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

[SgtPepper12]

The one thing that really pushes me towards OS X is its rather unique position providing both UNIX features and good proprietary software support. I kind of need both to be able to work efficiently with my computer and using either Linux or Windows would force me to have a vm running with the other system, which is far from optimal.

Having to buy Apple hardware was alright with me, they sure cost a lot of money, but I think paying 2000 bucks for a machine that does everything I need it to do with full three years of support and then some was an alright deal to me. That changed a lot. Now the hardware is a major downside to me, the new MacBooks are absolutely unacceptable for me.

This machine Microsoft offers is not really something I need to have, but it shows very clearly to me that Microsoft is able to quickly fill the niche Apple leaves open by slowly moving their focus further towards dumbed down pretty consumer electronics. They were of course always focused on simplicity, but at this point the features they progressively subtract from their products is making everyday usage a living hell. Apple needs to remember what exactly "Pro" means and why it's called that way. The product they released is by no means a "Pro" product, it's much rather a "Plus" product.

 

[tomaki]

Hardware-wise I'm pretty sure that it's a decent machine. Looks nice as well. But software... dunno about that.

SW is the biggest reason why I still prefer macs. Sure, mac software has quirks too, but of all the alternatives I find that macs (as a whole) suck the least. I just can't be arsed to dick around with my computer and do system maintenance or similar stuff. I want it to just work.

 

[MacBH928]

Wait a minute...
does this cost just as much as the new '15 MBP but comes with a '28 touch screen and a more powerful GPU ( GeForce GTX 965M ) and a free dial hardware for pre-orders on the opposite of purchasing separate dongles?

Apple Fans Might Be 'Tempted to Switch Camps'

I feel like its the year 2000 but in a parallel universe

 

[thefourthpope]

As so many have said on this forum in the past, competition is a good thing. Apple already has the pencil and the giant iPad; I'd love to see Tim and Jony move the iMac in this direction.

My main concern would be that they'd be too accepting of iOS apps rather than promote desktop suites that also function on a touch platform.

 

[Abazigal]

Apple has forgotten what the word "Pro" means. This is a first step for MS. I'll bet they beef up the specs on this soon or simply let you hook it to your own tower. You look at this video and realize that the iPad Pro is just a toy. Apple could have purchased Cintiq years ago and owned their technology. But, nope, 16GB of RAM in a Pro laptop and a tiny touch strip is what they feel is all a Pro wants. Wake up Apple. You have fallen behind Microsoft!! You should be embarrassed. I still hate Windows with a passion but this new tool looks impressive.

Apple never was, and can never be everything to everyone.

I think what people are conveniently forgetting is that the Surface Studio is an extremely niche product. Microsoft can afford to make such "halo" products even if they know the surface studio will not sell in significant quantities because that's not where their bread and butter lies.

Apple is a hardware company and any product they make needs to be able to move millions in the very least. As such, they can't afford to expend valuable resources on a product like the surface studio with very limited appeal which obviously is not going to move enough units to turn a profit.

An iPad Pro and Apple Pencil has more mass appeal, and is way more accessible than a surface studio in terms of who they can benefit. I have benefited greatly from their 9.7" iPad Pro and Apple Pencil in my work as a teacher, while the Surface Studio is useless for my needs.

Get over yourself. Apple is far from falling behind Microsoft just because they don't or can't meet the ultra-specific needs of a very niche group of users.

 

[thefourthpope]

I agree on the aspect ratio. Most monitors lack vertical height. Not great for word processing, not great for coding, not great for a lot of content creation.

I don't understand why MS wouldn't support rotation. "Creatives" should also include writers.

 

[hdela]

Is there a target display mode on this?

Apparently not, and if it were, touch wouldn't worjk I suppose.
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Get over yourself. Apple is far from falling behind Microsoft just because they don't or can't meet the ultra-specific needs of a very niche group of users.

I think one of the many reasons Apple got so popular was that it was used by the creatives, which are as much a niche today as they were ten years ago. Who wouldn't like to have the tools the eal creatives use?

Besides that, if a company considers a niche to be large enough to make products for, good for them I think.

I'd like one, and I'm not creative in a drawing manner, but I do research and often have a lot of screens open with data, syntax, output and my report in Word. I'd love to be able to put the screen down and swipe throuh the pages that are next to each other in real-life size. And I think the computer is really beautiful.

