Bloody hell I love the look of the Microsoft Surface Studio. This beast with the 28 inch almost square screen bends every rule of computer design – and it’s great.
When the second iteration of the Surface Studio arrived in the office, it was entirely familiar. In fact, nothing has changed.
On closer inspection, there’s a USB-C connection on the back – but just one. That’s my first sign of disappointment, in 2018, USB-C is all the rage, but Microsoft are fighting the trend – strangely.
Moving past that glaring issue, all the changes here are under the hood. More power, better graphics, and most importantly – SSD all round. Boot times are fast, app loading times are fast, it’s a huge leap forward from the hybrid style in the first generation.
Screen brightness is reportedly improved, though without the original side by side I can’t speak to the real impact of that change, it does look great though.
The tall 4:3 aspect screen is enormous, but I do feel like I’m lacking something not being a wider screen – strange, but it was a consistent feeling. I would love to see a Surface Studio Widescreen version.
Are you sitting down? Best to pull up a seat. The cheapest Studio 2 is $5,499 – it’s a Core i7 with 1TB hard drive and 16GB RAM, up the RAM to 32 and you’re at $6,599 – up that Hard Drive to 2TB and you’re at $7,499 – Wow. Just Wow.
With the same familiar tilting screen it’s a designers dream. As a desk worker, I’d like for the screen to be able to be lowered while still vertical – the hinge is a design joy.
The price, the lack of USB-C and the price – that’s the disappointment here, but if I was a graphic designer – I’d still want it over anything else out there.
Interacting with design software using the Stylus on the touch-screen when tilted down to almost desk-level is just the perfect setup.
Tell your boss you want one.
[schema type=”review” rev_name=”Microsoft Surface Studio 2″ rev_body=”A designers dream, and a design icon. More power, same stunning look – just lacking in a couple of areas.” author=”Trevor Long” pubdate=”2018-11-16″ user_review=”4.4″ min_review=”0″ max_review=”5″ ]
Trev is a Technology Commentator, Dad, Speaker and Rev Head.
He produces and hosts several popular podcasts, EFTM, Two Blokes Talking Tech, Two Blokes Talking Electric Cars, The Best Movies You’ve Never Seen, and the Private Feed. He is the resident tech expert for Triple M on radio across Australia, and is the resident Tech Expert on Channel 9’s Today Show and appears regularly on 9 News, A Current Affair and Sky News Early Edition.
Father of three, he is often found in his Man Cave.
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