Anyone else disappointed in Surface Studio?

I feel for $4200 it should have native SSD + Thunderbolt 3.0 + USB 3.1 ports. I mean really $4200.

Conversation 22 comments

  • 907

    27 October, 2016 - 12:21 am

    <p>That opinion seems to be a common one over many different sites. The general consensus appears to be that it is too costly for what it is.</p>

    • 5611

      27 October, 2016 - 3:41 am

      <blockquote><em><a href="#22859">In reply to </a><a href="../../../../users/anchovylover">anchovylover</a><a href="#22859">:</a></em></blockquote>
      <p>Not if you compare it with other devices&nbsp;that it’s targetting.</p>

      • 907

        27 October, 2016 - 5:59 am

        <blockquote><em><a href="#22873">In reply to </a><a href="../../../../users/WP7Mango">WP7Mango</a><a href="#22873">:</a></em></blockquote>
        <p>What other devices is it targeting? I was under the impression this is first of its kind, a new category. Is that incorrect?</p>

        • 1063

          Premium Member
          27 October, 2016 - 7:17 am

          <blockquote><em><a href="#22886">In reply to </a><a href="../../../../users/anchovylover">anchovylover</a><a href="#22886">:</a></em></blockquote>
          <p>When you look at creatives who use this type of thing they need to invest in both a Macbook Pro ($2000) and a Cintiq tablet ($1500) it might be appealing. &nbsp;Very niche market, but I guess that is Microsoft’s focus. &nbsp;For the average consumer like me, meh.</p>

          • 5767

            27 October, 2016 - 11:00 am

            <blockquote><em><a href="#22907">In reply to </a><a href="../../../../users/rtodd_us">rtodd_us</a><a href="#22907">:</a></em></blockquote>
            <p>&nbsp;</p>
            <p>How many of those current Macbook Pro + Cintiq professionals are in the market for new hardware? Also these people are so into macOS workflows. MS would need serious convincing on what Windows 10 would do to replace those workflows. It’s not enough to throw shiny new hardware and Paint 3D out there.</p>

  • 180

    27 October, 2016 - 6:21 am

    <p>I thought $3000 was expensive but not outrageous when it was announced, because the announcement said i7 and 980m. But that you only get an i5, worse GPU, and only 8GB RAM (really, Microsoft? A $3000 and you couldn’t find $40 to put another 8GB RAM in the base model?) for that base price is frankly offensive. It truly feels like a raised middle finger to their customers.</p>

  • 3884

    27 October, 2016 - 7:52 am

    <p>Well it’s a premium machine – it’s not just about the specs.</p>
    <p>Sure, you could throw those specs into a bulky plastic box and call it $600 but that isn’t this. This is one of the best screens on the market – custom made for this device along with all those other custom designed parts that make this look as gorgeous and aspirational as it is.</p>
    <p>It’s nearest competitor is the Wacom Cintiq 27", which retails for $2500 and is only a screen – is half the resolution, and nowhere near as sophisticated a design. To get the same setup from something that isn’t a Surface Studio will cost more than $3000 and you won’t get any of the cool stuff that’s unique to this device.</p>
    <p>It’s also a showcase device – as is the Surface line’s purpose – so other OEMs will build similar, more-affordable versions over the next year.</p>
    <p>The biggest disappointment with it is that you can’t buy it as just a monitor and dock for your existing device.</p>
    <p>Microsoft have called both the Surface Pro and Surface Book "desktop replacements" and if they’d released this as a monitor you could plug them into (or any other PC you happen to own) they’d be reinforcing that.</p>
    <p>Have the Surface Studio as an AIO, sure, it’s wonderful. But my SP4 is my PC – portable and desktop – and what I need is a monitor to match it. And considering the device without the PC innards could have been up to $1000 cheaper – it’s a real shame they missed this opportunity to allow their existing customers to augment their current products rather than expecting them to buy an entirely new PC.</p>
    <p>That and the lack of using a modular base design to allow extra stuff to be bolted on.</p>

    • 5767

      27 October, 2016 - 11:02 am

      <blockquote><em><a href="#22915">In reply to </a><a href="../../../../users/prettyconfusd">prettyconfusd</a><a href="#22915">:</a></em></blockquote>
      <p>Yeah the lack of a modular base is very disappointing. Also the only ‘premium’ part of this is the screen and hinge design that allows you to take it 20 degrees. Nothing in the base is premium at all.</p>

  • 2

    Premium Member
    27 October, 2016 - 9:44 am

    <p>Yep. The price is outrageous. And as you note, at that price point, there is no excuse for cutting corners anywhere.</p>

    • 5477

      27 October, 2016 - 10:04 am

      <blockquote><em><a href="#22961">In reply to </a><a href="../../../../users/paul-thurrott">paul-thurrott</a><a href="#22961">:</a></em></blockquote>
      <p>I think Microsoft should have offered, lower spec’d models as well as the regular ones, like starting at $999 for a i5, 8GB of ram, and 1080 display, and $1300 for one with with a 2560×1440 display. With the $3000 price, it is going to only appeal to people of higher incomes and/or who need a drawing enabled AIO computer with a high color accuracy display. I think to be fair, when you compare this to like a 5K iMac paired with a 22" WaCom Cintiq display, it is a good deal.&nbsp;</p>