 

[leman]

This machine Microsoft offers is not really something I need to have, but it shows very clearly to me that Microsoft is able to quickly fill the niche Apple leaves open by slowly moving their focus further towards dumbed down pretty consumer electronics. They were of course always focused on simplicity, but at this point the features they progressively subtract from their products is making everyday usage a living hell. Apple needs to remember what exactly "Pro" means and why it's called that way. The product they released is by no means a "Pro" product, it's much rather a "Plus" product.

Hardware-wise I'm pretty sure that it's a decent machine.

Now, I am confused about this. The $2999 Studio is a desktop computer that offer more or less the same performance (CPU/GPU) as the $2999 15" MacBook Pro. Even more, the Studio does not offer you fast storage, fast connectivity (there is not even USB 3.1) and the base model comes with 8GB RAM. If that is what you would consider a Pro machine, then it doesn't make any sense whatsoever for you to criticise the MacBook line. The Studio is massively underspecced for its price and the fact that its a desktop.

Again, and before my post is taken out of context, I am not suggesting that the Studio is a bad computer. Its a very specialised, niche tool and that is reflected in the price. Its not a general-purpose computer and as such, its not a competitor to the much more versatile iMac.

 

[oftheheavens]

I really thought this was where the iMac was headed...interesting times

I actually came in here to say just this. I personally thought the iMac and the Apple TV were on the way to being the hub and viewing devices of every home and the iMac (again in my mind) had the same type flow or design as the new surface. I can truthfully say that there is times I would love to stand up at my desk and trying to type on a keyboard and look down at a screen hurts almost as much as sitting for so long.

Anyway, I hope that these amazing products that apple keeps saying they have in the pipeline actually come out. Otherwise I think it is finally time to say that microsoft and apple should become one mega corp and over the next decade merge all services together. It seems in the terms of ideas they switching positions. I still stand by apples customer service 10 fold, they are amazing.

 

[DudeDad]

My neck hurts just looking at that configuration....

 

[DEMinSoCAL]

My neck hurts just looking at that configuration....

Why is that? It seems exactly what an artist would want. Drawing / drafting tables are at a similar angle.

For other tasks, people seem to forget that the monitor stands up vertically like a normal screen. It ADJUSTS. It's not fixed in that position.

 

[bbeagle]

Like a Touch Bar?

A Touch bar is definitely NOT a gimmick for a developer. We use function keys all the time. Instead of remembering F12 does something, I'd rather see a key marked 'dashboard'.

The Touch bar won't get me to give up my current MacBook Pro, it's not a big enough feature to me. It's not a must have, but a nice-to-have.

 

[lowendlinux]

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.

Yea I make a living mostly in Ps and Ai and I don't need massive HP either.

 

[Moonjumper]

The screen height isn't really adjustable if I remember correctly. If you try to lower it, the screen starts to point towards the ceiling.

Really? That makes me want Apple to return to the iMac G4 format even more (i.e. computer in the base, multi-adjustable arm, slimline screen). It could be amazing with current Apple styling.

 

[ThunderSkunk]

My stubborn dedication to Mac has me holding off, but recent shortsighted comments by Apples executives combined with their neglect of the product line, and lack of significant innovation, lead me to believe my enthusiasm is not shared by Apple themselves.

Realistically, I'll probably have to set my idealism aside, and replace our offices aging Mac Pros & Wacoms with a room full of these.

Apple needs to promote forward thinking people.
Tenths of a mm thinner and disposable is not innovation.

 

[DEMinSoCAL]

Now, I am confused about this. The $2999 Studio is a desktop computer that offer more or less the same performance (CPU/GPU) as the $2999 15" MacBook Pro. Even more, the Studio does not offer you fast storage, fast connectivity (there is not even USB 3.1) and the base model comes with 8GB RAM. If that is what you would consider a Pro machine, then it doesn't make any sense whatsoever for you to criticise the MacBook line. The Studio is massively underspecced for its price and the fact that its a desktop.

Again, and before my post is taken out of context, I am not suggesting that the Studio is a bad computer. Its a very specialised, niche tool and that is reflected in the price. Its not a general-purpose computer and as such, its not a competitor to the much more versatile iMac.

