designed computer, then I'd prefer experiencing an operating system that is not as good.

Windows is, in fact, superior to MacOS.

 

[cult hero]

I have both W10 and Sierra I find W10 very depressing.
Maybe I need someone to sit down and sell me on it. Is there a youtube video with the WOW factor you recommend? (I do however think I'm a lost cause).

I haven't seen it. And ultimately it boils down to two things:

1. macOS is just flat out a more consistent experience. It's the nature of the ecosystem and has been. Whether that's good or bad is a matter of taste from time to time, but I much prefer it.

2. macOS is UNIX. Should Apple make decisions that drive me from the platform, I won't be going to Windows, that's for sure. Linux, most likely on a Lenovo, would probably be the replacement and I can't say I'd be overly thrilled. (No one's trackpad works as well as Apple's and it's not even close.)

3. (bonus) Being in Apple's ecosystem (a tighter one than the above) with iDevices and the like is just nice. In my experience things work together very smoothly. Even little things like macOS Server automatically opening ports as needed for services when paired with an AirPort Extreme is a really nice level of polish.

I boot into Windows to game on occasion because gaming performance in macOS, at least games ported from Windows, is generally pretty terrible.

 

[dantastic]

It's pretty nice. This very machine isn't for me but I like the direction they are going. Never thought I'd say it but I will consider a PC for my next computer. Haven't tried windows 10 but I've heard good things.

 

[alexgowers]

Reasons not to buy for me

Ports at rear.
Windows.
Poor support for the wheel thing.
Dirt in bottom of wheel thing will grind and scratch the screen over time.
Terrible windows scaling.
Underpowered 980m in top end model
Underpowered cpu in top model
Pen support is poor.
Pen adds a hook at start due to sending pen when not touching screen.
Pen pressure levels not very good.
No route to upgrade any parts.
Windows.
Terrible mouse scrolling and scrolling in general. Very jittery and leggy.
Cost, it's not even comparable to a similar desktop setup even prebuilt system.
Design, touch makes you hunch over when drawing and us uncomfortable when upright.
No thunderbolt 3 or USBc!

This would have been better as a touch input/stylus screen to attach to any computer.

 

[Malarkey]

As a graphic designer and artist this thing is on my wish list. Imagine someday being able to rearrange pieces on a layout my moving them directly with a pen or by hand, or resize elements directly by touching them. The possibilities are endless. We essentially want giant iPads with a full OS on them. Plus, lots of other people in my field are talking about how Apple is really sucking at maintaining the Mac Pro/iMac/Mini line and questioning what to do now that their 5+ year old Macs are dying (I just bought a used 2012 Mini to replace my 2011 iMac...this is what it's come to).

 

[jmgregory1]

I think we'll see Apple make the iPad Pro and Pencil become an input device for iMacs, rMBP's and Mac Pro's, in part because of the Surface Studio. The argument will be, that it's better to draw and interact with something on the horizontal plane, while keeping your head and eyes focused on a screen in the vertical plane - plus you then don't have to deal with smudges and fingerprints on a large screen, which I can guarantee will become an issue for people using the SP.