Microsoft takes on Apple with the new Surface Studio

Microsoft launched a consumer offensive Wednesday, unveiling a new high-performance desktop computer, called Surface Studio. This $3,000 high-end "all-in-one" device that aims at Apple's Mac.

Our family is now more powerful than ever. Propel through your day and bring your ideas to life with Surface. #MicrosoftEvent pic.twitter.com/CAQEWSlBZF

— Surface (@surface) October 26, 2016

"We're creating a new category that transforms your desk into a creative studio," Microsoft chief executive Satya Nadella said at the unveiling in New York.

Journalists and Microsoft fans get a look at the new Microsoft Surface Studio PHOTO: AFP

With a large, 28-inch (71-centimeter) hinged touchscreen display touted as "the thinnest desktop monitor ever created," Surface Studio adds to the Microsoft lineup of tablet and laptop devices for the premium segment.



The new PC has an ultra-HD 4.5K display, offering more pixels than most new high-definition televisions which effectively create a "digital canvas" for creating content, the company said. It can fit four 14-inch screens inside its one and with a 3:2 aspect ratio, it gives the user substantially more space at the base of the screen.

The Surface Studio has not one but two cameras: A 5-megapixel 1080p resolution webcam on the front and an "autofocus camera with 1080p HD video" on the back.

Microsoft launched a new consumer offensive Wednesday, unveiling a high-end computer that challenges the Apple iMac PHOTO: AFP

For graphics, the device has a NVIDIA GeForce 980M GPUs. The Surface Studio also has stereo 2.1 speakers with Dolby audio tuning and a mic array so users can activate the Cortana digital assistant from afar.

A man gets a look at the new Microsoft Surface Studio introduced at a Microsoft news conference PHOTO: AFP

The new PC will be available in "limited quantities" for the upcoming holiday season, with more units available in 2017.



With PC sales sputtering, Microsoft has been emphasizing its cloud computing and business services but is also working to stay relevant to consumers with Windows and its various computing and gaming devices.
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