I disagree. How is the iMac "more versatile"? More versatile for who? The screen on the Surface Studio DOES stand upright like a normal all-in-one. Spec-wise the base imac 5K and the Surface Studio are fairly similar, actually. $2199 vs $2899, though, is a big chunk of change to spend for a touch screen w/stylus and a display that articulates. Once you bump up to the i7, 32GB RAM (bye, bye Macbook Pro!), 2TB "fusion-like" drive, and GTX 980M, it's a pretty slick offering. A Macbook Pro (if you must compare) spec-bumped is the same price, but I don't think comparing a laptop with a 15" screen to a desktop with a 28" touch display with stylus is a fair comparison.

I do scratch my head wondering why USB 3.1 or at least a single TB port isn't included in the i7 version.

 

[rizzo41999]

Absolutely this. To me that was still the pinnacle of design. For the time that wasn't necessarily such a good thing, as it was the pinnacle of form over function - ESPECIALLY when they had to weigh down the base to hold up the 20" version, that was the BEST design decision ever made, and I've always wanted to have one. Now if they could pull off a repeat with full multitouch, it would be amazing, if not insanely great. Instead they are losing that spot to something very utilitarian by comparison. And I would love one; it's just a bit pricey, and not even looking like being released for NZ at all.

I'm with you 100%. My G4 still works and it's still the best electronic in the house!

 

[DEMinSoCAL]

A Touch bar is definitely NOT a gimmick for a developer. We use function keys all the time. Instead of remembering F12 does something, I'd rather see a key marked 'dashboard'.

The Touch bar won't get me to give up my current MacBook Pro, it's not a big enough feature to me. It's not a must have, but a nice-to-have.

I wonder what percentage of MBP buyers are professional developers? Pretty small piece of the pie, I'd have to say. So for everyone else, it's a gimmick.
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I'm with you 100%. My G4 still works and it's still the best electronic in the house!

You really should check into a Microwave oven. They're AMAZING!!

 

[noone]

Yeah, and chuckling at the ugly base that contains all the internals. Lol

I actually like the base of this more than the iMac I think. It makes more sense to have the ports/cables coming out of the bottom, near the desk, than it does to have them hanging/dangling from the air like they do on the iMac.

 

[semitry]

The windows 10 version with the anniversary update makes windows 10 very good. With ubuntu built into windows and with the new direction of opensource microsoft's been going, MS will steal a lot of the professional folks away from Apple.

 

[kristiguin]

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

Computers sold directly by the Microsoft Stores don't come with bloatware, actually, unless you are calling something Bloatware other than what I think of it as.

 

[leman]

I disagree. How is the iMac "more versatile"? More versatile for who? The screen on the Surface Studio DOES stand upright like a normal all-in-one. Spec-wise the base imac 5K and the Surface Studio are fairly similar, actually.

Well, for once, the iMac uses desktop CPUs while the Studio is a laptop in disguise (mobile CPUs). Also, iMac offers more configuration options (e.g. SSD). It is true that the higher-tier Studio has a faster GPU (980M), but that will change once the iMac is refreshed (besides, I wouldn't be surprised if that 980M is underclocked). And, probably the most important thing, the Studio doesn't have any high-speed IO.

Again, the Studio is a great specialised tool. But is essentially a very expensive stationary laptop with a very large touchscreen. For design/illustation work, where you'll mostly use it in the tablet mode, sure, its great. In the desktop mode, why even bother? There are better and cheaper options (e.g. the very same iMac, running Windows). Mixed usage, where you alternate between the tablet and the desktop mode? That is neither ergonomic nor helpful. Which is why I simply don't see the Studio as an interesting option for general computing, outside of its niche.

 

[MacBergin]

This makes me want to buy a computer...not a touch bar that took 2 years to design

 

[Gameboy70]

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 think the tech press gives Windows 10 too much credit, but I'll say this: any version of Windows Explorer is vastly superior to Finder. Apple remains stuck in a vicious cycle of believing that users hate file managers, prompting Finder UI designed to be simplified to a fault, causing users to hate file managers even more, leading Apple to conclude the problem lies with file management as a paradigm, not Apple's implementation.

 

[hungedu]

It would be really cool to build your own Hackintosh Surface Studio!