Microsoft has unveiled\u00a0the Surface Studio, a desktop PC aimed at creators that could\u00a0compete directly with Apple’s iMac.<\/p>\n
The Surface Studio\u00a0features a forged aluminium enclosure for its\u00a028-inch touchscreen display, which at 12.5mm thick is the thinnest\u00a0LCD\u00a0monitor ever built, said Microsoft.<\/p>\n
The monitor runs at a 3:2 aspect ratio and displays\u00a013.5 millions pixels – 63% more than a 4K TV.<\/p>\n
It is mounted with a zero-gravity hinge\u00a0with 80 parts and custom-tuned springs that can give you a\u00a020-degree drafting angle.<\/p>\n
Microsoft said the 6kg display is\u00a0essentially weightless thanks to this hinge, so you can put it\u00a0in any position.<\/p>\n
Hardware-wise, the Surface Studio has\u00a032GB of RAM, a 2TB hybrid drive, and uses an Nvidia\u00a0GeForce 980M graphics\u00a0processor.<\/p>\n
There’s also a Surface Studio HD camera at\u00a0the top of the display which supports the\u00a0Windows Hello biometric authentication system.<\/p>\n
Another feature of the\u00a0Surface Studio is the Surface Dial, a radial input device with haptic feedback.<\/p>\n
Microsoft showed how the Dial may be used to scroll through pages in a Microsoft Word document, or be used to rewind and replay ink that was drawn onto a page.<\/p>\n
It may also be used as a fiducial marker, placed on top of the display, to provide a context-sensitive input option. Microsoft showed that it may be used\u00a0for\u00a0selecting colours in a painting app, or rotating a canvas.<\/p>\n
The Surface Studio is\u00a0available for pre-order in the United States for $2,999 (R41,643).<\/p>\n
Microsoft said it would be available in\u00a0limited quantities this holiday season.<\/p>\n