      • 1377

        Premium Member
        27 October, 2016 - 9:56 pm

        <p><em><a href="#22973">In reply to </a><a href="../../../../users/polloloco51">polloloco51</a><a href="#22973">:</a></em></p>
        <p>As long as OEMs sell 90% or more PCs to enterprises, MSFT isn’t going to piss off the OEMs with US$1,000 knock-off AIOs. OEMs already have lots of fully tiltable, Full HD AIOs at decent prices.</p>

      • 165

        Premium Member
        04 November, 2016 - 6:09 am

        <blockquote><em><a href="#22973">In reply to </a><a href="../../../../users/polloloco51">polloloco51</a><a href="#22973">:</a></em></blockquote>
        <p>How much value is added to the fact that the screen is touch and pen enabled. I have a graphics tablet on my PC. It does not compare to using the pen on my SP4. How do you put a price on the ease of use and productivity gains that will be seen with the Studio?</p>
        <p>The 22" Wacom Cintiq&nbsp;is about $2600 (in Canada)</p>
        <p>&nbsp;</p>

    • 6672

      28 October, 2016 - 2:33 am

      <blockquote><em><a href="#22961">In reply to </a><a href="../../../../users/paul-thurrott">paul-thurrott</a><a href="#22961">:</a></em></blockquote>
      <p>This is a continuation of Microsoft’s tick-tock-TICK strategy, but they no longer have the luxury of getting it right on the third try. This device employs nearly-obsolete components (last-year’s GPU and a freakin’ spinning drive!) that have probably been on fire-sale closeout for 6 months. Yet, when an artist friend (that would be "starving artist", a term apparently unknown to Microsoft) called the local Microsoft Store, he was told that nothing could be purchased until December, maybe later. So an impulse sale was lost forever. Apple would have had these stacked to the ceiling by today. Microsoft could have too, given the born-on dates of the components. See toe, cock, shoot…</p>

  • 5477

    27 October, 2016 - 9:49 am

    <p>I think the design and functionality of the Surface Studio, trumps any all-one-computer currently, and is highly innovative. However, I think the price is out of reach, even for some professional graphical designers. Some of the components like the 2GB 965M chipset, don’t justify the price. Some trivial things I dislike is the rounded rear base. When you plug in a USB device, it is not going to be flush with the port it’s plugged into. Overall, I think the Surface Studio is highly innovative AIO computer. It features a touch/drawing enabled, 28" PixelSense 4500×3000 resolution display, which makes up for any shortcomings. However, the $3000 starting price is going to be too high for the average or even professional user, and will be thing that hurts the sales. Perhaps Microsoft is planning a lower spec’d model in the future, like starting at $999,&nbsp;it would be great and&nbsp;appeal to a much wider audience!</p>

  • 3229

    Premium Member
    27 October, 2016 - 1:04 pm

    <p>+1. USB 3.1 should be standard for high end computers in 2016.</p>
    <p>Course, you do still need a few USB 3 connectors, too, for your old scanner and printer, and maybe your writing tablet if you have one.</p>

  • 5611

    27 October, 2016 - 1:23 pm

    <p>Just to be clear, I’m disappointed at the price, but not the actual hardware itself.</p>
    <p>I’m also convined that we’ll see a refresh next year with updated processor, GPU and&nbsp;100% SSD instead of hybrid SSD/HDD. The early spec model will then drop in price. But that screen will stay equally awesome!</p>

  • 5664

    Premium Member
    27 October, 2016 - 5:09 pm

    <p>Only disappointed that I can’t buy one, my friend!</p>

  • 5356

    03 November, 2016 - 8:57 am

    <p>For professional designers $4200 is not unreasonable. A large Cintiq alone costs a few grand. However, Microsoft should have made a lower cost version for the hobbyists and semi professional/weekend warriors. For the higher end models, yes, SSD and Thunderbolt 3.x ports are a must.&nbsp;</p>
    <p>&nbsp;</p>

  • 1377

    Premium Member
    03 November, 2016 - 12:14 pm

    <p>The Dial should have been included at no extra charge for the first 6 months after general availability. Charging an extra US$100 for the Dial is a bit too Apple. Then again, MSFT used to charge about as much for the mercifully discontinued Touch covers.</p>
    <p>But some reality and rationality, please. I used to lust after Sun workstations 20 years ago and Silicon Graphics workstations more recently. Way more than I needed for what I do. Surface Studio is also way more than what I need for what I do. The one wonderful thing about the Studio is the screen, ESPECIALLY the 3:2 aspect ratio. Again, way more than I need.</p>

  • 442

    03 November, 2016 - 1:50 pm

    <p>I don’t see that anyone should be disappointed.&nbsp; It’s a premium device, with of course a premium price tag.&nbsp; You’d be similar in asking if anyone was disappointed in a Tesla Model S.&nbsp; You still can’t go off road satisfactorally in that car, right?&nbsp; So why did they cut corners?</p>

  • 456

    03 November, 2016 - 2:08 pm

    <p>Obviously the price…. I think once someone gets one,and god forbid takes it apart we find out the component costs….. it will be more interesting.&nbsp; What exactly is the markup, what does the screen add to the price etc…</p>

  • 4010

    03 November, 2016 - 4:10 pm

    <p>I think it’s very exciting seeing all the innovation coming from Microsoft these days. The new Surface Studio completely destroys the iMac, and has designers (even Apple fanboys) desperate to buy one as their new production machine. As others have said, Surface Studio is very price competitive compared with the Cintiq stuff and you’re getting a whole lot more innovation from Microsoft in this beauty of a miracle machine.</p>
    <p>I applaud Microsoft’s efforts with Surface and look forward to even more new products from them next year.</p>

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