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Microsoft has launched the Surface Studio, a 28-inch all-in-one PC reminiscent of the iMac but with touchscreen capabilities and other accessories for "content creators":
The thin aluminum 28-inch Surface Studio desktop PC that Microsoft trotted out here Wednesday isn't going to make it into most homes anytime soon. Not at $2,999 to start, and on up to $4,199 if you don't hold back on the specs. If you simply must have it, Studio goes on preorder today; it'll be available in limited quantities by the holidays. There's no question this innovative machine, which at that price is clearly aimed at business users and a more affluent subsegment of potential home buyers, is well worth paying attention to for the way it can leverage the "early 2017" arrival of Windows 10 Creators Update.
At first blush, the design brings to mind Apple's iMac, though the differences are apparent soon enough, and not just because Surface runs Windows 10 and Macs run macOS Sierra. For starters, you can push down on the Surface Studio and via its zero-gravity hinge, angle it at 20-degrees and effectively turn it into a drafting surface. When upright you'd likely use it for more typical Windows computing.
And since Surface Studio like other Surface computers uses a Windows 10 touch-display — Apple hasn't brought touchscreen capability to any of its Macs, and I'm not banking on that happening when it holds a press event for new Macs on Thursday — you can also draw or write directly on the screen using a special Surface Pen. It boasts 1024 levels of pressure sensitivity plus an eraser. Microsoft has also unveiled a hockey-puck shaped accessory called Surface Dial along with Surface Studio itself. You can rotate the puck to summon tools and zoom in on and manipulate objects on the screen; it takes advantage of a radial menu. You can directly place Surface Dial onto the the Surface Studio surface, or use it off the screen.
Also at Ars Technica, http://www.bbc.com/news/technology-37787493, and PCWorld.
(Score: 2) by Marand on Saturday October 29 2016, @03:45PM
As an artist, I would love something like this, and have long ogled the Cintiq line from Wacom.
If you just can't justify the price of the cintiqs, maybe try one of the non-wacom competitors. Competition and product quality has improved a lot the past ~5 years or so in the area. Display hardware is pretty good, pens aren't as good as wacom but better than the last n-trig one I used, but the drivers are often less polished. Still, for 1/3 to 1/4 the cost, I can deal with some driver rough edges...
Penny Arcade's Gabe seems to think the Surface Studio's a big step in the right direction however
Keep in mind his opinions are going to be skewed by Microsoft's tendency to give him free shit. They've been doing that since 2013 (Surface Pro), and even in the link you posted they 1) had him visit MS and try one out on-site, 2) gave him one to play with 3) came to his house to set it up. I don't think it's shilling, per se, but when a company tends to give you free units to use, try, review, and/or own it can affect your perceptions.
Doesn't mean he's wrong, it might be truly awesome like he says. Just keep in mind that he's not going to be a particularly fair and unbiased source here.